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FOWLER'S     WORKS 


ON 


EDUCATION  AND  SELF-IMPROVEMENT; 

CULTIVATION  OF  THE 

MEMORY  AND  INTELLECT ; 

ON 

MATRIMONY; 

HEREDITARY  DESCENT, 

ITS  LAWS  AND  FACTS  ; 
NATURAL    RELIGION; 

TEMPERANCE,  AND  TIGHT  LACING. 

ALL  FOUNDED    ON 

PHRENOLOGY  &  PHYSIOLOGY. 


BY   O.   S.    FOWLER. 


NEW  YORK  I 

PUBLISHED     AT    131    NASSAU    STHKET 

1844. 


fr' 


EDUCATION 

AND 

SELF-IIPSOYEMENT 

roUKEED    ON 

PHYSIOLOGY  AID  PIIEENOLOGY : 


OR, 


i3    \^\JifU.    &l\j&%lii 
AND 


How  to  make  them  Good, 

BY 

ENLARGING  DEFICIENCIES  AND  DIMINISHING  EXCESSES. 
BY   O.   S.    FOWLER, 

PRACTICAL       PHRENOLOGIST, 

Editor  of  the   American  Phrenological  Journal,  and   Avfhor    of  "  Phrenology 
Proved,  Illustrated,  and  Applied;"     ''Fowler's  Practical  Phrenology;" 
"  Phrenology  and  Physiology  applied  to  the  Cultivalioji  of  the  Mc- 
vwry ;"   do.  to"  Temperance;"  do.  to  "  Natural  Religion;" 
do.  to  "  Tight  Lacing;'  '   "  Answer  to  Vindex  ;"  "  Sy- 
nopsis of  Phrenology"   ^-c.   Sj-c.   ^-c. 

HE    THAT   IS    WISE   IS  WISE   FOR   HIMSELF. 

VOL.  I.     ■ 
SECOND  EDITION,  ENLARGED  AND  IMPROVED. 


NEW  YORK  : 

0   S.  &  L.  N.  FOV/LER,  in  Clinton  Hall,   135  Nassau  Street;    BOSTON,  Saxton 

&  Pierce,  and  Jordan  &  Co.;    PHILADELPHIA,  J.  R.  Colon,  203   1-2 

ChesnutSt. ;    Graham,  Deane,  &  Co.,   Rome,  N.  Y. ;    J.C.Derby 

&  Co.  Auburn,  N.  Y. ;  I.  A.  Hopkins,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. ;  Buel 

&  Sizer,  B.  J.  Gray,    D.  G.  Derby,"  H.  B.  Gibbous, 

and  other  Phrenologists. 

1844. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1844,  by  0.  S.  Fowler,  in  the  Clerk's 
office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Southern  District  of  the  state  of  New  York. 


PREFACE  TO  THE  FIRST  EDITION. 


To  assist  parents  and  teachers  in  the  Physical,  Intellectual,  and 
Moral  Education,  Government,  and  Training  of  Children  ;  to 
guide  the  footsteps  of  the  young  into  the  paths  of  virtue,  happi- 
ness, and  learning ;  and  to  open  up  to  all  the  true  path  to  self- 
improvement,  virtue,  and  happiness  by  expounding  the  laws  of  their 
physical  and  mental  being,  as  well  as  to  aid  them  in  obeying 
these  laws — objects  the  most  important  and  exalted  that  can  pos- 
sibly engage  the  attention  of  mortals,  were  these  pages  written. 

Improvement  is  the  leading  characteristic  of  the  nineteenth 
contury.  Since  the  Revolution,  men  have  probably  made  mor« 
numerous  and  more  valuable  mechanical  and  other  inventions ; 
greater  improvements  in  agriculture,  the  arts  and  sciences ;  in 
traveling,  and  other  similar  conveniences  of  life,  than  before 
since  the  dark  ages.  But — while  mankind  are  racking  their  in- 
ventions to  discover  some  shorter,  and  still  shorter,  roads  to 
wealth,  to  mechanical  and  other  worldly  ends,  and  to  the  gratifi- 
cation of  their  hodily  wants,  (nine  tenths  of  which  are  purely 
artificial) — while  they  task  all  their  energies  to  the  utmost^  merely 
to  improve  their  physical  condition,  the  majority  of  them  care 
little,  and  do  less,  to  improve  their  minds.  If  they  can  but  live 
in  splendid  houses  or  palaces,  and  command  the  means  of  grati- 
fying their  animal  and  selfish  propensities,  they  even  exult  in 
having  attained  their  highest  good,  though  intellect  lie  waste, 
and  moral  pleasures  be  unknown.  And  few,  even  of  those  who 
attempt  to  improve  the  mind,  know  where  to  begin,  or  how  to 
proceed. 

Is  this  right  \  Does  it  comport  with  the  great  ends  of  our 
being '?  Is  it  our  true  interest  even  1  Does  it  secure  the  greatest 
amount  of  enjoyment  ?  Phrenology  says  no,  and  man's  sad  ex- 
perience echoes  with  emphasis  this  response.  It  is  our  higher 
faculties,  oar  intellectual  and  moral  nature,  which  constitute  the 
fountain-head  of  all  happiness.  Physical  gratifications  are  only 
small  tributaries.  This  work  opens  up  the  true  fountains  of  en- 
joyment, and  conducts  iuquirers,   and  especially  the  young,  to 


4  PREFACE    TO    THE    FIRST    EDITION. 

their  source,  that  they  may  drink  deep,  and  drink  perpetually,  of 
those  pure  waters  of  pleasure  which  the  Creator  designed  should 
flow  from  the  original  constitution  of  our  nature. 

Applicants  for  phrenological  examinations  are  daily  and  eagerly 
inquiring,  "  How  can  I  remedy  my  defects  %  By  what  means  can  I 
increase  my  small  organs,  or  diminish  those  that  are  too  large!" 
This  work  will  answer  these  most  important  questions.  It  will 
show  what  constitutes  a  good  head,  and  also  how  to  attain  this 
great  desideratum.  A  knowledge  of  Phrenology,  and  thereby  of 
ourselves,  is  the  sum  total,  the  essence  of  all  knowledge  ;  but  its 
application  to  self-ijipeovemekt,  to  the  discipline  of  the  mind, 
and  to  the  modification,  moulding,  and  formation  of  the  charac- 
ter, is  the  very  quintessence  even  of  Phrenology — the  one  re- 
maining desideratum.  To  ascertain  our  qualities,  is  all  impor- 
tant ;  but  to  improve  them,  is  infinitely  m.ore  so.  Though  the 
former  should  precede  the  latter,  it  should  by  no  means  supersede 
it.  Too  long,  already,  have  Phrenologists  been  content  with 
knotcing  themselves  by  this  science.  It  is  now  high  time  for 
them  to  apply  it  to  their  own  mental  cultivation,  and  to  the  intel- 
lectual and  moral  improvement  of  mankind,  especially  of  the  ris- 
ing generation.  If  this  single  application  of  Phrenology,  which 
it  is  proposed  to  make  in  these  pages,  were  but  fully  carried  out 
in  practice,  it  would  certainly  do  more  to  promote  the  happiness, 
virtue,  talents,  and  well-being  of  man,  than  has  been  done  by  all 
the  other  improvements  and  inventions  of  this  and  past  ages  put 
together,  including  all  the  works  on  metaphysics,  education,  and 
kindred  subjects,  ever  written  ;  because  this  teaches  the  true 
method  of  improving  the  mind,  while  they  appertain  to  physics,  or 
enter  the  department  of  mind  only  to  becloud  it. 

Though  the  primary  design  of  this  work  is  to  aid  parents  and 
teachers  in  educating  and  training  children,  yet  every  individual 
will  be  enabled  to  apply  the  principles  contained  in  it  to  self-im- 
provement', to  the  cultivation  of  every  kind  of  memory  ;  to  mental 
discipline,  so  as  greatly  to  increase  the  power  cf  his  intellect  and 
its  facility  of  action  ;  to  improve  his  morals  ;  to  govern  and  sub- 
due his  easily  besetting  sins;  to  regulate  his  feelings;  and  so  to 
direct  each  and  all  of  his  faculties  to  their  legitimate  objects, 
that  their  action  may  be  always  virtuous  and  pleasurable. 

331  Nassau  Street,  Mw  York,  July,  1842. 


PREFACE  TO  THE  SECOND  EDITION. 


The  first  edition  of  this  work  was  published  in  June,  1843,  but 
exhausted  the  September  following.  Since  then,  the  demand  for 
it  has  been  great ;  still  the  Author  has  delayed  its  republication 
in  order  to  find  time  for  revision  ;  but  he  is  at  last  obliged  to  send 
it  out  marred  with  many  blemishes  as  to  style  and  authorship. 
*'  To  be,  or  not  to  be,  that  is  the  question."  To  wait  till  he  could 
spare  time  to  revise  and  improve  it,  as  he  could  wish,  would 
delay  its  republication  a  full  year  or  more,  by  which  time  the 
present  edition,  large  as  it  is,  will  doubtless  be  exhausted. 

But  its  SUBJECT  MATTER  is  deemed  too  valuable  and  useful  to 
allow  its  delay  on  account  of  these  minor  defects.  To  do  good,  to 
open  up  the  way  of  self-improvement,  and,  above  all,  to  put  edu- 
cation upon  its  right  basis,  and  develop  the  laws  of  man's  physical 
and  mental  constitution — these  transcendantly  important  sub- 
jects urged  its  immediate  republication — and  the  minds  of  those 
who  prefer  the  useful  to  the  exquisite,  will  excuse  its  faults,  but 
profit  by  the  truths  it  embodies.  It  enters  a  field  in  the  nature  of 
men  heretofore  untrodden,  but  important  beyond  all  conceptioii. 
The  principles  it  pressnts  are  true.  They  are  not  hastily  puit 
forth :  every  idea  advanced  has  been  thoroughly  scanned.  For 
its  matter,  the  author  makes  no  apology  ;  it  needs  none.  The 
maLnuer  of  putting  it  together  is  alone  defective;  nor  does  he  be- 
lieve any  ten  pages  of  it  can  be  carefully  read  without  lodging 
some  important  truth  in  the  mind,  amply  sufficient  to  repay  botk 
its  price  and  its  perusal.  To  parents,  as  a  guide  in  conducting 
the  intellectual  education,  and  the  moral  training  and  government^ 
of  children,  it  will  be  found  a  text-book  surpassing  all  others.  It 
is  sent  forth  as  it  is  in  the  hope,  in  the  full  belief,  that  it  will  teach 
mankind  how  to  live,  how  to  be  virtuous,  how  to  be  happy. 


EXPLANATION  OF  THE  TABLE. 


To  render  this  work  practically  applicable  to  individual  cases, 
and  also  to  enable  every  one  to  refer  to  those  pages  of  the  work 
which  contain  speciiic  directions  for  enlarging  or  diminishing 
those  organs  which  he  requires  to  enlarge  or  diminish,  the  author 
has  added  the  following  table ;  the  first  3,  and  the  12  upper  rows 
of  figures,  refer  to  the  pages  of  this  work  ;  the  balance,  to  the 
pages  of  Fowler's  Piirenology.  This  table  is  arranged  so  as  to 
record  and  present  the  relative  size  of  every  organ,  and  also  to 
indicate  what  organs  require  improvement  and  restraint,  all  at 
one  view.  The  first  column  of  figures  refers  to  those  pages  of 
this  work  where  the  organs  are  analyzed  or  described ;  the  second, 
to  those  pages  where  the  means  of  increasing  them  are  pointed 
oat ;  and  the  third,  to  the  means  of  restraining  them.  The 
columns  headed  Average,  Full,  Large,  Very  Large,  Moderate, 
Small,  and  Very  Small,  are  designed  to  indicate  the. relative  size 
of  each  organ,  in  a  scale  of  written  figures,  ranging  from  1  to  7 ; 
figure  1  signifying  Very  Small;  2,  Small;  3,  Moderate  ;  4,  Ave- 
rage ;  5,  Fall ;  6,  Large  ;  and  7,  Very  Large.  Thus,  if  Combat- 
iveness  be  large,  figure  6,  which  signifies  large,  will  be  written 
opposite  to  Combativeness,^  in  the  column  headed  large,  and  the 
73  in  the  same  square  refers  to  page  75  of  Fowler's  Phrenology, 
where  will  be  found  a  full  description  of  this  organ  and  its  com- 
binations, without  a  knowledge  of  which  no  correct  estimate  of 
character  can  be  formed.  Dots  or  dashes  will  sometimes  be  used, 
placed  in  the  squares,  instead  of  these  written  figures.  The  fig- 
ures opposite  the  Temperaments,  Size  of  Brain,  and  Activity,  as 
far  down  as  the  Domestic  Propensities,  refer  exclusively  to  this 
v/ork.  The  sign  -]-  plus  before  a  figure,  signifies  more,  or  that 
the  organ  is  a  little  larger  than  the  figure  represents ;  the  sign  — 
minus,  or  less.  A  dot,  dash,  &c.,  placed  in  the  squares  opposite 
any  organ  in  the  second  column,  signify  that  it  is  too  small,  and 
should  be  cultivated  ;  the  curved  dash  placed  in  the  squares 
opposite  an  organ  in  the  third  column,  signifies  too  large,  and 
should  be  restrained,  watched,  governed,  guarded,  or  directed. 
The  figures  after  Individuality,  No.  24,  refer  to  the  second  volume 
of  this  work,  on  the  Intellectual  Organs,  Memorj?-,  &c.  By  using 
figures  for  one  person,  dots  for  another,  a  horizontal  dash  for 
another,  a  perpendicular  one  for  another,  and  other  signs  for 
others,  the  developments  of  a  whole  family  may  be  entered  upon 
one  work — thus  greatly  enhancing  its  value. 


TABLE  SHOWING  THE  RELATIVE  SIZES  OF  THE  ORGANS. 


Size    of    Head    lu 

iTunct. 
-     33 

Incre. 

Restra. 

A  vera. 

Full. 

Large. 

Ve.  lar. 

Mod. 

Small. 

Ve.  sm- 

inches  and  tenths, 

Strength  of  Organiz. 

Vital  Temperament, 

-     35 

-     68 

-  141 



.  .  . 

-     37 

-     37 

-     62 

-     43 

Motive  or  Tow.  do. 

-     38 

-     64 

.  ..  - 



-     43 

-     37 

-     71 

Sharp  or  Active  do. 

-     38 

-     87 

-     85 

... 



-     39 

-     39 

-     86 

Mental  Activity,  -  - 

-     38 

-     86 

-  141 





-     39 

-     39 

-     86 

Physical    do     -  -  - 

-     36 

-  141 

-  141 

.  .  . 



-     40 

-     43 

... 

-     43 

Vital— MntiveTemp. 

-     40 

... 

-  142 



.  .  . 

-     40 

-     44 



-     43 

Vital — Mental    do. 

-     40 

-  141 

-  154 



.  .  - 

-     41 

-     42 

Motive — Ment.  do. 

-     42 

-     83 







-     42 

-     44 



.     44 

Balance  of  Temp.  - 

-     45 

-     65 

.  -  . 

.  .  - 

.  .  . 

-     45 



-     67 

-     46 

Balance  of  Organ.=i, 

-  112 

-  143 

.  .  . 



... 

-  113 



-  113 

-  113 

Domestic  Pro-pensit. 



.  .  . 

-     46 

1.     AniMtiveness, - 

-   165 

-  165 

-  166 

-     56 

-     59 

--   57 

-     53 

-     59 

-     59 

-     60 

2.     Philoprogenit. 

-  160 

-  167 



-     61 

-     63 

-     62 

-     63 

-     64 

-     64 

-     64 

3.     Adhesiveness, 

-  167 

-  169 

... 

-     64 

-     66 

-     65 

-     05 

-     67 

-     67 

-     67 

4.     luhabitiveness, 

-   171 

-  172 



-     68 

-     69 

-     68 

-     68 

-     69 

-     69 

-     69 

.5.     Concentrative. 

-  172 

-  174 

-  173 

-     70 

-     71 

-     70 

-     70 

-     71 

-     71 

-     72 

Selfish  Propensiiies. 



-  163 

-     46 



-     45 

A.    Vitativeness,  -  - 







-     73 

-     74 

-     74 

-     74 

-     74 

-     74 

-     75 

6.     Conibativeness, 

-  174 

-  177 

-  175 

-     75 

78 

-     75 

-     77 

-     77 

-     79 

-     79 

7.     Destructive.   - 

-  179 

-  194 

-  ISO 

go 

-     83 

-     82 

-     83 

-     84 

-     84 

8.     Alimentive.    - 

-  196 



-  204 

-     86 

87 

-     80 

■-     87 

-     87 

-     88 

9.     Acquisitive.    - 

-  211 

-  214 

-  212 

-     89 

-    d-:^ 

-     89 

-     92 

-     94 

-     95 

-     95 

10.     Secretivene.5s, 

-  215 

-  213 

-  210 

-     96 

-     99 

-     9(i 

-     93 

-  100 

-  101 

-  101 

Selfish  SeiiUmcri's. 





... 

-     47 



-  108 

11.     Cautiousness, - 

-  218 

-  220 

-  219 

-  103 

-  105 

-  104 

-  105 

-  106 

-  100 

-  107 

12.     Apjirobative. - 

-  222 

-  224 

222 

-  107 

-  110 

-  100 

-  110 

-  112 

-  112 

« 

13.     Self-Esteem,  - 

-  225 

-  226 

-  228 

-  113 

-  116 

-  114 

-  110 

-  116 

-  117 

"-  117 

14.     Firmness,  -  -  - 

-  229 

-  229 

.  230 

-  119 

-   121 

-  119 

-  120 

-  122 

-  122 

-  122 

Moral  Scn'imc?ifs.  - 

-  214 

-  215 



-     48. 

.  .  - 

.  123 

15.     Conscientious. 

-  231 

-  232 

-  232 

-  124 

-  130 

-  126 

-  129 

-  131 

-  132 

-  133 

16.     Hope, 

-  233 

-  233 

.  234 

-  136 

.  139 

-  139 

-  133 

-  139 

-  140 

-  140 

17.     Rlarvellnu?.    - 

-  234 

-  234 

.  234 

-  14  i 

-  143 

.  142 

-  143 

-  144 

-  145 

-  146 

18.     Veneration,-  - 

-  235 

-  235 



-  147 

-  143 

.  148 

-  149 

-  150 

-  150 

19.     Benevolence, - 

-  237 

-  238 

.  243 

-  153 

-  168 

-  MC 

-  157 

-  158 

-  159 

-  159 

Semi-IntcU.  Scn'i. 



-  143 



-     48 

-     48 

-  159 

20.      Coustructive. 

-  243 

-  245 

-  246 

-  160 

-  163 

-    161 

-  162 

-  153 

-  163 

-  164 

21.     Ideality,    -  -  - 

-  246 

-  247 



-  165 

-  168 

-  166 

-  167 

-  168 

-  169 

-  169 

B.     Sublimity,  -  - 

-  249 

-  249 







-  230 

22.     Imitation,  -  -  - 

.  249 

-  250 

-  251 

■  169 

-  171 

-  170 

-  171 

-  171 

-  172 

-  172 

23.     Miithfuluess, - 

-  251 

-  252 

-  252 

-  172 

-  173 

-  173 

-  175 

-  176 

-  177 

-  177 

Intellectual  Facnlt. 

-     64 

.  .  . 



-     49 

-  .  . 

-  177 

Perceptive  Facnlt. 

-     66 

-  -  - 



-     50 

... 

-  177 

24.     Individuality,* 

-     17 

-     22 



-  183 

-  185 

-  184 

-  185 

-  185 

-  186 

-  186 

25.     Form, 

-     57 

-     59 



-  186 

-  188 

-  187 

-  188 

-  189 

-  189 

-  189 

26.     Size. 

-     93 

-     93 



-  190 

-  191 

-  190 

-  191 

-  191 

-  191 

-  192 

27.     Wei-bt, 

-     60 

-     61 

.  .  . 

-  192 

-  194 

-  193 

-  194 

-  194 

-   195 

-  195 

28.     Color, 

-     94 

-     95 

.  .  . 

-  195 

-  196 

-  195 

-  196 

-  197 

-  197 

-  197 

29.     Order,    -  -  -  - 

-     90 

-     92 



-  198 

-  200 

.  199 

-  199 

-  201 

-  201 

-  201 

30.     Calculation,    - 

-     61 

-     62 



-  202 

-  204 

-  202 

-  203 

-  204 

-  205 

-  205 

31.     Locality, 

-     74 

-     75 



-  205 

-  207 

-  205 

-  206 

-  207 

-  208 

-  209 

32.     Eventuality,   - 

-     24 

-     25 



-  209 

-  212 

-  210 

-  211 

-  212 

-  213 

-  213 

83.     Time; 

-     63 

■-     65 

.  .  . 

-  214 

-  216 

-  215 

-  210 

-  216 

-  217 

-  217 

34.     Tune, 

-  -  69 

-     70 



-  217 

-  220 

.  217 

-  219 

-  220 

-  221 

-  221 

35.     LangTiage,  -  - 

-     50 

-     51 



-  222 

-  '^27 

-  224 

-  226 

-  229 

-  228 

-  229 

Reasordng  Organs. 







-  ~51 

... 

-  '^29 

36.     Causality,    -  - 

-     42 

-     43 

.  .  . 

-  231 

-  236 

-  233 

-  236 

-  237 

-  238 

-  238 

37.     Comparison,  - 

-     38 

-     39 



-  239 

-  243 

-  241 

-  243 

-  244 

-  244 

-  244 

C.     Human  Nature 

-  2.52 

-  252 

-  252 

-  248 

D.     Suavitiveness, 

-  252 

-  252 

-  252 

-  247 

The  figui-es  below  this  in  the  first  three  columns,  refer  to  Vol.  II.  on  Memory. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PHYSIOLOGY,    OR  THE  LAWS  OF  LIFE  AND  HEALTH. 

Section  i. — Introduction  ;  or  the  fundamental  principles 
of  Man's  nature. — Happiness  the  constitutional  pro- 
duct of  every  organ  and  function  of  man — of  the  eyes, 
lungs,  stomach ;  of  benevolence,  ideality,  appetite, 
reason,  language,  memory,  ambition,  affections,  &c. 
Amount  of  happiness  and  suffering  ;  its  extent ;  the  J 
penalty  of  violated  law  ;  happiness  proportionate 
to  its  obedience,  suffering  to  its  violation.  These 
laws  award  and  punish  themselves.  Man  can  obey 
or  violate  for  himself;  obedience  natural  and  easy. 
Laws  of  mind  the  highest  order  of  laws.  Education 
consists  in  teaching  these  laws,  wisdom  in  obeying 
them.     Unfolded  by  physiology  and  phrenology.  13 — 28 

Section  ii. — Relation  between  the  body  and  mind. — Man 
compounded  of  both  mind  and  matter.  Illustrations  ; 
their  reciprocality  ;  hence  we  can  operate  on  either 
by  operating  on  the  other.  To  educate  or  reform 
mankind,  we  must  rectify  the  physiology.  Materialism.     28 — 3*2 

Section  hi. — Organization  ;  its  influence  on  mind. — 
Shape,  an  index  of  organization  5  texture,  do.  Tem- 
peraments. The  broad  or  animal  organization  ;  its 
office  ;  its  signs ;  its  predominance ;  its  importance  ; 
the  muscular,  or  prominent  organization  ;  the  mental 
do. ;  its  indices;  its  predominance  ;  its  effects;  their 
combinations.  The  animal  and  muscular ;  the  animal 
and  mental.  Eloquence  ;  the  muscular  and  mental. 
Other  combinations  ;  the  best  organization  is  one 
evenly  balanced.  ....  33 — 4,5 

Section  hi.  (Erratum  for  Sec.  iv.) — Health. — Its  value 
and  conditions,  including  the  means  of  preserving  and 
regaining  it.  Health  defined  ;  sickness  do. ;  value  of 
health  the  same  as  of  life.  Mental  health  and  sick- 
ness. Health  natural ;  sickness  and  premature  death 
not  Providential.  To  preserve  health  a  moral  duty. 
Importance  of  physiological  knowledge  ;  expense  of 
sickness  ;  how  to  preserve  health  ;  not  by  medicines  ; 
bread  pills  ;  restoring  the  natural  functions  of  the  or- 
gans j  circulation  j  its  importance,  and  means  of  pre- 


CONTENTS.  IX 

servir.g  it ;  the  heart  and  lungs  ;  digestion  ;  had  hreath  ; 
souring,  or  decay  of  food,  in  the  stomach  ;  disordered 
digestion  morbidly  excites  the  brain  and  nerves  ;  func- 
tions of  the  skin  ;  colds  ;  their  causes  and  effects ; 
inhalation  ;  exercise  ;  it  promotes  circulation,  by  car- 
rying the  blood  back  to  the  heart ;  proportionate  action 
of  all  the  animal  functions  ;  much  food,  little  exercise, 
&c.  ;  amount  of  muscular  effort  required  ;  do.  attain- 
able ;  Turkish  porters  ;  the  Chinese;  riding.  All  great 
men  were  brought  up  to  labor  ;  Adam  Clarke,  Sliak- 
speare  ;  Wesley  ;  Clay  ;    Bascom  ;    Scott  ,-    Byron  ; 

,  Webster  ;  physical  education  of  children  ;  youthful 
precocity  and  backwardness  contrasted  ;  early  piety  ; 
putting  children  to  trades,  school,  &c.,  young;  exces- 
i<ive  labor  ;  keeping  children  hack  ;  means  of  preserv- 
ing this  balance  of  function  ;  improving  the  lungs  ; 
how  to  avoid  consumption  ;  improving  the  muscles ; 
Romans  ;  Hottentots;  circuses  ;  effeminacy  ;  means  of 
increasing  and  diminishing  mental  action  ;  diverting 
the  circulation  ;  habits  of  society  unfavorable  ;  giving 
children  strong  constitutions  first.       -  -  -     47 — 94 

Section  iv. — Influence  of  the  body  on  the  base  of  the  brai?i, 
or  the  conditions  of  the  body  as  affecting  the  propensities. — 
Proof ;  location  of  the  animal  organs ;  the  nature  of 
their  function  ;  classes  of  facts  ;  children  cross  when 
sick  ;  dyspeptics  ;  dying  persons  ;  facts  ;  effects  of  age  ; 
growth  of  brain  from  first  to  last  is  upward  and  for- 
ward ;  memory  in  children,  old  people,  and  the  sick  ; 
hunger  excites  anger ;  the  laboring  classes  the  most 
virtuous  ;  explained  by  this  principle  ;  effects  of  alco- 
holic drinks  harmonize  Vv'ith  it ;  they  excite  amative- 
ness,  combativeness,  destructiveness,  adhesivene,ss, 
pride,  ambition,  language,  &c.,  and  in  a  vicious  way, 
rather  than  the  moral  sentiments  and  intellect ;  re- 
versal of  this  principle  produced  by  the  reaction  of 
liquor  ;  hence  inebriates  are  wanting  in  love  of  family, 
courage,  appetite,  economy,  reason,  ambition,  &c.  ; 
inference  ;  reforms  must  begin  with  the  physiology  ; 
sin  often  caused  by  disease.     -  -  .  .  94 — 112 

CHAPTER  n. 

PEUFECTION  OF  CHAEACTER  ;  ITS  CONSTITUENTS,  AND  HOW  TO  ATTAIN  IT.- 

Section  I. — Balance  of  power  ;  or  the  proportionate  action 
of  all  the  parts. — An  even  head;  evils  of  predominant 
propensities;  deficient  do.  ;  do.  of  the  other  classes  of 
faculties  ;  evils  of  predominant  or  deficient  Amative- 
liess,  PhiloprogenitivenesSj   Combativeness,  Aliment- 


X  CONTENTS. 

iveness,  Acquisitiveness,  Cautiousness,  Self-Esteem, 
Firmness,  Ideality,  &c- ;  Sectarianism,  caused,  ac- 
counted for,  and  cured  by  this  principle  ;  varieties  in 
opinion,  judgment,  &c.  ;  do.  language,  reasoning  or- 
gans ;  application  of  this  principle  to  various  com- 
.   binations  of  the  organs  greatly  increases  its  power  and 

importance.        -  .  .  .  .  112 — 123 

Section  ii. — How  to  increase  the  Organs. — Its  possibility ; 
its  importance  ;  its  proof ;  growth  of  the  head  as  a 
Avhole  ;  every  physical  organ  enlarged  by  exercise ; 
illustrations ;  exercise  of  organs  renders  the  skull 
above  them  thin  ;  facts  drawn  from  skulls  ;  casts  taken 
at  different  periods;  Rev.  John  Pierpont,  Oldham; 
Durll's  cabinet ;  Hanshell  (with  a  cut) ;  Franklin,  (with 
a  cut)  ;  Buonaparte  ;  different  occupations  ;  farmers, 
mechanics,  operatives  ;  inhabitiveness ;  diminished  by 
moving;  New  York  ladies  ;  veneration  increased  and 
diminished  ;  two  evils ;  eventuality  in  Jews  ;  children 
of  the  rich;  soldiers;  other  proofs;  Mahon ;  the  facul- 
ties capable  of  improvement ;  importance  of  this  prin- 
ciple, especially  to  parents  ;  the  action  of  the  faculties 
the  only  meens  of  enlarging  them;  this  promoted  by 
placing  their  natural  stimulant  before  them,  not  by 
substitution.       -  ...  -  123 — 14-0 

Section  ii. — (Another  erratum  for  Section  3.) — Applica- 
tion of  these  principles  to  self -improvement.') — First  ascer- 
tain wherein  the  faculties  are  defective  or  excessive  ; 
how  to  restore  balance  of  temperament ;  directions  to 
slim,  precocious  children ;  do.  to  those  who  are  sharp- 
featured  ;  do.  fleshy ;  application  of  this  principle  to 
the  mental  faculties  ;  self-knowledge  ;  its  value,  and 
how  to  obtain  it ;  the  study  of  phrenology ;  phreno- 
logical examinations ;  phrenology  tells  people  their 
faults,  and  how  to  remedy  them  ;  examining  the  heads 
of  children ;  requisition  for  a  distinct  profession  of 
physiologists  and  phrenologists.  -  -  14fO — 164 

Section  hi. — Ascendancy  of  the  moral  sentiments  and  intel- 
lect, and  proper  direction  of  all  the  faculties. — Ap'petite, 
combativeness,  acquisitiveness,  parental  love,  friend- 
ship, approbativeness,  cautiousness,  and  each  of  the 
propensities,  exercised  under  the  dominion  of  the 
higher  faculties,  give  pleasure — not  thus  controlled, 
pain;  means  of  subduing  the  propensities;  cause  of 
much  of  man's  sinfulness  is  a  disordered  body ;  its 
cure  ;  physical  health;  the  use  of  tea,  coffee,  tobacco, 
&c.,  stimulate  the  propensities;  directing  the  faculties 
upon  their  legitimate  objects;  the  inflammation  of  the 
organs  perverts  their  faculties ;  harmonious  action  of 
the  faculties  ;  the  warring  of  the  faculties — as  of  love 


CONTEl^TS.  Xi 

ao"ainst  the  moral  sentiments,  independence  against 
love  of  money,  conscientiousness  against  combative- 
ness,  &c.,  produces  unhappiness — their  harmonious 
action,  happiness  ;  each  faculty  in  one  excites  the 
same  faculty  in  another.  .  _  .  148 — 164- 

ANALYSIS  OF  THE  FACULTIES,  AND  MEANS  OF  INCREASING  AND 

DIMINISHING    THEIK  ORGANS.  .  -  .  .  164 

1.  Amativeness. — Its  analysis  and  adaptation.  -  165 

2.  PaiLOPROGENiTivENESs, — Its  adaptation  and  cultivation.  166 

3.  Adhesiveness, — Its  analysis,  cultivation,   and  proper 
regulation.        ---.-.  167 

Union  for  Life.  .  -  .  .  .  171 

4.  Inhabitiveness. — Its  analysis  and  cultivation.  -  171 

5.  Concentrativeness. — Its  adaptation,  and  means  of 
cultivating  it.  .....  172 

6.  Combativeness. — Its  analysis  and  government ;  pro- 
voking,  scolding,  and  teasing  children  ;    cultivating 

this  faculty.      ......  174 

7.  Destrttctiveness. — Its  adaptation,  abuses,  and  res- 
traint ;  evils  of  corporal  punishment ;  punishment  in 
general ;  Nature's  punishment  sufficient ;  antagonizing 
it  with  veneration,  benevolence,  conscientiousness, 
intellect,  &c.  ;  governing  by  love;  objection;  per- 
suasion better  than  force  ;  punishing  children  in  anger  ; 
flogging  them  to  school ;  employing  diversion  ;  teach- 
ing children  to  govern  themselves  ;  illustrated  by  two 
families  ;  story  of  a  girl ;  peevishness  of  parents  ;  how 

to  cultivate  destructiveness.  ...  179 

8.  ALiMENTivENESs.^Its  adaptation  5  evils  of  over  eating ; 
diet ;  leavened  and  unleavened  bread  ;  cookery  5  wo- 
men should  spend  less  time  in  preparing  food  ;  appeal 
to  woman ;  two  meals  per  day  ;  woman  sews  too  much  ; 
small  families  ;  woman's  time  wasted  j  man  mainly  at 

fault ;  restraining  appetite.       -  -  -  -  196 

9.  Aquativeness. — Adaptation ;  the  cold  water  cure  ; 
hathing  ;  cold  water  as  a  punishment ;  colds,  and  their 
preventives ;  letting  children  play  in  the  water.  -  206 

10.  Acquisitiveness. — Its  function  ;  its  government  5 
leaving  children  rich  ;  giving  them  spending  money  5 

how  to  restrain  acquisitiveness.  -  -  -  211 

11.  Secretiveness. — Its  function  ;  telling  children  the 
truth  ;  fulfilling  promises  ;  fashionable  life  j  cultivation 

of  secretiveness  5  its  restraint.  ...  215 

12.  Cautiousness. — Its  adaptation  and  function  ;  fright- 
ening children  ;  how  to  increase  and  diminish  it.         -  2lS 

13.  Appeobativeness. — Its  analysis  ;  its  due  regulation  ;    ""^ 
mortifymg  children  j  appointments   and  rewards  of 
honor.  .  .  .  -  .  ^  222 


XU  CONTENTS. 

14.  Self-Estee>!. — Its  true  function  ;  self-reliance  ;  ele- 
vation of  character  ;  its  cultivation  and  restraint.         -  225 

15.  FiKMNESs. — Its   office  ;   its   cultivation  ;    being    firm 

with  children ;  its  restraint.  -  -  -  229 

16.  Conscientiousness. — Its  analysis;  its  cultivation.  231 

17.  Hope. — Its  analysis,  cultivation,  and  restraint.  -  233 

18.  Marvellousness. — Its  adaptation,  cultivation,  and 
restraint.  -  -        ,     -  -  -  -  234< 

19.  Benevolence. — Its  adaptation  ;  small  in  infants  ; 
means  of  cultivating  it ;  general  philanthropy  ;  Chris- 
tian benevolence  ;  public  works  ;  killing  animals,  birds 
especially ;  its  restraint.  -  -  .  .  237 

20.  CoNSTUCTiVENESs. — Its  function,  its  enlargemeut,  and 
restraint.  -  -  -  -  -  -        -  243 

21.  Ideality. — Its  adaptation  ;  its  enlargement.  -  246 

22.  Sublimity. — Its  function  and  enlargement.  -  249 

23.  Imitation. — Its  adaptation  and  regulation.  -  250 

24.  Mirthfulness. — Its  function,  cultivation,  and  res- 
traint. ..-..-  251 

Human  Nature  and  Agreeableness. — Their  functions, 

and  means  of  increasing  them.  ...  252 


PHRENOLOGY  AND  PHYSIOLOGY, 


APPLIED   TO 


EDUCATION  AND  SELF-IMPEOVEMENT. 


CHAPTER  I. 

physiology:  or,  the  laws  of  life  and  health. 

SECTION  L 

INTROIWCTION  :   OR,    THE   FUNDAMENTAL  PRINCIPLES  OF  MAn's  NATITKe,? 

That  Happiness  is  the  sole  object  of  Man's  creatioriji  is  ren-' 
dered  evident  by  its  being  the  only   legitimate    p?oduct  of 
every  organ  of  his  body,  of  every  faculty  of  his  mifidj-of  every 
element  of  his  nature.     What  but  happiness  is  the  end  sought* 
and  obtained  in  the  creation  of  every  bone,  of  cJfeiy  joint,  of 
every  muscle? — happiness    in  their  exercise,    liappiness  in 
locomotion,  labor,  &c.,  and  happiness  in  the  results  obtain-- 
■ed  by  this  motion.     What  but  pleasure  is  the  legitimate  func- 
'tion  of  the  eye  ? — the  most  exquisite  pleasure  in'  the  exercise 
of  sight  itself^  and  an  inexhaustible  fund  of  happiness  im  the 
>ends  attained  by  seeing — in  its  enabling  us  to  find  our  way^ 
and  in  pouring  into  the  mind  a  vast  fund  of  information,  and! 
also    furnishing  an    inexhaustible    range  of    materials    for 
ithought  and  mental  action.     What  but  enjoymeHt  is  the  end 
nought  ani  secured  by  the  creation  of  the  lungs? — enjoyment 
m  breathing  freely  the  fresh  .air  ^f  heaven,  and  enjoyment 


14     PHRENOLOGY  APPLIED  TO  EDUCATION  AND  SELF-IBIPE-OVEBTENT^ 

in  the  expenditureof  that  vitality  furnished  thereby ;  few  realiz- 
ing the  amount  of  pleasure  capable  of  being  taken  in  quaffing 
luxuriantly  and  abundantly  the  health-inspiring  breeze ! — 
What  other  object  than  pleasure  dictated  the  creation  of  the 
stomach? — pleasure  in  the  act  of  digestion,  and  pleasure  in 
the  expenditure  of  those  vital  energies  produced  thereby. 
And  what  is  the  object  sought  and  obtained  in  the  creation  of 
the  brain  and  nervous  system — what  but  happiness  is  the  only 
legitimate  product  of  their  primitive  function? — happiness  in 
their  exercise  itself,  and  inexhaustible  happiness  in  that  bound- 
less range  of  mental  and  moral  ends  secured  by  their  creation. 
Narrowing  down  our  observations  to  the  mental  faculties^, 
we  find  the  same  sole  end  sought  and  obtained  by  the  creation 
of  each  one  separately,  and  of  all  collectively.  Benevolence 
was  created  both  to  pour  the  oil  of  consalation  into  the 
wounded  heart,  to  avoid  occasions  of  pain,  and  to  beautify 
and  bless  mankind;  and  also  to  pour  still  greater  blessings 
into  the  soul  of  the  giver ;  for,  it  is  even  ''  more  blessed  to 
give  than  to  receive."  Parental  love,  while  it  renders  the 
parent  happy  in  providing  for  darling  infancy  and  lovely 
childhood,  also  renders  the  child  most  happy  in  receiving  the 
blessings  showered  down  upon  it  by  this  happifying  faculty. 
The  legitimate  function  of  Ideality  is  pleasure ;  both  in  con- 
templating the  beautiful  and  the  exquisite  in  nature  and  in 
art,  and  also  in  refining  and  purifying  all  the  grosser  elements 
of  our  nature,  and  softening  and  gracing  all  our  conduct. 
Acquisitiveness  was  created  to  afford  pleasure,  both  in  the 
mere  acquisition  of  property,  edibles,  and  the  comforts  and 
conveniences  of  life ;  and  also  to  furnish  all  the  other  facul- 
ties with  the  means  of  gratification : — Appetite  with  food ; 
Benevolence  with  the  means  of  bestowing  charity  ;  Cautious- 
ness with  instruments  of  defence;  the  Social  Feelings  with 
comforts  for  the  family  ;  luhabitiveness  with  a  home ;  Con- 
structiveness  with  tools,  farming  utensils,  &c. ;  Intellect  with 
books,  philosophical  apparatus,  and  the  means  of  prosecuting 
the  study  of  nature  and  her  laws,  &c.  Appetite,  while  it 
gives  us  gustatory  pleasure  in  partaking  of  food,  also  fur- 
nishes the  stomachwith  the  materials  required  for  manufac- 
turing that  nourishment  and   strength  without  which  every 


THE  FUNDAMENTAL  PRINCIPLES  OF  MAn's  NATURE.  15 

enjoyment  would  be  cut  off,  and  life  itself  soon  cease.    Caus- 
ality was  created,  not  only  to  produce  the  richest  harvest  of 
pleasure  in  studying  the  laws  and  operations  of  nature,  but 
also,  that  we  might  adapt  ways  and  means  to  ends,  and  secure 
our  own  highest  good  by  applying  the  laws  of  causation  to 
the  production  of  whatever  results  we  might  desire.     The  le- 
gitimate function  of  Language  is  to  furnish  a  world  of  plea- 
sure, merely  in  the  act  of  talking,  and  then  to  add  to  it  that 
inexhaustible  fountain  of  happiness  which  flows  from  impart- 
ingand  receiving  knowledge,  ideas,  motives  for  action, &c.,  and 
in  reading,  in  hearing  lectures,  sermons,  &c.,  &c.     Memory 
enables  us  to  recollect  what  gave  us  pleasure,  and  what  pain, 
that  we  might  repeat  the  former  and  avoid  the  latter ;  that  we 
might  remember  faces,  places,  numbers,  &c.,  and  recall  our 
knowledge  at  pleasure,  so  as  to  apply  it  to  beneficial  purposes. 
Veneration  naturally  gives  us  pleasure,  both  in  worshipping 
God,  and  in  those  holy,  purifying  influences  which  prayer 
sheds  abroad  in  the  soul.     The   same   principle   applies  to 
Friendship,  to  Connubial  Love,  to  Ambition,  to  Perseverance, 
to  Sense  of  Justice,  to  Hope,  to  Imitation,  and  to  every  other 
element  of  the  human  mind.     I  repeat.     The  legitimate  func- 
tion of  every  physical  organ,  of  every  mental  faculty,  of  every 
element  of  man,  is  happiness,  all  happiness,  pure,  unalloyed, 
unmitigated  happiness,  and  nothing  else.     Man  was  made 
solely  to  be  happy,  to   be  perfectly  happy,*  and  for  that 
alone. — Nor  does  the  needle  point  to  its  pole  more  uniformly 
and  certainly,  than  does  every  part  of  man  point  to  this  one 
result.     No  truth  can  be  more  plain,  more  universal,  more 
self-evident. 


*Let  not  this  principle  be  construed  so  as  to  militate  against  the  doc- 
trine of  original  sin,  or  constitutional  depravity  and  consequent  misery. 
It  is  established  by  demonstration — by  the  highest  and  most  universal 
species  of  evidence,  and  cannot  be  refuted;  so  that  whatever  doctrine 
clashes  vsrith  it,  must  stand  aside.  It  embodies  the  primitive  constitution 
of  man.  Whatever  conflicts  with  it  is  erroneous. — However,  I  am  un- 
able to  discover  this  clashing ;  for  this  principle  alludes,  simply,  to  the 
primitive  constitution  of  man.  And  let  nothing  be  so  construed  as  to  pre- 
vent our  profiting  by  this,  the  greatest  truth  that  God  has  taught,  or  man 
can  learn. 


16      PHRENOLOGY  APPLIED  TO  EDUCATION  AND  SELF-IMPROVEMENT. 

And  the  amount  of  happiness  of  which  our  nature  is  sus- 
ceptible, is  inconceivably  great — is  doubtless  a  thousand-fold 
greater  than  the  most  favored  of  mortals  has  ever  yet  experi- 
enced, and  infinitely  greater  than  the  generality  of  mankind 
now  experience.  Oh  !  if  man  would  but  exercise  his  pow- 
ers in  accordance  with  their  primitive  constitution,  how 
perfectly,  how  inconceivably  happy  he  might  be,  and  would 
be! 

But  alas !  our  world  is  full  of  suffering  and  misery,  and 
groans  in  agony  !  Pandora's  box,  filled  with  all  manner 
of  diseases,  has  been  opened  upon  us  !  Poverty,  wretched- 
ness, diseases  the  most  painful  and  loathsome,  premature 
death,  the  loss  of  friends,  children,  and  companions,  filling  the 
soul  with  anguish  the  most  heart-rending  and  unutterable,  or 
one  or  other  of  those  numberless  ills  tlikt  flesh  is  heir  to  ;  and, 
frequently,  a  swarm  at  once,  scourge  and  torment  nearly,  or 
quite,  the  whole  human  family !  Millions  suff'er  more  than 
they  enjoy;  and  millions  of  millions  are  the  victims  of  phy- 
sical misery  and  mental  anguish,  so  absolutely  intolerable 
as  to  extort  the  wish  that  they  had  never  been  born  !  or  that 
death  would  hasten  to  their  relief!  and  nearly  all  mankind 
complain  of  this  world  in  which  we  live — perfect  as  it  is,  and 
every  way  adapted  to  promote  the  happiness  of  man — as 
"bad,"  and  "wicked." 

Yet  this  pain  forms  no  part  of  any  arrangement  or  contri- 
vance of  man's  nature.  Teeth  were  made  to  give  pleasure  in 
masticating  food;  not  to  ache.  Nor  need  they  ever  ache. 
The  head  was  made  to  give  pleasure  in  the  exercise  of 
thought  and  feeling  ;  not  to  torment  us  with  the  head-ache. 
The  lungs  were  made  to  afford  pleasure  in  breathing ;  and  in 
the  results  of  breathing,  not  to  pain  us  when  inflamed,  nor  to 
blast  all  our  hopes,  all  our  happiness,  by  consumption.  The 
stomach  was  not  made  to  cause  griping  pains,  as  in  dyspepsia, 
summer  complaints,  &c.  Nor  was  any  part  of  the  body  created 
expressly  to  torment  us  with  excruciating  rheumatic  pains. 
Does  the  malignant,  life-destroying  cancer,  constitute  any  part 
of  man's  primitive  creation ;  or  the  gout,  or  dropsy,  or  any 
form  of  disease  ? 

And  was  Benevolence  created  for  the  purpose  of  tormenting 


THE  FUNDAMENTAL  PRINCIPLES  OF  MAn's  NATURE.  17 

US  with  the  sight  of  pain  which  cannot  be  relieved  ?  Or  Com- 
bativeness,  to  quarrel,  or  engage  in  street  brawls,  or  cause 
neighborhood  animosities  and  bickerings?  Or  Destructive- 
ness,  to  devastate  whole  countries  with  war,  and  blood,  and 
every  conceivable  form  of  human  suffering  ? —to  make  the 
loving  wife  a  lonely  widow  ;  and  the  happy  child  a  helpless 
orphan  ;  and  to  end  the  lives  of  millions  by  a  death  the  most 
painful  and  horrible  !  Or  appetite,  to  gormandize,  and  offer 
up  all  that  is  virtuous  and  happy  in  our  nature  at  the  shrine 
of  loathsome  drunkenness  ?  Or  Approbativeness,  to  pinch 
the  feet  of  the  suffering  Chinese,  or  distort  the  waist  and  has- 
ten the  death  of  the  simple  American,  or  deform  the  head  of 
the  savage  Indian  ?  Or  Self-Esteem,  to  wade  through  seas  of 
blood  to  thrones  of  despotism,  and  rule  with  a  tyrant's  rod  ? 
Or  Veneration,  to  produce  all  the  abominations  of  paganism, 
together  with  all  the  bigotry  of  Christendom  ?  Or  Construct- 
iveness,  (with  Causality)  to  invent  and  execute  instruments  of 
death,  or  the  agonizing  rack  ?  Or  Acquisitiveness,  to  cheat, 
and  rob,  and  with  Destructiveness,  to  murder  ?  Or  Causality, 
to  plot  mischief  and  work  destruction?  Or  Parental  love,  to 
be  lacerated  with  anguish  inexpressible  by  the  death  of  a 
lovely  child,  or  of  a  whole  group  of  beautiful  and  happy  sons 
and  daughters  ?  Or  Adhesiveness,  to  mourn  the  loss  of  near 
and  dear  friends,  by  death  or  treachery  ?  Or  Connubial  love, 
to  weep  distracted  and  inconsolable  over  the  grave  of  a  lovely 
wife,  or  a  fond  husband ;  and  that,  perhaps,  after  every  child 
has  been  buried,  every  means  of  support  extorted,  every 
earthly  pleasure  blasted,  and  loathsome,  painful  disease  prey- 
ing on  their  inmost  vitals,  and  opening  the  dark,  yawning 
grave  at  their  feet  ?  No  !  Never  !  The  poles  are  not  opposite 
to  each  other  more  than  these  results  are  the  antipodes  of  their 
legitimate  functions — their  only  constitutional  product !  Nor 
is  there  a  single  organ  or  contrivance  of  the  body,  nor  faculty 
of  the  mind,  nor  arrangement  of  our  nature,  the  natural,  ap- 
propriate action  of  which  causes  pain,  or  produces  any  thing 
but  happiness.  To  suppose  otherwise,  would  be  a  libel  on 
the  God  of  Heaven — a  reflection  on  both  His  power  and  His 
goodness  ;  as  well  as  in  open  hostility  to  fact. 

WhencBj  then,  this  wide-spread  misery  ?    Did  Eve's  eating 


18     PHRENOLOGY  APPLIED  TO  EDUCATION  AND  SELF-IMPROVEMENT. 

the  forbidden  fruit,  cause  all  this  ?  But  that  event  affects  ev- 
ery member  of  the  human  family  alike  ;  so  that,  as  far  as  its 
influences  are  concerned,  every  one  could  be  as  happy  in  thie 
world  as  any  one  ever  has  been,  or  ever  will  he.  The  believ- 
ers of  that  doctrine,  also  believe  in  a  millennium  "  when  all 
shall  know  the  Lord"  and  be  perfectly  happy  ;  and  yet  they 
will  bear  precisely  the  same  relation  to  Eve  that  we  do,  and 
that  the  most  miserable  and  sinful  of  mankind  do. 

Hear  Nature's  answer.  "AJl  enjoyment,  all  suffering,  is 
CAUSED."  The  sentient  world,  no  less  than  the  physical,  is 
governed  by  fixed  laws.  In  order  to  reduce  utter  chaos  to  a 
world  of  order  and  certainty,  the  wise  and  beneficent  Creator 
of  the  Universe  has  instituted  a  system  of  causes  and  effects. 
He  has  done  more.  All  is  cause  and  eflect.  Every  thing 
that  is,  or  occurs,  is  caused.  Jill  causes  produce  their  own 
appropriate  effects,  and  those  only,  and  all  effects  are  the  le- 
gitimate, necessary  products  of  their  respective  causes.  Noth- 
ing can  be,  occur,  or  exist,  without  being  governed,  in  every 
conceivable  point  of  view,  by  the  laws  of  cause  and  effect. 
These  laws  reign  supreme.  From  them,  there  is  no  appeal^ 
and  to  them  there  is  no  exception.  Without  them,  we  could 
rely  upon  nothing,  could  accomplish  nothing.  But  for  them, 
every  thing  would  happen,  8i.nd6a.Y]s,  doleful  uncertainty  would 
reign  supreme  ;  now,  all  things  are  caused,  so  that  we  can  ef- 
fect any  desired  end  by  applying  its  appropriate  means.  Nor 
do  any  results  crowd  themselves  upon  us  unbidden.  Every 
thing  that  we  are,  that  we  enjoy,  that  we  suffer,  that  we 
think,  or  feel,  or  do,  is  caused ;  and  not  only  caused,  but  is  the 
necessary  product  of  its  own  /e^z7/mafe  cause,  and  of  that  on- 
ly. And  like  causes,  always  produce  like  consequences,  and 
no  others.  Under  the  same  circumstances,  nothing  else  could 
possibly  occur.  All  change,  all  variation,  is  precluded.  All 
uncertainty  and  doubt  are  banished.  By  knowing  or  apply- 
ing given  causes,  we  can  predict  and  effect  consequences  with 
unerring  certainty. 

Nor  are  these  laws  without  sanction.  They  are  not  power- 
less, harmless,  passive  nonentities ;  but  they  are  clothed  with 
authority;  and  that  authority  is  the  pleasure  flowing  from 
their  obedience,  and  the  pain  consequent  upon  their  infrac- 


THE  FUNDAMEKTAL  PEINCIPLES  OF  MAN  S  NATUKE. 


19 


tion.  Ill  fact,  happiness  is  but  the  legitimate  effect — the  one 
and  only  effect — of  their  obedience  ;  and  pain,  of  their  vio- 
lation. Without  these  consequences  of  pleasure  and  pain,  law 
would  be  powerless,  and  therefore  useless.  To  secure  happi- 
ness and  to  prevent  suffering-,  is  the  one  specific  object,  and 
the  legitimate  operation,  of  every  law  of  our  being ;  and  in 
order  to  effect  this  most  desirable  result,  their  wise  and  benevo- 
lent Author  has  made  happiness  the  necessary  and  the  inva- 
riable consequence  of  their  obedience,  and  misery  the  certain 
product  of  their  infraction.  Of  what  use  or  value  this  ar- 
rangement of  law,  except  to  promote  happiness  ? — just  seen  to 
be  the  great  end  of  all  creation. 

If  their  action  had  been  productive  of  pleasure  only,  half 
their  present  sanction  would  be  wanting  ;  but  now,  not  only 
do  the  pleasures  they  bestow,  sweetly  allure  and  entice  us  on 
in  the  paths  of  their  obedience,  but  the  direful  penalties  con- 
sequent on  their  infraction,  drive  us,  even  cornpel  us,  and  with 
9,  power  greater  than  any  other  means  possibly  could  do,  to 
comply  with  their  mandates.     Pain  is  certainly  painful ;  and 
pleasure  is  indeed  delightful.     Man  has  a  constitutional  love 
of  happiness,  an  attraction  for  it ;  but  unhappiness  is  poison 
to  his  nature,  abhorrent  to  him,  so  that  he  instinctively  avoids  it. 
This  is  an  arrangement  lying  back  in  the  very  nature  of  things, 
in  which  as  already  seen,  man's  nature  is  based, and  to  which  this 
arrangement  of  law  is  adapted.   Without  happiness,  our  nature 
would  be  valueless.     Without  pain,  it  must  be  without  happi- 
ness.  If  there  were  no  pain  to  warn  us  that  we  were  violating 
the  laws  of  our  being,  we  should  ignorantly  and  unconscious- 
ly, destroy  ourselves  a  thousand  times  over,  if  that  were  possi- 
ble.    Thus,  if  I  experienced  no  pain  in  violating  the  physical 
laws,  becoming  engaged  in  conversation,  I  might  lean  or  sit 
upon  a  hot  stove,  and  burn  myself  to  a  crisp  ;  or  unconscious 
of  the  cold,  freeze  to  death,  and  in  countless  ways  mutilate 
and  destroy  myself.     And  so  of  mind,  if  it  could  experience 
no  pain.     Law  without  a  penalty  attached  to  its  violation,  is 
but  mockery — a  rope  of  sand — and  the  more  certain  and  fear- 
ful this  penalty,  the  more  valuable  the  law.     Man  is  capacita- 
ted to  suffer,  and  pain  is  the  most  powerful  enforcer  of  obedi- 
ence to  law,  and  consequently,  promoter  of  happiness,  that 


20     PHRENOLOGY  APPLIED  TO  EDUCATION  AND  SELF-IMPEGVEMETNITV 

even  a  God  could  invent.  And  this  two-fold  co-ntrivance  of 
rewards  and  punishments,  the  former  to  enticCy  the  latter  to 
enforce,  obedience  to  law,  so  wise,  so  perfectly  calculated  every 
way,  to  secure  man's  highest  good,  could  have  been  prompt- 
ed only  by  Infinite  Benevolence,  and  arranged  only  by  Infinite 
Wisdom. 

Be  it  remembered,  then,  by  every  member  of  the  human 
family,  that  "affliction  cometh  not  forth  of  the  dust ;"  nor  doth 
pleasure  spring  up  out  of  the  ground.  Be  it  remembered,  that 
every  pain  we  feel  is  caused — is  the  legitimate,  tne  necessary, 
the  inevitable  consequence  of  the  infraction  of  some  law  of 
our  being  ;  and  that  every  pleasure  we  experience,  flows  nat- 
urally and  necessarily  from  law  obeyed.  Be  it  remembered, 
that  there  is  no  possibility  of  obeying  or  violating  any  law 
whatever  without  producing  these  results.  No  pain  was  ever 
sent  by  God — no  blessing  was  ever  bestowed,  except  in  obedi- 
ence to  unalterable  law  !  And  be  it  further  remembered,  that, 
in  just  that  proportion  in  which  we  obey  the  mental  and  phy- 
sical laws,  in  just  that  proportion  shall  we  necessarily  be  hap- 
py ;  and  in  exact  proportion  as  we  suffer,  in  that  proportion 
have  we  broken  them,  or  sinned.  Our  enjoyments  and  suffer- 
ings are  the  thermometers  of  our  righteousness  and  sinfulness. 
Those  who  suffer  most,  have  sinned  most,  and  those  who  are 
the  most  happy  are  the  most  holy — ^liappy  or  miserable  be- 
cause they  are  holy  or  sinful,  and  in  exact  proportion — as  ex- 
act as  the  God  of  heaven  can  mete  them  out.  And  let  it  also 
be  remembered,  as  a  necessary  consequence,  that  by  avoiding 
all  violation  of  law,  we  shall  escape  all  suffering  of  every  kind  ; 
and  that,  by  obeying  all  the  laws  of  our  nature,  we  shall  be- 
come perfectly  happy — as  happy  as  it  is  possible  for  our  na- 
ture to  become  or  to  endure  ;  and  full,  to  overflowing,  with  un- 
minlged  enjoyment,  unalloyed  bliss  ! 

Nor  are  these  laws  a  sealed  book  to  man.  They  do  not  lie 
hidden  in  labyrinthian  mazes,  ready  to  spring  upon  him  like  a 
snake  in  the  grass,  or  a  tiger  from  his  lair.  Such  a  supposi- 
tion charges  God  foolishly,  is  derogatory  to  man,  and  would 
render  those  laws  comparatively  useless.  No.  They  are 
open,  plain,  and  lighted  up  by  the  full  blaze  of  the  noon-day 
sun.     Nor  need  they  ever  be  mistaken.     No  mist,  no  uncer- 


THE  FUNDAMENTAL  PRINCIPLES  OF  MAn'^S  NATURE.  21 

tainty,  envelopes  any  of  them.  If  even  brutes  understand 
the  laws  of  then-  being  sufficiently  to  apply  them  so  as  to  en- 
joy life,  surely  man,  with  all  his  powers  of  reason  and  obser- 
vation, and  all  his  keenness  of  sensation,  is  able,  not  merely  to 
discern,  as  in  a  glass  darkly,  but  to  read  clearly  and  fully,  eve- 
ry law  of  his  being,  every  condition  of  enjoyment,  every  oc- 
casion of  suffering. 

To  this  capability  of  understanding  these  Lav/s,  God  has 
kindly  superadded  the  power  of  applying  them.  Not  only 
can  man  see  them,  but  he  can  reach  them — can  apply  means 
to  ends,  and  thereby  produce  almost  any  result  he  desires. 
At  least,  he  is  capable  of  augmenting  his  own  happiness,  as 
well  as  that  of  his  fellow-men;  and  also  of  causing  an  incon- 
ceivable amount  of  suffering,  both  to  himself,  and  to  those 
around  him. 

Again  : — Every  law  awards  and  executes  itself.  To  obey 
any  law,  is  to  enjoy  the  blessings  secured  by  that  law.  To 
transgress  it,  is  to  incur  its  penalties.  In  the  very  act  of  obe- 
dience, consists  its  pleasure  ;  and  in  and  with  the  transgres- 
sion, consists  the  penalty.  No  escape,  no  evasion  of  either, 
can  possibly  occur,  through  God's  vast  domain.  Obedience 
and  happiness  are  inseparably  linked  together;  and  sin  and 
suffering  go  hand  in  hand  throughout  the  universe.  Neither 
can  ever  be  separated  from  its  mate. 

And  what  is  more,  all  enjoyment  flows  in  the  direct  line  of 
the  obedience,  and  all  suffering  bears  a  close  analogy  to  that 
sin  which  causes  it.  The  pleasure  is  like  the  obedience,  and 
the  suffering  partakes  of  the  same  cast  and  character  with  the 
transgression.  Thus : — In  and  by  transgressing  the  laws  of 
Appetite,  we  experience  pain,  and  pain  too,  growing  out  of 
the  transgression,  and  in  the  direct  line  of  that  transgression  ; 
namely,  it  deranges  the  stomach,  corrupts  the  blood,  and  pro- 
duces pain  in  that  department  of  our  nature  and  in  its  depen- 
dencies, by  deranging  all  the  results  of  eating,  and  supplanting 
this  whole  class  of  pleasures  by  analogous  jo«m*.  So,  the 
violation  of  the  law  of  Amativeness,  occasions  the  trans- 
gressor pain  in  the  social  department,  and  all  its  ramifica- 
tions ;  diminishing,  in  proportion  to  the  transgression,  his 
domestic  pleasures,  and  all  those  dependant  thereon,  and  pro- 


22     PHRENOLOGY  APPLIED  TO  EDUCATION  AND  SELF-IMPROVEMENT. 

portionally  inducing  domestic  misery.  Though  the  libertine, 
and  those  who  trifle  with  the  social  relations,  may  reap  plea- 
sure from  whatever  other  laws  they  obey,  yet  they  never  need 
expect  to  enjoy  domestic  happiness ;  for  their  transgression 
incapacitates  them  therefor.  Whosoever  violates  the  law 
that  governs  Acquisitiveness  by  hoarding  up  immense  wealth, 
or  by  obtaining  money  dishonestly — by  fraud,  by  gambling, 
by  nmrder,  &c. — will  surely  suffer  in  the  matter  of  money, 
and  on  accou7it  of  it.  Ill-gotten  gain  poisons  all  who  touch  it. 
Did  a  gambler,  or  a  robber,  ever  enjoy  the  money  thus  gotten  ? 
The  very  fact  that  he  obtained  it  unjustly,  renders  it  a  curse 
to  him,  and  to  all  who  inherit  it.  Those  who  make  money 
very  easily,  say  by  speculation,  or  by  great  profits,  that  is, 
who  obtain  possession  of  money  without  actually  earning  it, 
do  not,  and  can  not,  enjoy  it.  "  Easy  come,  easy  go,"  ap- 
plies to  them.  Making  it  so  easily  and  rapidly,  they  spend  it 
freely  and  for  unnecessary  and  injurious  gratifications,  by 
which  their  health  is  injured,  their  morals  are  depraved,  and 
their  offspring  generally  ruined.  Take  care  how  you  make 
money  too  easily,  however  legally,  and  by  means  used  how- 
ever generally.  "  Honesty  is  policy. '''  Those  who  earn  their 
money  by  the  sweat  of  their  brow,  besides  enjoying  even  the 
making  of  it,  know  whence  it  comes,  use  it  frugally,  and 
are  never  surfeited  with  luxuries.  To  make  money  honestly, 
that  is,  not  to  cheat  for  it,  nor  to  speculate  for  it,  nor  even  to 
trade  for  it,  but  to  earn  it,  is  the  only  way  to  enjoy  it.*  In 
like  manner,  every  law  of  our  nature,  not  only  both  punishes 
its  own  infraction  and  rewards  its  own  obedience,  but  also, 
exactly  in  the  footsteps  of  both. 

Hence,  then,  it  can  not  be  difficult  to  trace  all  the  ills  of 
mankind — public  and  private,  mental  and  physical,  collective 
and  individual— directly  and  certainly  to  their  causes;  that  is, 

*  Hence  laborers — farmers,  and  those  who  work  for  wha.t  they  have — 
are  the  most  happy  beings  on  earth — the  most  heahhy,  talented,  and  vir- 
tuous :  but  those  who  live  by  their  wits  are  generally  sickly,  luxurious, 
sinful,  and  miserable.  So,  also,  the  rich  are  generally  miserable.  Their 
riches  make  them  so,  because  they  violate  the  law  of  nature,  in  the  very 
act  of  amassing  great  wealth.  "Wo  unto  the  rich,"  saith  the  law  of 
man's  nature. 


THE  FUNDAMENTAL  PRINCIPLES  OF  MAn's  NATURE.  23 

to  the  violated  law  out  of  which  they  grow — an  inference  of 
the  utmost  value  and  importance  ;  for  it  teaches  mankind  at 
once  the  causes  and  the  remedy,  of  every  evil  that  exists,  of 
every  pain  that  man  experiences ;  and  at  the  same  timey 
shows  him  just  what  it  is  that  makes  him  happy,  so  that  he 
may  "seek  it  yet  again."  And  let  every  individual,  by  as 
much  as  he  values  his  own  happiness  and  dreads  suffering, 
trace  his  every  pain  to  its  cause,  and  then  remove  that  cause  5, 
and  also  trace  up  his  pleasures  to  that  fountain  head  from 
which  they  flow. 

In  addition  to  all  this,  man  possesses  that  power  of  will,  or 
self-governments  which  enables  him  to  choose  or  to  refuse  the 
evil  or  the  good — to  obey  these  laws,  or  to  violate  them — to 
render  himself  good  or  bad,  happy  or  miserable  !  Now  put 
together  these  self-evident  truths — that  man  is  constituted  to 
be  perfectly  happy — that  all  happiness  is  the  Jixed  and  certain 
EFFECT  of  obedience  to  the  laws  of  our  being,  and  every 
pain,  the  legitimate,  necessary  consequence  or  operation  of 
their  infraction — that  our  Creator  has  kindly  endowed  man 
with  capacity  to  understand,  and  ability  to  apply,  these  laws ; 
and  also  with  the  power  of  choice,  by  which  he  is  enabled  to 
obey  or  to  violate  them,  according  to  his  own  will  and  plea- 
sure ;  and  the  inference  is  obvious  and  inevitable,  that  all  our 
sufferings  are  ..brought  either  by  man  upon  his  fellow  man,  or 
by  individuals  upon  themselves. 

And  what  is  more,  these  observances  and  violations  depend 
wam/y  on  every  individual /or  Am^e//!  True,  the  relations 
of  children  to  their  parents,  by  which  they  inherit  disease, 
physical  and  mental,  or  are  badly  trained ;  and  of  man  to 
man,  by  which  individuals  suffer  somewhat  on  account  of  the 
sins  of  the  mass,  partially  modify  this  result;  yet,  in  the  outline 
and  great  majority  of  cases,  individuals  for  themselves,  both 
sin  and  suffer,  m  \he\x  own  person — on  their  own  account. 
Our  enjoyments  and  sufferings  are  mostly  in  our  own  keeping, 
and  within  oar  own  control ;  because  they  are  the  rewards 
and  penalties  mainly  oi  our  own  doings. 

Let  us  then  apply  ourselves  diligently  to  the  study  of  the 
laws  of  our  nature ;  for,  unless  we  know  them,  how  can 
we  obey  or  enjoy  them,  except  we  stumble  upon  them  by 


24      PHRENOLOGY  APPLIED  TO  EDUCATION  AND  SELF-IMPEOVEMENT. 

chance  ?   or  how  escape  suffering  by  avoiding  their  violation  ? 

Truly, 

"  The  chief  est  study  of  mankind  is  man. 

Our  greatest  knowledge  is  ourselves  to  know. " 

By  knowing  them  we  can  follow  them,  and  thus  be  gathering 
in,  continually,  all  those  rich  clusters,  those  endless  varieties, 
of  the  sweetest  pleasures  which  a  wise  and  gracious  God  has 
adapted  and  prepared  our  nature  to  yield ;  and  escape  all 
those  direful  consequences  of  their  infraction  which  flood  our 
world  with  sorrow  and  sighing.  That  it  is  possible  to  escape 
suffering,  has  already  been  demonstrated.  That  it  is  infinitely 
Tnore  easy  to  obey  law  and  be  perfectly  happy,  than  to  sin 
and  suffer,  is  equally  evident.  The  difliculty  consists  in  living 
as  we  do. 

Hie  labor:  hoc  opus  est.* 

To  live  aright,  and  thereby  to  enjoy,  is  all  down  hill  work, 
all  plain  sailing,  all  most  delightful.  To  suppose  that  we  must 
tug,  and  toil,  and  deny  ourselves  to  live  aright,  is  an  error — 
whose  father  is  bigotry,  and  whose  mother  is  ignorance.  To 
know  how,  is  the  one  thing  needful,  the  "pearl  of  great 
price."  To  obey  these  laws,  men  must  know  them.  Igno- 
rance is  the  parent  of  most  of  man's  suffering.  Men  want 
knowledge.  This  is  the  first,  the  second,  and  the  third  instru- 
ment of  reform.  "Ignorance  is  the  evil,  knowledge  the  re- 
medy;" and  is  it  not  surprising,  that  they  whose  sole  pro- 
fession and  occupation  is  to  impart  this  knowledge,  should 
themselves  be  so  almost  totally  ignorant — should  be  often  the 
greatest  sinners  and  sufferers — the  blind  leading  the  blind, 
and  both  upon  the  wrong  track  ?  To  impart  this  knowledge, 
to  reveal  this  secret,  is  the  object  of  this  work,  and  if  it  suc- 
ceed, it  will  indeed  accomplish  a  great  work. 

Another  preliminary  remark.  That  same  Goodness  and 
Wisdom  which  devised  and  instituted  this  system  of  laws,  re- 
wards, and  punishments,  has  also  apportioned  the  pleasures 
of  obedience  and  the  pains  of  disobedience,  to  the  importance 
of  the  several  laws.  Life  is  the  greatest  of  all  blessings,  and 
therefore  the  violation  of  the  laws  of  life,  is  visited  with  the 

*  This  is  the  labor,  this  the  toil. 


THE  FUNDAMENTAL  PRINCIPLES  OF  MAN^S  NATITRE.  25 

severest  of  all  penalties ;  their  obedience,  with  the  highest  or- 
der of  happiness,  and  in  its  greatest  abundance.  But,  the  laws 
that  govern  property  or  character  being  of  a  lower  order,  less 
pain  accompanies  their  infraction,  less  pleasure,  their  obedi- 
ence. 

What  then,  is  the  highest  order  of  laws  ?  From  what  source 
springs  the  most  exalted  pleasure  and  the  most  intense  suffer- 
ing that  man  can  possibly  experience  ?  From  the  laws  of 
mind.  Who  is  the  lord  of  Creation  ?  Man.  What  is  the 
greatest  work  of  God  within  our  knowledge  ?  Ourselves 
What  terrestrial  being  is  susceptible  of  experiencing  the  great- 
est amount  of  enjoyment  and  of  suffering  ?  Mankind.  What 
governed  by  the  widest  range  and  highest  grade  of  laws,  and 
most  capable  of  obeying  or  violating  them  ?  The  same  being, 
man.  And  what  part  of  man  constitutes  the  highest  depart- 
ment of  his  nature  ?  Mind.  Which  is  the  king,  which  the 
subject,  in  his  nature  ? — which  that  part  for  whose  special 
service  all  others  were  created  ?  Mind.  From  what  foun- 
tain head,  gushes  forth  every  pleasure,  every  pain,  that  man 
experiences  ?  From  mind^ — mind  only.  The  laws  of  mind, 
are  then  the  highest  order  of  laws  within  our  knowledge;  and 
their  obedience  is  productive  of  the  greatest  amount,  and  of 
the  purest,  the  most  exalted,  and  the  most  condensed,  of  all 
enjoyment ;  while  their  violation  plunges  the  suffering  rebel 
into  the  deepest  hell  of  misery  imaginable  or  supportable  ! 
For  what  was  man  created  ?  Mainly,  or  even  merely,  to 
eat,  sleep,  breathe,  labor,  glitter,  and  die  ?  By  no  means ;  but 
to  think  and  feel — to  adore  God,  study  his  works,  obey  his 
laws,  and  be  happy.  What  constitutes  his  identity  and  per- 
sonality— his  essence — himself?  Is  it  his  coat?  Is  it  his 
body,  even  ?  It  is  his  intellectual  and  moral  nature,  in 
which  consists  his  entity,  and  for  which  he  was  created.  T'his 
is  man.  All  else  is  worthless.  Cut  from  him  limb  after  limb, 
and  one  portion  of  his  body  after  another,  until  the  whole  is 
removed,  but  leave  the  mind  entire,  and  his  identity  remains ; 
but,  let  insanity  derange  that  mind,  or  let  death  separate  it 
from  the  body,  and  his  personality  is  destroyed,  though  his 
body  remain  entire.  The  lifeless  body  of  a  friend  is  not  that 
friend  ;  but  our  minds,  our  own  powers  of  thought  and  feel- 


26     PHRENOLOGY  APPLIED  TO  EDUCATION  AND  SELF-IMPROVEMENT. 

ing  constitute  our  very  essence ;  flesh  and  blood  being  our 
divelling  only. 

Hence,  obtaining  a  knowledge  of  the  laws  of  mind,  and  put- 
ting this  knowledge  in  practice,  constitute  the  highest  objects 
that  can  possibly  engage  the  attention  of  man.  As  pleasure 
constitutes  the  end  of  man's  creation,  that  is  the  most  impor- 
tant which  most  effectually  promotes  this  end.  A  knowledge 
of  mechanics,  chemistry,  navigation,  astronomy,  geography, 
natural  philosophy,  &c.,  are  important  in  proportion  to  their 
capability  of  administering  to  human  happiness — the  end  of 
creation — but  no  farther.  This  is  the  only  true  measure  of 
virtue ;  and  especially  of  that  of  knowledge.  Grossly  igno- 
rant is  he  who  knows  not  how  to  live  so  as  to  be  happy, 
though  his  mind  is  stored  with  all  the  literary  lore  of  past 
ages,  together  with  all  the  learned  trash  of  the  present  age. 
Most  wise  is  he  who  knows  himself, — who  understands  and 
obeys  these  laws,  be  he  ignorant  of  every  thing  else.  And 
this  is  the  main  centre  of  man's  ignorance.  Many  know  how 
to  read  Greek,  to  predict  eclipses,  to  make  money, "apply  and 
regulate  machinery,  discuss  politiqg,  kill  each  other  scientifi- 
cally, and  perpetrate  a  world  of  learned  foolery  ;  but  alas  ! 
few  know  how  to  live,  or  even  how  to  eat,  or  sit,  or  umlk. 

Man's  almost  utter  ignorance  of  the  laws  of  his  nature  is  as 
deplorable  as  it  is  fatal  to  his  happiness  and  productive  of 
misery.  Every  thing  else  is  studied,  but  this  is  neglected  ;  yet 
this  should  be  learned,  even  though  all  other  kinds  of  know- 
ledge be  neglected. 

These  principles  show  in  what  education  consists.  If  hap- 
piness be  the  end  of  all  creation,  education  of  course  consists 
in  knowing  the  conditions  of  happiness,  and  wisdom,  in  ap- 
plying them — the  former,  in  understanding  the  laws  of  our 
being,  and  the  latter,  infiLlfiUing  them.  Let  it  be  remembered 
by  all,  especially  by  j^arents  and  teachers,  that  the  one  dis- 
tinctive and  only  end  of  all  education  should  be  to  expound 
these  laws  and  enfore  their  obedience.  Let  parents,  teachers, 
authors,  lecturers,  clergymen,  editors,  politicians,  physicians, 
and  all  public  men  or  leaders  further  remember,  that  they 
stand  at  the  fountain  head  of  those  streams  of  happiness  and 
misery   which  flood  mankind ;    and  also,  that  by  teaching 


THE  FUNDAMENTAL  PRINCIPLES  OF  MAn's  NATITIIE.  2T 

these  laws  in  regard  to  society,  government,  property,  medi- 
cine, religion,  morals,  science,  and  especially  physiology  and 
phrenology,  and  inculcating  their  obedience,  they  aid  in 
bringing  out  and  ripening  up  to  maturity  all  that  is  fair,  and 
lovely,  and  happy,  in  our  nature ;  but  that,  in  omitting  this 
single  duty,  and  especially  by  leading  the  youthful  or  the 
public  mind  on  in  their  violation,  they  help  to  swell  that  over- 
flowing tide  of  sin  and  misery  which  is  bearing  on  its  dark 
waters  all  the  sighs,  groans,  pains,  diseases,  and  premature 
deaths  that  scourge  mankind.  Ah  !  little  do  pubhc  men  re- 
alize the  responsibility  of  their  station,  or  consider  that  they 
give  tone  and  direction  to  the  public  mind,  and  thereby  further 
or  retard  the  great  object  of  man's  creation  ! 

Let  us  then  enter  upon  the  great  inquiry,  what  are  some  of 
the  most  prolific  causes  of  happiness  and  misery,  that  we  may 
cho'^se  the  former  and  escape  the  latter  ?  In  other  words, 
what  are  some  of  the  most  important  laws  of  our  physical  and 
mental  nature,  that  we  may  obey  them  and  enjoy  their  deli- 
cious fruits  ? 

In  answering  this  most  important  question,  the  author  will 
take  for  his  guide  the  lights  of  Physiology  and  Phrenology. 
The   former   embodies  all  the  laws  of  man's  physical  na- 
ture— all  the  conditions  of  life  and  health,  while  Phrenology 
'is  the  science  of  man,  and  especially  of  man's  mind  ;  and  the 
two   together    evolve  all  the  elementary  -principles   of  his 
nature,  thereby  embodying  all  the  laws  of  his  being,  all  the 
conditions  of  his  happiness,  and  all  the  causes  of  all  his  suffer- 
ings, as  well  as  the  origin  of  all  the  evils  that  afflict  society — 
and  all  so  plainly,  that  "  he  that  runs   may   read."     By  de- 
veloping fully  and  clearly  the  primitive  or  elementary  nature 
and  constitution  of  man,  and  that,  too,  in  all  its  ramifications, 
it  arraigns  before  the  tribunal  of  that  nature,  every  thing  ap- 
pertaining to  man  that  can  be  named  or  conceived  ;  approving 
whatever  harmonizes  with  it,  but  condemning  whatever  con- 
flicts therewith — thereby  furnishing  the  only  true  test  and 
touchstone  by  which  to  try  every  doctrine  of  the  age;  and 
indeed,  of  all  past,  all  coming  time — every  doctrine  of  meta- 
physics, every  theory  of  society,  every  question  of  ethics,  of 
morals,  of  logic,  of  equity,  and  even  of  religious  creeds  and 


S8     PHEENOLOGY  APPLIED  TO  EDtTCATlON  AND  SELF-IMPROVEMENT. 

practices.  The  nature  of  man  is  perfect — is  all  that  it  should 
be,  and  every  way  calculated  to  make  mankind  perfectly 
happy.  To  be  perfectly  virtuous  and  happy,  we  have  there- 
fore only  K.O  fallow  that  nature;  to  do  which,  we  must  obtain 
a  knowledge  of  that  nature.  This  knowledge  these  Sciences 
furnish,  and  thereby  constitute  our  only  proper  guide  to  virtue 
and  happiness. 


SECTION  II. 

To  be  great  of  good,  a  man  must  first  become  an  excellent  animal. 

If  man  had  been  created  a  purely  spiritual  being  without 
any  body,  this  world,  with  all  its  adaptations  to  man — all  its 
contrivances  and  facilities  for  promoting  his  happiness ;  the 
life-giving  sun  and  health  inspiring  breeze  ;  with  the  beauti- 
ful sky  over  our  head  and  the  limpid  stream  flowing  at  our 
feet;  with  the  rain  and  the  dew  of  heaven,  and  all  the 
fruits  and  the  bounties  of  prolific  earth — would  have  been 
entirely  unfit  for  his  abode,  as  well  as  utterly  useless  to 
him. 

Or,  if  he  had  been  merely  a  lump  of  lifeless  matter,  un- 
endowed with  life  and  soul,  all  his  present  capabilities  for  en- 
joyment would  have  had  no  existence.  But,  far  from  either, 
is  the  constitution  of  man.  In  order  to  secure  the  highest 
possible  enjoyment  of  man,  God  has  seen  fit  to  compound  his 
nature  of  both  flesh  and  blood  on  the  one  hand,  and  of  mind 
and  soul  on  the  other.  Wonderful— the  workmanship  of  a 
God  ! — is  this  combination  of  mind  and  matter,  but  in  the 
highest  degree  promotive  of  human  happiness. 

Nor  are  these  natures  strangers  to  each  other ;  but,  so 
closely  related  is  each  to  the  other,  by  the  action  and  re- 
action of  certain  physiological  and  phrenological  laws,  that 
every  condition  of  each  exerts  a  powerful  and  perfectly  reci 


THE  FUNDAMENTAL  PRINCIPLES  OF  MAN's  NATURE.  29 

procal  influence  upon  the  other.  Indeed,  all  we  know  of 
mind  in  this  world,  we  learn  through  the  instrumentality  of 
the  hody  ;  and  every  advance  of  intellect,  as  well  as  all  virtue 
and  vice,  coincide  with,  and  in  part  depend  upon,  correspond- 
ing physiological  changes  and  conditions  of  the  body.  Thus, 
Intemperance,  which  consists  solely  in  a  physiological  de- 
rangement, causes  vice  in  almost  every  variety  and  aggrava- 
tion of  form ;  nor  can  a  pure  and  holy  mind  dwell  in  a  body 
soaked  in  liquor.  That  every  given  condition  of  either,  in- 
duces a  perfectly  corresponding  condition  of  the  other,  is  a 
matter  of  daily  and  continual  experience  with  every  member 
of  the  human  family.  Thus,  a  clear,  cold  morning,  or  a  heavy 
muggy  atmosphere,  oppressive  heat,  &c.,  by  throwing  the 
body  into  different  states,  have  directly  opposite  effects  upon 
the  mind.  A  high  fever  increases  the  feelings  and  mental 
manifestations ;  but  hunger,  fatigue,  and  bodily  weakness, 
proportionally  enfeeble  them.  Dyspepsia  induces  gloom,  irri- 
tability, peevishness,  and  wretchedness  of  feeling,  and  totally 
reverses  the  character,  converting  friendship  into  misanthropy, 
and  the  blessings  of  hope  into  the  bitterness  of  despair,  and 
turning  happiness  into  misery. 

Physical  inaction  induces  mental  sluggishness ;  while  bodi- 
ly exercise  clears  the  mental  horizon  of  those  clouds  in  which 
slothfukiess  or  confinement  envelopes  it,  producing  a  delight- 
ful ftow  of  thought  and  feeling.  Food  and  sleep,  or  their  ab- 
sence, aff'ect  the  intellect  and  feelings  powerfull}'-,  yet  very 
differently';  and  a  sufficient  dose  of  arsenic  produces  death. 
Sickness  enfeebles  the  mind,  while  health  strengthens  it ;  and 
most  of  our  constantly  occurring  changes  of  feeling  and  men- 
tal action  are  caused  by  the  different  states  of  the  body.  Ex- 
perience has  taught  many  of  our  ablest  speakers  and  writers 
to  prepare  their  Tninds  for  vigorous  effort,  by  practising  absti- 
nence. Alcoholic  drinks  operate  upon  the  body,  and  through 
it,  affect  the  mind.  Certain  kinds  of  food  excite  some  of  the 
animal  passions,  but  other  kinds  increase  our  ability  to  think 
and  study.  The  inspired  Paul  embodies  this  doctrine  in  the 
text,  "  I  beseech  you,  therefore,  brethren,  by  the  mercies  of 
God,  that  ye  present  yor.r  bodies  a  living  sacrifice,  holy,  ac- 
ceptable unto  God:"  clearly  implying,  that  purity  of  body 
4 


30      PHRENOLOGY  APPLIED  TO  EDUCATION  AND  SELF-IBIPROVEMENT. 

promotes  holiness  of  mind ;  but  that  an  inflamed  or  impure 
body,  kindles  the  animal  passions.  Both  the  religious  feelings 
and  the  talents  are  more  affected  by  the  various  conditions  of 
the  body,  and  especially  of  the  stomach — by  food,  drink, 
physical  habits,  sickness,  health,  &c., — than  most  people  sup- 
pose. Hence,  fasting  promotes  piety  ;  fulness  of  bread  kindle^ 
sinful  desires  ;  inflammation  of  the  brain  produces  insanity  ; 
and  its  inaction  causes  stupor,  &c.  When  the  pious  Christian, 
or  the  profound  thinker,  has  eaten  too  much,  or  induced  a  se- 
vere cold  or  fever,  or  in  any  other  way  clogged  or  disordered 
his  bodily  functions,  the  former  can  no  more  expect  to  be 
"  clothed  with  the  spirit,"  or  to  be  borne  upward  on  the  wings 
of  devotion,  nor  the  latter  to  bring  his  mental  energies  into 
full  and  efficient  action,  than  they  can  make  the  sun  stand  still, 
or  the  water  to  run  upwards.  "A  strong  mind  in  a  healthy 
body,"  beautifully  and  forcibly  expresses  this  truth,  and  also 
embodies  the  experience  of  past  ages  and  of  all  mankind.  In 
short,  as  soon  may  we  question  the  evidence  of  our  senses, 
as  controvert  the  position  that  mind  and  body  each  powerfully 
and  reciprocally  affect  the  other ;  for  every  member  of  the 
human  family  constantly /eeZ*  this  truth. 

Again :  these  relations  between  body  and  mind  are  govern- 
ed by  certain  invariable  laws  of  cause  and  eff'ect,  certain  con- 
ditions of  the  one  inducing  a.nd  causing  the  corresponding 
states  of  the  other.  The  principle,  that  whenever  a  jjart  of 
a  given  class  of  phenomena  are  governed  by  laws  of  cause 
and  efi"ect,  every  phenomenon  of  that  class  is  governed  by 
these  same  laws,  is  a  universal  principle  of  nature,  and  may 
be  relied  upon  in  every  conceivable  application.  If  a  part  of 
the  phenomena  of  vision  be  governed  by  the  laws  of  optics, 
every  phenomenon  of  vision  experienced  by  man  or  brute 
since  the  creation,  has  been  governed  by  the  same  laws.  If 
a  few  bodily  motions  are  caused  by  muscular  contraction,  all 
are  caused  by  the  same  contraction.  Should  millions  of  dag- 
gers be  driven  through  the  hearts  of  as  many  human  beings, 
they  would  in  every  instance,  produce  death.  Let  any  or 
every  member  of  the  human  family  take  opium,  or  its  com- 
pounds, and  one  and  all  will  experience  its  legitimale  effects. 
These  illustrations  will  apply  to  every  law  of  nature.     That 


THE    FUNDAMENTAL   PRINCIPLES   OF   MAN  S   NATURE.  ol 

some  of  the  relations  existing  between  mind  and  body  are 
governed  by  laws  of  cause  and  effect,  is  slef-evident :  there- 
fore alVoxe  equally  so  :  and  every  condition  of  either,  throws 
the  other  into  its  corresponding  state.  If  in  any  one  instance, 
a  given  condition  of  either  body  or  mind  causes,  or  is  caused 
by,  that  of  the  other,  then  every  state  of  either,  causes,  or  is 
caused  by,  the  corresponding  conditions  of  the  other.  Either 
there  exist  no  relations  of  cause  and  effect  between  the  two^ 
or  else  it  is  all  cause  and  effect — all  antecedent  and  con- 
sequent; for  nature  always  makes  thorough  work,  or  does 
nothing. 

Hence,  we  can  at  any  time  throw  either  mind  or  body  into 
any  desired  state,  by  putting  the  other  into  its  corresponding 
one  ;  and  we  can  no  more  put  either  into  any  given  state, 
without  thereby  throwing  the  other  into  its  corresponding- 
one,  than  we  can  arrest  the  operation  of  any  other  law  of  na- 
ture. And  since  the  brain  is  the  instrument  of  thought  and 
feeling,  its  conditions  influence  the  mind  more  powerfuHy  than 
those  of  all  the  other  portions%f  the  body  united.  To  excite 
either  faculty  or  organ,  is  to  excite  the  other ;  and  as  the  sto- 
mach and  brain  are  intimately  related,  its  state  also  powerfully 
influences  that  of  the  mind. 

This  principle  shows  how  to  operate  on  7nind,  namely,  by 
operating  on  the  body—how  to  improve  the  mind,  namely, 
by  improving  the  body  ;  how  to  study  mind^  namely,  through 
its  physical  organ,  the  body.  For  centuries — ever  since  the 
creation  of  man— mind  has  been  studied,  has  been  operated 
upon  independently  of  its  organization,  and  without  the  least 
reference  to  it.  The  study  of  mind  by  means  of  those  meta- 
physical* systems  that  have  bewilded  and  beclouded  that 
study  ever  since  the  days  of  Plato,  and  are  still  hanging  like 
a  dark  cloud  upon  our  falsely  so  called  "seats  of  learning," 
never  has  resulted,  never  can  result,  in  imparting  a  correct 
knowledge  of  mind  ;  while  it  is  conceded  on  all  hands,  that 
the  science  of  Phrenology,  in  less  than  half  a  century,  has 
done  more  for  mental  science  than  all  that  has  ever  been  done 
for  it  before  since  the  mind  has  been  made  a  subject  of  study. 

*  The  very  meaning  of  the  term  metaphysics,  is  beyond,  independent  of 
physics,  it  being  compounded  of  the  Greek  preposition  "raeta,"  beyond, 
and  "  phusis,"  nature. 


32  PHRENOLOGY   APPLIED    TO   EDUCATION. 

And  if  this  be  true  of  the  study  of  mind,  how  infinitely- 
more  true  is  it  of  the  means  of  operating  on  mind.  To  at- 
tempt to  operate  on  mind — to  reform  mankind,  educate  man- 
kind, produce  moral  puritj'-  in  man's  feelings  or  conduct,  by 
means  of  motives  and  appeals  addressed  to  the  mind  merely, 
•will  be  comparatively  a  failure.  The  first  step  towards  mak- 
ing mankind  wiser  or  better — towards  disciplining  their  minds, 
purifying  their  motives,  diminishing  their  vices,  promoting 
virtue  and  happiness,  &c. — is  to  rectify  their  physiology.  As 
long  as  it  is  in  an  inflamed,  or  rather  enfeebled  or  diseased 
condition,  to  attempt  to  elevate  man  in  the  scale  of  moral  or  in- 
tellectual excellence,  is  as  vain  as  to  sow  blasted  seed  upon 
the  barren  rock,  or  plant  tropical  flowers  in  Siberia.  It  is  like 
operating  with  feeble  weapons  upon  effects,  yet  allowing  their 
causes  to  remain  in  full  force.  Preach  to  men  ever  so  elo- 
quently, ever  so  piously,  ever  so  prayerfully,  and  add  revivals 
and  all  the  means  of  grace,  while  their  bodies  are  soaked  in 
alcoholic  liquors — as  well  attempt  to  stay  the  fierce  winds  by 
raising  your  puny  hands  or  will  against  them,  or  arrest  the 
flowing  tide  by  the  voice  of  command.  Moralists  and  reli- 
gionists have  yet  to  learn  that  reform  must  begin  and  be  con- 
tinued, by  throwing  the  body  into  a  healthy  condition. 

If  this  doctrine  be  so  construed  as  to  imply  the  doctrine  of 
materialism,  be  it  so.  This  inference  will  not  alter  the  fact  of 
the  existence  of  these  relations.  Besides,  those  who  insist  on 
the  correctness  of  this  inference,  as  drawn  from  these  pre- 
mises, are  themselves  the  main  advocates  of  materialism ;  for, 
as  to  the  correctness  of  these  premises,  there  cannot  be  the 
least  possible  question.  They  are  matters  of  daily  and  con- 
stant experience  and  observation.  Whichever  be  the  cause, 
and  whichever  the  effect,  however — whether  the  organization 
and  physical  condition  be  the  cause,  and  govern,  and  the 
mental  state  be  the  effect ;  or  whether  the  mental  constitution 
be  the  cause  of  organization,  and  govern  that  organization, 
— affects  neither  the  correctness  nor  importance  of  the  infer- 
ence 5  and  let  not  so  valuable  a  truth  be  discarded — so  valua- 
ble a  means  of  improving  the  mind  and  augmenting  our  hap- 
piness as  this  principle  unfolds,  because  of  this  inference, 
whichever  way  it  may  be  decided. 


OS.GAKIZATION — ITS   INFLtJENCE    ON   MIND.  33 

SECTION  III. 

ORGANIZATION. — -ITS    INFLUENCE    ON   MIND. 

Having  established  the  fact  of  the  existence  of  reciprocal 
relations  between  the  body  and  the  mind,  we  pass  naturally 
to  the  consideration  of  the  important  question,  what  condi- 
tions of  the  one  produce  given  states  of  the  other  ?  What 
conditions  of  the  body,  cause  or  occasion  particular  qualities, 
states,  capabilities,  and  manifestations  of  mind  ?  and  what 
states  of  mind  produce  their  corresponding  effects  on  the 
body? — questions  among  the  most  momentous  that  can  possi- 
bly engage  the  attention  of  mankind.  Though  we  find  a  great 
variety  of  organizations  among  men,  yet  they  can  generally  be 
classed  under  three  heads,  including  the  varieties  produced  by 
their  combinations  in  their  various  degrees  of  development. 
Shape  is  the  first  great  znc^ea?  of  the  tone,  power,  and  other  cha- 
racteristics of  this  organization.  That  is,  different  casts  of 
organization  give  different  dispositions  and  capabilities,  which 
capacitate  their  possessors  for  different  occupations,  and  these 
different  casts  assume  different  shapes,  according  to  the  quali- 
ties they  impart.  Thus,  the  organization  of  the  tiger  is  in 
keeping  with  his  habits  and  characteristics ;  that  of  the  shark, 
with  his  element  and  wants,  and  so  of  all  that  live  and  grow 
in  the  vegetable  and  animal  kingdoms. 

If  this  be  so,  it  is  a  great,  an  invaluable  truth.  If  the  quali- 
ties, both  mental  and  physical,  be  as  the  organization,  and  the 
shape  be  also  adapted  to,  and  in  keeping  with,  the  organiza- 
tion, and  therefore  characterizes,  it  furnishes  us  with  a  simple 
and  yet  an  unerring  guide  in  our  observation  of  character  and 
qualities. 

To  be  still  more  specific.  A  coarse,  roughly  organized  body, 
will  always  be  found  to  accompany  coarse,  rough,  harsh  feel- 
ings ;  while  a  fine,  light,  exquisite  organization,  goes  along 
with  fine,  soft,  delicate  feelings,  keen  susceptibilities,  and 
goodness  of  disposition.  In  other  words,  the  organization, 
texture,  and  characteristics  of  the  brain,  are  as  those  of  the 


34"  PHRENOLOGY   APPLIED    TO   EDUCATION. 

body,  and  of  course  those  of  the  mind  are  as  those  of  the  brain, 
so  that  the  general  form,  contour,  texture,  and  other  quahlies 
of  the  body  will  serve  as  a  faithful  index  of  the  physical,  men- 
tal, and  moral  character  of  the  person  or  thing  observed.* 

To  promote  perspicuity,  and  facilitate  our  understanding  of 
the  subject,  we  will  employ  the  word  temperament  as  syno- 
nymous with  the  term  organization.  The  body  is  composed 
of  three  principal  classes  of  organs,  the  predominance  or  defi- 
ciency of  each  of  which  gives  very  different  organizations  and 
mental  characteristics,  which  are  then  greatly  diversified  by 
their  almost  innumerable  combinations. 

They  are,  first,  the  vital  temperament,  or  the  nutritive 
apparatus,  embracing  the  entire  system  of  inside  organs  which 
manufacture  vitality,  sustain  animal  life,  and  re-supply  the 
brain,  nervous  system,  and  muscles  with  that  vital  energy 
which  their  every  action  compels  them  to  expend,  and  in- 
clude the  heart,  lungs,  digestive  apparatus,  blood,  viscera,  and 
all  the  internal  organs,  being  analogous  to  those  removed  from 
the  inside  of  animals  in  fitting  them  for  the  table.  The  se- 
cond is  the  MOTIVE  apparatus,  or  bilious  temperament,  em- 
bracing the  bones,  muscles,  sinews,  tendons,  &c.,  which 
constitute  the  frame-work  of  the  system,  give  it  its  size 
and  shape,  and  produce  bodily  motion,  physical  strength,  &c. 
The  third  is  the  mental  organization,  or  nervous  tempera- 
ment, which  embraces  the  brain  and  nervous  system,  the  ex- 
ercise of  which  produces  thought,  feeling,  sensation,  memory, 
talents,  &c.t 

*i,See  a  more  full  elucidation  of  this  subject  in  a  series  of  articles  in  the 
Journal,  Vol  iv.,  p.  12.  This  important  truth  seems  never  to  have  been 
fully  caught  or  presented  by  Physiologists,  yet  the  author  has  a  work  now 
in  press,  which  will  be  issued  probably  in  June,  entitled  "Physiology, 
mental  and  physical,"  in  which  this  subject  will  be  carried  out  fully,  along 
with  many  others  merely  stated  in  the  earlier  portions  of  this  work. 
Physiology,  heretofore,  has  been  studied  and  written  upon,  separately 
from  its  effects  on  mind.  We  now  require  a  work  in  which  the  in" 
fluences  and  effects  of  various  states  and  conditions  of  body  on  the  mind 
shall  be  fairly  stated.  This  the  author  designs  to  do,  thus  entering  upon 
an  almost  entirely  untrodden  field  of  philosophical  inquirj% 

t  For  a  full  description  of  these  temperaments,  and  their  accompanying 
mental  manifestations,  see  "  Fowler's  Practical  Phrenology,"  pp.  10  to  29. 


THE   VITAL   TEMPERAMENT.  35 

These  temperaments  or  organizations  may  be  better  ex- 
pressed by  calling  the  vital  or  nourishing  temperament  the 
BROAD  or  ANIMAL  Organization  ;  the  motive  temperament,  the 
PROMINENT  or  the  STRONG  Organization ;  and  the  mental  tem- 
perament, the  SHARP  or  active  organization.  We  then  have 
words  expressive  of  the  meaning  and  character  of  the  tem- 
peraments. 

1.  The  vital  temperament,  or]  the  BROAD,  ANI- 
MAL* organization.  Apply  .'the  tongue  to  the  larger  portion 
of  a  good  e^^,  and  it  will  be  perceptibly  warmer  than  any 
other,  because  the  vital  property  of  the  chick  is  located  there  ; 
but  if  this  part  be  cold,  life  is  extinct,  and  the  egg  spoiled. 
Subject  this  egg  to  the  process  of  incubation  for  a  short  time, 
and  remove  the  coverings  from  this  end,  and  you  will  see  the 
heart  palpitating,  and  the  blood  vessels  formed,  ^the  yelk  sup- 
plying the  heart  with  the  required  nutrition.  The  first  portion 
of  the  animal  economy  formed  is  the  heart  and  its  appurte- 
nances, or  the  internal  system  of  organs,  by  which  matter  is 
deposited  here  and  there  for  the  formation  of  the  balance  of 
the  body.  This  same  vital  apparatus  also  supplies  the  mate- 
rials required  for  the  growth  and  nutrition  of  all  the  parts  re- 
quiring either,  and  -is  far  more  active  during  infancy  and 
youth  than  any  other  class  of  organs,  as  is  indicated  by  their 
pulse,  appetite,  and  love  of  physical  action. 

This  apparatus  not  only  originates  vitality,  but  also  sustains 
the  whole  animal  economy.  It  constitutes  the  fountain  head  of 
aniijnal  power  and  vital  energy ;  manufactures  animal  warmth ; 
resists  cold  and  heat,  disease  and  death ;  and  re-supplies  the 
brain,  nerves,  and  muscles  with  those  vital  energies  which 
they  are  compelled  to  expend  whenever  exercised.  It  is  to 
the  man  what  the  fire,  wood,  water,  and  steam  are  to  the  en- 
gine— the  "  vis  anim,8e^^- — the  "primum,  mobile'^ — the  alpha 
and  the  omega  of  the  animal  economy„ 

It  includes  the  entire  system  of  internal  organs  located  in 
the  thorax  and,  abdomen,  namely,  the  heart,  lungs,  stomach, 
blood,  liver,  viscera,  &c.     Its  predominance  may  be  known, 

*  The  term  animal  is  used  here  to  signify,  not  wicked  or  vicious  propen- 
sities, but  merely  that  vitality  and  animal  life,  by  which  the  system  is  sup- 
plied with  aiiimal  power  or  physical  vigor. 


36     PHRENOLOGY  APPLIED  TO  EDUCATION  AND  SELF-IMPROVEMENT. 

not  so|much  by  red  or  chesnut  hair,  blue  eyes,  &c.,  as  by  the 
shape  of  the  body.  It  gives  a  stout,  square  built,  thick  set, 
stocky  form;  depth  and  breadth,  and  often  roundness  of 
shoulders,  and  thus  a  capacious  chest ;  arms  far  apart  and  set 
well  back ;  well  developed  abdomen ;  a  full  strong  pulse ; 
large  and  strong  lungs;  a  powerful  voice  ;  short,  sound,  and 
well-set  teeth  ;  plumpness  of  person ;  wide  nostrils ;  abundant 
flesh ;  red  face,  the  skin  every  where  showing  a  great  supply 
and  flow  of  blood ;  hair  abundant,  and  often  curly ;  a  capaci- 
ty for  enduring  fatigue,  privation  and  exposure ;  a  tough, 
iron  constitution,  or  what  is  called  bottom,  (erroneously  attri- 
buted to  the  bilious  temperament ;)  a  great  love  of  physical 
action,  of  amusements,  of  fresh  air,  and  out-of-door  exercise' 
though  not  of  hard  work ;  a  restlessness  which  cannot  endure 
confinement  in-doors ;  and  a  desire  to  be  all  the  time  doing 
something  to  work  off  the  constantly  accumulating  energies 
of  the  system.  Generally,  though  not  always,  the  hair 
is  bushy;  the  face  flushed  or  suffused  with  blood;  the 
countenance  florid,  and  often  handsome  ;  the  limbs,  neck,  &c., 
short,  and  thick  set,  and  large  in  circumference ;  and  the  whole 
person,  head  included,  built  on  the  short,  broad,  and  thick 
set,  instead  of  on  the  long  and  tall,  principle. 

This  organization  gives  a  tough,  strong  constitution  ;  great 
powers  of  endurance ;  a  great  supply  of  animal  life  and  vi- 
gour, to  be  worked  off  either  by  the  muscles  in  physical  action, 
or  by  the  brain,  in  thought  and  feeling ;  great  ardour  of  de- 
sire; great  zeal  and  enthusiasm ;  powerful  feelings,  passions 
and  impulses,  and  a  susceptibility  of  high  excitement,  as  well 
as  sensitiveness  to  the  influence  of  both  mental  and  physical 
stimuli;  a  hearty  relish  for  food,  particularly  animal,  for  con- 
diments, sleep,  &c.,  and  a  great  enjoyment  of  animal  life  and 
pleasure  as  such. 

Persons  in  whom  this  temperament  predominates,  show 
their  talents  in  business,  natural  shrewdness,  and  management, 
more  than  in  hard  study,  or  direct  reasoning,  or  fondness  f®r 
books.  They  have  usually  more  of  practical  common  sense 
than  book  learning ;  and  of  general  information  about  men 
and  things,  such  as  they  pick  up  from  observation,  newspa- 


THE   VITAL   TEMPEKAMENT,  37 

pers,  kc,  than  accurate,  scientific  knowledge,  or  depth  and 
power  of  mind. 

Its  decided  predominance  is  accompanied  by  a  round  heady 
well  developed  at  the  base,  large  Amativeness,  Acquisitiveness, 
Alimentiveness,  Benevolence,  and  Language  ;  large  organs  of 
the  animal  propensities  generally ;  a  rapid  widening  of  the 
head  from  the  corners  of  the  eyes  to  the  tips  of  the  ears  ;  side 
head  spherical  and  well  filled  out ;  forehead  generally  full  or 
square,  and  broad  rather  than  high  5  perceptive  organs  large  ; 
and  all  the  organs  short  and  broad  rather  than  long  or  pointed!. 

Men  of  this  temperament  predominant  generally  dislike 
hard  work,  and  hence  choose  some  occupation  in  which  they 
can  get  their  living  without  it,  such  as  agents,  overseers, 
cashiers,  aldermen,  captains,  landlords,  traders  in  live  stock, 
butchers,  speculators,  lawyers,  politicians,  public  officers,  con- 
tractors, &c.  &c.  To  employ  a  trite  saying,  they  generally 
"  know  on  which  side  their  bread  is  buttered ;"  turn  every 
thing,  especially  bargains,  of  which  they  are  usually  fond,  to 
their  own  account;  always  feather  their  own  nests;  look  out 
for  themselves,  and  take  care  to  get  their  ov/n  part  of  every 
thing.  In  short,  this  is  the  animal  temperament,  both  physi- 
cally and  phrenologically — -it  giving  force  of  character,  and 
that  selfishness  which,  in  the  present  state  of  things,  is  a  lead- 
ing requisite  to  success  in  almost  every  thing.  It  feels  and 
acts  out  the  sentiment,  "  every  man  for  himself,"  and  is  more 
frequently  connected  with  selfishness,  roguery,  and  vice,  than 
any  other  organization. 

One  with  this  temperament  fully  developed  resists  power- 
fully the  action  of  disease,  yet  when  attacked,  is  usually  taken 
suddenly,  becomes  very  sick,  and  is  bfbught  at  once  to  the 
crisis.  The  diseases  to  which  it  predisposes  are,  apoplexy, 
gout,  fevers,  inflammatory  rheumatism,  plethoric  complaints, 
flowing  of  blood  to  the  head,  asthma,  &c.  Upon  its  ample 
development,  health  and  long  life  mainly  depend. 

Since  this  apparatus  manufactures  the  vital  resources  to  be 
expended  either  by  the  muscles  in  physical  action,  or  by  the 
brain ,  in  the  exercise  of  mind  and  feeling,  according  to  the 
demand,  its  ample  development  is  indispensable  to  the  la- 
bourer, to  the  intellectual  man,  to  the  business  man ;  in  shortj 


3S      PHRENOLOGY  APPLIED  TO  EDiTCATION  AKD  SELF-IMPROVEMENT. 

to  any  and  every  man,  woman,  and  child ;  and  when  defi- 
cient should  by  all  means  be  cultivated. 

2.  The  Motive  Apparatus,  or,  The  Prominent  Organiza- 
tion. This  embraces  the  osseous  and  fibrous  portions  of  the 
system,  or  the  bones,  muscles,  sinews,  tendons,  and  every 
organ  of  the  body  employed  to  give  bodily  motion  of  any 
kind;  including  walking,  labouring,  &c.     It  constitutes  the 

frame  work  of  the  system — it  being  to  the  man  what  the 
timbers  are  to  the  house,  or  the  hulk  is  to  the  steam-boat.  It 
gives  strength  and  power,  both  muscular  and  mental,  and 
imparts  to  its  possessor  jTorce,  efficiency,  and  power  of  making 
impressions. 

One  in  whom  this  organization  predominates,  is  lean  and 
spare  in  person ;  usually  of  good  size'  and  height ;  has  an 
athletic  build ;  strongly  marked  features ;  a  large  Roman 
nose ;  high  and  large  cheek  bones ;  large  and  broad  front 
teeth ;  and  all  the  bones  of  the  body  large  and  projecting ;  a 
deep,  grufi',  bass  voice ;  distinctly  marked  muscles  and  blood- 
vessels ;  large  joints;  hard  flesh;  great  muscular  power,  or 
physical  strength ;  ease  of  action,  and  love  of  physical  labour, 
of  lifting,  working,  &c. ;  dark,  and  often  coarse,  stiff,  abun- 
dant, and  perhaps  bushy  hair;  a  black,  and  heavy  beard; 
dark  skin  and  eyes ;  a  harsh,  expressive  visage ;  strong,  but 
coarse  and  harsh  feelings;  the  movements  like  those  of  the 
draught  horse,  slow,  but  powerful  and  efficient ;  with  much 
force  and  energy  of  character. 

3.  The  Mental  Apparatus,  Nervous  Temperament,  or 
sharp  organization,  embraces  the  brain  and  nervous  system, 
or  that  portion  of  the  body  called  into  action  in  the  exercise 
of  thought,  feeling,  sensation,  &c. 

One  in  whom  this  organization  greatly  predominates,  will 
be  characterized,  physically,  by  a  small  stature ;  light  build  ; 
small  bones  and  muscles ;  a  slim,  tall,  spare,  sprightly  person ; 
quickness  of  motion ;  great  physical  activity,  too  much  for 
his  strength ;  sharp  features ;  thin  lips ;  a  small,  pointed  nose ; 
teeth  sharp  and  liable  to  early  decay ;  all  the  bones  pointed  ; 
the  head  usually  uneven,  and  the  phrenological  organs  sharp ; 
the  voice  sharp,  shrill,  high-keyed,  and  often  soft  and  flexible, 
and  its  intonations  evincing  fervour  and  tenderness  ;  the  hair 


THE   NERVOUS   TEMPEMPERAiVIENT.  39 

light,  fine,  and  thin  ;  a  fine,  clear,  soft,  and  delicate  skin  ;  ex- 
treme sensitiveness  to  physical  suffering ;  a  keen,  light,  intelli- 
gent, and  sparkling  eye  ;  a  speaking  countenance,  indicating 
sensibility;  a -small,  narrow  chest  and  abdomen;  and  the 
shoulders  set  forward  and  brought  near  together ;  thus  pro- 
ducing a  stooping,  bending  attitude.  The  diseases  to  which 
it  predisposes  are  consumption ;  dyspepsia ;  liver  complaint ; 
brain  fever;  nervous  affections;  a  flowing  of  blood  to  the 
head,  with  wakefulness  at  night ;  and  a  tendency  to  partial 
or  entire  mental  derangement. 

He  will  be  characterized  mentally  by  a  predominance  of 
mind  over  that  of  body ;  will  be  in  the  highest  degree  suscep- 
tible to  the  influence  of  stimuli  and  of  all  exciting  causes ;  be 
refined  and  delicate  in  feeling  and  expression,  and  easily  dis- 
gusted with  any  thing  coarse,  vulgar,  or  out  of  taste ;  when 
he  enjoys,  will  enjoy  in  the  highest  degree,  and  when  he  suf- 
fers, suffer  with  equal  intensity ;  be  subject  to  extremes  of 
feeling;  have  his  disgusts,  sympathies,  and  prepossessions 
easily  excited  ;  experience  a  vividness  and  intensity  of  emo- 
tion, and  a  clearness,  pointedness,  and  rapidity  of  thought, 
perception,  and  conception,  and  a  love  of  mental  exercise, 
imparted  by  no-other  temperament;  and  have  a  deep  flow  of 
pure  and  virtuous  feeling.  His  desires  being  intense,  his  ef- 
forts to  obtain  his  ends  will  be  correspondingly  vigorous — 
hence  he  will  be  eager  in  all  his  pursuits,  and  feel  that  his 
ends  are  of  the  utmost  importance,  and  must  be  answered 
now,  which  renders  him  liable  to  overdo,  and  prematurely  to 
exhaust  his  physical  powers,  which,  at  best,  are  none  too 
good.  He  will  also  be  very  fond  of  reading  and  study ;  of 
thinking  and  reasoning;  of  books  and  literary  pursuits;  of 
conversation,  and  of  all  kinds  of  information,  and  apt  to  lie 
awake  at  night,  thinking,  or  feeling,  or  reading. 

This  organization  gives  mind  as  mind,  and  literary  rathe^ 
than  business  talents.  One  with*this  temperament  predomi- 
nant should  choose  some  profession,  or  light  mental  occupa- 
tion, such  as  a  lecturer,  editor,  clerk,  merchant,  teacher,  or  if  a 
mechanic,  should  choose  that  of  a  goldsmith,  or  some  similar 
business,  requiring  much  light  action,  but  not  hard  lifting,  and 
which  allows  him  to  get  his  living  by  his  head  instead  of  his 


40      PHRENOLOGY  APPLIED  TO  EDUCATION  AND  SELF-IMPE,OVEMENT. 

hands.  He  should  also  avoid  close  application ;  take  much 
pleasurable  recreation  and  exercise;  live  more  at  his  ease 
than  he  is  inclined  to  do ;  avoid  all  kinds  of  stimulants,  wines, 
tea  and  coffee  included  ;  use  vegetable  food  mostly ;  endea- 
vour to  enjoy  existence  ;  and  avoid  being  worried. 

These  organizations  are  always  combined,  each  existing  in 
a  greater  or  less  degree  in  every  individual.  They  are  some- 
times equally  balanced,  but  generally  one  predominates,  an- 
other is  secondary,  though  well  marked,  and  a  third,  mode- 
rate or  weak.  The  effects  produced  by  their  combinations  is 
one  of  the  most  important  points  connected  with  the  manifes- 
tation of  mind. 

The  Vital-Motive  Apparatus,  or  the  animal  and  strong 
organization  combined,  render  their  possessor  of  good  size 
and  height,  if  not  large  proportion ;  broad  shoulders  ;  mus- 
cular ;  prominent  nose  and  cheek-bones ;  visage  strongly 
marked;  features  often  coarse  and  homely;  countenance 
usually  stern  and  harsh ;  face  red ;  hair  red  or  sandy,  if  not 
coarse,  and  movements  strong,  but  often  awkward,  and  sel- 
dom polished.  He  will  be  best  adapted  to  some  laborious 
occupation,  and  enjoy  hard  work  more  than  books  or  literary 
pursuits ;  have  great  power  of  feeling,  and  thus  require  much 
self-government ;  possess  more  talent  than  he  exhibits  to 
others ;  manifest  his  mind  more  in  his  business,  in  creating 
resources  and  managing  matters,  than  in  literary  pursuits,  or 
m  mind  as  such  ;  and  improve  with  age,  growing  better  and 
more  intellectual  as  he  grows  older. 

One  in  whom  the  Vital-Mental  organization  is  predomi- 
nant, with  the  motive  or  prominent,  moderate  or  small,  will 
have  a  double  augmentation  of  intense  feeling — of  animal  feel- 
ing from  his  vital,  and  of  elevated  mental  and  sentimental  feel- 
ing from  his  mental  apparatus,  being  hardly  able  to  contain  him- 
self, such  will  be  their  intensity.  His  flow  of  sympathy  wilf 
be  great,  so  that  he  will  easily  receive  and  communicate  im- 
pressions ;  be  too  much  influenced  by  impulses,  likes,  dislikes, 
first  impressions,  &c. ;  have  his  hobbies ;  be  enthusiastic ; 
throw  a  great  amount  of  feeling  into  all  he  says  and  does ; 
use  strong  and  hyperbolical  expressions ;  be  fond  of  company, 
if  not  forward  in  it ;  have  a  quick,  clear,  sharp,  keen,  active 


THE   VITAL-MENTAL  APPARATUS.  41 

mind  and  good  business  talents  ;  a  ready  flow  of  ideas,  and  a 
talent  to  communicate  them,  either  on  paper  or  in  social  con- 
versation ;  show  much  taste,  refinement,  and  delicacy ;  have 
an  under-current  of  pure,  virtuous  feeling,  which  will  prevent 
the  grosser  manifestation  of  animal  passion,  and  give  the  in- 
tellectual and  moral  man  the  ascendency,  sinning  only  under 
some  sudden  and  powerful  excitement,  for  which  he  will 
heartily  repent ;  be  fond  of  reading,  particularly  poetry,  no- 
vels, tales,  light  and  sentimental  pieces,  belles  lettres,  news- 
papers, &c. ;  be  inclined  to  attempt  this  kind  of  composition » 
have  a  retentive  memory ;  shrewdness ;  smartness ;  and 
enough  of  selfishness  to  take  care  of  number  one,  yet  not 
enough  power  or  momentum  of  mind  and  character  to  become 
great  or  pre-eminent. 

This  is  the  eloquent*  temperament  and  also  the  poeti- 
cal, though  in  poets  the  sharp  or  mental  often  predomi- 
nates over  both  the  others.  In  singers  it  also  predomi- 
nates, though  the  vital  generally  assumes  the  lead,  giving 
both  the  love  of  music  and  a  powerful  voice.  Indeed,  it  is 
the  most  exquisite,   sensitive,  and   full   organization   there 

*  True  eloquence  consists  not  in  strength  of  argument,  nor  in  gigantic 
power  of  thonght,  nor  in  deep,  powerful,  conclusive  reasoning,  nor  the 
observation  of  theoretical  rules,  but  in  the  spontaneous  gushings  and  ''im- 
passioned burstings  of  deep  feeling  and  intense  emotion,  transmitted  not 
so  much  by  words  as  by  the  melting,  thrilling,  souls-tirring  intonations  of 
voice ;  by  the  looks  and  attitude  of  the  man,  which  take  captive  the  citadel 
of  feeling  by  storm,  and  melt  the  soul  in  sympathy.  Hence,  eloquence  can 
never  be  written,  never  placed  on  paper.  It  must  be  seen,  and  heard,  and 
felt.  This  organization  produces  eloquence  ia  two  ways :  first,  by  creating 
a  gushing  fountain  of  sympathy  and  a  spontaneous  burst  of  feeling:  and 
secondly,  by  giving  a  large  pair  of  lungs,  which  in  speaking  inhale  great 
quantities  of  air,  by  which  the  blood  is  sent  to  the  brain  in  great  abundance 
and  highly  charged  with  vitality,  thus  producing  pathos.  The  organs  of 
Language,  Individuality,  Eventuality,  Comparison,  Ideality,  Imitation, 
and  some  others  are  also  necessary,  and  this  same  organization  in  the 
hearer  imparts  the  feelings  to  be  operated  upon.  It  predominates  in  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Bascom,  whom  Clay  pronounced  the  greatest  natural  orator  he 
ever  heard;  in  Rev's.  Bethune,  Burchard,  and  others  ;.  in  Choate, Preston, 
and  many  other  political  speakers,  and  in  many  more  who  might  be 
named.  Indeed,  no  one  remarkable  for  oratory  or  music  will  be  wanting  in 
this  organization.  Does  not  Phrenology  thus  furnish  a  better  analysis  of 
eloquence  than  can  be  found  in  works  on  this  subject  ? 


42  EDUCATION   AND    SELF-IMPKOVEMENT. 

is,  if  not  the  highest,  both  mentally  and  physically,  and  ap- 
proaches nearest  the  spiritual. 

Its  predominance  is  indicated  by  small  bones ;  moderate 
stature  ;  light  and  thin  hair  and  eyes ;  rather  thick  set,  stout 
build ;  round  shoulders ;  full  chest ;  full  face ;  handsome 
figure  ;  genteel  address ;  bea.utiful  features ;  small,  short,  and 
sharp  nose ;  a  sprightly  walk  5  considerable  colour  in  the 
cheeks  and  face ;  and  that  exquisiteness  of  feeling  which  en. 
joys  and  suffers  in  the  extreme.  Hence,  its  possessor  will  live 
a  very  happy  or  unhappy,  or  else  chequered,  life,  according 
as  his  organs  are  agreeably  or  disagreeably  affected. 

Auburn  hair  usually  accompanies  this  organization,  which 
is  no  less  the  attendant  of  beauty  of  mind  and  feeling,  than  it 
is  of  face  and  figure. 

The  Powerful  and  Active,  or  Motive-Mental  organization 
comb  hied  with  the  former  predominant  and  the  animal  ave- 
rage or  full,  renders  its  possessor  of  good  size  ;  rather  tall  and 
slim ;  lean  and  rawboned,  if  not  homely  and  awkward ; 
poor  in  flesh ;  the  bones  and  features  prominent,  particularly 
the  nose  ;  having  a  firm  and  distinct  muscle,  and  a  good  physi- 
cal organization  ;  a  keen,  piercing,  penetrating  eye ;  the  front 
upper  teeth  rather  large  and  projecting  ;  the  hands,  fingers, 
and  limbs  all  long  ;  a  long  face,  and  often  a  high  forehead ; 
a  firm,  rapid,  energetic  walk ;  and  great  ease  and  efficiency 
of  action,  accompanied  with  little  fatigue. 

He  will  have  strong  desires,  and  much  energy  of  character  ; 
will  take  hold  of  his  projects  with  both  hands,  and  drive  for- 
ward ill  spite  of  obstacles,  and  hence  is  calculated  to  accom- 
plish a  great  deal;  is  not  idle  or  lazy,  but  generally  prefers  to 
wait  upon  himself;  will  move,  walk,  &c.  in  a  decided  forci- 
ble and  straight-forward  manner ;  have  strong  passions  ;  a 
tough  and  wiry  brain  and  body ;  a  strong  and  vigorous  mind ; 
good  judgment ;  clear  head  ;  and  talents  more  solid  than  bril- 
liant; be  long-headed,  bold,  cool,  calculating,  fond  of  deep 
reasoning  and  philosophizing,  of  hard  thinking,  and  the  graver 
and  more  solid  branches  of  learning.  This  is  the  thorough- 
going temperament ;  imparts  business  powers ;  predisposes  to 
hard  work,  and  is  indispensable  to  those  who  engage  in  great 
undertakings,  or  who  would  rise  to  eminence. 


THE   MOTIVE-MENTAL    TEMPEEAMENT.  4S 

One  having  the  active  temperament  jii^^doTninant,  the  potv- 
er/ulj  full  or  large,  and  the  anivial  average  to  full,  will  dif^ 
fer  from  the  preceding  description  only  in  his  being  smaller, 
taller  in  proportion,  and  more  spare.  He  will  have  a  reflective? 
thinking,  planning,  discriminating  cast  of  mind  j  a  great  fond- 
ness for  literature,  science,  and  intellectual  pursuits  of  the 
deeper,  graver  kind ;  be  inclined  to  choose  a  professional  or 
mental  occupation ;  to  exercise  his  body  much,  but  his  mind 
more  ;  will  have  a  high  forehead  ;  good  moral  faculties  ;  and 
the  brain  developed  more  from  the  root  of  the  nose,  over  to 
philoprogenitiveness,  than  around  the  ears.  In  character, 
also,  the  moral  and  intellectual  faculties  will  predominate^ 
This  temperament  is  seldom  connected  with  depravity,  but 
generally  with  talent,  and  a  manifestation,  not  only  of  supe- 
rior talents,  but  of  the  solid,  metaphysical,  reasoning,  investi- 
gating intellect ;  a  fondness  for  natural  philosophy,  the  natural 
sciences,  &c.  It  is  also  the  temperament  for  authorship  and 
clear-headed,  laboured  productions.  It  predominates  in  Reeves, 
Jonathan  Edwards,  Wilbur  Fiske,  N.  Taylor,  E.  A.  Parke, 
Leonard  Bacon,  Albert  Barnes,  Oberlin,  and  Pres.  Day ;  Drs. 
Parish  and  Rush ;  in  Vethake,  Hitchcock,  Jas.  Brown,  the 
grammarian ;  ex  U.  S.  Attorney-General  Butler ;  Hugh  L. 
White,  Wise,  Asher  Robbins,  Weaker  Jones,  Esq.  of  Washing- 
ton, D.  C. ;  Franklin,  Alex.  Hamilton,  Chief  Justice  Marshall, 
Calhoun,  John  Q.  Adams,  Percival,  Noah  Webster,  George 
Combe,  Lucretia  Mott,  Catharine  Waterman,  Mrs.  Sigourney, 
and  nearly  every  distinguished  author  and  scholar. 

But,  if  the  cjc^z'ye  organization  decidedly  predoviinate,  the 
powerful  only  fair,  and  the  animal  loeak,  he  will  be  very 
tall,  slim,  long-boned,  lank,  small  chested,  slender  built,  very 
active  and  smart,  for  business,  but  too  light  for  any  thing  re- 
quiring strength  of  mind,  or  force  of  character.  He  is  best 
fitted  for  some  light,  active  business,  such  as  mercantile,  wri- 
ting, book-keeping,  &c.,  or,  if  a  mechanic,  for  a  silversmith, 
tailor,  &c.  Artists  usually  have  this  temperament,  and  often 
poets.  The  muscles  being  too  small  to  relish  or  endure  much 
hard  work,  they  take  too  little  vigorous  exercise*;  have  feel- 
ings too  refined  and  exquisite  for  this  rough  and  selfish  age^ 
or  for  coarse,  dirty  work ;   are   often  sentimental,  hypochon- 


€4  ED-IICATION  ANE  SELF-IMPROVEMENT, 

driaeal,  and  dyspeptic,  and  predisposed  to  consumption  and 
an  early  grave.  This  organization  generally  predominates  in 
our  first-cut  dandies  and  double-refined  ladies,  who  are  usu- 
ally more  fashionable  than  sensible  or  useful.  It  is  by  no 
means  a  desirable  one,  especially  for  wives  and  mothers,  not- 
withstanding it  is  all  the  rage,  and  much  cultivated  by  arti- 
Jicial  pressure.  It  generally  predominates  in  our  city  and 
village  masters,  misses,  and  children,  and  also  in  precocious 
children,  who  seldom  amount  to  much,  and  usually  die  young. 
Consumptive  families  are  mostly  very  smart,  but  very  slim, 
poor  in  flesh,  and  sharp-favored. 

One  having  the  animal  predominant,  ihQ  powerful  fair  or 
strong,  and  the  mental  deficient,  when  really  roused,  and 
pressed  into  service  by  powerful  motives,  will  be  able  to  ac- 
complish much,  yet  will  love  ease,  and  put  forth  no  more 
effort  than  he  is  compelled  to  do.  His  passions  will  be  strong, 
and  his  temptations  powerful,  with  some  tendency  to  merry 
company,  if  not  the  excitement  of  drink.  He  will  not  usually 
be  devoted  to  books,  or  hard  study,  or  close  application,  bu 
will  be  able  to  do  much  hard  work,  and  is  less  disgusted  with 
coarse  or  filthy  kinds  of  labor  than  one  more  delicately  orga- 
nized. Hence  it  is  desirable  that  the  ^'hewers  of  wood  and 
the  drawers  of  water,"  scavengers,  colliers,  &c,,  should  have 
this  organization,  the  mental  temperament  incapacitating  its 
possessor,  both  mentally  and  physically,  for  dirt,  drudgery, 
&c. 

The  jjowerf III  predominant,  mental 'great,  and  animal  full, 
is  the  one  iox  p)oioerful  and  sustained  mental  effort,  and  im- 
parts great  j5oi«er  in  any  department,  especially  that  of  mind 
as  mind,  or  of  swaying  a  commanding  influence  over  man- 
kind, and  capacitates  for  taking  the  lead  in  a  large  business  ; 
while  one  with  the  mental  predominant,  the  animal  only  full, 
and  the  powerful  weak,  though  he  may  be  smart,  yet  he  can- 
not be  great ;  though  his  feelings  may  flare  up,  and  his  talents 
shine  forth  with  brilliancy,  yet  they  will  be  momentary,  and 
too  flashy,  vapid,  and  quickly  spent  to  be  permanently  useful. 
The  former  is  the  solid  wood  or  the  anthracite  coal,  making  a 
slow  but  powerful  and  continuous  heat;  while  the  latter  re- 
sembles the  fire  made  of  pine  wood,  that  snaps,  blazes  bright" 


THE   MOTIVE-MENTAL    TEMPERAMENT.  45 

ly,  burns  fiercely,  smokes  copiously,  and  gives  out  a  scorching 
intense  heat,  for  the  time  being,  yet  does  not  last,  leaves  no 
coals  or  ashes ;  or,  if  the  sharp  greatly  predominate,  like  a 
fire  made  of  shavings,  glaring  but  momentary. 

Having  described  clearly  the  three  primary  organizations 
and  their  principal  combinations,  the  reader  is  left  to  his  own 
observation  for  the  intermediate  shades  of  character  produced 
by  their  intermediate  combinations ;  or,  he  Will  find  them  in 
works  soon  to  be  published  (in  pocket  form)  by  the  author, 
on  Physiology,  Phrenology,  and  Physiognomy. 

But  the  hest  condition  of  body,  the  organization  most  favor- 
able to  true  greatness,  and  to  a  general  genius,  to  balance  and 
consistency  of  character,  and  to  perfection  in  every  thing,  is 
that  in  which  each  temperament  is  strongly  marked,  and  all 
are  about  equally  balanced.  When  there  is  too  much  of  the 
prominent  there  will  be  power,  yet  but  little  action,  so  that 
the  talents  lie  comparatively  dormant.  When  the  powerful 
and  animal  greatly  predominate  over  the  mental,  there  is  too 
much  grossness,  coarseness,  and  obtuseness  of  feeling,  with  too 
little  of  the  intellectual  and  too  much  of  the  animal.  But 
where  the  mental  greatly  preponderates,  there  will  be  too 
.much  mind  for  the  body,  too  great  sensitiveness,  too  much  in- 
tensity of  feeling,  and  that  too  exquisite  ;  too  much  sentimen. 
talism  and  refinement,  with  a  tendency  to  precocity,  which 
induces  early  death. 

These  temperaments  and  their  predominance  may  be  aptly 
compared  to  the  several  parts  of  a  steamboat.  The  animal  is 
the  wood,  water,  fire,  engine  and  steam,  which  produce  the 
propelling  power;  the  prominent  is  the  hulk;  the  active,  the 
freight  and  passengers.  When  the  animal  predominates,  it 
manufactures  more  steam,  more  vital  energy,  more  impulse, 
more  animality,  than  the,  brain,  nerves,  and  muscles  can  work 
off,  which  produces  an  overflow  of  feeling  and  passion,  a  rest- 
lessness, a  high  pressure,  and  a  liability  to  explode  in  vicious 
indulgence.  The  lion  has  a  prodigious  chest,  and  an  amount 
of  animal  power  almost  beyond  conception,  with  but  a  small 
brain.  Hence,  man,  with  scarcely  a  hundredth  part  of  his 
strength,  but  with  well  developed  brain  and  nerves,  can  ac 
complish  a  thousand  fold  more.  If  the  osseous  and  muscular, 
5 


46  EDUCATION   AND    SELF-IMPROVEMENT. 

or  the  powerful '  organization  greatly  predominate,  there 
is  too  much  hulk;  the  person  will  move  slowly  and  feel 
but  little,  enjoy  and  suffer  proportionally  little,  and,  if  the 
mental  be  also  weak,  he  will  be  obtuse  in  intellect,  a  strang- 
er to  refinement  and  intellectual  enjoyment,  and,  having 
but  few  passengers,  the  boat  of  life  will  be  too  light  freighted 
to  be  well  worth  running,  or  to  secure  the  great  ends  of  ex- 
istence, namely,  intellectual  and  moral  enjoyment.  But 
where  the  mental  greatly  predominates,  the  vessel  is  over- 
laden, the  energies  of  the  system  are  drawn  from  the  digestive 
apparatus  and  muscles,  and  concentrated  upon  the  brain  and 
nervous  system,  which  thus  consume  the  vital  powers  faster 
than  the  animal  organs  can  manufacture  the  re-supply.  This 
overdraught,  while  it^greatly  augments  the  talents,  and  induces 
precocity,  also  causes  premature  death  ;  but  more  of  this  here- 
after. 

Involved  in  this  doctrine  of  organization,  is  the  density, 
toughness,  endurability,  &c.,  of  the  system,  but  as  they  all 
depend  upon  the  organization  and  grow  out  of  it,  it  will  not 
be  necessary  to  particularize.  Attention  was  called  to  this 
point  mainly  to  remark,  that  that  density  of  the  waist  and 
tnuscle  which  resists  pressure  and  gives  solidity  and  hardness, 
indicates  proportionate  vigor  and  power  of  constitution,  but 
that  a  yielding  waist  or  a  flabby  muscle,  is  an  indication  that 
the  vitality  of  the  system  is  low,  and  the  stamina  of  the  con- 
stitution enfeebled.  So,  limberness  of  joints  indicates  youth- 
fulness  and  elasticity  of  constitution,  and  a  sprightly,  elastic 
walk,  an  active,  penetrating  mind.  But  more  of  this  in  the 
work  on  Physiology  alluded  to  above. 


HEALTH ITS    VALUE    AND    CONDITIONS.  47 


,  SECTION    IIT. 

HEALTH. ITS    VALUE    AND    CONDITIONS;     INCLUDING    THE    MEANS 

OF    PRESERVING    AND    REGAINING    IT. 

"  Health — The  poor  man's  riches,  the  rich  man's  blessing." 

Having  presented  the  importance  of  a  good  physical  organ- 
ization, as  well  as  some  of  its  indices,  we  pass  naturally  to  a 
consideration  of  the  influence  of  health  on  talents,  propensi- 
ties, enjoyment,  capabilities,  &c.  What,  then,  is  health  ? 
Simply  the  natural  and  vigorous  action  of  all  the  physical 
and  mental  organs — physical  health  consisting  in  the  vigorous, 
normal  action  of  the  vital  and  muscular  apparatus,  and  men- 
tal health,  that  is,  virtue — in  the  vigorous  and  natural  action 
of  the  brain  and  nervous  system,  that  is,  of  the  mental  ap- 
paratus. 

By  parity  of  reasoning,  also,  sickness  consists  in  the  ah^ 
normal,  or  the  unnatural,  feverish,  excessive,  or  deficient 
action  of  one  or  more  of  the  physical  organs,  while  the 
abnormal  action  of  the  brain  and  nervous  system — their  in- 
flammation, irregular,  fevered  action — occasions  emotions  and 
actions  sometimes  called  mental  derangement,  sometimes  in- 
sanity, wickedness,  sinfulness,  selfishness,  depravity,  misery, 
&c,  &c.  Let  it  be  remembered  that  there  is  mental  sickness 
as  well  as  physical — the  former  the  same  departure  from  the 
natural,  healthy  action  of  the  the  brain,  that  physical  debility, 
fevers,  diseases,  &c.,  are  from  that  of  the  bodily  organs.  To 
preserve  health,  then,  physical  or  mental,  preserve  the  normal, 
natural  action  of  the  physical  organs,  &c.-  to  restore  health,  re- 
store that  normal  primitive,  original,  constitutional  action. 

"But,  of  what  USE  is  health — and  what  is  its  value,  relative 
or  absolute?"  I  answer  by  asking,  "Of  what  use  is  happi- 
ness, and  what  is  its  value,  relative  or  absolute  ?"  Or,  what 
amounts  to  the  same  thing.  Of  what  use  is  life,  and  what  is 


48  HEALTH ITS   VALUE    AND    CONDITIONS. 

its  value  ?  In  other  words :  life  is  but  the  result  of  the  action 
of  the  physical  and  mental  organs,  and  the  more  perfect  that 
action,  the  more  abundant  and  perfect  is  life,  and  as  happi- 
ness has  already  been  shown  to  be  the  object  of  both  the 
creation  of  man  and  of  every  organ  and  faculty'-  of  man,  and 
of  every  thing  in  nature,  so  life  itself  is  more  abundant  in 
quantity,  better  in  quality,  and  yields  a  richer  harvest  of  its 
own  legitimate,  only  fruit — happiness — the  more  perfect  that 
health.  Health  is  life  and  happiness  ;  life  is  health  and  hap- 
piness ;  and  happiness  is  life  and  health  ;  all  different  names 
for  the  same  thing — all  proportioned  to  each  other,  and  each 
dependent  upon  all  the  others;  and  whoever  possesses  either, 
possesses  all  the  others  in  exactly  that  proportion  in  which 
he  possesses  either.  And  allow  me  to  add,  that  virtue,  mo- 
ral perfection,  holiness,  goodness — the  name  matters  nothing, 
but  the  thirig  signified  is  the  primitive,  constitutional,  origi- 
nal action  of  the  mental  fa-culties — depend  considerably  more 
upon  the  health,  and  are  produced  hy  \i — by  a  sound  and 
vigorous  physiology — than  most  good  people  suppose  ;  while 
depravity,  sinfulness,  wickedness  of  feeling  and  conduct,  and 
all  the  vices  that  degrade  man  and  render  him  inconceivably 
miserable,  are  caused  by — are  the  legitimate,  necessary  'pro- 
ducts oi physical  dera7igement — more  than  of  all  other  causes 
combined.  I  would  hardly  go  so  far  as  to  say,  (and  yet  I  am 
not  prepared  to  dispute  it,)  that  he  who  is  the  most  healthy — 
using  the  word  health  in  its  correct  sense,  (that  above  defined,) 
—is  therein  and  therefore  the  most  virtuous,  moral,  and 
holy;  but  I  do  say  that  health  is  the  original,  constitutional, 
and  therefore  virtuous,  action  of  all  man's  faculties,  mental 
and  physical.  Moralists  and  religionists  have  yet  to  learn, 
that  SICKNESS,  (not  that  complete  physical  prostration  which 
confines  the  body  to  the  sick  bed  alone,  but  the  abnormal, 
unnatural,  and  especially  inflamed  action  of  the  physical  or- 
gans,) is  one  great  cause  of  mental  and  moral  depravity. 
But  more  of  this  hereafter.  If  these  new  announcements  star- 
tle the  reader,  let  him  canvass  the  principles  on  which  they 
are  based. 

As  to  health :  we  have  seen  it  to  be  the  natural,  and  the 
only  natural  function  of  all  the  mental  and  physical  organs. 


OBEDIENCE    TO    THE    LAWS    OF    NATURE    INSURES    HEALTH.  49 

Is  it  then  attainable  7  ('ertainly  ;  or,  rather,  it  comes  itself. 
To  secure  it,  we  have  only  not  to  prevent  it.  It  flows  int^ 
the  lap  of  man  just  as  the  river  flows  onward  to  its  own  bed. 
It  requires  no  effort.  It  comes  unbidden.  Like  breathing,  or 
sleeping,  or  talking,  it  is  natural,  and  can  be  prevented  only  by 
great  effort.  Indeed,  it  is  only  the  perfection  of  breathing? 
sleeping,  digesting,  and  all  the  functions  of  man,  and  is  just  as 
easy  as  it  is  to  breathe,  eat,  sleep,  &c.  Nor  is  it  any  more 
necessary  that  man  be  unwell  than  that  he  hold  his  breath 
voluntarily,  or  shut  his  eyes,  or  else  pluck  them  out  entirely, 
or  chain  up  any  organ,  so  as  to  prevent  its  natural,  legitimate, 
and  vigorous  exercise. 

A  story  may  illustrate  this  idea.  John  once  inadvertently 
whistled  in  school.  The  master  called  him  up,  and  prefaced 
his  chastisement  with,  "  Jolm,  what  did  you  whistle  for  ?"  "  I 
didn't,  sir,  it  whistled  itself^  All  our  faculties  were  made  to 
whistle  themselves,  and,  if  not  prevented,  loill  whistle  them- 
selves ;  that  is,  will  begin  life  with,  and  continue  to  perform^ 
their  natural,  healthy  function  from  its  commencement  to 
its  very  close,  without  once  departing  in  the  least  therefrom. 

A  plain  inference  from  this  principle,  which  cannot  possibly 
be  contested,  at  least  without  thereby  accusing  nature  of  irre 
gularity,  and  God  of  wanton  cruelty,  is  that  it  is  possible  for 
all  men  to  be  perfectly  healthy.  Health  is  the  state  of  na 
ture.  Only  let  nature  have  her  perfect  work,  and  this  glori- 
ous result  is  obtained.  To  be  perfectly  healthy,  we  have 
only  to  follow  the  dictates  of  unperverted  nature — only  to 
do  that  in  the  very  doing  of  which  we  are  most  happy,  and 
the  ultimate  eff'ect  of  which  is  also  health  and  happiness. 
Every  violation  of  the  law  of  health,  gives  us  pain ;  every 
obedience,  pleasure ;  so  that  we  have  not  to  go  to  some  far- 
off"  clime,  nor  to  do  some  great  thing,  nor  make  a  great  sacri- 
fice, or  self-denial,  in  order  to  be  healthy,  but  health  comes 
itself,  if  we  will  but  let  it — if  we  will  not  prevent  and  reject 
it.  In  other  words,  let  the  constitutional  functions  of  both 
body  and  mind  go  on  uninterruptedly,  and  health,  happiness, 
and  virtue  will  be  their  delightful  product. 

We  are  now  prepared  to  pass  sentence  upon  a  doctrine  of- 
ten taught  from  the  pulpit,  that  we  should  regard  sickness  and 


50  HEALTH ITS    VALUE    AND    CONDITION. 

premature  death  as  dispensations  of  Providence.     So  is  the 
rising  of  the  sun  equally  a  dispensation  of  Providence,     The 
former,  hke  the  latter,  is  governed  hj fixed  laws.     Every  glow 
of  health  is  caused,  and  so  is  every  twinge  of  pain.     To  sup- 
pose that  sickness  or  death  are  not  caused,  is  to  suppose  that 
-  this  department  of  God's  works  is  left  to  dark  uncertainty  and 
zigzag  chance — a  supposition  as  derogatory  to  the  character  of 
God  (if  that  were  possible)  as  it  is  proof  positive  of  ignorance 
and  bigotry  in  the  one  who  entertains  a  doctrine  so  utterly 
unphilosophical.     And  to  suppose  tha,t  sickness  and  prema- 
ture death  are  sometimes  providential,  and  sometimes  the  con- 
sequences  of  violating  the  physical  laws,   is   analogous   to 
supposing  that  the  sun  rises  one  day  by  the  special  direction 
and  exercise  of  Providence,  without  any  means  being  put  in 
operation  to  cause  it  to  rise,  and  another  day,  rises  in  obedi- 
ence to  the  fixed  laws  of  gravity  ;  that  stones  thrown  into  the 
air  fall,  sometimes  in  obedience  to  "  Providential  interpositions,'^ 
and  sometimes  in  obedience  to  the  laws  of  gravity ;  that  open- 
ing our  eyes  upon  surrounding  nature,  we  sometimes  see  by  a 
special  act  of  Providence,  without  the  agency  of  light  or  the 
laws  of  optics,  and  that,  at  other  times,  we  see  by  means  of 
cause  and  effect.    Hence,  we  are  compelled  to  take  this  broad 
ground — either  that  all  sickness,  all  health,  all  death,  prema- 
ture or  natural,  are  the  legitimate,  necessary  action  of  fixed, 
uniform  laws  of  cause  and  effect,  or  else  that  this  department 
of  nature  is  left  to  blind  chance.     No  middle  ground  remains. 
In  fact,  no  ground  remains  but  to  regard  every  action  and 
function  of  the  body,  whether  natural  and  therefore  healthy, 
or  unnatural  and  therefore  diseased,  as  the  legitimate  and  ne- 
cessary product  of  causation.     And  it  is  indeed  strange  that 
educated  men,  public  men,  moral  and  intellectual  leaders  and 
TEACHERS,  should  entertain  and  teach  a  doctrine  so  injurious 
in  its- effects,  and  so  directly  in  the  teeth  of  both  nature  and 
reason,  as  is  the  doctrine  that  it  is  possible  for  sickness  to  be 
Providential.     Would  death,  caused  by  jDoison  or  by  shooting, 
be  Providential  ?     Certainly  not ;  nor  is  it  so  when  caused  by 
breaking  any  of  the  other  physical  laws.     Men  kill  themselves, 
and  parents  kill   their  children — with  kindness  often ;  and 


MEANS    OF    REGAINING   AND    PRESERVING    HEALTH.  51 

then  throw  all  the  blame  off  from  the  guilty  perpetrators  upon 
divine  Providence  f  This  is  down-right  blasphemy  ;  and  it  is 
high  time  that  sickness  and  death  were  regarded  as  crimes, 
perhaps  of  the  individual,  perhaps  of  parents,  or  of  ancestors, 
or  of  his  fellow  men,  but  still  induced  by  human  agency,  and 
therefore  criminal. 

I  know,  indeed,  that  it  is  very  consoling,  for  the  clergyman, 
when  called  to  the  sick  bed,  to  say,  "  Dear  sister,  I  hope  you 
submit  to  this  Divine  chastisement,  this  afflictive  dispensation 
of  Providence,  patiently,  trusting  that  the  rod  of  your  heavenly 
Father  will  teach  you  resignation  to  the  Divine  will ;"  and 
when  called  upon  to  preside  at  the  funeral  of  a  child,  it  is  very 
soothing .  to  the  lacerated  feelings  of  the  parent  to  hear  him 
say,  " '  The  Lord  gave  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away.  Bless- 
ed be  the  name  of  the  Lord.'  The  dear  little  one  has  been 
taken  out  of  this  wicked  world,  and  from  the  evil  to  come,  and 
sent  home  to  glory  5  for  '  the  Lord  had  need  of  him.'  Bear 
this  bereavement  with  meekness  and  patience.  It  was  sent 
for  your  good — sent  to  wean  you  from  this  world,  and  to  place 
your  affections  on  another  and  a  better." 

Much  more  soothing  this,  to  be  thus  comforted,  than  to  be  told 
the  naked  truth  in  plain  terms,  which  would  be :  "  What  bu- 
siness have  you  to  be  sick  ?  What  physical  law  have  you 
violated,  thus  to  cause  this  pain  to  yourself  and  trouble  to 
others.?  You  have  siimed  by  breaking  the  laws  of  your  be- 
ing, and  this  is  your  punishment.  Stop  sinning,  and  your 
sufferings  will  cease  ;"  or  than  if  he  should  say  to  parents, 
"  What  did  you  kill  this  child  for  ?  Hoio  did  you  do  it  ?  What 
oight  have  you  thus  to  trifle  with  the  life  of  this  darling  child, 
as  well  as  inflict  so  deep  a  wound  upon  your  own  parental 
feelings  ?  Let  this  warn  you  to  learn  and  obey  the  physical 
laws.  Here,  Coroner,  inquire  out  particularly  the  causes  of 
this  child's  decease,  that  others  may  take  warning  and  avoid 
like  consequences." 

Hard  meat  this,  but  I  submit  whether  it  is  not  the  truth.  What 
but  the  violation  of  the  physical  laws  can  possibly  induce  disease, 
or  sickness,  or  premature  death  ?  Nothing  whatever.  Who  will 
expose  his  folly  by  answering  otherwise  ?  Since,  then,  sickness 
and  premature  death  are  but  the  consequences  or  penalties  of  vio- 


52  HEALTH ITS  VALUE  AND  CONDITIONS. 

lated  physical  laws,  what  right  has  any  one  to  he  sick  ?  That  isy 
what  right  has  any  one  to  break  the  physical  laws  1  And  if  no 
one  has  a  right  to  break  these  laws,  then  no  one  has  any  right, 
any  business  to  be  sick,  or  to  die,  (that  is,  to  be  chastised  with 
their  penalties,)  before  old  age  steals  gradually  over  them,  and 
•wraps  them  gently  in  the  slumbers  of  death  ?  Show  me  your  in- 
dulgence from  the  court  of  heaven,  granting  you  permission  to  vio- 
late the  laws  of  the  universe,  or  else  confess  that  you  have  no  right 
to  be  sick ;  no,  not  for  a  day,  or  an  hour !  And  the  very  fact,  that 
physical  debility  and  pain  are  painful,  is  of  itself  prima  facia  evi- 
dence that  some  sin  has  been  committed,  some  law  broken. 

Again:  As  health  is  but  the  perfection  of  action  and  function 
of  all  the  organs,  which  is  but  another  name  for  life ;  of  course  the 
more  health  we  have,  the  more  life  we  have,  and  the  more  happi- 
ness. If,  therefore,  it  be  wicked  to  shorten  life,  then  it  is  wdcked 
to  impair  the  health ;  for  such  impairment  is  but  diminishing  life, 
and  inviting  and  hastening  death.  If  any  privileged  mortal  has 
a  right  to  commit  suicide,  gradual  or  sudden,  then  may  he  have 
the  right  to  be  sick  ;  but,  if  it  be  wrong  to  commit  suicide,  then  is 
it  morally  wrong,  and  for  precisely  the  same  reason,  to  be  sick. 

I  grant  that  children  may  sometimes  suffer  sickness  on  account 
of  the  sins  of  their  parents  or  ancestors,  but  what  right  had  these 
ancestors  to  curse  their  progeny  with  a  loathsome,  painful  disease, 
and  thereby  to  blast  many  of  their  pleasures  for  life  ?  But  this  sub- 
ject has  been  presented  in  another  connection.  Parents  might 
and  should  impart  sound  physical  constitutions  to  their  children,  or 
else  none  at  all. 

This  doctrine  will  of  course  meet  with  objectors,  but  my  pro- 
vince is  to  expound  nature,  not  to  fortify  her  against  the  cavils  of 
those  who  know  not  her  laws  or  their  own  privileges. 

An  important  inference,  growing  naturally  out  of  this  prin- 
ciple is,  that  to  preserve  the  health  is  a  moral  duty, — is  indeed 
one  of  the  greatest  of  moral  obligations ;  while,  to  impair  the 
health  is  one  of  the  greatest  sins  that  it  is  in  the  power  of  man 
to  commit.  In  character,  though  less  in  degree,  it  is  on  a  par 
with  taking  life,  and  therefore  is  as  much  worse  than  stealing, 
cheating,  extortion,  &c.,  as  life  is  more  valuable  than  proper- 
ty— is  as  much  worse  than  slander  or  defamation,  as  life  is 
worth  more  than  the  commendation  of  mankind ;  and  a  simi- 


MEANS    OF   KEGAINING    AND   PRESERVING   HEALTH.,  53 

lar  remark  holds  true  in  regard  to  all  other  crimes.  Now  why 
do  teachers  of  morality  omit  to  teach  this  so  important  a 
moral  duty  ?  Do  they  not  know  that  to  destroy  life  is  im- 
moral ?     Pray,  then,  what  do  they  know  ? 

The  plain  fact  is,  there  should  he  a  distinct  'profession  to  teach 
Physiology.  The  clerical  profession  care  only  for  the  souls  of 
mankind,  without  any  reference  to  their  bodies.  Lawyers 
have  reference  to  neither,  but  mainly  to  their  own  fees  ;  while 
medicine  is  confined  to  diseases  of  the  body,  and  not  to  their 
prevention.  Proverb  says  truly,  "an  ounce  of  prevention  is 
worth  a  pound  of  cure."* 

If  there  were  a  profession  whose  province  it  was  to  teach 
the  laws  of  life  and  health,  the  services  of  physicians  would 
be  little  needed ;  and  if  physicians  would  talk  and  lecture 
upon  the  preservation  of  health,  though  they  would  decrease 
their  practice,  they  would  greatly  augment  human  happiness, 
besides  evincing  a  philanthropic,  noble  spirit ;  and  I  hail  with 
joy  the  introduction  of  the  Mannikin,  as  a  new  and  powerful 
agent  for  disseminating  a  knowledge  of  anatomy  and  physi- 
ology in  that  practical,  taking,  popular  form,  which  alone  can 
secure  success.  Anatomy  and  physiology  should  always  be 
taught  together. 

Let  us  next  consider  the  value  and  influence  of  health  upon 
our  enjoyments.  Not  only  does  sickness  prevent  our  enjoying 
animal  life,  in  eating,  sleeping,  exercise,  &c.,  and  rack  the 
body  with  pain,  but  health  produces  a  quiet  and  almost  imper- 
ceptible flow  of  pleasure,  both  mental  and  animal,  the  sum 
total  of  which  is  inconceivably  great,  far  exceeding  the  grati- 
fication afibrded  by  riches,  or  by  honors,  or  by  any  thing  else 
whatever,  except  perhaps  an  approving  conscience.     If  the 

*  It  gives  me  unfeigned  pleasure  to  be  able  to  state,  that  Miss  Hunt, 
female  Physician  in  Boston,  when  she  gives  medicine  to  children,  urges  on 
them  the  doctrine  that  they  have  eaten  or  done  something  injurious,  to 
cause  their  sickness,  and  asks  them  what  it  is — telling  them  at  the  same 
time,  that  they  need  not  and  should  not  be  sick :  that,  after  she  has  cured 
them,  they  must  all  try  to  keep  well,  and  be  ashamed  to  have  to  send 
for  her  again.  They  like  her  for  this;  and  yet  this  course  usually  keeps 
her  patients  well  after  she  has  once  cured  them,  so  that 'she  has  but  few 
regular  patients,  while  the  faculty  glory  in  keepingi  heir  old  patients,  as 
well  as  in  acquiring  new  ones. 


54 


HEALTH ITS  VALUE  AND  CONDITIONS. 


"wealth  of  India  were  placed  in  one  scale  and  health  in  the 
other,  to  prefer  the  former  would  be  consummate  folly.  And 
he  is  doubly  foolish,  who  injures  his  health  by  excessive  labor 
for  a  paltry  pittance,  or  by  careless  exposure,  or  by  indulging 
his  appetite.  Wise  indeed  is  he  who  understands  and  obeys 
the  laws  of  life  and  health ;  but  he  who  does  not  understand 
them,  is  the  veriest  ignoramus,  however  learned  he  may  be 
in  Grecian  and  Latin  lore,  in  scieiice  and  the  arts,  or  in  any 
other  department  of  nature. 

The  value  of  learning  consists  in  its  utility,  wot  m  its  amount. 
In  order  even  to  acquire  knowledge,  he  must  obey  the  phy- 
sical laws,  else  his  learning  will  run  from  him  like  water 
from  a  sieve;  but  whoever  keeps  his  hody  and  brain  in  good 
order,  will  never  forget  any  thing,  never  be  dull  in  feeling  or 
perception,  and  can  always  bring  his  mind  to  bear  powerfully 
and  directly  upon  the  subject  in  hand.  To  preserve  his  health, 
is  to  the  intellectual  man,  what  keeping  his  tools  in  order  is 
to  the  workman  ;  and  as  every  individual  has  but  a  single  life 
to  live,  he  should  lengthen  it  out  to  the  utmost,  and  secure  the 
greatest  amount  of  enjoyment  from  it.  To  know  how  to  do 
this,  is  the  essence  of  all  learning ;  and  to  do  it,  is  the  perfec- 
tion of  wisdom.  Words  cannot  express  the  consummate  folly 
of  those  who  abuse  their  health  because  it  is  good.  "  Verily, 
verily,  they  have  their  reward."  Their  day  of  reckoning  will 
surely  overtake  them.  To  commit  greater  sins  against  them- 
selves and  their  fellow-men,  is  impossible.  True,  they  do  it 
ignorantly,  but  this  does  not  in  the  least  mitigate  their  punish- 
ment. They  ought  not  to  be  ignorant  of  it.  Of  all  the  books 
written,  sermons  preached,  papers  published,  lectures  deliver- 
ed, &c.,  &c.,  few  treat  of  the  laws  of  life  and  health,  whereas 
more  should  be  written  and  taught  upon  this  subject  than 
upon  any  other,  if  not  upon  all  others.  Let  light  be  scattered 
upon  this  all-important  subject.  Let  our  young  people  be 
taught  to  consider  health  as  both  wealth  and  happiness,  and 
the  source  of  all  their  enjoyments.  Let  them  be  warned 
never,  on  any  account,  to  trifle  with  health,  or  to  do  what  will 
weaken  their  constitutions.  A  shrewd  writer  has  somewhere 
said  of  the  excess  of  youth,  what  the  author  says  of  violations 
of  the  laws  of  health  in  youth,  namely,  that  they  "  are  drafts 


MEANS    OF    REGAINING    AND    PRESERVING    HEALTH.  55 

Upon  old  age,  payable  thirty  years  after  date,  with  interest," 
with  this .  addition, — that  the  former  must  be  paid  all  along, 
daily  and  haurly  through  life.  As  we  measure  time  by  its  loss, 
so  we  can  estimate  the  value  of  health  only  by  its  injury. 

Those  who  are  always  well,  do  not  realize  how  much  plea- 
sure they  enjoy  thereby,  and  those  who  sell  a  life  of  happiness 
for  a  momentary  gratification,  or  a  careless  exposure, — the 
folly  of  Esau  bears  no  comparison  with  their  folly — and  not 
unfrequently,  a  life  of  bitter  repentance  is  insufficient  to  atone 
for  a  single  act  of  indiscretion. 

In  one  light  more,  let  us  consider  the  value  of  health — that 
of  its  pecuniary  advantages. 

How  expensive  is  sickness,  and  how  handsome  a  property  is 
health  1  Let  the  man  who  is  comfortably  off  in  this  world,  be  sick, 
and  have  to  pay  a  doctor's  bill  of  a  hundred  dollars,  and  a  nurse's 
bill  of  another  hundred,  meanwhile,  his  family  expenses  are  going 
on  continually,  perhaps  rent,  and  those  thousand  items  of  expense 
to  which  sickness  subjects  him,  and  a  handsome  property,  all  he 
has  been  able  to  earn  perhaps  in  twenty  years,  vanishes  in  a  single 
year ;  but  let  that  same  man  have  health,  and  he  can  augment  that 
property,  besides  enjoying  himself  as  he  goes  along  through  life, 
and  making  his  family  happy.  Let  a  child,  or  a  wife,  be  sick,  and 
those  only  who  have  had  extensive  observation  or  else  experience? 
can  count  its  expense  in  dollars  and  cents  merely,  to  say  nothing  of 
the  anxiety,  watchings,  gloom,  and  a  whole  swarm  of  bad  feelings 
in  which  the  whole  family  is  thereby  enshrouded. 

As  the  best  means  of  making  money,  then,   preserve  your 

HEALJH. 

As  the  best  means  of  enjoying  animal  life  merely,  preserve  your 

HEALTH. 

As  the  shortest,  surest,  and  only  road  to  greatness,  preserve 

your  ilEALTH. 

As  the  principle  means  of  promoting  the  best  interests  of  men 
and  doing  good,  preserve  your  health  ;  for  what  good  can  you  do 
while  prostrated  on  a  sick  bed,  and  tortured  with  pain  1 

As  a  means  of  acquiring  knowledge,  preserve  your  health. 

To  prevent  the  unnatural,  and  to  secure  the  natural,  exercise 
of  the  mental  faculties,  that  is,  to  be  virtuous,  and  avoid  occasions 
for  sinning,  preserve  your  health. 


56 


HEALTH — ITS  VALUE  AND  CONDITIONS. 


As  the  most  efficacious,  if  not  the  only  means  of  securing  any  of 
the  legitimate  ends  of  life,  mental,  moral,  or  physical,  presekve 
YOUR  HEALTH.  This  is  the  alpha  and  the  omega,  the  middle  and 
both  ends,  the  warp,  woof,  and  all  of  hfe, — of  human  beings, — of 
man. 

The  inferences,  then,  are  obvious,  first,  that  the  greatest  moral 
duty  we  owe  to  ourselves  and  to  our  fellow  men,  is  to  preserve  our 
health,  and  secondly,  that  parents  are  under  the  strongest  moral 
obligation  to  their  children  to  give  them  sound,  strong,  physical 
constitutions.  This  should  be  done  at  the  expense  of  every  thing 
else,  and  those  parents  who  neglect  the  physical  education  of  their 
children  in  order  to  leave  them  property,  are  cursing  them  most  ef- 
fectually. So,  also,  to  try  to  cultivate  their  intellects  at  the  expense 
of  health,  is  to  attempt  to  build  without  a  foundation,  and  must 
prove  their  mental  and  physical  ruin. 

We  pass  naturally  to  consider  the  means  both  of  preserving,  and 
of  regaining  the  health.  How  can  so  invaluable  a  blessing  be  se- 
cured, and  so  prolific  a  cause  of  suffering  as  sickness  is,  be  obvia- 
ted 1  By  consulting  doctors  ?  By  pouring  down  drugs,  either  in 
quantities,  or  in  infinitessimal  doses  1  Jfo,  never  !  Medicine,  select- 
ed with  however  much  skill,  administered  by  however  talented  a 
physician,  taken  in  any  way,  taken  in  every  way,  in  the  very  nature 
and  constitution  of  things,  cannot  but  prove  injurious  to  the  animal 
economy.  I  do  not  pretend  to  say  that  it  may  not  ward  off 
still  greater  evils,  but,  in  the  first  place,  mankind  could  and  should 
so  live  as  never  to  require  medicine,  and,  secondly,  in  nine  hundred 
and  ninety-nine  cases  in  a  thousand,  a  proper  observance  of  the 
physiological  laws,  w^ould  restore  health  far  more  effectually  than 
medicine  can  do,  and  without  thereby  injuring  the  constitution, 
which  medicines  always  and  necessarily  does.  Ask  any  honest 
doctor,  and  he  will  tell  you  that  he  has  performed  some  of  his  most 
wonderful  cures  with  bread  pills,  and  physiological  prescriptions. 

A  single  case.  A  physician  of  some  repute  in  L.,  was  called 
thirty  miles  in  great  haste,  to  see  a  sick  woman,  whose  case  had  thus 
far  baffled  all  medical  treatment,  and  was  regarded  by  all  her  friends 
as  hopeless.  All  they  expected  was  merely  to  mitigate  a  disease 
of  long  standing  :  recovery  being  considered  out  of  the  question.  The 
doctor  came,  saw  that  she  was  very  nervous,  and  had  been  dosed 
almost  to  death,  and  told  her  that  if  she  would  follow  his  directions 


MEANS  OF  REGAINING   AND  PRESERVING  HEALTH.'  57 

iniflicitly,  he  could  cure  her  ;   for  he  had  one  kind  of  medicine  of 
great  -power,  but  which  was  useful  only  in  cases  exactly  like  hers 
in  which,  it  was  an  infallible  cure.     After  telling  her  how  often  she 
must  take  it,  he  added,  that  she  must  get  up  and  walk  across  the 
room  the  second  day,  and  ride  out  the  third.     "  Oh,  that  she  could 
never  do,  for  she  had  not  been  off  her  bed  in  many  years,  and  was 
so  very  weak,"  &c.  &c.  "  Oh  but,"  said  the  doctor, "  this  medicine 
will  give  you  so  much  strength  that  you  will  be  ahle  to  do  so,  and 
it    will    prevent   any    injurious   consequences    arising  therefrom. 
And,  besides,"  he  added,  "  the  medicine  will  not  operate,  unless 
you  stir  about  some.    Do  just  as  I  tell  you,  and  you  will  be  off  your 
bed  in  ten  days."     She  sent  an  express  thirty  miles  (the  medicine 
being  so  rare  that  he  did  not  take  it  with  him)  after  his  bread  pills, 
rolled  in  aloes  to  make  them  taste  like  medicine,  and  took  them, 
and  the  exercise  as  prescribed,  and  the  third  day  she  actually  got 
into  a  carriage,  and  in  ten  days,  was  able  to  leave  her  bed,  and  soon 
after,  was  able  to  work,  and  yet  lives  to  be  a  blessing  to  her  family^ 
and  to  pour  upon  the  doctor  a  literal  flood  of  gratitude  for  perform- 
ing so  wonderful  a  cure — a  cure  which  none  of  the  doctors  had 
been  able  to  effect,  and  which  nothing  but  his  wonderfully  effica- 
cious bread-pills  could  have  performed.     Look  any  doctor  full  in 
the  face,  and  ask  him  how  often  he  administers  dough  pills  or  their 
equivalent,  and  how  much  oftener  his  patients  get  along  in  spite  of 
medicine,  and  he  will  tell  you,  "  Why,  when  I  am  called  to  the 
sick  bed,  if  I  tell  my  patients  they  require  no  medicine,  but  simply  to 
fast  and  sleep,  they  will  become  angry,  and  send  for  another  physi- 
cian, and  I  shall  lose  both  credit  and  practice  ;  so  that  I  am  often 
compelled  to  prescribe  in  cases  where  I  know  perfectly  well  that 
the  medicine  will  do  more  harm  than  good."  And,  besides,  Doctors 
of  course  do  not  object  very  seriously  to  convenient  opportunities 
for  making  charges,  and  augmenting  both  custom  and  credit.     I 
also  put  it  in  distinct  and  broad  terms  to  the  medical  faculty,  whether 
all  their  medicines  do  not  act  on  the  principle  of  poisons,  and  are 
not  in  themselves  inimical  to  life,  and  injurious  to  persons  in  health  ? 
How  can  an  emetic,  for  example,  operate  without  being  so  poison- 
ous as  to  cause  the  stomach  to  eject  it,  and  thus  occasion  the  vomi- 

A  word  about  Homoeopathy.  This  practice  always  accompanies 
its  infinitessimal  doses  with  discretion  to  take  air  and  exercise,  and 


58  HEALTH ITS  VALUE  AND  CONDITIONS. 

also  to  fast,  which  prescriptions  will  usually  effect  a  cure  either 
with  or  without  their  infinitessimal  doses  j  and  perhaps  as  well 
without  as  with. 

''  But,  enough  as  to  medicines.  A  volume  might  be  written  with 
propriety  by  way  of  persuading  men  to  leave  off  doctoring,  and 
prescribe  physiological  remedies  for  themselves  ;  but  I  forbear. 

Let  me  not  be  understood  as  discarding  all  remedial  agents. 
Jiir,  exercise,  rest,  and  fasting  will  be  found  the  most  potent  re- 
medies that  can  be  employed,  and  next  to  them,  cold  water,  ap- 
plied externally  and  internally.  The  "  cold  ivater  cure"  meets 
my  cordial  approval — is  a  natural  remedy,  and  certainly  not  less 
^cacious  than  mineral  medicines  and  poisonous  drugs.  I  cannot 
say  all  I  wish  to  on  this  point  in  this  connection,  but  shall  prosecute 
it  more  fully  in  the  work  on  Physiology,  and  shall  soon  insert  an 
article  in  the  journal  on  the  "  cold  water  cure." 

But,  having  considered  this  subject  negatively,  let  us  treat  it 
positively.  And  it  is  perfectly  obvious,  that  the  one  and  only  thing 
to  he  done,  in  order  to  preserve  health,  is  to  preserve  the  natural 
and  vigorous  action  of  the  animal  organs,  and,  that,  to  restore 
health,  we  have  only  to  restore  the  natural  functions  to  their  na- 
tural degree  of  action.  As  health  consists  in  the  natural  action 
of  all  the  animal  organs,  as  sickness,  debility,  pain,  and  every  pos- 
sible form  of  disease,  consist  in,  and  are  caused  by,  their  abnormal, 
or  their  unnatural  action — in  their  inflamed,  or  feeble,  or 
disordered  action, — so,  to  preserve  health,  we  have  only  to  pre- 
serve this  natural  action,  and  to  restore  it,  only  to  restore  them  to 
their  natural  functions. 

What,  then,  are  some  of  the  most  important  animal  and  mental 
functions,  in  the  vigour  and  integrity  of  which  health,  and  with  it 
life,  virtue,  and  happiness  consist?     They  are 

1.  Circulation. — Its  importance,  and  the  means  of  promoting  it. 

To  present  fully  the  whole  subject  of  circulation,  is  not  my 
present  purpose,  but,  simply  enough  to  base  upon  it  those  impor- 
tant inferences,  to  prepare  the  way  for  which  alone  induced  its  in- 
troduction. All  are  aware  of  the  fact  that,  without  circulation, 
there  can  be  no  life,  and  that  the  greater  the  healthy  circulation, 
the  more  abundant  life.  Why  is  it,  that  suspending  either  the 
breathing]  or  the  action  of  the  heart,  causes  death  to  supervene  al' 


CIRCULATION — ITS  IMPORTANCE.  *  59 

most  instantly  ?  Because  every  nerve  and  muscle  demands  a  con- 
stant supply  of  the  life-giving  energies  imparted  by  the  blood  ? 
Why,  when  we  start  to  run,  or  exercise  the  body  in  whole  or  in^ 
part  more  than  usual,  do  we  experience  an  almost  immediate  quick- 
ening of  the  pulse,  or  an  augmented  circulation  in  the  part  most 
exercised  1  Why,  when  any  thing  is  said  to  provoke  a  hearty 
laugh,  does  the  blood  pour  down  the  veins  in  the  forehead,  as  if 
it  would  burst  them  ?  Because  the  head  has  been  thrown  into 
action,  and  thus  is  obliged  to  consume  an  unusual  supply  of  blood, 
the  return  of  which  produces  the  phenomenon  alluded  to.  Why 
are  all  the  veins  swelled  by  any  unwonted  action  of  the  body  or 
mind,  but  because  of  the  augmented  circulation  demanded  and 
occasioned  by  that  action.  In  short,  who  does  not  know,  that  the 
circulation  in  any  organ,  is  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  action, 
and  this  action  being  life,  therefore  is  proportioned  to  life  '?  So  that, 
to  promote  a  healthy  circulation,  is  to  promote  life  ;  or,  what  is 
the  same  thing,  to  augment  health  and  happiness. 

But,  to  secure  ample  circulation,  it  is  requisite,  not  only  that 
the  hearl^  be  powerful  and  in  good  order,  but  that  the  lungs  alsO' 
be  ample  and  vigorous.     Who  does  not  koow  that  the  breathing 
must  always  be  in  proportion  to  the  circulation,  that  is,  to  the 
power  of  function  ?     Walking,  or  working,  or  thinking  unusually 
hard,  or  any  augmentation  of  function,  thereby  increases  the  res- 
piration.    Why  is  it,  that  suspending  breathing  universally  proves 
fatal  in  a  few  minutes  ?    Simply  because  the  blood  requires  to  be 
vitalized  every  minute  by  receiving  those  gases  from  the  air  which 
breathing  imparts  to  it,  and  also  to  throw  off  those  gases  which 
have  been  collected  in  the  blood,  which,  not  thrown  off,  are  so  hos- 
tile to  life  1     Every  breath  changes  the  blood  in  the  lungs  at  the 
time  of  breathing  from  a  dark,  leaden  aspect,  to  a  red,  lively  co- 
lour, and  loads  it  again  with  life  to  be  imparted  to  the  muscles  and 
nerves  as  it  is  again  sent  round  the  system  by  the  pulsations  of  the 
ever-throbbing  heart !     The  very  fact  that  death  supervenes  so  al- 
most immediately  upon  the  cessation  of  breathing,  is  proof  positive 
of  the  importance  of  abundant  respiration,  and  tells  us  that,  as  he 
who  does  not  breathe  at  all,  is  dead,  so  he  who  only  half  breathes, 
is  only  half  alive,  as  is  he  also  who  breathes  air  half  vitalized  or 
deteriorated,  and  so  in  that  proportion  for  the  amount  breathed,  and 
the  quality  of  the  atmosphere  inhaled,  and  the  size  and  efficiency 
of  the  lungs. 


'bU  MEANS  OF  REGAINING  AND  PRESERVING  HEALTH. 

The  lungs  also  throw  off  through  the  breath  vast  quantities  of 
impurity,  corruption,  and  disease.  Thus,  let  a  man  drink  alcoholic 
liquors,  and  his  breath  becomes  foetid  at  once  therewith,  because, 
being  obnoxious  to  the  system,  it  throws  them  off  in  great  abundance, 
through  all  the  excretions,  and  especially  through  the  lungs.  So, 
let  the  stomach  be  foul,  and  every  breath  throws  off  an  astonishing 
amount  of  foetid  odour,  from  which  you  turn  with  great  disgust ;  so 
offensive  is  it,  even  after  it  has  become  greatly  diluted  by  mingling 
with  the  air.  Suppose  yourself  compelled,  gentle  reader,  to  inhale 
ail  the  offensive  odour  that  is  thrown  off  by  some  one  of  your 
friends  at  a  single  breath  only,  how  would  your  system  nauseate, 
and  struggle  against  its  reception  ?  and  all  because  it  is  so  obnox- 
ious to  life ;  and  yet  you  would  be  compelled  to  inhale  no  more 
than  your  friend  exhaled,  and  at  a  single  breath/  How  vast  the 
quantity  of  corruption, — cf  disease — of  animal  poison,  do  some 
persons  throw  off  in  an  hour,  a  day,  a  year,  a  life-time  ! 

But  where  do  the  lungs  get  all  this  corruption  1  From  the 
blood,  of  course.  And  where  does  the  blood  get  it  ?  From  the 
stomach  mostly.  Improper  food,  and  above  all,  excessive  quantities 
of  food,  imperfectly  digested,  sour  on  the  stomach,  and  thus  en- 
gender a  vast  amount  of  corruption,  which  is  compelled  to  enter 
the  blood,  and  after  greatly  retarding  its  functions,  diseasing,  or  at 
least,  impairing,  the  nerves  and  muscles,  is  finally  ejected  by  whole- 
sale through  the  breath — that  broad-road  for  the  egress  of  disease. 

Let  us  glance  more  fully  at  this  point.  In  what  consists  the 
souring  or  fermenting  process  1  What  does  the  food  do  when  it 
sours  in  the  stomach  1  It  simply  rots,  that  is  all,  and  that  it  does 
do.  By  as  much,  therefore,  as  the  rotting  process  engenders  cor- 
ruption, by  just  so  much  does  the  system  become  corrupted  by  the 
souring  of  the  food  on  the  stomach,  or  by  indigestion,  by  dyspep- 
sia, liver  complaint,  and  that  v/hole  range  of  diseases  consequent 
upon  injured  digestion.  Hence  it  is,  that  impaired  digestion  works 
such  incalculable  mischief  in  the  system — that  it  weakens  all  the 
functions  of  animal  and  mental  life,  corrupts  the  whole  system,  and 
especially,  disorders  the  nerves,  thereby  producing  those  mental 
and  moral  diseases  always  attendant  thereon.  For  example.  The 
dyspeptic  is  always  irritable,  nervous,  gloomy,  melancholic,  fidgety^ 
and  just  about  crazy,  because  this  rotting  of  the  food  in  the  stom- 
ach evolves  vast  quantities  of  corruption,  which  is  compelled  to  go 


CIRCULATION — ITS   IMPORTANCE.  61 

into  the  blood,  (the  bowels  in  this  case  visually  remaining  comparar 
tively  dormant,  so  that,  with  this  mighty  increase  of  corruption,  one 
important  avenue  of  its  escape  is  almost  closed,)  and  must  of  course^ 
gather  on  the  nerves,  muscles,  brain,  and  every  part  of  the  system — 
upon  the  nerves  in  particular,  because  their  action  demands  so  co- 
pious a  re-supply  of  blood.  Hence,  that  derangement  of  the  mind 
awrfyeeZmo-^  always  consequent  upOn  a  disordered  stomach  ;  and 
hence,  also,  scarcely  any  other  cause  of  disease  is  as  prolific  of  all^ 
most  all  other  diseases,  as  impaired  digestion,  or  at  all  to  be  com- 
pared with  it  in  point  of  virulence  and  malignity. 

Besides  deranging  the  nervous  system,  as  just  seen,  and  thereby 
disordering  the  mind  by  substituting  morbid,  painful  feelings  and 
mental  operations  for  those  that  are  normal  and  therefore  happy, 
it  recoils  upon  the  circulation,  intercepts  the  flow  of  blood,  and 
above  all,  stops  on  the  lungs,  and  induces  consumption  and  prema- 
ture death.  The  accumulation  of  phlegm  on  the  lungs,  and  its 
ejection  through  the  glands  of  the  mouth,  causing  much  spitting,  if 
not  ejections  of  it  from  the  nose,  is  but  another  effect  of  disordered 
digestion,  though  phlegm  is  often  caused  by  colds,  of  which  we  shall 
speak  presently.  Wherever  there  is  phlegm,  there  is  disuse 
and  disease  in  'proportion  to  the  phlegm.  Dyspeptics,  have  you 
never  noticed  that  you  expectorate  almost  continually  while  your 
stomach  is  labouring  under  a  fit  of  indigestion  ;  that  is,  while  a 
meal  is  rotting  in  your  stomach  !  The  reciprocal  sympathy  between 
the  stomach  and  the  glands  of  the  mouth  being  very  great,  when 
the  former  is  oppressed,  the  latter  will  help  carry  off  the  putrifac- 
tion  that  oppresses  it  by  secreting  it  and  then  ejecting-  it  into  the 
mouth,  which  we  naturally  expel  because  it  tastes  bad.  Hence, 
slime,  mucus,  or  phlegm,  should  seldom  if  ever  be  swallowed,  but 
should  be  spit  out.  But,  if  the  stomach  be  healthy,  the  excretions 
of  the  glands  will  not  be  thick,  or  taste  bad,  and  hence  should  be 
swallowed. 

I  have  thus  commingled  my  remarks  on  digestion,  circulation! 
and  respiration,  because  they  are  so  intimately  connected  together^ 
or  rather  because  they  are  each  but  different  parts  of  the  same  great 
function.  To  facilitate  either,  is  to  facilitate  each  of  the  others, 
and  to  restore  either,  is  to  restore  all  the  others.  A  full  supply  of 
pure  air,  greatly  promotes  both  circulation  and  digestion  ;  good  di- 
gestion greatly  facilitates  circulation  and  respiration  ;  and  a  vigor- 
6 


62  MEANS  OF  REGAINING  AND  PRESERVING  HEALTH. 

ous  circulation  greatly  augments  both  digestion  and  respiration,  an 
illustration  of  which  is  to  be  found  in  the  fact,  that  exercise  is  a 
most  powerful  promoter  of  digestion,  because  it  promotes  circula- 
tion, augments  respiration,  and  increases  the  demand,  as  well  as 
the  supply,  of  nutrition. 

To  another  kindred  point  I  will  just  allude  before  passing  to  the 
means  of  promoting  these  functions,  and  that  is,  to  the  functions 
of  the  skin.  The  experiment  is  doubtless  familiar  to  every  iBader? 
that,  if  you  insert  the  hand  in  a  glass  vessel  closed  at  both  ends, 
in  a  minute  or  two  it  will  become  clouded  with  a  mist,  thrown  off 
by  insensible  perspiration  through  the  innumerable  pores  of  the 
skin,  which  gathers  upon  the  inside  of  the  glass.  Or,  if  a  consid- 
erable exertion  of  either  muscles  or  mind  is  put  forth,  this  perspira- 
tion oozes  forth  copiously  and  stands  in  large  drops  upon  the  skin, 
or  runs  down  all  parts  of  the  body  in  streams.  The  skin,  in  common 
with  the  lungs,  disgorges  vast  quantities  of  waste  animal  matter 
through  this  medium  of  perspiration,  and  hence  the  importance  of 
keeping  the  skin  clean  and  the  circulation  active,  lest  this  waste 
and  usually  corrupt  matter,  not  finding  ready  escape,  should  fall 
back  upon  the  system,  and  remain  in  the  blood  to  vitiate  it,  corrupt 
the  humours  of  the  system,  engender  disease,  and  hasten  death. 

COLDS — THEIR    CAUSES   AND   EFFECTS. 

We  are  now  prepared  to  see  how  it  is  that  colds  prove  so  inju- 
rious, and  often  so  fatal,  to  the  human  constitution.  They  consist 
simply  in  the  closing  up  the  pores  of  ,the  skin,  which  thereby  pre- 
vents the  escape  of  corrupt  matter,  by  which  the  blood  becomes 
thickened  with  impurities,  the  lungs  diseased,  and  the  brain 
clogged  with  phlegm  so  sickening  to  the  smell  and  revolting  to 
the  taste,  which  oozes  out  at  the  nostrils  and  lungs,  often  in  such 
astonishing  quantities,  when  the  patient  is  suffering  from  a  severe 
cold.  Most  ruinous  are  colds  to  animal  life,  and  among  the  great- 
est enemies  to  health,  happiness,  and  talents,  that  man  has  to  en- 
counter. 

Disordered  Digestion,  and  Colds — These  are  the  two  prolific 
roots  of  disease  from  which  spring  almost  every  form,  in  almost  all 
their  degrees  of  malignity,  to  which  mankind  is  subject  in  our  cli- 
mate, and,  I  think  I  may  safely  say,  in  all  climates — the  bilious^ 
febrile  complaints  of  the  south,  the  consumptions,  nervous  affections, 
liver   complaints,  gouts,  apoplexies,  dyspepsias,   &c.  &c.  of  the 


COLDS — THEIR  CAUSES  AND  EFFECTS.  63 

north.  Consumption  is  always  preceded  by  colds,  as  invariably 
as  sunrise  is  by  twilight,  and  not  only  always  preceded  by  colds, 
but  always  caused  by  them.  And  if  those  predisposed  to  consump- 
tion will  but  keep  free  from  colds,  they  will  escape  consumption, 
but,  those  not  thus  predisposed,  by  taking  severe  colds,  frequently 
will  induce  it. 

To  preserve  the  health,  then,  we  have  oxAy  io 'preserve  the  circu- 
culation,  respiration,  digestion,  and  muscular  action,  in  a  healthy 
and  vigorous  state  of  function. 

By  what  means,  then,  can  their  vigorous  action  be  continued 
w^hen  healthy,  and  restored  when  impaired  ?  for,  what  will  con- 
tinue them  in  health,  wilt  also  restore  them  to  health.  How  can 
circulation  be  promoted  or  restored '?  How  can  digestion  be  con- 
tinued good  when  good,  and  augmented  when  enfeebled  ?  How 
can  respiration  be  promoted  when  good,  and  re-invigorated  when 
defective  ?  And  as  what  will  answer  one  of  these  questions,  or 
rather  either  clause  of  each,  will  both  answer  the  other  clause,  and 
also  both  clauses  of  either  of  the  other  questions,  we  shall  proceed 
to  consider  themcollecfiveli/. 

Fresh  Air,  and  inhaled  abundantly,  is  one  of  the  most  powerful 
promoters  of  inspiration,  circulation,  digestion,  perspiration,  and 
nutrition.  Hence,  those  whose  digestion,  circulation,  and  respira- 
tion are  good,  should  take  abundance  oi fresh  air,  in  order  to  keep 
them  good  ;  and  those  in  whom  either  of  these  functions  are  fee- 
ble, should  do  the  same,  in  order  to  restore  them.  And  as  well 
may  you  think  to  melt  the  snow  from  the  Andes  by  bonfires  as 
think  to  cure  indigestion,  or  consumption,  or  liver  complaints  by 
medicines.  Medicines  necessarily  weaken  the  stomach  in  the  long 
run — air  and  exercise  strengthen  it.  So,  breathing  a  vitiated  at- 
mosphere, that  is,  air  confined,  or  heated  much,  or  remaining  in  a 
room  not  abundantly  ventilated,  will  induce  dyspepsia,  and  effectu- 
ally prevent  its  cure.  I  do  think  nature  designed  that  every  human 
being  should  spend,  at  least,  one-fourth  of  their  time  in  the  open 
air.  'This  shutting  out  the  fresh  air  of  heaven  is  one  of  the  great- 
est violations  of  nature's  laws,  and  inflicts  one  of  the  heaviest 
penalties. 

Abundance  of  fresh  air  is  equally  a  preventive  of  consumption, 
and  a  restorative  when  it  has  fastened  upon  the  lungs.  And  if 
good  wholesome  air  will  not  effect  a  cure,  medicine  cannot.     The 


64  MEANS  OF  REGAINING  AND  PRESERVING  Hp  ALTH. 

frequent  (but  judicious,  of  course,)  ventilation  of  rooms  in  which 
consumptive  patients,  or  indeed  any  siok  patients,  are  confined,  Vi'ill 
do  more  to  restore  exhausted  animalily,  and  resuscitate  the  vital 
functions,  than  all  the  medicines  that  can  be  administered. 

Exercise  is  another  most  powerful  preserver  of  health,  and 
restorative  of  disease.  It  does  this,  partly  by  augmenting  respira- 
tion and  circulation,  and  partly  by  its  own  inherent  virtues.  The 
muscles  were  made  to  be  exercised,  and  they  must  be  exercised,  or 
else  the  blessings  of  health  take  their  everlasting  flight.  A  vast 
number  of  most  desirable  ends  are  attained  by  muscular  action, 
and  the  amount  of  exercise  required  to  preserve  health,  and  espe- 
cially to  regain  it,  is  very  great.  See  how  much  exercise  children 
take.  See  how  much  muscular  energy  some  must  put  forth  in  or- 
der to  furnish  food,  transact  business,  go  from  place  to  place,  and 
obtain  the  innumerable  ends  of  life !  And  every  member  of  the 
human  family  must  exercise  several  hours  daily  in  order  to  enjoy 
the  pleasure  of  life  and  health. 

But  to  narrow  down  our  observations  to  the  rationale — to  the 
how  it  is  that  exercise  promotes  and  restores  health.  It  increases 
the  CIRCULATION,  and  thereby  augments  all  the  advantages  growing 
out  of  it ;  for,  the  contraction  of  the  muscles  of  course  presses  upon 
all  sides  of  that  endless  ramification  of  veins  and  blood  vessels  that 
run  all  in  among  and  between  the  muscles.  Indeed,  so  incon_ 
ceivably  numerous  and  minute  are  these  vessels,  that  no  part  of  the 
flesh  can  be  penetrated  without  breaking  them,  and  causing  the 
blood  to  flow.  Hence,  this  contraction  of  the  muscles  presses  hard 
upon  the  blood-vesels,  as  well  as  bends  and  twists  them  in  a  variety 
of  ways.  Exercise,  therefore,  squeezes  the  blood  along  through 
them  wherever  the  muscles  are  brought  into  play. 

But  if  it  be  asked  why  muscular  contraction  does  not  squeeze  the 
blood  backwards,  as  much  as  forwards,  and  thus  retard  circulation 
as  much  as  it  promotes  it  1  the  answer  is  in  the  fact,  that  the 
whole  circulatory  system — the  heart,  arteries,  and  all  the  veins — 
is  furnished  with  valves  that  close  spontaneously,  the  instant  the 
blood  attempts  to  go  the  wrong  way.  The  blood,  therefore,  cannot 
possibly  go  any  way  but  the  rigid  way,  so  that  exercise,  by  squeez- 
ing the  veins,  sends  it  forward  and  forward  only — backward  it 
cannot  possibly  go.  Hence  it  is  that  exercise  is  a  most  powerful 
promoter  of  circulation,  and  thereby  of  all  those  invaluable  func- 


COLDS THEIR  CAUSES  AND  EFFECTS.  65 

tions  and  ends  dependent  thereon.  By  augmenting  the  circulation, 
it  thereby  promotes  respiration  and  perspiration,  and  thereby  all 
those  beneficial  ends  attained  by  them,  unloads  the  system  of  those 
corrupt  humors  that  may  oppress  it,  by  carrying  them  off  through 
the  lungs  and  skin,  and  also  greatly  facilitates  digestion,  partly  be- 
cause almost  every  motion  of  the  body  strains  or  contracts  the 
muscles  of  the  abdomen,  which,  as  it  were,  kneads*  the  stomach, 
pressing  upon  it  as  the  action  of  the  other  muscles  presses  upon  the 
veins,  by  which  its  action  is  promoted,  and  thereby  digestion  and 
nutrition.  Of  course,  excessive  exercise  is  injurious,  but  it  is  not 
difficult  to  tell  when  it  becomes  excessive,  f  nature  always  giving 
us  seasonable  warning,  by  its  becoming  irksome. 

But,  in  order  to  explain  this  subject  fully,  it  is  necessary  that  we 
present  a  principle  of  great  importance,  the  bearing  of  which  on 
both  health  and  on  this  whole  subject,  is  direct  and  powerful.  It 
is  the  necessity  of  halance  of  function,  and  equality  in  the  action 
of  all  the  organs  of  the  body  and  head.  This  balanced  or  equal 
action  of  the  corporeal  organs  being  indispensable  to  physical 
health,  and  that  of  the  mental  faculties  to  mental  health,  that  is, 
to  virtue,  talents,  and  happiness. 

To  repeat.  Perfect  health  requires  that  the  animal  functions 
should  be  proportionate  each  to  all  the  others — that  there  should 

*A  few  years  ago,  a  man  advertised  that  he  had  invented  an  infallible 
curefor-the  dyspepsia,  and  performed  many,  remarkable  cures.  In  fact, 
his  remedy  was  ahiaost  infallible  !  It  consisted  in  ironing  the  bowels 
with  as  warm  an  iron  as  the  patients  could  bear,  they  being  covered  with 
a  cloth  wet  with  vinegar,  and  in  hneading  them  with  the  fists  as  one 
would  knead  bread.  It  was  motion  im-paried  to  the  bowels  that  effected 
thecure. 

1 1  cannot  admit  the  generally  received  doctrine  that  exercise,  either 
mental  or  physical,  should  not  occur  directly  after  eating.  I  cannot  admit 
that  one  function  necessarily  interferes  with  another.  On  the  contrary, 
they  were  all  designed  to  go  on  together,  pari  passu.  I  grant,  that  if  you 
eat  too  much — so  much  as  to  draw,  off  the  energies  from  the  nerves  and 
muscles,  in  order  to  relieve  an  over-tasked  stomach,  you  should  take  your 
ease  till  the  stomach  had  discharged  its  onerous  burden,  but  whoever  re- 
quires to  sit  or  sleep  after  eating  has  eaten  too  much  ;  and  it  is  solely 
because  he  has  eaten  too  much  that  he  is  benefited  by  rest — because  he  has 
given  his  stomach  50  much  to  do  that  it  must  pillage  his  brain  and  muscu- 
lar system  in  order  to  do  it,  and  to  give  it  the  better  chance  to  commit  this 
robbery^  he  must,  forsooth,  postpone  muscular  and  mental  action. 


66  HEALTH ITS    VALUE   AND    CONDITIONS. 

be  as  much  exercise  of  muscle  as  there  is  of  the  brain  and  mind  ; 
and  as  much  respiration  as  there  is  action  of  either,  and  then  as 
equal  proportion  of  respiration  mid  circulation.  Liebeg  has  de- 
monstrated this  principle  as  applied  to  the  required  proportion  be- 
tween digestion  and  respiration — a  principle  that  applies  equally 
to  all  the  important  animal  functions,  and  to  all  the  faculties  and 
functions  of  the  man,  mental  and  physical  as  related  to  each 
other,  and  each  to  all  the  others — the  cerebral  action  proportioned 
to  the  physical  energies ;  each  of  the  latter  proportioned  to  all  the 
others,  each  of  the  mental  proportioned  to  all  the  other  mental 
and  physical.  I  regard  this  law  as  fundamental,  and  as  a  sine- 
qua-non  of  health,  talent,  and  morality;  any  preponderance  or 
deficiency  of  either,  producing  that  irregularity  of  action  which 
deranges  the  harmony  and  perfection  of  all  the  others.  But  I 
shall  restrict  my  remarks  in  this  connection  to  the  physical  organs 
and  functions,  the  requisition  of  balance  among  them,  and.  the 
means  of  procuring  it.  Farther  on,  we  shall  apply  it  to  the  men- 
tal and  the  moral  organs  and  faculties. 

A  few  more  illustrations.  Let  a  person  eat  great  quantities  of 
food,  but  take  little  exercise,  and  put  forth  little  mental  exertion, 
and  how  soon  does  corruption  gather  upon  him,  and  overcome  him, 
aud  hurry  him  into  an  untimely  grave  1  And  who  does  not  know 
that  augmented  effort,  whether  mental  or  physical,  increases  both 
appetite  and  digestion  in  the  ratio  of  that  exercise  1  A  principle 
as  familiar  as  this  must  be  to  every  reader  in  its  application  to  all 
the  leading  animal  functions  in  regard  to  each  other,  requires  only 
to  be  stated  in  order  to  be  admitted.  It  is  still  more  forcibly  illus- 
trated by  the  feebleness,  dyspepsy,  nervousness,  head-ache,  ennui, 
&c.,  of  our  literary  and  sedentary  classes,  and  by  the  intellectual 
obtuseness  of  those  who  neglect  mental  culture.  Consumptive 
families  are  usually  slim-built  and  narrow-chested,  which  indicate 
weak- vital  oigans  and  very  active  brains.  It  is  this  disproportion 
of  parts  v.'hich  hastens  their  death.  Apoplexy,  gout,  &c.,  are 
caused  by  the  opposite  extreme.  If  physicians  would  but  restore 
the  lost  balance  between  these  leading  functions,  they  would  save 
many  patients  whom  they  now^  loose ;  and  if  mankind  in  general 
would  only  keep  these  functions  balanced  : — if,  when  they  are  be- 
coming nervous,  they  would  labor  more  and  think  less  ;  when  worn 
down  with  labor,  they  would  rest  and  read  j  when   they  have 


COLDS THEIE,  CAtTSES  AND  EFFECTS.  67 

taken  more  food  than  exercise,  they  would  restore  the  balance  be- 
tween the  two;  if,  like  Bonaparte,  they  would  take  the  extreme 
op]905zYe  to  that  which  caused  their  disorder — which  is  only  applying 
this  principle — most  of  those  who  die  young,  would  live  to  be  old, 
and  pain  and  sickness  would  be  comparatively  unknown.     Nearly 
every  form  of  disease  is  caused  mainly  by  the  deficient  or  exces- 
sive action  of  one  or  more  of  these  functions.     This  disproportion, 
if  carried  far,  hastens  death ;  but  when  each  organ  is  well  deve- 
loped and  all  their  functions  are  equally  balanced,  there  will  be 
an  abundant  supply  of  vital   energy  to  keep  the  animal  economy 
in  motion  :  a  proportionate  supply  of  physical  strength,  love  of 
exercise,  and  ability  to  labor,  together  with  lively  sensibilities, 
intensity  of  feelings,  and  power  of  thought,  the  result  of  which 
will  be  health,  long  life,  physical   and  mental  enjoyment  in  the 
highest  degree  of  which  our  nature  is  susceptible,  and  a  high  order 
of  natural  talent.    But,  on  the  principle  that  an  overloaded  stomach 
withdraws  the  strength  from  the  brain  and  muscles,  the  predomi- 
nance or  deficiency  of  any  part  tends  to  increase  the  excess  or  de- 
fect, which  augments  the  evil,  being  the  reverse  of  what  should 
take  place,  by  which  the  weaker  functions  are  exhausted  and  go 
by  the  board,  carrying  health,  happiness,  and  life  along  with  them. 
The  plain  inference  drawn  from  this  principle,  that  the  princi- 
pal temperaments  and  functions  of  our  nature  require  to  be  equally 
balanced,  is  that  mankind  should  exercise  his  muscular  system  by 
labour,  or  being  on  foot  in  the  open  air,  about  one  third  of  the 
time ;  should  eat  and  sleep,  (that  is,  lay  in  his  re-supply  of  animal 
life,)  about  one-third  of  the  time  ;  and  exercise  his  brain  in  think- 
ing, studying,  &c.,  about  the  other  third  of  his  time — each  day. 
"  All  work  and  no  play,"  shuts  out  that  vast  range  of  pleasure 
which  is  designed  and  adapted  to  flow  into  the  lap  of  man,  through 
the  channel  of  the  mind ;  while  the  continual  exercise  of  the  brain, 
or  close  application  to  hard  study,  causes  a  disproportionate  quan- 
tity of  blood  to  flow  to  the  head,  withdraws  it  from  the  muscular  sys- 
tem, diminishes  circulation,  respiration,  and  digestion,  and  deranges 
all  the  animal  functions,  and  thus  impairs  vitality,  talent,  feeling, 
and  even  life  itself.     In  the  epicure  and  the  sensualist,  this  princi- 
ple  is  reversed  ;  but  neither  of  their  indulgences  can  result  in  hap- 
piness, virtue,  or  greatness.  Nothing  but  a  balance  of  functions  can 
do  this,  and  this  can  and  will.     Let  mankind  labour  or  exercise  six 


6  HEALTH ^ITS   VALUE  AND  COKDITIOf.  S. 

or  eight  hours,  so  as  to  promote  an  ample  degree  of  respiration, 
circulation,  sleep,  perspiration,  and  nutrition,  and  thus  furnish  his 
brain  and  nervous  system  with  an  abundant  supply  of  animal  ener- 
gy for  his  mind,  and  he  will  keep  his  brain  in  that  vigorous  state 
which  will  enable  it  to  put  forth  a  vast  amount  of  mental  effort  in 
a  short  time,  render  his  memory  retentive,  thoughts  clear,  and  the 
mental  energies  efiicient  and  well  directed.  Nor  do  I  believe  it 
possible  for  a  human  being  to  become  distinguished  in  either  the 
intellectual  or  moral  world  without  labour. 

To  one  other  physiological  reason  for  this  imperative  de- 
mand for  physical  exercise,  1  must  here  allude: — Circulation 
of  the  blood  must  be  had  at  some  rate — by  som.e  means,  by  ani/ 
means  rather  than  not  at  all. — and  mast  be  had  throughout  the 
whole  system.  Nor  is  it  possible  for  the  heart  alone,  however 
powerfal,  to  furnish  all  the  circulation  demanded.  It  'must 
ha.Ye  help.  Or,  rather,  the  primary  office  of  the  heart,  as  I 
think,  is  to  propel  the  blood  through  the  arteries,  and  onward 
still  through  the  capillary  vessels — those  almost  infinitely  mi- 
nute ramifications  of  the  blood  vessels  between  the  arteries 
and  where  it  is  brought  into  such  inconceivably  minute  con- 
tact with  every  fibre  and  shred  of  every  muscle  and  nerve, 
and  where  it  expends  its  vivifying  energies  upon  the  system — 
but  not  through  the  veins.  It  can  drive  the  blood  through 
the  arteries  with  ease,  but  it  must  require  prodigious  force  in 
order  to  propel  it  through  these  wonderfully  small  vessels, 
arid  certainly,  beyond  that,  it  cannot  be  expected  to  go.  As 
much  as  ever  that  it  can  do  this  much  ;  more,  it  is  not  the  of- 
fice of  the  heart  to  do  ;  as  is  evident — first,  from  the  fact  that 
so  onerous  a  task  is  truly  a  herculean  one  ;  and,  secondly,  na- 
ture has  provided  other  means  for  propelling  the  blood  back 
to  the  heart — that  already  specified,  namely,  the  pressure  of 
the  muscles,  when  in  action,  upon  the  veins,  by  which  their 
contents  is  squeezed  one  way  or  the  other,  but  prevented  from 
o-oing  backward  by  the  closing  of  their  valves.  Nature  does 
not  need  two  tools,  both  as  principles,  with  which  to  accom- 
plish one  end.  If  she  designed  to  effect  the  entire  circulation 
by  means  of  the  heart  alone,  why  so  arrange  it  that  the  mus- 
cles become  so  powerful  assistants  of  circulation  ?  The  plain 
answer  is  simply  this  : — All  the  heart  was  ever  designed  to 


CIRCULATION    OP    THE    BLOOD. 


69 


do,  is  simply  to  urge  the  blood  through  the  capiliary  vessels. 
There  its  true  function  substantially  ends,  and  it  is  then  the 
duty  of  the  muscles  to  carry  it  back  again  to  the  heart,  except 
in  sleep,  which  is  designed  to  be  taken  when  the  body  is  hori- 
zontal, so  that  it  requires  but  little  force  to  carry  it  back.     To 
suppose  that,  after  the  heart  has  driven  the  blood  to  the  feet^ 
for  example,  and  forced  it  through  all  these  invisible  ramifi- 
cations in  which  it  expends  its  energy,  it  must  then  pump  it 
back  again,  up  four  or  five  feet  against  the  laws  of  gravity, 
-and  then  empty  it  again  into  the  heart,  would  be  like  putting 
the  water-wheel  of  your  machinery  two-thirds  or  more  under 
ivater,  and  below  the  water  of  the  raceivay  ;  so  that,  in  addi- 
tion to  carrying  the  machinery,  it  had' also  to  propel  the  water 
through  the  raceway.    And  by  as  much  as  back  loater  is  clog- 
ging to  the  wheel,  so,  for  the  blood  in  the  veins  to  act  as  back 
water  to  the  blood  in  the  arteries  and  capiUary  vessels,  is  to 
so  retard  circulation  as  almost  to  prevent  it  altogether,  and 
thus  to  destroy  life.     Just  think  of  the  difficulty  of  driving 
the  blood  through  the  veins,  after  it  has  been  driven  through 
the  capiliary  vessels !     If  the  sluices  were  open  all  the  way 
from  the  heart  clear  through  the  arteries,  capiliary  vessels,  and 
veins,  back  again  to  the  heart,  the  difficulty  would  be  trifling. 
But,  in  this  case,  the  blood  could  do  no  good.     In  order  to 
nourish  the  system,  it  must  be  brought   into  direct  contact 
with  every  jo«r/  and  particle  of  the  whole  system — with  every 
fibre  of  every  muscle,  and  Avith  every  shred  of  every  nerve  ; 
and  hence,  that  infinitely  fine  net-work  of  the  circulatory  sys- 
tem.    Now  in  this  net-work,  the  energies  of  the  heart  must 
necessarily  become  expended.    The  blood  then  requires  to  be 
brought  back  to  the  heart  by  other  means  than  by  the  heart 
itself;    because  it  would   require  such  most  extraordinary 
power  to  carry  a  force  through  this  capiliary  system  sufficient 
to  propel  the  blood  back  again  to  the  heart. 

To  illustrate  once  more.  Suppose  the  Croton  water,  now  brought 
to  the  city  of  New-York,  were  unfit  for  use  till  it  had  been  sent 
through  a  thousand  strainers,  or  a  vast  complication  of  filtrating 
machinery.  And  then  suppose  it  must  be  carried  wp  again,  after 
its  use,  as  high,  in  order  to  empty  it  off"  into  the  ocean,  as  its  foun- 
tain-head is,  and  then,  suppose  some  foreign  power,  say  steam 


VO  HEALTH ITS  VALUE  AND  COKDITIONS. 

power,  or  any  other  power,  could  be  brought  to  operate  only  at 
iihe  fountain-head,  and  was  obliged,  first,  to  drive  the  water  forty 
miles,  over  hill  and  through  dale,  to  get  to  the  city  ;  then  to  urge 
it  on  by  might  and  main,  through  this  complicated  and  infinitessi- 
Ti\^ filtrating  apparatus,  and  then,  after  all  this,  to  add  power  suf- 
ficient to  raise  it  two  hundred  feet  straight  up,  and  this  last,  by  a 
power  apphed  a  long  way  beyond  the  filtrating  a.pparatus,  and  by  a 
power  compelled  to  operate  through  (not  by  means  of,  but  by  dri- 
ving it  through;)  that  apparatus  !  What  mechanic  would  undertake 
such  a  task  ?  And  how  would  a  wise  engineer  proceed  in  this 
case  ?  He  would  have  two  engines — one  to  propel  the  water 
to  and  through  the  filtrating  apparatus,  and  the  other,  to  take  it 
after  it  was  through,  and  then  lift  it  sufficiently  high  to  empty  it 
off.  Would  he  submit  to  the  loss  of  power  consequent  upon  the 
water  passing  through  the  filtrating  apparatus,  in  order  to  apply  that 
power  to  the  water  after  the  water  had  passed  that  apparatus  ?  Nor 
does  nature  submit  to  that  loss.  She  has  two  engines — the  one 
engine,  namely,  the  heart  that  drives  the  blood  through  the  arter- 
ies and  into  and  through  this  capillary  system — (this  filtrating  ap- 
paratus that  filtrates  or  abstracts  the  virtue  from  the  blood,  and  im- 
parts it  to  the  nerves,  muscles,  and  brain,)  and  then  the  other  en- 
gine, this  principle  of  propulsion  by  means  of  the  muscles,  to  carry 
it  hack  again  from  this  capillary  system  'through  the  veins,  till  it 
empties  again  into  the  heart.  And  he  who  attempts  to  live  with 
but  one  of  these  engines  in  play,  does  not, — cannot  half  live,  nor 
enjoy  a  hundredth  part  as  much  as  if  he  takes  ahundance  of  exer- 
cise, by  which  means  alone  can  he  keep  up  the  circulation,  and  re- 
tain either  health  or  strength,  or  talents,  or  moral  worth,  or  any  of 
the  great  ends  secured  by  life. 

So  much  for  the  principle  involved  in  this  demand  for  muscular 
action,  without  any  reference  to  the  innumerable  and  the  immensely 
beneficial  ends  secured  by  muscular  action — such  as  tilhng  the  soil, 
and  thereby  procuring  food  ;  locomotion,  and  all  the  ends  attained 
by  being  able  to  change  our  position ;  mastication,  lifting,  making 
that  vast  quantify  of  articles  for  clothing,  furniture,  ornament,  tools, 
and  all  the  innumerabla  things  used  by  mankind  j  making  and 
using  machinery,  building  houses,  writing,  printing,  reading,  talk- 
ing, walking, — in  short  there  is  no  end  to  the  millions  on  millions 
of  ends,  that  is,  of  motions — little,  great,  and  infinitely  diversified — 


CIRCULATION  OF    THE  BLOOD.  71 

which  every  single  member  of  the  human  family  has  occasion  to 
put  forth  continually  while  he  lives  ! 

But  inconceivably  great  as  is  this  demand  by  the  human  constitu- 
tion for  muscular  effort,  exclusive  of  the  demand  for  it  as  a  means 
of  promoting  circulation,  yet  it  is  no  greater  than  the  capability  of 
nature  to  supply.  Suppose  that,  before  the  creation  of  man,  one  of 
the  arch-angels,  the  premier  of  heaven,  holding  the  privy  seal  of 
the  Almighty,  had  been  let  into  the  secret — had  been  shown  how 
Almighty  God  could  create  a  race  of  beings  so  numerous  that  an 
angel's  mind  could  not  realize  their  number,  and  each  constitution- 
ally capable  of  performing  both  a  variety  and  a  number  of  motions 
which  surpassed  the  conception  even  of  angelic  intellect  millions 
of  millions  scarcely  beginning  to  enumerate  them ;  every  one  of 
which  muscular  motions  were  capable  of  infusing  happiness  into 
the  human  soul,  and  told  this  secret  to  his  fellow-angels, — would 
they,  with  all  their  knowledge  of  the  Power,  the  Wisdom  and  the 
Goodness  even  of  God  himself,  have  beheved  the  Almighty  cajia- 
ble  of  accomplishing  a  work  of  such  inconceivable  magnitude  ? 
Oh!  with  what  transcendant  muscular  power,  is  man  endowed. 
So  exalted  is  my  idea  of  the  constituional  muscular  capability  of 
man,  that  I  believe  he  might  vie  with  the  lion  himself  even  in  point 
of  absolute  strength.  I  believe  man  was  made  to  be  the  strongest 
animal  created — to  excel  the  lion  and  tiger,  the  elephant,  whale, 
and  rhinoceros  excepted,  without  reference  to  the  advantages  he 
derives  from  intellect.  I  further  believe  him  to  be  constitution- 
ally the  fleetest  of  all  animals ;  capable  of  travelling  on  foot 
a  hundred  or  more  miles  per  day,  as  easily  as  he  now  goes  by 
steam,  and  to  carry  burdens  far  greater  than  are  now  carried  by  our 
horses.  I  believe  man  capable  of  taking  the  best  part  of  a  ton  upon 
his  back,  and  carrying  it  as  easily  as  our  horses  now  draw  it  on 
carts.  The  porters  of  Constantinople  now  take  six  to  eight  hund- 
red pounds  on  to  their  persons,  and  carry  them  any  where — carry- 
ing on  their  back,  head,  and  arms,  nearly  as  much  in  pounds' 
weight,  as  we  usually  put  upon  our  one-horse  carts  !*     And  if  man 

*  The  foUovfing,  bearing  on  this  point,  is  taken  from  a  Scotch  paper,  and 
is  headed,  "  The  last  of  the  Stuarts."  It  is,  withal,  an  excellent  heredi- 
tary fact,  and  shows  that  the  Stuart  family  vi^ere  most  remarkable  for 
great  physical  strength,  which  harmonizes  with  the  principle  that  all  dis- 
tinguished men  are  both  from  strong-constitutioned  and  long-lived  fanai- 


72 


HEALTH ITS    VALUE    AND    CONDITIONS. 


IS  capable  of  doing  this  in  Turkey,  as  an  ordinary,  every-day  affair, 
and  without  applying  any  of  those  principles  of  hereditary  descent 
by  means  of  which  so  vast  an  augmentation  of  muscular  power, 
(and,  indeed,  of  power  of  any  and  every  kind,*)  might  be  attained, 
especially  in  the  course  of  generations  (for  I  consider  the  human 
family  as  yet  in  its  infancy — as  a  boy,  just  emerging  from  war  and 
folly  into  his  teens,  and  as  yet  only  getting  into  the  way  to  learn 

lies;  be  being  now  one  hundred  and  fifteen  years  old. — "Hundreds  of 
persons  can  bear  testimony  to  his  amazing  strength,  from  which  cir- 
cumstance he  got  the  bye-name  of  'Jemmy  Strength.'  Among  other 
feats  he  could  carry  a  twenty-four  pounder  cannon,  and  has  been 
known  to  lift  a  r.art  load  of  hay,  weighing  a  ton  and  a  half,  upon  his  back. 
Many  a  time  he  has  tali'en  up  a  jackass,  and  walked  through  the  toll  bar, 
carrying  it  on  his  shoulders.  It  will  be  long  before  we  can  look  upon  his 
like  again,  to  hear  of  his  stories  of  1745,  and  his  glowing  descriptions  of  the 
young  Ciievaher." 

Jonathan  Fowler,  that  ancestor  of  the  author,  mentioned  on  p.  61  of  his 
Hereditary  Descent,  as  so  remarkable  for  strength  and  who  killed  a  bear 
by  main  strength,  beifig  shown  a  large  shark  left  by  the  retiring  tide  in  a 
pool  of  water  some  distance  from  the  shore,  in  Guilford,  Connecticut,  strip- 
ped off  his  coat,  and  walking  knee  deep  through  the  mud,  oyster-shells, 
and  filth  of  a  sea  shore  at  low  tide,  out  to  the  fish,  captured  it  while  yet 
alive,  (though  it  was  weakened  by  having  but  a  scanty  supply  of  water,) 
shouldered  it,  and  brought  it  alive  on  his  back,  to  the  shore,  which  on  be- 
ing landed,  weighed  Jive  hundred  p&unds  ! — quite  a  load,  considering  that 
it  was  not  the  most  portable  of  articles,  nor  the  best  of  roads.  And  yet,  I 
have  it  through  Mr.  Grimes,  of  West  Bethel,  Vermont,  who  says  his  au- 
thority is  undoubted,  and  from  one  who  lived  in  the  'neighborhood  at  the 
time  of  its  occurrence.  I  would  not  tell  this  story  unless  I  could  tell  it  af- 
ter the  preceding  or  some  other  feat  of  strength  about  as  remarkable, 
that  comes  well  authenticated,  and  yet,  I  submit  to  those  who  are  disposed 
to  discredit  such  stories  on  the  ground  that  mankind  is  absolutely  incapa- 
ble of  putting  forth  such  gigantic  muscular  exertion,  whether  we  have  not 
ample  proof  that  these  things  do  actually  come  quite  within  the  range  of 
man's  capabilities  in  the  feats  daily  and  nightly  performed  by  our  circus 
men,  the  Ravel  family,  the  Bedouin  Arabs,  and  a  host  of  others  of  a  like 
character,  which  are  unquestionably  far  within  the  bounds  of  man's 
capabilities. 

*  See,  in  this  connection,  the  article  on  the  improveability  of  the  human 
family,  to  be  published  in  the  next  No.  of  the  Journal,  and  which  also 
constitutes  the  closing  section  of  the  author's  work  on  that  subject,  in  the 
article  commencing  p.  257. 


CIRCULATION   OF  THE  BLOOIX.  73 

bow  to  live,  or  to  attain  any  of  the  innumerable  ends  of  life,  not  on- 
ly securing  tut  a  few  of  the  great  ends  of  life,  but  securing  those 
few  in  a  very  limited  degree,  comparable,  in  respect  to  his  capa- 
bility of  making  progression,  to  the  progress  he  has  of  late  been 
making  in  machinery,  the  arts,  &c.,  and  absolutely  illimitable,  as 
to  both  capability  and  enjoyment,)  by  wisely  and  sedulously  em- 
ploying these  principles,  in  conjunction  with  accompanying  muscu- 
lar culture.  The  Chinese  have  no  horses,  and  no  roads  but  foot 
paths,  and  yet  they  are  an  eminently  commercial  people.  They 
bring  all  their  immense  quantities  of  teas,  thousands  of  ship  loads 
for  exportation,  and  hundreds  of  thousands  of  ship  loads  for  home 
consumption,  from  the  interior,  {aM  thousands  of  miles  do  not 
measure  that  immense  country  in  any  direction,)  to  the  sea-board, 
including  all  the  interchange  of  all  the  commodities  among  them- 
selves, on  their  backs.  I  fully  concur  with  Jefferson's  opinion  that 
mankind  have  probably  lost  more  by  subduing  the  horse,  than  they 
have  gained  by  his  labor.  Riding  on  horseback  and  in  carriages, 
is  so  easy,  so  luxurious,  to  the  dainty  belle,  that  all  classes  are  as  it 
were,  ho7-se  crazy,  and  by  shifting  all  their  burdens,  and  most  of 
their  locomotion,  upon  the  horse,  they  stand  in  the  light  of  their 
own  muscular  action,  which  bids  fair  soon  to  be  obliged  to  employ 
horse-power,  (or  perhaps  steam-power,)  with  which  to  breathe  and 
eat.* 

In  the  hght  of  this  principle — first,  the  vast  amount  of  muscular 
effort  demanded  by  the  human  constitution  in  order  to  circulate  the 
blood  and  attain  the  ends  of  life,  and  secondly,  the,  to  us,  inconceiva- 
bly immense  amount  of  muscular  power  and  effort  of  which  the 
human  constitution  is  susceptible — let  us  open  our  eyes  upon  what 
we  see  daily  and  continually  in  our  city.  See  that  young  mer- 
chant, or  lawyer,  or  clerk,  or  broker,  whose  business  shuts  him  up 
all  day  in  his  store,  or  at  his  desk,  till  his  circulation,  digestion,  ce- 

*  If  the  attempted  project  of  applying  steam-power  to  balloons,  as  a 
means  of  navigating  the  air,  should  finally  succeed,  the  steam  part  of  it, 
and  all  the  accompanying  machinery,  might  be  done  away  with,  by  using 
muscle  in  place  of  steam,  which  would  greatly  lighten  the  burden  carried, 
cheapen  the  apparatus,  and  enable  men  to  fly  as  birds  of  passage  do  from 
clime  to  clime,  as  the  climate  or  their  wants  might  reqoire.  I  cannot 
doubt  but  this  going  south  in  the  winter  is  an  arrangement  eminently- 
beneficial,  and  provided  for  in  the  nature  of  man. 


74  HEALTH   ITS   VALTJE'  AND    CONDITIONS. 

rebral  action,  and  all  the  powers  of  life  are  enfeebled  ;  walk  mere- 
ly from  his  door  on  to  the  side  walk,  possibly  one  or  two  blocks, 
and  wait  for  an  omnibus  to  carry  him  a  few  blocks  farther  to  his 
meals  or  bed  !      One  would  think  that,  starved  almost  to  death  a^ 
he  is  for  want  of  exercise,  he  would  embrace  every  opportunity  to 
take  exercise,  instead  of  which,  he  embraces  every  opportunity  to 
avoid  it.     As  well  avoid  living,  which  indeed  it  is.     And  then  too, 
see  that  dehcate,  fashionable  lady,  so  very  prim,  nice,  refined,  deli- 
cate, and  all  this  besides  much  more,  that  she  does  not  get  out  of 
doors  once  a  week,  order  her  carriage  just  to  take  her  and  her 
pale-faced,  sickly  child,  to  church  on  sunday,  because  it  is  two  or 
three  blocks  off — too  far  for  Ihem  to  walk.      Dear,  delicate,  fash- 
ionable simples.     "  Do  let  the  servant  lay  you  down  on  your  back, 
and   feed  you  with  roast  beef,  calves'  feet  jelly,  cakes,  candies, 
pies,  and  all  the  good,  all  the  strengthening  things,  but  not  till  that 
servant  has  chewed  it  all  w^Jine  for  you !    Now  don't  get  up.    Lay 
si  ill,  and  let  the  servant  bring  whatever  you  require,  even  to  your 
coffin,  and  let  us  set  our  wits  at  work  to  invent  some  patent  right 
machine  with  which  we  can  pump  breath  into  and  out  of  you,  for 
you  really  must|be  too  tired  to  live.  And  your  delicate  little  daugh- 
ter there — come  you  dear,  darling,  itty  critty  you.  come  lie  down 
and  let  your  mouth  drop  open  itself,  and  the  servant  shall  hang 
a  sack  of  pap  so  that  it  shall  drop  into  your  mouth  and  run  down 
your  throat  without  your  doing  the  least  thing,  and  then  you  may 
lie   all  your  life-time,  having  nothing  at  all  to  do  but  to  breathe ; 
so  you  shall,  you  darling  deary,  for  you  must  be  tired  to  death  with 
having  to  eat  and  breathe  so  much,  so  you  must,  you  deary  dar- 
ling child  you." 

And  what  shall  we  say  of  those  who  sit  and  sew  all  day,  or  work 
at  any  of  the  confining  branches  of  industry  that  preclude  the  exer- 
cise except  of  a  few  muscles,  and  perhaps  keep  themselves  bent 
over  forward  on  to  their  stomach,  lungs,  heart,  bowels,  and  over  eat 
at  that !  Oh !  when  will  man  learn  to  live — learn  by  what  constitu- 
tional laws  he  is  governed,  and  how  to  obey  these  laws  ?  When 
Physiology  and  Phrenology  are  studied ;  never  till  then. 

"  Fly  swifter  round,  ye  wheels  of  time, 

J\nd  bring  that  welcome  day." — Watts, 

But,  to  the  law  and  to  the  testimony  of  facts  I  appeal  to  esta- 
bhsh  this  principle.     What  distinguished  man  of  this  country  or 


THE   VITAL    TEMPERAMENT.  75 

even  age,  or  of  any  age  or  country,  ever  lived,  who  did  tiot  take 
a  great  amount  of  exercise  ?  Great  men  have  generally  been  work- 
ers when  hoys.  Adam  Clarke  was  noted,  when  at  school,  for  his 
physical  strength,  in  rolling  stones,  &c.  Shakspeare,  while  com- 
posing his  immortal  plays,  carried  brick  and  mortar  to  build  places 
for  their  performance.  John  Wesley  rode  and  walked  a  great 
many  thousand  miles,  and  it  was  this  exercise  that  prepared  his 
gigantic  intellect  to  put  forth  those  mighty  efforts  which  enabled 
him  to  do  so  much  good,  and  which  must  immortalize  his  name. 
Elihu  Burritt,  probably  the  greatest  scholar  of  the  age,  was  com- 
pelled by  necessity  to  work  work  eight  hours  daily  at  the  anvil  in 
order  to  furnish  himself  with  the  means  of  prosecuting  his  intellec- 
tual labors;  and  it  Was  ^/myac^  of  his  thus  labori?ig  daily,  that 
enabled  him  thus  to  take  such  astonishing  strides  in  the  acquisition 
of  knowledge.  Clay  was  a  poor  boy,  and  worked  for  a  living, 
and  has  followed  farming  during  the  intervals  of  his  release  from 
public  engagements.  Henry  Bascora,  the  great  western  orator, 
travelled  west  on  foot,  with  his  axe  on  his  shoulders.  The  old 
Roman  and  Grecian  orators  took  a  great  amount  of  exercise  in 
order  to  prepare  themselves  for  public  speaking,  and  they  put  in 
practice  one  fundamental  principle  of  which  we  moderns,  with  all 
our  boasted  light  and  inventions,  have  lost  sight  of — that  of 
strengthening  the  voice  by  gymnastic  exercises*  Sir  Walter  Scott, 
after  confining  himself  to  his  desk  for  several  days,  till  the  ener- 
gies of  his  brain  had  become  exhausted,  would  mount  his  horse, 
call  out  his  dogs,  and  follow  the  chase  for  days  in  succession,  till 
he  had  restored  this  balance,  and  then  returned  to  his  study.f 
When  Byron  entered  college,  fearful  that  his  tendency  to  corpu- 
lency would  injure  his  personal  beauty — of  which  he  was  very 
proud — he  took  extremely  severe  exercise  daily  in  order  to  reduce  it, 
besides  leading  an  extremely  active  life.  Webster  was  a  back- 
woodsman, born  in  a  "  log-^cabin,"  on  the  borders  of  the  unbroken 
forest,  and  inured  to  hard  labor.J      And  often,  breaking  away 

*  No  one  can  have  a  good  voice  without  having  a  good  muscular  sys- 
tem; and,  hence,  to  improve  the  tone  of  the  latter,  will  augment  the 
power  of  the  former.  Hence,  an  additional  reason  why  public  speakers 
should  labor. 

t  Note.    Madden's  Infirmities  of  Genius. 

:j:  See  his  speech  at  Saratoga  Springs,  in  1844. 


76  HEALTH ITS    VALUE    AND    CONDITIONS. 

from  piftlic  life,  and  shouldering  his  gun,  he  ranges  the  forests  for 
days  in  search  of  game,   besides   taking  much    exercise  daily. 
Franklin,  the  beacon-star  of  his  profession,  was  a  practical  printer 
and  a  hard  worker.  Young  Patrick  Henry's  favourite  pursuits  were 
hunting  and  fishing,  which  he  followed  for  weeks  together.    These 
laid  the  foundation  for  his  greatness.     Need  we  mention  the  Fa- 
ther of  our  country,  its  pride  and  pattern  ?    Washington,  when  not 
employed  by  his  country,  laboured  assiduously  upon  his  farm ;  and 
was  actually  driving  his  plough  when  he  received  the  news  of  his 
election  as  President.     Harrison,  "  i\ie farmer  of  North  Bend," 
led  a  life  of  great  physical  exertion  and  exposure.     Burns,  the 
Scottish  bard,  actually  composed  much  of  his  poetry  when  at 
work  on  his  farm.     President  Dwight,  the  great  theologian  and 
scholar,  attributed  much  of  his  mental  vigour  to  daily  labor  in  his 
garden.     John  Quincy  Adams,  one  of  the  most  learned  men  of  the 
age,  informed  us  that  he  found  much  daily  exercise  indispensable. 

Both  while  in  college,  and  during  my  professional  visits  to  our 
principal  colleges  since  my  graduation,  I  have  observed  it  as  a 
uniform  fact,  that  those  students  who  had  been  brought  up  without 
having  labored,  never  take  a  high  intellectual  stand,  except  in 
parrot-like  scholarship.     They  always  show  a  want  of  mental  vim 
and  pith,  and  the  powers  of  close  hard  thinking.     After  they  enter 
upon  the  business  of  life,  their  case  is  still  worse.     For  them  to  rise 
to  eminence  is  impossible.    If  I   am  thankful  to  God  and  to  my 
father  for  any  thing,  it  is  that  I  was  made  to  work  hard  and  con- 
stantly on  a  farm,  till  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  I   began  to 
prepare  for   college.     I  left  home  with  only  four  dollars  in  the 
world,  with  my  all  upon  my  back,  and  travelled  four  hundred 
miles,     I  worked  my  way  to  college,  and  through  college.    Instead 
of  earning  my  money  by  teaching  school,  I  supported  myself  by 
sawing,  splitting,  and  carrying  up  the  wood  of  my  fellow-students, 
three  and  four  flights  of  stairs,  improving  in  this  way  every  hour,   - 
except  study  hours ;   and  often  portions  of  the  night.     My  fellow- 
students  laughed  at  me  then,  but  noiu  the  boot  is  on  the  other  foot. 
I  thought  it  a  hard  row  to  hoe,  but  a  rich  harvest  has  it  yielded 
me ;  and  you,  reader,  owe  to  this  same  cause,  whatever  of  delight 
or  benefit,  my  lectures,  writings,  and  examinations  afford  you. 

Pardon  this  personal  allusion,  but  profit  by  the  lesson  it  teaches. 
Ye  who  aspire  after  renown,  work.     Ye  who  would  do  good,  work. 


THE   VITAL   TEMPERAMENT.  77 

All  ye,  who  would  fulfil  the  great  destiny  of  mortals  on  the  earth 
of  being  happy,  labour  daily  and  habitually. 

But  it  should  not  be  all  work  and  no  study.  Man  has  a  mental  and 
a  moral  as  well  as  a  physical  apparatus.  He  must  work  to  make 
his  brain  good  for  any  thing;  and  yet,  however  good  his  brain, 
it  will  do  him  no  more  good  than  sharp  tools  will  do  the  workman 
good  who  does  not  use  them.  A  portion  of  each  day  ought  to  be 
spent  by  every  member  of  the  human  family. 

A  few  hours  labour  each  day,  sa}?  from  five  to  eight,  will 
give  all  the  necessaries  and  the  comforts  of  life,  artificial 
wants  and  extravagances  excepted,  to  every  man,  rich 
and  poor,  literary  and  in  business  Besides  securing  that 
amount  of  exercise  which  is  indispensable  for  preserving 
his  health,  it  will  enable  the  laboring  classes,  instead  of 
consuming  their  whole  existence  in  working,  to  afibrd  ttTne 
to  cultivate  their  intellects,  and  exercise  their  finer  feelings. 
The  present  arrangements  of  society  tend  to  make  the  poor 
work  all  the  time,  and  the  rich  none.  This  is  certainly  not  the 
order  of  nature.  That  order  is,  for  every  man  to  have  the  dis- 
posal and  the  full  avails  of  his  own  time;  for  every  man  to 
have  property  enough  to  supply  his  real  necessities  and  wants, 
but  no  more,  and  to  expend  the  balance  upon  nobler  pursuits 
—upon  the  exercise  of  his  intellectual  and  moral  powers  ;  and 
when  men  transgress  these  natural  laws,  they  experience  re- 
buke at  the  hand  of  nature,  in  the  very  line  of  their  trans- 
gression. 

To  one  slight  modification  is  this  law  of  balance  of  function 
subjected,  namely,  that  in  childhood  and  youth,  while  the  sys- 
tem is  forming,  the  circulatory,  respiratory,  nutritive,  and 
muscular  systems  are  more  active  than  the  brain  and  nervous 
system,  while  in  middle  and  advanced  life,  the  mental  usually 
predominates.  This  principle  has  been  demonstrated  else- 
where, and  will  be  alluded  to  again,  but,  taking  it  for  granted 
at  present,  it  teaches  us  this  great  truth  touching  the  physical 
education  of  children,  namely,  that  study  should  never  be  al- 
lowed to  withdraw  from  the  body  to  the  brain  any  of  that 
animal  energy  required  for  growth,  or  for  the  formation  of  a 
strong  constitution.  Parents  have  overlooked  the  great  fact 
that  a  great  amount  of  physical  energy  is  required  ior  growth. 


7S  HEALTH ITS    VALUE    AND    CONDITIONS. 

Place  your  finger  upon  the  wrist  of  a  child,  and  you  will  be 
astonished  at  the  rapidity  and  power  of  their  pulsations  ;  this 
rush  of  blood  being  simply  to  supply  vital  energy  to  the  hand. 
Circulation  in  them  is  prodigious.     The  reason  is  obvious. 

The  matter  for  the  formation  of  the  bones,  muscles,  nerves, 
brain,  &c.,  is  deposited  by  the  blood.  The  rapidity  of  their 
growth  requires  a  great  amount  of  this  deposite,  v.'-hich  de- 
mands proportionably  vigorous  circulation,  respiration,  and 
digestion.  Most  of  their  physical  energy  requires  to  be  ex- 
pended in  the  growth  and  consolidation  of  their  bodies.  To 
divert  it,  therefore,  from  its  natural  channel,  to  the  nourish- 
ment of  the  brain,  is  most  injurious.  It  is  killing  the  goose 
that  lays  the  golden  egg.  It  is  inducing  that  predominance 
of  the  nervous  system  which  must  inevitably  hasten  their 
death.     The  reason  of  this  will  be  seen  presently. 

But  this  extraordinary  amount  of  circulation  proportionably 
stimulates  the  muscles.  Hence  their  fondness  for  exercise, 
their  restlessness,  their  incessant  action.  This  action  increases 
the  circulation  and  promotes  the  growth.  To  keep  children 
confined,  therefore,  is  to  retard  the  formation  of  a  good  consti- 
tution, and  impair  their  organization.  If  the  noise  made  by 
this  exercise  be  troublesome,  bear  it,  remembering  that  it  is 
life  and  talents  to  your  children. 

Their  respiration  should  also  keep  pace  with  their  circulation 
arid  exercise.  The  blood,  without  being  vitalized  by  the  action 
of  the  air  through  the  lungs,  will  do  them  no  good.  Prevent 
their  breathing,  and  how  soon  they  die  !  And  just  in  propor- 
tion as  this  respiration  is  retarded,  or  the  air  they  breathe 
vitiated,  is  their  life  shortened  and  enfeebled.  Ye  mothers, 
who  are  so  tender  of  your  children  as  to  keep  them  shut 
up  within  doors,  in  warm  or  unventilated  rooms,  compelled 
to  breathe  an  atmosphere  for  the  hundredth  time,  afraid  to 
have  them  inhale  the  fresh  air — remember  that  you  are  there- 
by taking  the  most  effectual  method  possible  to  debilitate  both 
body  and  mind,  and  to  shorten  their  lives.  Confinement  kills 
many  more  children  than  exposure.  As  all  children  must  be 
more  or  less  exposed,  those  who  are  confined  most,  take  the 
most  cold,  and  suffer  the  greatest  injury.  Mothers  usually 
have  excessively  large  Philoprogenitiveness  and  Cautiousness^ 


THE    VITAL    TEMPERAMENT.  79 

which  often  make  them  so  over  tender  of  their  children,  so  fear- 
ful of  the  least  exposure,  that  they  kill  them  with  kindness. 
The  other  extreme  should  not  be  adopted ;  but  uniformity  is 
the  golden  medium,  provided  it  allows  abundance  of  air,  exercise, 
and  nutrition* 

This  principle,  that  the  vital  or  animal  system  is,  or  should  be, 
most  active  in  children,  exposes  the  utter  folly  of  putting  children 
to  school  young  5  I  know,  indeed,  that  the  excessive  Philoprogeni- 
tiveness  and  Approbativeness  of  parents,  especially  mothers,  make 
them  try  every  possible  means  to  bring  their  children  forward 
early ;  but  since  the  energies  of  the  child  cannot  be  expended 
twice,  their  consumption  by  the  exercise  of  mind,  prevents  their 
growth,  and  prematurely  debilitates  them.  This  green-house  me- 
thod of  bringing  every  thing  forward,  never  succeeds.  It  inevita- 
bly hastens  their  death,  besides  weakening  their  brains  w^hile  they 
live*  Throughout  nature,  the  proverb,  "  late  ripe,  late  rotten," 
holds  '  good.  Early  fruits  soon  decay.  The  poplar  tree  grows 
rapidly,  but  soon  rots ;  while  the  oak  and  hickory  that  form  slowly, 
are  far  more  durable  and  serviceable.  All  animals  that  arrive  at 
maturity  early,  die  proportionally  early.  So  certain  and  uniform 
is  this  law,  that,  extraordinaries  excepted,  the  life  of  any  species  of 
animal,  or  of  any  individual  animal,  can  be  calculated  from  the 
periods  of  their  maturity  with  almost  mathematical  accuracy.  This 
law  of  proportion  between  the  developments  of  animals  and  their 
maturity  and  old  age,  governs  the  whole  animal  kingdom,  and  per- 
vades all  things  that  grow,  individuals  as  well  as  species.  Ac- 
cordingly, we  find  long-lived  persons  to  have  been  very  dull  chil- 
dren, and  our  smartest  men  to  have  been  backward  boys.  Adam 
Clarke  was  the  veriest  blockhead  in  school,  an  eyesore  to  his  mas- 
ter, and  the  butt  of  ridicule  amono;  his  mates.     What  was  Patrick 


*  These  remarks  render  it  evident  that  the  city  is  not  the  place  to  bring 
up  children  : — 1st,  because  the  air  is  vitiated ;  2d,  they  have  little  or  no 
chance  for  exercise ;  and,  3d,  they  are  liable  to  form  injurious  habits,  to 
mingle  with  low  children,  to  rise  and  retire  late,  and  be  tempted  to  eat  im- 
proper food,  candies,  baker's  bread,  &c.,  and  have  their  intellects  prema- 
turely developed  at  the  expense  of  their  bodies.  No  wonder ''that  above 
half  the  children  in  cities  die  before  their  fifth  year.  The  reason  of  this 
is  obvious.  They  have  no  air  or  exercise  to  live  upon,  and  these  are 
-equally  important  with  food,  and  should  be  as  much  provided  by  parents. 


80  EDUCATION   OF   CHILDREN. 

Henry  when  a  boy  1  The  dullest  of  the  dull.  Few  of  the  dis- 
tinguished men  of  any  age,  were  noted  when  boys  for  any  thing  but 
stupidity ;  and  as  a  general  thing,  great  men  enter  on  their  intel- 
lectual career  late  in  life. 

The  orff%  of  nature  is  this,  that  nearly  all  the  energies  of  chil- 
dren and  youth  should  be  expended  upon  their  bodies,  in  forming 
and  maturing  their  organization,  and  in  laying  a  deep  and  broad 
foundation  for  the  superstructure  of  after-greatness ;  and  every 
item  of  energy  demanded  by  the  body,  but  expended  upon  the  mind, 
only  weakens  both.  The  great  fault  of  modern  education  is  that 
of  trying  to  make  learned  babies  and  nursery  prodigies.  In  do- 
ing this,  they  often  make  them  simpletons  through  life,  or  youth- 
ful corpses.  Just  as  the  old  miser  had  learned  his  horse  to  live 
without  eating,  it  died.  So,  just  as  children  become  very  smart, 
they  also  die.  What  will  not  parental  vanity  do  1  Every  thing 
but  the  right  thing.  Where  are  those  meteors  of  poetic  genius, 
the  Misses  Davidson  ?  In  their  graves  at  fifteen  !  Philoprogeni-  ^ 
tiveness  must  be  governed  by  intellect.  Not  one  married  person 
in  a  hundred  is  fit  to  become  a  parent,  because  so  ignorant  of  the 
true  principles  of  education.  Hence,  most  children  who  do  not 
come  up  of  themselves,  are  brought  up  wrongs  and  humanity  is 
thereby  degraded. 

This  same  principle  applies  to  early  piety;  and  it  is  equally 
true  of  putting  children  to  trades,  or  into  stores,  too  young.  My 
heart  has  often  been  pained  to  see  boys  behind  the  counter ;  and 
the  smarter  they  are,  the  more  it  grieves  me.  Slim,  sharp-fea- 
tured, mtiscles  flabby,  I  see  the  bright  sun  of  their  morning  about 
to  pass  into  an  early  cloud,  or  into  the  darkness  of  premature 
death.  The  working  classes  commit  the  same  error  by  putting 
their  children  to  labour,  or  to  a  trade,  too  young.  They  bind  them 
out  as  slaves  to  task -masters,  to  labour  early  and  late,  and  often 
without  sufficient  food  and  sleep,  to  expend  the  energies  demand- 
ed for  their  growth,  in  enriching  their  masters.  Many  mechanics 
make  it  a  point  of  economy — although  it  is  the  worst  kind  of  rob- 
iQfy — to  get  all  their  work  donie  by  apprentices.  The  present  ap- 
prentice system  is  monstrous.  Its  object  should  be  to  teach  them 
the  trade,  and  that  only ;  whereas  it  is  to  make  money  out  of  the 
labour  of  the  apprentice,  who  gets  only  a  scanty  living,  while  his 
master  gets  large  profits.     Every  man,  and  especially  the  young. 


HEALTH — ITS   VALUE    AND    CONDITIONS.  81 

has  an  undou'bted  right  to  all  the  avails  of  all  his  earnings  ;  and 
for  others  to  enjoy  the  henefit,  is  wrong. 

Parents  also  think,  that  as  soon  as  their  children  get  to  be  twelve 
years  old,  they  must  bone  down  to  hard  work.  Their  actions 
say :  "  Children,  I  have  toiled  hard  for  you,  and  now  you 
must  paT/  me  principal  and  interest,  by  working  still  harder 
for  me."  Let  such  parents  remember,  that  children  much 
more  than  pay  their  way  as  they  go  along,  in  the  pleasure 
they  afford,  thereby  bringing  the  latter  in  debt  to  the  former ; 
or  rather,  both  are  indebted  to  the  God  of  nature.  Children 
should  have  their  own  earnings;  and  above  all  things,  they 
should  not  be  compelled  to  expend  their  energies  for  their  pa- 
rents at  the  very  time  when  they  are  most  demanded  to  per- 
fect their  bodies.  Most  children  and  youth  are  lazy,  particu- 
larly those  late  in  maturing,  because  their  vitality  is  expend- 
ed in  giving  them  a  strong  constitution,  and  it  is  neither  right 
nor  best  to  make  them  labour  much,  beyond  what  they  them- 
selves prefer.  "  All  work  makes  Jack  a  dull  boy."  Still  we 
would  have  them  take  abundant  exercise  and  labour  some. 
After  they  have  attained  their  full  growth  and  maturity,  after 
their  reservoir  of  animal  power  has  begun  to  be  full  and  over- 
flow, they  may  begin  to  work  otf  their  surplus  energies  through 
their  tauseles  by  labour,  or  their  brain  by  study,  but  not  be- 
fore.    We -deem  this  point  a  most  important  one. 

Excessive  labour  is  also  injurious,  especially  for  children 
and  youth.  Play  is  best  for  them,  even  till  they  are  ten  or 
fifteen  years  old,  becatise  it  exercises  all  their  muscles,  and 
also  their  minds.  If  they  must  work,  let  it  be  rendered  amus- 
ing, so  as  to  interest  them,  and  let  it  be  often  changed,  so  as 
to^esercise  all  their  muscles. 

The  principle  here  explained,  exposes  a  prevailing  error  of 
seiiding  children  to  school,  college,  &c.,  young.  Till  they  are 
nearly  twenty  years  old,  they  should  not  be  confined  at  all, 
but  allowed  to  run  at  large  over  hill  and  dale  ;  and  after  that 
age,  not  more  than  half  an  hour  at  a  time  should  be  devoted 
to  study  or  labour,  without  alternating  with  play.  And  then 
the  air  of  the  school  room  is  often  vitiated.  But  more  of  this 
when  we  come  to  speak  of  intellectual  education. 

Not  long  ago,  when  riding  alone  in  a  stage  with  the  proprietor, 
who  has  always  been  a  very  extensive  contractor  on  the  canals 


82  HEALTH ITS    VALUE    AND    CONDITIONS. 

and  stage  routes  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Utica,  N.  Y.,  and  who 
keeps  above  a  hundred  horses  employed  all  the  time,  and  sometimes 
nearly  two  hundred,  and  who  therefore  has  great  numbers  of  them 
to  buy,  I  asked  him  what  kinds  of  horses  he  found  most  profitable 
to  purchase ;  that  is,  what  class  endured  the  greatest  amount  of 
hardship  ?  He  unhesitatingly  answered  "bauky  horses."  "  Why 
those  that  are  bauky,"  I  again  enquired.  "  Because  they  wear  so 
much  longer,  and  endure  so  much  more  labour  and  hard  usage." 
"  And  how  do  you  account  for  that  V'  I  asked  again.  "  Because 
by  being  bauky,  they  were  not  used  to  work  till  they  were  fully 
grown  and  hardened,"  he  replied.  I  asked  at  what  age  he  prefer- 
red to  put  a  horse  down  to  hard  work  1  "  Not  before  they  are 
eight.  They  ought  never  be  broke  till  they  are  that  age,  and  then 
they  will  wear  like  iron  till  they  are  thirty.  You  can  hardly  wear 
them  out."  That  is,  he  would  have  nearly  one-third  of  their  lives 
spent  in  growing  solely  ;  and  these  are  precisely  my  views  in  re- 
gard to  early  labour  and  study.  If  you  wish  to  wear  out  at  thirty, 
begin  hard  work  or  study  at  eight ;  but  if  you  wish  to  live  to  be 
a  hundred,  do  not  begin  to  tax  youreelves  or  children,  till  they  are 
twenty.  Till  then,  let  them  he  hoys  or  girls,  neither  labouring 
or  studying  much,  except ybr  i^lay.  Till  then,  ail  their  energies 
are  required  to  be  expended  on  the  growth  and  formation  of  their 
bodies,  brain,  and  nervous  system  ;  but,  about  this  time  they  will 
begin  to  have  a  surplus  of  animal  energy,  a  vigour  of  muscle 
v^hich  craves  objects  on  which  to  expend  it,  and  a  thirst  for  know- 
ledge which,  till  they  are  at  least  fifteen  years  old,  is  unexperien- 
ced, except  by  precocious  youth.  At  least,  I  shall  adopt  and  re- 
quire this  course  with  regard  to  my  own  children,  and  am  willing 
to  become  sponsor  for  its  result  when  judiciously  applied. 

Of  course,  I  would  not  have  the  minds  of  children  left  an  un- 
cultivated loildemess,  but  I  would  not  tax  either  mind  with  study^ 
or  body  with  labour.  What  information  can  be  communicated  by 
conversation,  and  what  time  they  chose  to  devote  to  study  volunta- 
rily, should  be  allowed,  but  no  task  should  be  made  of  either,  no 
tradeshould  be  learned  by  daily  and  hourly  confinement  to  it.  In 
short,  nothing  should  be  done  by  way  of  labour  or  study,  except 
merely  to  work  off  the  surplus  energies. 

In  passing,  we  will  add,  that  certain  trades  and  kinds  of 
labour,  such  as  shoe-making,  stone-sawing,  sadlery,  tailoring. 


PKESERVATION   OF   A   BALANCE    OF   THE   FUNCTIONS.  83 

several  of  the  arts,  &c.,  call  but/ew;  of  the  muscles  into  action, 
and  are  therefore  highly  injurious ;  yet  by  walking  four  or 
five  miles  daily,  or  by  labouring  often  at  other  things,  or  tak- 
ing any  kind  of  exercise  requiring  the  action  of  the  dormant 
parts ;  those  who  labour  at  them  will  be  able  to  avoid  all  evil 
consequences,  and  prolong  their  lives. 

MEANS  OF  PRESERVING  AND  REGAINING  THIS  BALANCE. 

We  have  already  seen,  first,  the  value  of  health ;  and,  secondly, 
its  leading  condition,  namely, — balance  of  function,  or  the  propor- 
tionate action  of  all  the  parts  of  his  nature.  Our  next  inquiry  re- 
lates to  the  preservation  of  this  balance,  and  to  regaining  it  when 
lost — an  inquiry  of  vital  importance.  The  principle  by  which  this 
most  important  object  is  to  be  secured,  is,  like  every  other  law  of 
nature,  simple  but  effectual.  The  relative  energy  of  any  of  the  or- 
gans, can  be  changed  by  exercising  the  deficient  ones,  and  dimin- 
ishing the  action  of  those  that  predominate.  We  have  seen  so 
many  instances  of  this  change,  that  we  consider  it  no  longer  prob- 
lematical, but  a  matter  of  fact.  The  extent  to  which  the  change 
can  be  effected,  is  astonishing.  The  well  known  law  of  increase 
by  exercise,  and  of  decrease  by  inaction,  applies  here  in  all  its 
force.  Illustrations  of  it  are  innumerable.  You  will  hear  the  shrill 
powerful  voice  of  oyster-men,  chimney-sweeps,  charcoal-men,  and 
street-pedlars,  who  cry  their  articles  for  squares,  amidst  the  rattling 
of  carriages,  the  crashing  of  carts,  and  all  the  roar  and  din  of  the 
city,  while  you  can  hardly  hear  yourself  talk  to  a  friend,  even 
within  doors.  Their  power  of  voice  is  prodigious,  and  all  acquired 
by  its  exercise.  This  same  law  governs  every  individual,  and  will 
enable  those  of  weak  lungs  and  consumptive  habits,  to  strengthen 
their  lungs,  and  thus  avert  a  disease  to  which  they  may  be  predis- 
posed. On  this  point  I  speak  from  experience.  My  mother  died 
of  consumption  ;  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  I  was  confined  within 
doors  for  three  months  by  weak  lungs.  Soon  after  my  academical 
career  was  commenced,  I  was  brought  near  the  grave  by  the  same 
complaint ;  and  in  my  Junior  year  in  college,  was  again  attacked 
with  it,  and  compelled  to  fall  back  a  year,  and  when  I  commenced 
lectures  on  Phrenology,  my  lungs  were  weak  and  irritable.  But, 
no  sooner  had  I  graduated  and  commenced  speaking  in  public,  and 


84  HEALTH ITS    VALUE    AND    CONDITIONS. 

examining  daily  in  private,  than  my  lungs  began  to  improve,  and 
ave  continued  to  do  so  to  this  day.  And  notwithstanding  this 
constitutional  feebleness  of  lungs,  I  doubt  whether  many  men  have 
done  more  speaking  within  the  last  ten  years  than  I  have,  lecturing 
to  crowded  houses,  two  hours  or  more  almost  every  evening,  and 
examining  professionally  all  day,  year  in  and  year  out.  And  those 
who  have  listened,  know  that  w^hen  I  speak,  or  talk,  I  do  not  lohis- 
per.  But  for  exercising  my  lungs  thus  much,  I  should  unquestiona- 
Uy  have  been  dead  long  ago. 

Let  parents  w^ho  have  the  least  tendency  to  consumption,  put 
this  principle  in  practice  upon  their  children,  and  instead  of  com- 
manding silence,  encourage  them  to  talk  much,  and  halloo  loud^ 
and  that  in  the  open  air  ;  and  let  all  who  are  narrow-chested  and' 
slim-built,  or  at  all  predisposed  to  consumption,  employ  this  prin- 
ciple. Let  them  talk  much  and  read  more,  and,  if  possible,  speak 
in  public ;  let  them  go  daily  to  the  fields  or  w^oods  and  halloo  y 
and  they  will  w^ard  off  consumption,  strengthen  their  lungs,  improve 
their  voice,  and  benefit  their  whole  system  by  the  increased  amount 
of  air  breathed.* 

But  in  doing  this,  great  care  should  be  taken  not  to  go  too  far, 
especially  at  first ;  for,  ©■yer-taxing  any  part,  so  as  to  exhaust, 
weakens.  Either  extreme  is  detrimental.  There  is  little  danger 
that  children  will  exercise  their  lungs  too  much,  but  there  is  great 
danger  in  preventing  that  exercise,  and  adults  can  know  when  they 
are  over-taxing  their  lungs,  by  that  sense  of  weakness  or  irritabili- 
ty which  always  ensues,  and  warns  against  excessive  action.  They 
should  then  stop  short  at  once,  till  their  lungs  are  rested,  and  then 
proceed  cautiously,  exercising  them  as  much  as  they  will  bear,  but 
no  more. 

This  principle  applies  equally  to  improving  the  tone  and  power 
of  the  muscles.  A  Roman  wrestler  is  said  to  have  carried  a  calf 
daily  through  the  Roman  stadium,  until  it  became  a  full  grown 
ox.  At  fil'st  sight  this  appears  impossible,  but,  viewed  in  the 
light  of  this  principle,  it  appears  probable.  The  Hottentots  run 
down  their  fleetest  game,  even  to  the  antelope.  The  feats  of 
physical  strength  and  agility  performed  by  circus  riders,  slack-rope  • 

*  For  more  specific  directions  for  avoiding  consumption  and  promoting 
circulation  see  the  author's  work  on  "  Hereditary  Descent,"'  p.  82.  It 
will  also  be  treated  fully  in  his  work  on  Physiology. 


PRESERVATION  OF  A  BALANCE  OF  THE  FUNCTIONS.  85 

dancers,  wrestlers,  boxers,  the  "Ravel  Family,"  the  "Bedouin 
Arabs,"  &c.,  &c.,  are  astonishing,  yet  practice  would  enable  almost 
any  one,  having  originally  a  good  constitution,  to  do  the  same. 
To  develope  the  muscular  system  by  exercise  or  labour  enough  to 
preserve  or  regain  this  balance,  is  easy,  and  withal,  a  most  impe- 
rious duty.  Without  muscular  exercise,  this  balance  cannot  be 
preserved ',  and  without  this  balance,  all  the  great  ends  of  life  are 
cut  off.  One  of  the  worst  fashions  of  the  day  is  this  anti-working 
custom.  Ladies,  especially,  think  it  very  ungenteel  to  labour,  be- 
cause it  hardens  their  hands ;  and  a  lady  must  surely  have  soft 
hands.  Let  such  remember  that  soft  hands  accompany  a  soft  or- 
ganization (superceding  remarks  on  the  organization).  Delicacy 
in  a  woman  is  a  good  thing,  but  "  too  much  of  a  good  thing  is 
worse  than  nothing.^'  Effeminate  sentimentalism  is  worse  than 
coarseness.  One  main  cause  of  the  nervousness,  vapours,  depress- 
ed spirits,  dyspepsy,  sickness,  and  physical  debility  of  fashionables? 
is  their  want  of  labour.  Without  it,  no  person  can  become  great 
or  good,  any  more  than  without  food  or  breath,  and  for  the  same 
reason. 

MEANS    OF    INCREASING    AND    DIMINISHING    MENTAL    ACTION. 

But  a  still  more  important  inquiry  is  that  relating  to  the 
increase  and  reduction  of  the  Mental  Temperament.  From  it, 
their  fountain  head,  flow  most  of  our  pains  and  pleasures.  Its 
healthy  action  produces  the  latter,  while  the  former  are  caused 
mainly  by  its  morbid  or  perverted  action.  A  knowledge  of 
its  proper  regulation  and  exercise,  is  of  the  highest  possible 
importance  to  every  member  of  the  human  family.  Those  in 
whom  it  is  too  weak,  proportionably  fail  to  experience  mental 
and  moral  pleasures,  and  are  thus  cut  off  from  the  chief  ends 
of  our  being.  On  the  other  hand,  its  predominance  is  always 
extremely  painful. 

By  what  means,  then,  can  it  be  improved.  How  can  its 
power  be  increased  or  diminished  as  occasion  may  require  ? 
To  strengthen  it,  we  have  only  to  exercise  it.  To  diminish  it, 
we  must  turn  the  current  of  its  action  into  other  channels. 
The  brain  is  quite  as  susceptible  of  improvement  as  are  the 


86  INCREASING    MENTAL    ACTION. 

muscles,  lungs,  or  any  other  portion  of  the  system ;  because 
governed  by  the  same  physiological  law  of  increase  by  action, 
and  decrease  by  inaction.  Let  it  never  be  forgotten,  that 
mental  discipline  consists  neither  in  a  knowledge  of  Greek, 
Latin,  Mathematics,  &c.,  nor  in  the  amount  of  study  perform- 
ed ;  nor  the  time  devoted  to  intellectual  pursuits;  nor  in  the 
number  or  kinds  of  books  read ;  but  solely  in  an  active  and 
healthy  condition  of  the  brain.* 

If  your  mind  be  dull,  your  intellect  obtuse,  your  feelings 
sluggish,  your  memory  short,  &c.,  you  have  only  to  put  your 
hrain  and  nervous  system,  into  proper  order,  and  you  will  there- 
by c[uicken  your  feelings,  render  intellect  clear  and  penetrating, 
improve  memory,  and  strengthen  the  mind.  Your  brain  can 
be  put  into  this  state,  1st,  by  exercising  it  habitually,  taking 
care  not  to  exhaust  it  by  over  action ;  2d,  by  paying  strict  at- 
tention to  the  condition  of  the  stomach,  with  which  it  closely 
sympathizes.  Hence,  an  improper  quality  or  quantity  of  food 
will  stupify  the  mind,  deaden  the  feelings,  produce  head-achet 
and  weaken  or  disorder  the  functions  of  the  brain  and  nervous 
system  sooner  than  any  others.  Certain  kinds  of  food,  espe, 
cially  breadstuffs,  farinaceous  food,  fruit,  &c.  are  naturally 
calculated  to  strengthen  the  brain  and  nervous  system;  while 
other  kinds,  especially  animal  food,  fish,  oysters,  &c.,  impart 
strength  to  the  muscles  more,  relatively,  than  to  the  brain. 

*  Would  that  the  founders  and  professors  of  our  colleges  but  understood 
and  taught  this  plain  principle,  in  marking  out  the  path  for  students  to 
follow,  and  that  students  would  practice  it  in  going  through  their  aca- 
demic course,  which  as  it  now  is,  often  injures  instead  of  benefits,  weaken. 
ing  the  mind  oftener  than  it  strengthens  it.  Almost  every  college  arrange- 
ment is  detrimental  to  health.  Hence  ninety-nine  in  a  hundred  leave  our 
institutions  of  learning  with  broken  constitutions.  Almost  all  professional 
men  are  invalids,  except  those  who  regain  their  health  after  leaving 
them.  This -weakening  of  the  body  of  necessity  enfeebles  the  brain,  and 
of  course  diminishes  the  talents,  instead  of  augmenting  them.  We  appeal 
whether  many  young  men,  who  enter  college  with  sound  health  and 
strong  common  sense,  do  not  leave  it  learned,  indeed,  but  having  actually 
less  intellectual  power  than  when  they  entered  it.  A  college  course  almost 
invariably  impairs  the  health,  which  weakens  the  brain,  and  enfeebles  in- 
tellect.    The  same  is  in  part  true  of  attending  school. 


INCREASING    AND    DIMINISHING    MENTAL    ACTION  87 

But  the  most  efficient  method  of  improvmg  the  tone  and 
power  of  the  nervous  system,  is  its  exercise.  But  that  exer- 
cise must  be  daily  and  habitual.  To  do  this,  you  must  apply 
your  mind  by  thinking,  reading,  musing,  studying,  conversa- 
tion, writing,  &c.  This  exercise  will  cause  the  blood  to  flow 
freely  through  the  brain,  which  will  enlarge  the  blood  vessels, 
facilitate  the  circulation  of  this  vital  fluid,  and  secure  mental 
discipline.  This  mental  discipline  cannot  be  'purchased.  It 
can  neither  be  given  nor  received.  It  must  be  obtained  by 
every  individual's  exercising  his  oiun  brain  for  himself.  Pa- 
rents cannot  exercise  the  brains  of  their  children  by  proxy. 
By  setting  motives  before  them,  they  may  aid  them,  yet  they 
cannot  think  or  feel  for  them.  If,  therefore,  parents  find  their 
children  dull,  and  wish  to  cultivate  their  intellects,  they  must 
contrive  ways  and  means  by  which  to  excite  their  brains  to 
action.  It  should  be  remembered  that  when  children  take  no 
interest  in  books,  they  do  them  no  good.  To  learn  to  read, 
spell,  repeat  by  heart,  &c.,  mechanically,  requires  little  cere- 
bral action,  and  therefore  does  them  little  good ;  whereas  a 
matter  even  of  play,  in  which  they  take  a  lively  interest,  ex- 
cites their  brain,  and  this  causes  it  to  grow,  besides  promoting 
mental  discipline. 

It  might  be  added  that  studies  in  which  little  interest  is 
taken,  cause  but  little  action  of  the  brain,  and  therefore  do 
little  good.  But  more  upon  this  subject  when  we  come  to 
speak  of  the  intellectual  faculties,  including  schools,  col- 
leges, &c. 

But  many  persons,  especially  among  the  literary  and  seden- 
tary classes,  find  their  brain  too  active,  and  wish  to  know  how 
to  reduce  that  action.  They  feel  nervous  and  irritable.  Even 
trifling  things  excite  them  inordinately.  A  molehill  is  magni- 
fied until  it  becomes  a  mountain.  They  are  in  a  fever  of  ex- 
citement ;  tossed  back  and  forth  by  currents  and  counter  cur- 
rents of  feeling  which  they  find  it  impossible  to  control.  At 
one  time,  they  are  elated  beyond  measure,  and  full  of  ecstacy. 
Some  trifling  thing,  too  insignificant  to  aff"ect  a  healthy  brain, 
casts  them  into  the  very  depths  of  despair.  The  sensibilities 
are  morbidly  alive  to  every  thing.    They  retire  to  their  couch,, 


■88  DIMINISHING   THE    BIENTAL    ACTION. 

biU  not  to  sleep.  The  boiling  blood  courses  through  their 
veins,  whilst  the  labouring  pulsations  of  their  hearts  shake 
their  whole  frame.  Their  thoughts  wander  to  the  ends  of  the 
earth,  but  to  no  purpose.  They  think  and  feel  upon  every 
thing,  only  to  increase  their  disease,  and  aggravate  their  men- 
tal sufferings.  If  Cautiousness  be  large,  they  are  afraid  of 
their  own  shadows,  and  see  their  path  filled  with  lions  and 
tigers.  If  Approbativeness  predominates,  they  thirst  for  fame, 
but  see  the  cup  of  praise  dashed  from  their  lips  by  merely  im- 
aginary neglects,  or  reproofs  which  are  so  construed  as  to 
induce  the  deepest  chagrin  and  mortification.  They  seek 
sleep,  but  find  it  not.  Hour  after  hour  they  turn  upon  their 
damask  couches,  exhausted  by  mental  action,  even  to  pros- 
tration, but  unable  to  compose  their  excited,  erratic  feelings. 
Their  brightest  thoughts  flit  like  meteors  across  their  mental 
horizon,  only  to  vanish  in  midnight  darkness.  And  if  tardy 
sleep  at  last  folds  thetn  in  his  arms,  frightful  dreams  disturb 
their  shallow  slumbers,  and  they  av/ake  enshrouded  in  deep, 
impenetrable  melancholy.  They  feel  most  keenly,  only  to 
feel  most  wretchedly.  Now  and  then,  a  sigh,  or  groan,  or 
"0  dear  me!"  escapes  them,  and  they  internally  feel,  '' 0 
wretched  man  that  I  am."  They  feel  burthened  with,  they 
know  not  what,  but  this  only  oppresses  them  the  more.  Things? 
otherwise  their  joy,  are  now  their  misery,  and  every  thing 
sweet  is  rendered  bitter.  Their  nervous  energies  are  wrought 
up  to  the  highest  pitch  of  inflamed  action  ;  yet  they  have  no 
strength  to  endure  this  excitement.  Days  and  weeks  roll  on 
only  to  augment  their  miseries,  and  to  increase  their  exhaus- 
tion. Their  excited  mind  thirsts  for  books,  but  this  only  in- 
creases the  ascendancy  of  the  nervous  system  over  the  vital 
and  motive,  which  is  the  cause  of  all  their  sufferings.  What 
can  they  do } 

Listen  whilst  we  tell  you.  Your  sufferings  are  caused  by 
the  predominance  of  your  nervous  system  over  your  muscular 
and  nutritive  apparatus  ;  and  your  only  remedy  is  to  be  found 
in  restoring  this  balance.  All  the  medicines  in  creation  cannot 
cure  you,  because  of  your  malady.  Doctoring  you  do  not 
need.  You  require  only  to  restore  the  balance  of  action 
between  the  brain  and  the  other  two  great  functions  of  your 


DIMINISHtNG    THE    MENTAL    ACTION.  -  89* 

nature,  namely,  nutrition  and  muscular  exercise,  and  you 
are  well  at  once.  This  must  be  done  by  diverting  the  circula- 
tion from  the  brain  to  the  muscles,  and  by  removmg  all  causes 
of  excitement.  Tea  and  coffee  must  be  abandoned,  because 
they  highly  stimulate  the  brain  and  nervous  system,  the  ex- 
cessive action  of  which  is  the  sole  cause  of  your  disease.  A 
strong  cup  of  tea  will  excite  one  in  this  state,  more  than  a 
glass  of  spirits  will  a  hardy  labourer,  whose  nervous  sensi- 
bility is  feeble,  and  do  him  ten  times  the  injury.  Wines, 
porter,  ale,  cider,  beer  of  all  kinds,  must  be  wholly  abjured, 
and  for  the  same  reason.  They  all  stimulate,  but  you  require 
something  cooling,  relaxing,  and  sedative.  Tonics  may  brace 
^''ou  for  the  time  being,  but  their  virtue  consists  in  their  stimu- 
lating property,  and  should  therefore  be  avoided.  Flesh  is 
injurious ;  because  it  also  is  highly  stimulating,  and  calculated 
to  inflame  the  nervous  system.  Too  much  food  is  also  bad, 
and  is  often  one  primary  cause  of  excessive  nervous  action^ 
producing  a  feverish  state  of  the  system,  because  the  blood  is 
surcharged  with  nutrition.  Colds  are  another ;  and  still  ano- 
ther, more  efficient  than  either,  is  an  impure  skin.  When  the 
pores  of  the  skin  are  closed,  they  cause  the  blood  to  retire  to 
the  heart,  and  flood  the  brain  ;  besides  preventing  the  impuri- 
ties of  the  blood  and  the  waste  matter  of  the  system,  from  es- 
caping. This  must  be  remedied  by  frequent  ablutions  of  the 
whole  body.  To,  children,  bathing  is  all-important.  They 
have  so  much  waste  matter  that  the  avenues  of  its  escape 
must  be  kept  always  open.  Besides  this,  the  cold  bath  is 
highly  exciting  to  the  skin,  and  this  promotes  the  circulation 
of  the  blood,  and  thereby  withdraws  its  circulation  from  the 
brain.  Where  the  energies  of  the  system  are  sufficient  to 
produce  re-action,  it  is  one  of  the  very  best  remedies  of  nerv- 
ous affections  to  be  found.  Cold  water  is  certainly  cooling,, 
and  carries  off  that  heat,  that  feverish,  viorbid  action  which  is 
the  cause  of  the  disease. 

These  principles  apply  with  great  force  to  precocious  children* 
Their  extreme  smartness  is  caused  by  the  predominance  of  their 
nervous  system  over  their  muscular  and  vital,  and  their  life  de- 
pends upon  restoring  this  balance,  which  can  be  done  only  by  the 
means  just  pointed  out  for  diminishing  excessive  nervous  action^ 


90  SOCIETY    UNFAVORABLE    TO    HEALTH. 

and  by  giving  them  much  exercise  and  sleep.  Their  brains  and 
nerves  should  be  excited  as  little  as  possible ;  they  should  not  be 
allowed  books  ;  should  not  be  confined  in-doors ;  should  wash  and 
bathe  often  j  retire  early  ;  and  live  much  on  bread  and  milk.  We 
believe  there  is  something  in  milk  quieting  to  the  nerves,  and  pro- 
motive of  sleep,  two  of  the  main  ends  to  be  secured.  We  would 
also  recommend  this  diet  to  adults  who  wish  to  reduce  their  nerv- 
ous action. 

But  the  most  effectual  method  of  restoring  this  balance  of  parts 
is  muscular  exercise.  It  compels  the  blood  to  return  to  the  mus- 
cles, induces  sleep,  promotes  perspiration  and  respiration,  and  this 
purifies  the  blood,  and  thereby  quiets  the  brain  and  nervous  sys- 
tem. Riding,  especially  on  horseback,  produces  the  same  desira- 
ble result.  Yet  neither  should  be  carried  to  prostration,  for  this 
prevents  sleep,  and  inflames  the  nerves,  which  aggravates  the  dis- 
ease. This  exercise  should  be  habitual ;  should  be  carried  to  fa- 
tigue, but  not  to  prostration,  and  then  alternate  with  rest.  Lite- 
rary pursuits  should  be  abandoned.  So  should  all  kinds  of  busi- 
ness which  cause  much  excitement. 

But  the  organization  of  society  is  most  unfavourable  to  the  pro- 
portionate exercise  of  these  three  great  functions  of  our  nature  j 
that  is,  to  the  preservation  of  this  balance  of  the  Temperaments. 
Laborers  exercise  their  muscles  mainly,  to  the  neglect  of  oriental 
culture,  cutting  themselves  off  from  those  pleasures  flowing  from 
the  exercise  of  mind  ;  while  business  and  professional  men,  artists, 
writers,  book-keepers,  bankers,  brokers,  and  the  lighter  kinds  of 
mechanics,  and  indeed  most  of  the  inhabitants  of  our  cities  and 
villages,  especially  our  gentlemen  of  leisure^  dandies,  and  fashion- 
able ladies,  exercise  their  brains  and  nerves  mainly,  to  the  almost 
entire  neglect  of  their  muscles,  meanwhile  overloading  their  diges- 
tive apparatus,  breathing  impure  air,  and  keeping  late  hours.  La- 
borers and  business  men  say  they  have  no  time  to  cultivate  their 
intellects,  while  our  gentlemen  of  leisure,  fashionable  aristocrats, 
and  many  others,  have  little  disposition  to  take  sufficient  muscular 
exercise.  Hence  the  inhabitants  of  our  cities  and  villages,  and 
especially  the  "  higher  classes,"  have  the  mental  temperament 
predominant,  and  the  vital,  weak ;  as  is  evinced  by  their  sharp 
features,  thin  faces,  and  haggard  looks.  On  the  other  hand, 
countrymen  and  workers,  have  larger  and  better  heads,  yet  lack 


INCREASING    AND    DIMINISHING   THE   MENTAL   ACTION.  91 

mental  cultivation  and  discipline :  that  is,  they  have  much  oiatu- 
ral  talent,  with  but  little  acquired  learning.  This  explains  that 
sickly  delicacy— that  poor,  scrawny,  homely,  sharp-favoured,  dys- 
peptic, and  nervous  state  of  the  body  which  usually  accompanies 
riches,  fashion,  and  idleness. 

Most  professional  men  are  invalids,  and  die  early,  and  all  because 
they  violate  this  law  of  balance  of  temperament.     A  student's  life 
is  genenerally  considered  necessarily  unhealthy.     But  this  is  by  no 
means  the  fact.'      On  the  contrary,  a  comparison  of  the  ages  of 
different  classes  of  men,  proves  that  literary  pursuits  are  actually  ■ 
conducive  to  health  and  longevity.*      Were  the  sole  object  of  my 
life  to  see  how  long  I  could  live,  or  even  how  happily,  I  would  di- 
vide each  twenty-four  hours  into  three  parts,   and  devote  eight 
hours  to  sleep,  rest,  and  meals ;    eight  more  to  vigorous  exercise, 
or  rather,  hard  labour ;  and  the  balance  to  the  exercise  of  mind, 
uniting  the  last  two  whenever  practicable.     Or,  even  were  my  ob- 
ject to  become  intellectually  great  or  learned ;    or  were  health  my 
object;   or  were  all  these  combined;   I  would  pursue  the  same 
course.     Mr.  Burritt,  the  learned  blacksmith,  is  often  referred  to  as 
an  intellectual  prodigy.     He  certainly  is  the  wonder  of  the  learned 
world.    Besides  understanding  fifty  languages,  he  has  accumulated 
a  richer  treasure  of  historical  and  miscellaneous  information,  than 
probably  any  man  living,  [see  Phrenological  Journal,  vol.  iii.  p, 
27,  or  the  Phrenological  Almanac  for  1841,]  and  yet,  in  his  letter 
to  ex-Governor  Everett,  he  states  that  his  poverty  compelled  him 
to  labouf  at  the  anvil  eight  hours  daily.     This  is  the  owe  main  se- 
cret of  his  greatness.      "  Go  thou  and  do  likewise,"  and  train  up 
your  children,  too,  in  harmony  with  this  principle. 

In  passing  I  will  add,  that  the  order  of  nature  is  evidently 
this.  In  childhood  and  youth,  the  vital  powers  predominate  in  ac- 
tion. The  muscular  follow  next :  and  from  fifteen  to  thirty,  the 
vital  and  motive  functions  are  more  vigorous  than  the  mental. 
From  thirty  to  fifty,  the  three  should  keep  an  even  pace,  but  after 
that,  the  mental  naturally  predominates.  Talented  men  retain  all 
their  intellectual  vigor  long  after  their  muscular  system  has  been 
enfeebled  by  age.  The  most  splendid  specimens  of  intellectual 
greatness — Milton's  "  Paradise  Lost"  included — have  been  reared 

*  Madden's  "  Infirmities  of  Genius." 


92  INCREASING   AMD   DIMINISHING   THE  MENTAL  ACTION. 

by  old  men  in  their  physical  decline.  The  brains  of  children  are 
soft,  and  their  nerves  less  sensitive  to  burns,  bruises,  cold,  &c., 
than  those  of  adults.  The  nervous  system  is  the  last  to  mature, 
the  last  to  yield  to  the  approaches  of  age,  and  of  a  natural  death. 
Hence  little  pains  should  be  taken  to  cultivate  the  intellect  until 
nature  has  fully  matured  the  brain  and  nervous  system.  Some 
species  of  animals,  the  dog  included,  are  born  blind.  What  con- 
summate folly  to  cut  open  their  eyes,  or  put  on  glasses,  or  attempt 
to  make  them  see  by  any  other  artificial  means,  before  their  natu- 
ral time  !  Let  nature  have  her  perfect  work.  Follow  where  she 
leads  ;  but  never  precede  her.  Let  your  Jirst  labour  be  to  give 
them  a  strong  constitution  ;  and  to  lay  in  as  large  a  supply  of 
'physical  energy  as  possible.  You  may  cultivate  their  intellects,  but 
not  so  much  as  to  withdraw  their  energies  from  growth.  Let  in- 
tellectual attainments  be  what  nature  has  made  them,  secondary,  in 
point  of  time.  Would  it  be  wise  in  you  to  hurry  your  fruit-trees 
into  bloom  so  early  that  the  frosts  of  spring  would  certainly  nip 
the  fruit  in  its  bud  ?  Let  intellect  appear  too  late,  rather  than  too 
early.  It  is  in  obedience  to  this  law,  that  children  sleep  most  of 
their  time  the  first  few  weeks  after  birth,  and  much  during  child- 
hood and  youth.  Let  them  sleep  all  they  will.  Let  them  retire 
before  dark,  and  even  take  a  nap  in  the  day-time.  Let  them  not 
be  tasked  with  any  thing  till  they  are  fifteen.  Till  then,  they  rarely 
feel  the  importance  of  learning,  and  most  of  them  will  learn  more 
in  one  year  after  they  are  twenty,  than  in  their  whole  lives  before 
they  are  fifteen.  Most  people  think  themselves  too  old  to  go  to 
school  after  they  are  twenty  ;  whereas  this  age  is  better  than  under 
twenty,  and  they  will  learn  still  faster  and  better  after  they  are 
thirty,  especially  if  they  preserve  their  health  unimpaired.  Most 
persons  think  that  they  cannot  afford  time  to  study  after  they  are 
twenty.  As  well  may  they  say  they  cannot  afford  time  to  live  or 
eat.  Mental  exercise  and  improvement  is  the  business  of  life. 
Most  parents  think  the  time  of  their  children  too  precious  to  waste 
in  study  after  they  are  old  enough,  to  be  useful  in  other  respects. 
Hence,  they  crowd  them  into  school  too  young,  thus  spoiling  them 
both  ways.  This  is  the  crying  evil  of  our  modern  system  of  edu- 
cation, and  therefore  we  dwell  upon  it.  Let  parents  and  teachers 
ponder  well  on  our  last  principle,  viz.  that  the  physical  powers,  or 


INCREASING  AND  DIMINISHING  MENTAL  ACTION.  93 

the  vital  temperament,  is  developed  ^r^^,  and  the  brain  and  nerves 
■last,  and  the  consequent  inference  is  that  much  more  of  the  first  ten  to 
fifteen  years  should  be  spent  in  exercise,  sleep,  and  nutrition,  than 
in  study  ;  that  too  early  education  and  schooling  are  most  detri- 
mental ;  and  that  the  child  should  receive  most  of  his  education, 
before  that  period,  whilst  in  motion.  We  would  not  have  mental 
education  wholly  neglected,  yet  we  would  make  it  secondary  as  to 
time  and  importance.  But  we  shall  be  more  explicit  on  these 
points  hereafter. 

In  order  to  render  these  remarks  on  Physiology  any  thing  like 
complete,  it  is  necessary  to  extend  them  much  farther  than  the 
proposed  limits  of  this  work  will  allow,  and  especially  to  expand 
those  parts  that  now   barely  allude   to  digestion,   to  kinds   and 
amount  of  food,  time  of  taking,  and  indeed,  the  whole  subject  of 
nutrition,  including  the  cure  of  indigestion ;  and  so  of  the  remarks 
on  bathing,  perspiration,  friction,  &c.  &c.,  including  especially  the 
application  of  this  whole  subject  to  the  cure  of  diseases  in  general ; 
but  a  farther  presentation  of  Physiology,  must  be  omitted  in  this 
connexion,  partly  because  we  cannot  well  find  room,  partly  because 
this  volume  should  embrace  no  more  of  this  subject  than  is  abso- 
lutely necessary  to  prepare  the  way  for  our  inferences,   and  partly 
because  the  editor  will  soon  publish  a  work  in  which  this  whole 
subject  will  be  fully  presented.     Such  a  work  is  much  needed.    No 
work  now  out  on  Physiology,  covers  the  ground  required.     We  re- 
quire a  work  which  shall  embrace,  not  only  the  functions  of  the 
several  corporeal  organs,  but,  therewith,  the  influence  of  different 
physiological  conditions  upon  the  mind — of  different  kinds  of  food, 
physical  habits,  external  influences,  organizations  or  textures,  &C.5 
including  all  those  conditions  of  body  that  affect  the  mind,  and  all 
.  those  laws  that  govern  the  reciprocal  relations  of  each  to  the  othef, 
and  reciprocal  influences  of  each  upon  the  other.     Next  to  nothing 
Ijasbeen  published  on  this  subject ;  and  yet  this  embraces  just  what 
is  required  of  physiology,  and  all,  in  fact,  that  is  required,  and  no 
work  is  needed  as  much  as  one  that  should  do  justice  to  this  subjects 
And  what  is  more,  none  but  a  Phrenologist  is  qualified  to  do  this 
subject  justice.      None  but  one  who  understands  mind  as  a  Phre- 
•nologist  alone  can    understand  it,  and  those  influences  which  he 
knows  various  physiological  conditions  to  exert  over  mind,  is  at  all 
prepared  properly  to  present  this  subject.      We  want  none  of  the 


94"  INFLUENCE   OF   THE  BODY  ON    THE  EASE    OF    THE    BRAIN. 

learning  of  the  schools  brought  to  the  work.  All  there  taught 
must  be  unlearned,  or  it  will  so  bias  the  judgment  and  becloud  the 
vision  as  to  blast  success.  And  I  submit,  to  the  candid  judgment 
of  the  reader,  if  the  few  remarks  in  this  section,  considering  their 
necessary  brevity,  do  not  throw  more  light  on  this  all  important 
subject,  the  reciprocal  relations  of  body  and  mind,  than  all  ever 
before  written  thereon.  It  may  be  self-conceit.  It  may  be  un- 
founded, but  the  author  fancies,  that,  though  he  has  but  just  entered 
the  threshold  of  these  investigations,  yet,  that  he  has  gone  farther 
into  it — into  practical  physiology^  and  the  way  to  operate  on  mind, 
improve  mind,  and  throw  the  mind  into  any  desired  state — then  all 
who  have  written  on  Physiology ;  for  who  of  them  has  hit  on  the 
point  of  Physiology — namely,  its  effect  on  mind  ?  At  all  events 
he  will  soon  submit  the  work  to  the  public — will  soon  tell  them 
how  to  avoid  diseases,  how  to  cure  them  Physiologically  ;  how  to 
improve  mind,  operate  on  mind,  reform  mind,  and  render  mankind 
happy.  And  if  that  work  meets  with  that  success  with  which  his 
predications  of  character  have  met,  for  the  last  ten  years,  (and 
they  have  been  predicated  in  part  upon  these  relations  proposed  to 
be  discussed,)  that  success  must  be  considerable.  It  will  be  the 
first  of  the  pocket  series  already  announced. 

But  let  us  advance  another  step— a  step,  too,  which,  while  it  is 
closely  connected  with  the  preceding,  evolves  perhaps  the  most 
important  physiological  condition  or  law  of  relation  between  the 
body  and  the  mind,  ever  yet  presented,  perhaps  that  exists. 


SECTION  IV. 

INFLUENCE  OF  THE  BODY  ON  THE  BASE  OF  THE  BRAIN — OK,  THE 
CONDITIONS  OF  THE  BODY  AS  AFFECTING  THE  PROPENSITIES. 

Having  shown,  first,  that  there  exists  an  intimate  connexion  be- 
tween the  conditions  of  the  body  and  those  of  the  mind,  and,  sec- 
ondly, pointed  out  some  of  the  effects  of  organization  upon  the 
mind  and  talents,  we  narrow  down  our  observations  to  the  hase  of 
the  brain,  taking  into  account  those  relations  found  to  exist  be- 


ANIMAL    ORGANS    LOCATED    NEAREST    TO    THE  BODY.  95 

tween  the  conditions  of  the  body  and  animal  propensities — a  prin- 
ciple heretofore  completely  overlooked — a  principle  discovered  by 
Phrenology,  and  also  lying  at  the  very  basis  of  all  efforts  at  reform- 
ing mankind,  as  well  as  at  the  basis  of  physiology,  of  self-improve- 
ment, of  personal  and  general  happiness,  and  of  the  education  and 
government  of  children.  Our  statement  of  this  principle  is  this. 
There  exists  an  intimate  reciprocal  relation  between  the  conditions 
of  the  body  and  those  of  the  animal  propensities,  each  being  as  is 
the  other.  Let  the  body  be  in  a  fevered  or  stimulated  condition, 
and  the  propensities  also  will  partake  of  the  same  morbid,  feverish, 
vicious  action ;  but,  let  the  body  be  healthy,  and  in  a  cool,  quiet 
state,  and  the  propensities  will  be  in  the  same  quiet,  healthy  state, 
and  therefore  much  more  easily  governed  by  the  higher  faculties 
than  when  the  body  is  disordered. 

Our^rs'^  proof  of  this  principle,  is  observed  from  the  position 
and  functions  of  these  organs.  To  serve  the  body,  to  perform  those 
functions  belonging  to  man  as  an  animal,  is  the  exclusive  office  of 
the  basiliar  organs.  Alimentiveness  feeds  the  body,  Acquisitive- 
ness, lays  by  food,  clothing,  property,  &c.,  and,  with  Gonstructive- 
ness,  builds  houses  and  provides  other  means  of  physical  comfort. 
Combativeness  and  Destructiveness  defend  and  protect  the  body 
first,  and  especially  life,  while  Amativeness,  Parental  Love,  and 
all  the  other  organs  in  the  base  of  the  brain,  have  a  special  refer- 
ence to  the  body,  and  its  functions  and  demands.  Hence,  they  are 
located  close  to  the  body  which  they  serve,  and  whose  wants  they 
supply,  so  that  the  inter-communication  between  the  two,  may  be 
as  direct  as  possible,  and  be  facilitated  by  their  juxtaposition.* 
Hence,  also,  the  conditions  of  each  exert  a  more  direct  and  power- 
ful influence  upon  the  other,  than  the  body  exerts  upon  the  moral 
sentiments,  or  the  moral  sentiments  upon  the  body.  The  moral  or- 
gans, or  the  higher,  religious,  God- like  sentiments,  occupy  the  up- 
per portion  of  the  head,  and  are  as  far  removed  as  possible  from 
the  bodyj  so  as  to  be  disturbed  as  little  as  possible  by  those  causes 
which  morbidly  excite  the  body,  and  so  of  the  reasoning. 

But,  the  position  and  functions  of  these  animal  organs,  by  no 
means  furnish  our  strongest  proof  of  the  alleged  reciprocal  relation 

*See  the  principle  that  juxta-posilion  facilitates  function,  which  is  illus- 
trated in  a  series  of  articles,  headed,  "  The  Philosophy  of  Phrenology, 
in  Vol.  VI.  of  the  Amer.  Phren.  Journal. 


96     INPLUENCE  OF  THE  BODY  ON  THE  EASE  OF  THE  BRAIN. 

existing  between  the  body  and  the  base  of  the  brain.  Well-known 
FACTS,  or  rather  ranges  and  classes  of  facts,  place  this  point  beyond 
all  doubt.  We  do  not  quote  isolated  facts,  but  classes  of  facts, 
where  one  fact  is  the  representative  of  millions.  Colds  and  fevers 
do  not  increase  Benevolence,  or  Devotion,  or  Kindness,  but  actually 
diminish  them,  yet  they  greatly  augment  the  passions.  Let  a  child 
be  somewhat  unwell,  that  is,  let  its  hody  be  in  a  feverish,  irritated 
condition,  and  its  propensities  will  be  roused  :  it  will  become  pee- 
vish, cross,  petulant,  and  fretful,  and  cry  at  every  little  thing. 
However  kind  and  forbearing  you  are  to  it,  nothing  pleases,  but 
every  thing  irritates  it.*  So  dyspepsia  renders  its  unhappy  subject 
irritable,  peevish,  passionate,  and  fault-finding,  rather  than  kind, 
justj  grateful,  and  benignant ;  and  the  same  is  true  of  most  persons 
laboring  under  physical  indisposition.  They  find  fault  with  every 
body  and  every  thing,  are  ungrateful,  unreasonable  in  their  anger, 
and  disagreeable,  because  of  the  weakened  state  of  their  moral, 
and  the  irritated  state  of  their  animal  organs,  and  all  because  their 
hodies  are  excited.  Restore  their  bodies  to  health,  and  their  com- 
bative and  destructive  feelings  are  banished,  and  their  serenity  is 
restored. 

Why  do  not  diseases  increase  our  kindness,  our  devotion,  our 
conscience,  or  our  reasoning  powers  1  Simply  because  bodily  dis- 
ease is  imparted  to  the  hose  of  the  brain,  or  the  animal  organs, 
first.  But  let  a  child  or  an  adult  become  so  very  sick  that  his 
body  is  prostrated,  and  it  is  these  very  animal  powers  and  propen- 
sities that  are  prostrated  first  and  most,  while  the  moral  and  rea- 
soning are  less  impaired.  In  this  condition,  they  take  bitter  me- 
dicines without  a  murmur,  and  exhibit  a  mild,  heavenl}'-  serenity 
of  countenance.! 

But  let  the  hody  begin  to  revive,  and  what  is  the  first  mental 
index  of  returning  health  ?     Crossness,  irritability,  spitefulness, 

*  Many  children  are  cross  and  ill-tempered,  because  they  are  sick,  and 
are  punished  because  they  are  cross,  that  is,  are  punished  because  they  are 
sick.  Better  punish  their  mothers,  or  nurses,  who  do  not  know  how  to 
make  them  good  by  keeping  them  well. 

t  Nearly  or  quite  all  the  corpses  of  children  I  have  ever  sieen,  have  ex- 
hibited this  benign  expression  of  the  moral  sentindents  far  more  than 
during  life,  which  shows  that  the  propensities  die  first,  and  the  moral  sen- 
timents, last. 


THE   PHENOMENA   OF   DEATH.  97 

and  uno-Qvernable  temper,  with  a  restoration  of  appetite  and  affec- 
tion, or  a  revival  of  the  animal  nature.  "  Ah  !  you  begin  to  be 
cross,  I  reckon  you're  better,"  is  a  speak-vi'ord  in  the  mouth  of 
every  body,  and  tallies  perfectly  with  this  principle. 

The  phenomena  of  death  also  accord  with  this  principle.  The 
extremities  are  prostrated  first ;  sensation  and  nervous  energy  ra- 
pidly decrease ;  the  animal  passions  follow  in  quick  succession,  and 
connubial  and  parental  love,  appetite,  anger,  revenge,  love  of  the 
world,  &c,,  are  all  deadened  before  the  moral  or  intellectual  facul- 
ties are  stupified.  Love  of  life,  also  an  animal  organ,  situated  in 
the  lowest  part  of  the  base  of  the  brain,  lets  go  its  hold  on  life 
before  the  moral  faculties  give  up,  and  hence  tlie  dying  man  is 
willing  to  depart :  his  love  of  life  and  of  sensual  joys,  having  been 
subdued  by  the  grim  messenger.*  Dying  persons  often  attempt  to 
speak,  but  cannot,  because  the  organs  of  Language  and  Memory, 
being  situated  low  down  in  the  forehead,  near  the  body,  fall  be- 
fore the  approach  of  death  sooner  than  the  still  operating  organs 
of  reason,  which  are  situated  higher  up.  Every  one  must  have 
noticed,  that  dying  persons  bid  the  last  earthly  adieu  to  their 
friends,  and  even  to  their  companions  and  children,  whom,  through 
life,  they  have  loved  most  enthusiastically,  with  as  much  coolness 
and  indifference  as  if  they  were  to  be  gone  but  a  day,  and  yet, 
their  still  vigorous  intellect  gives  wise  directions  as  to  their  future 
conduct.  So  also  the  Christian,  "  Dei  gracia"  dies  in  the  tri- 
umphs of  faith ;  that  is,  in  the  vigorous  exercise  of  the  moral 
faculties  after  the  death  of  his  animal  nature,  whilst  others  often 
die  in  the  reversed  or  painful  action  of  these  organs."  After  pre- 
senting this  principle  in  a  lecture  at  Smithville,  N.  Y.,  an  elderly 
deacon  stated  that  he  had  experienced  the  truth  of  the  above 
principle.     He  said  that  he  had  been  once  so  very  sick  that  he 

*  How  beautiful  this  principle,  how  wise  this  provision,  merely  in  ren- 
dering death  less  painful  than  it  would  be  without  it !  If  we  died  in  the 
full  vigor  of  the  propensities — of  iove  of  \iie,  of  property,  of  family,  of 
ambition,  and  other  worldly  desires — how  much  harder  would  it  be  to 
part  with  them,  or  rather  to  be  torn  foreibly  from  them,  than  it  now  is, 
after  the  weakening  of  the  body  has  deadened  our  love  of  life,  unclasped 
our  hold  on  wealth.on  connubial  and  parental  love,  and  destroyed  nearly  all 
our  earthly  desires  ?  This  principle  will  render  dying  less  painful  than  the 
living  suppose,  especially  to  those  who  die  a  natural  death,  that  is,  Aie  by 
the  gradual  wezxing  ontoixheho^Y' 


y©     INFLUENCE  OF  THE  BODY  ON  THE  BASE  OF  THE  BEAIN. 

and  all  his  friends  expected  every  breath  to  be  his  last,  that  he 
had  no  desire  to  live,  no  regard  for  his  wife  and  children,  although 
both  before  and  since,  it  was  particularly  strong,  nor  the  least  ill 
will  against  any  one,  though  before,  he  had  felt  hard  towards  several, 
no  regard  at  all  for  property,  and  not  a  v/ordly  feehng  left,  although 
in  the  entire  possession  of  his  intellectual  and  moral  faculties,  and 
perfectly  conscious  of  every  thing  that  occurred.  He  was  also 
able  to  reason  and  think,  though  unable  to  speak.  On  the  return 
of  health,  his  domestic  and  other  animal  feelings  returned.  He 
said  it  had  always  been  a  matter  of  surprise  to  him,  that,  just  as 
he  was,  to  all  appearances,  about  to  bid  a  final  adieu  to  his  family, 
whom  he  dearly  loved,  he  should  have  regarded  them  with  such 
perfect  indifference,  and  yet,  that  both  before  and  after  his  sickness, 
he  should  have  loved  them  so  devotedly. 

Dr.  Vanderburgh,  of  New  York,  related  the  following  to  the 
author.  A  patient  of  his  took,  by  mistake,  a  preparation  of  potash, 
which  gradually,  and  in  about  eighteen  months,  terminated  his  life. 
It  first  neutralized  his  love  of  his  wife  and  child,  before  very  enthu- 
siastic ;  his  anger,  before  ungovernable,  next  fell  a  prey  to  its  ra- 
vages, and  his  ambition  next ;  while  his  still  vigorous  intellect, 
noted  this  gradual  decay  of  his  animal  nature — all  in  perfect  obe- 
dience to  this  principle. 

The  proverb,  "  old  men  for  counsel,  young  men  for  action,^'  em- 
bodies the  same  principle.  "  Action"  and  force  of  character,  are 
given  by  the  vigorous  exercise  of  the  animal  propensities,  which 
are  stronger  in  young  persons  than  in  old,  only  because  their  bo- 
dies are  more  vigorous.  Milton  commenced  his^  Paradise  Lost  after 
he  was  ffty-seven  years  old,  and  decrepit  and  enfeebled  by  old  age. 
The  most  splendid  intellectual  efforts  ever  put  forth,  have  been 
made  by  men  in  the  decline  of  life.  During  childhood  and  youth, 
while  the  body  is  vigorous,  the  propensities  and  perceptive  organs 
are  extraordinarily  vigorous  and  active,  but  the  higher  sentiments 
are  less  so  ;  in  middle  life,  the  passions  and  intellect  are  both  pow- 
erful ;  but  the  talenfs  attain  their  maximum  of  power  after  age 
has  enfeebled  the  body.  In  harmony  with  this  priaciple  it  is,  that 
many  young  men  who,  between  the  ages  of  twenty  and  thirty-five, 
are  wild,  dissipated,  and  given  to  animal  indulgence,  after  thirty 
to  forty,  become  excellent  members  of  society.  And  I  doubt  not 
"but  every  reader  can  bear  witness  to  the  fact  that,  as  he  grows 


BASE    OF    THE    BKAIN    FIRST    DEVELOPED.  99 

older,  his  propensities  decline,  while  his  intellectual  and  moral 
powers  increase  in  energy.  Observe  your  tastes,  the  tone  and  cast 
of  your  intellect,  your  likes,  studies,  and  all  your  mental  operations 
that  will  give  you  the  desired  test,  and  I  doubt  not  but  the  gradual, 
permanent  augmentation  of  the  power  of  the  intellectual  and  mo- 
ral elements,  and  the  diminution  of  that  of  the  propensities,  will 
be  a  matter  of  consciousness  to  every  reader,  as  w^ell  as  a  matter 
of  general  observation. 

But  more.  This  principle  opens  up  a  great  law  of  both  physi- 
ology and  phrenology.  At  first,  the  hase  of  the  brain  is  alone 
developed.  In  infants,  but  little  brain  is  found  in  the  top  head, 
while  the  basilar  region,  and  especially  the  hack  of  the  head,  is  much 
larger,  relatively,  in  adults  than  infants.  As  youth  progres- 
ses, or,  rather,  as  the  brain  grows,  it  expands,  not  proportionably 
in  all  its  parts,  but  forwards  and  upwards — in  the  moral  and  in- 
tellectual region,  and  this  change  goes  on  till  the  body  is  fully 
matured,  and  begins  to  decline,  when  ihe  propensities  become  en- 
feebled, yet  the  intellect  is  augmented  in  power,  love  of  reading 
increases,  the  thinking  powers  branch  off  into  new  regions  of 
thought ;  the  judgment  becomes  more  sound ;  and  the  higher  ele- 
ments of  our  nature  ripen  up  to  their  full  maturity  and  power. 
How  beautifully,  also,  does  this  principal  explain  the  fact  that 
old  men  are  more  cautious  than  when  young,  the  organ  of  Cau- 
tiousness and  Causality  being  higher  up  than  the  propensities,  and 
therefore  age  weakening  the  latter,  yet  augmenting  the  former, 
increasing  prudence,  protection,  provision  for  the  future,  &c.,  &c.j, 
but  diminishing  recklessness. 

Sometimes  age  increases  irritability,  selfishness,  and  all  the  ani- 
mal passions ;  but,  when  this  is  the  case,  the  tody  will  be  in  an 
inflamed  condition,  the  physiology  morbidly  active,  and  of  course 
the  propensities  so  likewise. 

So  also  the  memories  of  children  and  youth  are  astonishingly 
retentive  and  vigorous,  whilst  those  of  aged  persons  are  enfeebled; 
but  the  judgment  of  the  latter  is  strong,  while  that  of  the  former 
is  weak ;  because,  the  organs  of  memory  being  in  the  base  of  the 
forehead,  are  vigorous  when  the  body  is  vigorous,  and  become  en- 
feebled by  age;  but,  those  of  the  judgment  are  in  the  upper  por- 
tion of  the  forehead,  and  therefore  partake  less  of  the  w^eakened 
state  of  the  body.     A  severe  fit  of  sickness,  when  it  leaves  the 


100   INFLUENCE  OF  THE  BODY  ON  THE  SASE  OF  THE  BRAIN. 

body  in  an  enfeebled  state,  is  sure  to  weaken  most  kinds  of  me- 
mory, while  it  seldom  impairs  the  judgment.  Not  long  since,  a 
Mexican  called  to  deliver  a  letter  from  a  friend  in  Mexico.  In 
conversing  on  Phrenology,  he  wished  to  recall  the  name  of  an  old 
school-mate  and  friend  of  his,  now  physician  to  the  king  of 
France,  but  was  unable  to  do  so,  though  perfectly  familiar  with 
it.  For  fifteen  minutes,  he  tried  hard  to  recall  it,  but  failed,  and 
then  said,  that  "  since  his  suffocation  by  the  burning  of  charcoal 
in  his  sleeping  room,  which  came  near  killing  him,  he  had  been 
unable  to  remember  names,"  This  weakened  his  body  of  course^ 
and  by  the  action  of  this  principle,  enfeebled  also  his  memory- 
Probably  half  of  my  readers  have  had  their  memories  enfeebled 
by  sickness;  and  scores  of  cases  could  be  narrated  in  which  an 
improvement  of  the  health,  has  strengthened  the  memory.  Were 
I  to  give  a  recipe  for  improving  the  memory,  the  first  and  most 
important  item  of  it  would  be,  improve  the  tone  and  vigor  of  the 
hody. 

Again :  hunger  causes  anger  and  peevishness.  Wives  and 
(laughters  will  bear  me  witness  that  when  their  husbands  and  fa- 
thers come  home  hungry,  they  come  home  cross,  are  irritable,  and 
displeased  with  every  body  and  every  thing,  till  a  hearty  meal 
restores  them  again  to  a  pleasant  humor.  Jf  you  wish  to  break  un- 
pleasant news  to  a  man  without  offending  him,  or  to  obtain  a  spe- 
cial favor,  approach  him  after  dinner,  when  his  body  has  been 
thrown  into  a  comfortable  state.  Those  in  England  who  solicit 
donations  for  charitable  objects,  never  once  think  of  applying  to 
the  rich  and  great  till  after  dinner.  When  well  fed,  ferocious 
animals  are  tame  and  harmless,  but  when  hungry,  their  ferocity  is 
ungovernable,  and  their  Destructiveness  lashed  up  to  the  highest 
pitch  of  fury.  So  the  ferocious  Indian,  when  he  washes  to  kindle 
his  thirst  for  war  and  blood  to  the  very  climax  of  rage  and  re- 
venge, fasts  a  week.  Now  why  should  the  irritated  state  of  the 
stomach,  and  thereby  of  the  body  in  general,  excite  to  morbid  ac- 
tion the  animal  propensities  merely?  Why  should  not  hunger 
increase  the  flow  of  kind,  of  conscientious,  and  of  devotional  feel- 
ing, instead  of  that  of  anger,  revenge,  and  ferocity  1  This  principle 
contains  the  answer. 

The  laboring  classes,  contrasted  with  those  who  are  above  work, 
furnish  a  striking  illustration  of  this  principle.     The  former,  as  a 


ALCOHOLIC    DRINKS    STIMULATE    THE    PROPENSITIES.  101 

class,  are  far  more  virtuous,  sensible,  and  intelligent,  than  the  lat- 
ter. Laborers  are  scarcely  ever  guilty  of  robbery,  theft,  counter- 
feiting, assault  and  battery,  murder,  or  any  other  crime,  unless 
they  become  intoxicated,  while  most  of  our  pickpockets,  de- 
bauchees, prison-birds,  &c.,  &c.,  &c.  live  without  labor.  "  Idle- 
ness is  the  parent  of  vice,"  while  labor  is  a  great  cause  of  moral 
purity.  The  reason  is  this :  The  energies  of  the  system,  must 
have  some  avenue  of  escape.  Labor  carries  them  off  through  the 
muscles ;  but  when  this  door  of  escape  is  closed  by  fashionable 
idleness,  its  next  door  of  egress  is  through — not  the  sentiments  or 
intellect ;  for,  idleness  never  makes  men  better  or  more  talented — ■ 
but  through  the  propensities.  Consequently,  vice  is  vastly  more 
prevalent  and  aggravated  in  the  upper  circles  of  society,  than  in 
the  lower.* 

This  principle  harmonizes  beautifully  with,  and  also  explains,  the 
effect  of  alcoholic  drinks  upon  those  who  stimulate.  The  one  dis- 
tinctive property  of  alcohol  and  of  alcoholic  drinks,  is  to  stimulate 
upon  the  brain  and  nervous  system.  Now,  if  this  principle  of  reci- 
procal sympathy  and  reaction  between  the  body  and  the  base  of  the 
brain,  more  than  between  the  body  and  the  moral  sentiments,  be 
true,  it  is  clear  that  stimulating  drinks  will  excite  the  propensities 
more,  relatively,  than  they  will  the  moral  sentiments  or  reasoning 
organs ;  and  if  they  do  thus  excite  the  propensities  morbidly  more 
than  they  do  the  propensities,  this  principle  is  proved  thereby  ;  but? 
if  this  principle  be  not  true,  they  will  stimulate  all  the  faculties  in 
equal  proportion. 

That  alcoholic  drinks  powerfully  excite  Amativeness,  which  is 
located  in  the  very  base  of  the  brain,  is  a  universal  fact.  The  vul- 
garity, obscenity,  and  licentiousness  occasioned  by  them  are  pro- 
verbial. Who  ever  saw  a  drinking-party  that  were  not  indecent 
in  their  allusions,  given  to  the  relation  of  obscene  anecdotes,  and  to 
the  singing  of  lewd  songs,  if  not  to  the  company  of  harlots  ?  In 
England,  when  the  wine  is  introduced  after  dinner,  modest  woman 

*  We  often  talk  about  the  "  upper  classes,"  meaning  the  rich,  who  feel 
themselves  above  those  who  labor.  As  virtue  is  above  wealth,  and  as  the 
laboring  classes  are  more  virtuous  than  the  "higher  classes,"  it  seems 
that  the  upper  classes  are  the  lowest  (in  the  scale  of  true  moral  worth), 
and  that  the  "  -upper  crust,"  is  at  the  bottom.  Men  who  live  without 
some  useful  employment,  should  be  disgraced,  not  honored.  , 


102  INFLUENCE  OF  THE  BODY  ON  THE  BASE  OF  THE  BRAIN. 

always  retires,  because  she  knows  that  by  remaining  her  delicacy 
will  be  shocked.  Wine  or  ardent  spirit  of  some  kind  is  indispen- 
sable to  any  and  every  debauch.  Why  are  harlots  universally 
drunkards  1  Let  this  principle  answer.  These  drink  down  the 
voice  of  conscience,  blunt  modesty,  and  stifle  the  charms  of  moral- 
ity, intellect,  and  virtue,  while  they  whirl  its  guilty  victim  on  in 
her  sensual  career  of  merely  animal  indulgence.  Men  and  women^ 
be  they  ever  so  moral  and  virtuous,  under  the  influence  of  intoxica- 
ting drinks  are  not  safe.  Before  the^r^^  advantage  can  be  taken 
of  a  virtuous  woman,  without  usingybrce,  she  must  be  partly  intox- 
icated, and  the  advantage  can  be  taken  of  most  women  when  stim- 
ulated. And  if  this  be  the  fact  of  virtuous,  modest  woman,  what 
is  the  fact  of  less  virtuous  man  ?* 

These  drinks  also  excite  the  combative  or  contending  propensity 
of  those  who  are  under  their  stimulating  influences.  So  combustible 
is  their  anger,  that  they  take  fire  at  every  little  thing,  and  even 
seek  occasions  of  contention ;  and  more  bickerings,  broils,  fights, 
and  duels  are  engendered  by  ardent  spirits  than  by  all  other  causes 
united.  Who  ever  saw  men  fight  unless  they  were  excited  by 
liquor  1  or  who  ever  saw  men  in  liquor  who  were  not  easily  an- 
gered, and  "  all  fit  for  a  fight  V  Byron  says  that  stimulants  always 
rendered  him  "  savage  and  suspicious." 

Alcoholic  drinks  also  stimulate  Destructiveness,  or  the  bitter, 
hating,  revengeful  feeling ;  and  hence  drinkers  will  caress  their 
wives  and  children  one  minute,  and  beat  them  the  next.  More 
murders  are  caused  by  the  stimulating  influences  of  ardent  spirit 
than  by  all  other  causes  combined.  Let  the  calendars  of  crime 
testify  on  this  point.  Hence,  also,  intoxicated  men  not  only  rail, 
curse,  break,   destroy,  vociferate,  and  threaten  vengeance,   more 

*  How  is  it  possible  for  a  woman  of  delicate  feelings  to  tend  bar,  go  to 
balls  OF  parties  where  wine  or  spirits  are  freely  drank,  or  consent  to  be  for 
a  moment  in  the  company  of  men  who  stimulate?  Surely  no  modest  or 
refined  woman,  who  understands  this  principle,  could,  on  any  occasion, 
allow  herself  to  drink  wine,  porter,  or  any  other  kind  of  spirituous  liquors, 
with  or  in  the  presence  of  those  who  do  understand  it :  because  she  must 
see  that  she  thereby  renders  herself  liable  to  say  and  do  what  it  would 
make  her  blush  to  reflect  upon.  My  motive  for  introducing  this  fact 
here,  is  to  make  woman  ashamed  to  drink,  and  thereby  render  this  most 
pernicious  habit  unpopular  among  men.     ^. 


ALCOHOLIC  DRINKS  STIMULATE  THE  PEOPENSITIES.  103 

than  when  they  are  not  intoxicated,  but  it  is  then  that  an  old 
grudge,  otherwise  long  since  buried,  is  raked  up,  and  dire  ven- 
geance sought  and  obtained ;  and  generally  a  human  being  can 
screw  up  his  Destructiveness  to  the  sticking  point  of  murder,  and 
screw  down  his  Benevolence  and  Conscientiousness  below  the 
remonstrating  point,  only,  or  at  least  most  effectually,  by  ardent 
spirit.  Gibbs,  the  inhuman  pirate  who  committed  so  many  cold- 
blooded murders,  confessed  to  his  clergyman  before  his  death,  that 
when  about  to  perpetrate  some  act  of  cold-blooded  murder,  his 
heart  would  often  fail  him,  till  he  had  taken  several  potent  draughts 
of  strong  liquor,  which  enabled  him  in  cold  blood  to  commit  any 
act  of  cruelty,  however  horrible,  and  upon  the  defenceless.  Fies- 
chi,  the  French  regicide,  who  fired  the  infernal  machine  at  the 
present  king  of  France,  on  his  trial,  testified  that  when  he  saw  the 
procession  coming,  his  heart  failed  him ;  that  he  took  a  dram  of 
brandy  to  give  him  courage ;  that  his  heart  failed  him  a  second 
time,  and  he  took  a  second  dram,  but  could  not  bring  himself  to  do 
the  fatal  deed  till  he  had  taken  the  third  draught,  and  then  he  did 
it  with  a  rehsh. 

It  is  the  excessive  exercise  of  the  animal  propensities  which  sub- 
jects criminals  to  the  penalties  of  violated  civil  law.  It  is  mainly  by 
drinkers  that  our  courts  are  patronized.  Let  our  intelhgent  law- 
yers, let  our  judges,  sheriffs,  justices,  &c.,  &c.,  answer  the  question, 
"  Does  not  most,  if  not  nearly  all  of  your  criminal  business  have  its 
origin  in  drinking  ?"  But  in  case  alcoholic  drinks  did  not  excite 
the  merely  animal  passions,  or  in  case  they  equally  stimulated  the 
moral  faculties,  or  especially,  if  they  stimulated  the  moral  sentiments 
only,  this  state  of  things  would  be  reversed,  and  drinking  would  ren- 
der mankind  more  virtuous  instead  of  most  vicious.*"' 

*In  olden  time,  a  man  who  had  committed  some  heinous  crime,  and 
deserved  pnnishment,  was  allowed  to  choose  between  the  three  crimes,  of 
drunkenness,  incest,  and  parricide.  He  chose  the  former,  but  while  drunk 
committed  both  the  others.  The  fact  stands  out  in  bold  relief,  that  drunk- 
enness and  vice  go  hand  in  hand.  Well  has  intoxication  been  called  the 
parent  of  all  the  vices.  It  is  so;  and  this  principle  shows  why,  nameljs  in 
consequence  of  this  reciprocal  connection  between  the  body  aud  the  base 
of  the  brain,  when  the  body  is  stimulated  by  liquor,  that  stimulant  excites 
the  propensities  more  than  it  does  the  moral,  or  intellectual  organs,  and 
this  induces  vice  and  wickedness. 


i04i  INFLUENCE  OF  THE  BODY  ON  THE  BASE  OF  THE  BRAIN. 

This  principle  explains  the  fact  that  intoxication  often  renders  a 
good  man  a  real  demon  incarnate.  As  long  as  the  moral  and  intel- 
lectual organs  predominate,  no  matter  if  the  animal  propensities  be 
vigorous — for,  if  duly  governed,  the  more  the  better,  because  they 
impart  force.  When  the  two  are  about  equal,  with  the  moral  in  the 
ascendancy,  and  the  animal  not  stimulated,  all  goes  right ;  but  a 
little  stimulant  will  often  turn  the  scales,  and  give  the  ascendancy  to 
the  propensities,  and  thus  render  a  really  good  man  a  very  bad  one. 
But  mark  well  the  converse;  it  7iever  renders  a  had  man  a  good 
citizen,  nor  an  immoral  man,  virtuous  ;  because  it  never  stimulates 
the  moral  and  intellectual  faculties  more  than  it  does  the  animal 
feelings. 

This  general  principle  explains  the  reason  of  the  custom  of  drink- 
ing grog  with  a  friend,  instead  of  drinking,  or  doing  anything  else. 
As  Adhesiveness,  or  the  organ  of  friendship,  is  located  in  the  base 
of  the  brain,  ardent  spirit  warms  it  up  to  vigorous  action,  thus  aug- 
menting the  flow  and  intensity  of  friendly  feeling,  and  hence  you 
will  often  see  those  who  are  half  intoxicated  hugging  and  caressing 
each  other.  In  case  it  excited  friendship  alone,  it  would  do  little 
injury,  perhaps  good,  but  as  it  inflames  the  other  animal  passions 
also,  drinkers  will  be  the  warmest  of  friends  one  minute,  and  the 
bitterest  of  enemies  the  next,  and  then  make  up  over  another  glass, 
producing  that  irregularity  which  will  hereafter  be  shown  to  consti- 
tute vice. 

Philoprogenitiveness,  or  parental  attachment,  is  also  located  in 
the  lower  portion  of  the  hind  head,  and  hence  the  half-intoxicated 
father  will  foolishly  fondle  his  boy,  talking  to  him  all  sorts  of  non- 
sense, to  be  followed  up  by  a  cruel  beating  ;  thus  destroying  even- 
handed  government,  and  spoiling  the  lad.  Liquor  excites  conversa- 
tion, because  Language  is  in  the  lowest  part  of  the  forehead ;  but  as 
the  reasoning  organs,  which  manufacture  ideas,  are  in  the  upper 
portion  of  the  forehead,  and  therefore  not  only  not  stimulated  but 
actually  weakened,  by  it,  the  drinker  talks,  talks,  talks,  but  says 
nothing.     He  talks  loords  only,  not   ideas.*     How  foolish,   how 

*Has  the  reader  never  been  struck  with  the  fact,  that  a  man  in  liquor 
is  utterly  incapable  of  being  convinced  of  a  truth,  however  plain,  or  how- 
ever clearly  proved.  He  cannot  seem  to  see  the  point  at  issue,  and  argues 
at  random,  while  reasons,  however  clear  and  cogent,  seem  to  make  no 


EFFECT  OF  ALCOHOLIC  DRINKS.  105 

destitute  of  sense  and  reason,  of  thought  and  refinement,  is  the  con- 
versation not  only  of  drunkards,  but  of  those  who  stimulate  only 
moderately !  Witness  bar-room  conversation :  full  of  stories,  to 
be  sure,  but  what /cmd  of  stories  ?  The  more  animal,  the  better. 
A  Byron,  half-intoxicated,  may  indeed  write  his  Don  Juan,  and  like 
productions, — may  compose  poetry  mostly  addressed  to  the  passions 
of  men ;  but  no  one  in  his  state  ever  wrote  a  Paradise  Lost,  a  Thom- 
son's Seasons,  a  Locke  on  the  Human  Understanding,  Brown's 
Mental  Philosophy,  or  Edwards  on  the  "Will.  A  Pitt,  a  Fox,  a 
Sheridan,  not  to  name  cases  in  our  own  country,  may  be  eloquent 
when  partially  intoxicated,  yet  their  eloquence  will  be  character- 
ized by  sarcasm,  severe  invective,  denunciation,  declamation,  hyper- 
bole, narration,  and  a  remarkable  flow  of  words,  &c.,  rather  than 
by  argument,  or  profundity,  or  clear  deductions  from  first  principleSj 
nor  will  it  be  freighted  with  rich  ideas.  But  before  alcohol  can 
produce  eloquence,  a  quality  far  inferior  to  reasoning  power,  the 
individual  requires  a  peculiarity  of  temperament  and  phrenological 
developements  not  found  in  one  man  in  millions ;  while  it  will 
destroy  that  of  all  the  others,  by  over  charging  some  with  excitement, 
rendering  others  foolish,  others  bombastic,  &c.,  &c. 

Another  view  of  this  subject  will  present  this  principle  in  a  still 
stronger  light.  Alcoholic  drinks  not  only  stimulate  the  merely 
animal  propensities  more  than  they  do  the  moral  sentiments,  but, 
when  the  stimulation  has  subsided,  the  accompanying  re-action  is 
felt  upon  these  lower  organs,  as  much,  in  proportion,  as  they  were 
previously  stimulated.  Not  only  do  these  drinks  excite  Amative- 
ness,  and  thus  produce  licentiousness,  but,  when  it  is  not  goaded  up 
to  morbid  action  by  the  presence  of  stimulation,  it  is  weakened 
more,  in  proportion,  than  the  upper  range  of  organs,  and  hence  the 
deadening  of  connubial  and  parental  love  in  the  drunkard,  and  the 
consequent  abuse  of  his  family. 

While  the  inebriate's  Combativeness  and  Destructiveness  are 
stimulated  to  fighting  and  revenge,  those  of  the  drunkard,  and  of  the 
drinker  whenever  re-action  takes  place,  become  so  deadened  that 

manner  of  impression  upon  him.  His  perception  of  the  force  of  ideas  is 
completely  blunted,  while  his  Combativeness  and  all  his  prejudices  are 
augmented  thereby.  "When  we  have  struck  upon  a  fundamental  truth, 
how  beautifully  do  all  the  facts  that  bear  upon  it  harmonize  therewith  ! 


106      INFLUENCE  OF  THE  BODY  ON  THE  BASE  OF  THE  BRAIN. 

he  loses  all.  energy,  all  spirit  and  efficiency,  cannot  or  will  not  take 
the  part  of  his  family,  nor  even  of  himself,  so  that  a  little  boy  may 
impose  on  him  with  impunity,  and  is  too  irresolute  to  overcome  any 
obstacle,  or  effect  any  difficult  object. 

A  man  under  the  stimulating  influence  of  alcoholic  drinks  finds  his 
Acquisitiveness  excited,  and  is  continually  asking,  "  how  much  will 
you  give,  what  will  you  take,  how  will  you  swap,"  &c.,  or  sud- 
denly becomes  very  rich,  or  he  bets,  or  else  seeks  the  gambling  or 
the  billiard-table  in  quest  of  a  fortune  at  once  ;  yet,  as  his  intellec- 
tual organs  are  not  equally  excited,  he  is  generally  the  loser  in  his 
bargains,  but  under  the  re-action  which  follows,  he  has  little  or  no 
regard  for  property,  little  industry,  or  economy,  or  forethought  about 
laying  up  for  the  future,  but  squanders  his  all  for  liquor,  even  to  the 
bread  out  of  the  mouths  of  his  hungry  children,  and  to  the  clothes 
off  his  wife's  back.  Hence  it  is  that  inebriates  are  universally  poor, 
ragged,  and  destitute.  If  John  Jacob  Astor  should  become  a  drunk- 
ard, even  his  immense  estate  would  become  scattered  to  the  winds. 
During  the  exhilaration  produced  by  strong  drink,  Self-Esteem  and 
Love  of  Approbation  become  unduly  excited,  producing  a  boasting, 
bragging,  swaggering,  self-convicted,  haughty,  egotistical  spirit,  a 
disposition  to  swell  and  dash  out  in  gaudy  style,  assume  airs,  attract 
notice,  &c.,  &c. ;  yet,  during  the  subsequent  re-action,  all  regard 
for  character  and  respectability  is  annuled;  and  with  it,  all  self- 
respect  and  regard  for  reputation,  which  constitute  the  strongest  of 
incentives  to  virtuous  and  praise-worthy  actions,  as  well  as  restraints 
upon  vice  and  self-degradation.  At  first  he  is  mortified  beyond 
description  if  seen  intoxicated,  afterwards,  he  cares  not  a  farthing 
for  his  credit  or  his  words,  for  his  honor,  or  anything  said  for  or 
against  him  or  his  family,  is  destitute  of  shame,  dead  to  dignity  and 
manly  feeling,  and  associates  with  those  to  whom  he  would  before 
have  scorned  even  to  speak. 

Again  :  these  organs  of  ambition  always  combine  with  the  other 
organs  that  are  the  most  active.  Combined  with  Conscientious- 
ness, they  give  the  highest  regard  for  moral  character,  and  for  cor- 
rect motives  ;  with  intellect,  a  desire  for  reputation  for  learning 
and  talents ;  with  Ideality,  for  good  taste,  good  manners,  &c. ;  but 
combined  with  Combativeness,  for  being  the  greatest  wrestler,  the 
best  fighter,  &c.  j  with  the  other  animal  propensities,  for  being  first 


EFFECT  OF  ALCHOHOLIC  DRINKS  107 

in  their  indulgence.  Hence,  as  already  seen,  since  alcohol  weak- 
ens the  higher  organs,  but  stimulates  the  animal  propensities,  and 
also  the  ambition,  the  two  combining  render  him  emulous  of  being 
the  most  licentious,  the  greatest  fighter,  or  w^restler,  or  drinker,  or 
swearer,  the  most  vulgar,  &c. ;    but  never  of  being  good  or  great 

In  Easton,  Md.,  in  1840,  the  author  saw  two  yoyng  men  vie 
w^ith  each  other  as  to  who  could  drink  the  most  grog,  no  very 
uncommon  thing  among  drinkers.  The  next  morning  one  of  them 
was  a  lifeless  corpse.  Why  should  the  ambition  of  inebriates  de- 
scend to  the  animal  passions,  instead  oi  ascending  to  the  moral  and 
intellectual  elements?  This  principle  contains  the  answer.  Thus  : 
alcohol  first  over-excites  the  ambition,  only  to  direct  it  to  animal 
objects,  and  then  deadens  it ;  rendering  him  douhly  wicked  both 
ways,  and  of  course  proportionably  miserable. 

It  equally  destroys  his  firmness  and  power  of  will.  He  knows 
the  right,  intellect  being  less  deadened,  and  yet  pursues  the  wrong, 
having  lost  all  self-government.*  Conscientiousness  may  remon 
strate,  but  to  no  oflfect,  because  located  too  far  from  the  body  to  be 
proportionably  stimulated.  Religious  feeling  may  lift  up  her  warn- 
ing and  persuasive  voice,  and  Firmness  say  no,  but  without  effect, 
because  they  are  in  the  same  predicament.  Alcoholic  drinks  neces- 
sarily produce  vice  and  misery  first,  by  stimulating  the  propensities 
to  excess,  and  then  by  deadening  them,  thus  being  a  two-edged 
sword,  cutting  the  cords  of  virtue  and  happiness  hoth  ways.f 

*  How  beautifully  does  this  harmonize  with  the  fact,  that  it  has  been 
found  next  to  impossible  to  reclaim  drunkards  till  Washingtonianism  took 
hold  of  them,  literally  dragging  them  into  the  kingdom  of  Temperance  by 
kindness,  a'ad  by  watching  over  them  till  they  were  cured,  and  resisting 
temptation  for  them.  And  this  principle  admonishes  us  to  forbear  with 
|hem.  And  if  they  fall,  put  them  again  on  their  feet.  Pity  them,  not  con- 
demn them.  Their  power  of  resisting  temptation  has  been  weakened,  en- 
courage them.  But,  what  shall  we  say  of  the  liquor  seller,  who  tempts 
his  reformed  neighbor  to  take  another  glass,  and  thereby  hurls  him  from 
the  brink  of  salvation  to  the  abyss  of  destruction  ? 

t  The  religion  of  the  Bible  is  pre-eminently  the  religion  of  the  moral 
sentiments  and  intellect,  and  requires  the  subjugation  of  the  propensities 
to  the  intellectual  and  moral  faculties,  besides  strongly  denouncing  animal 
passion  as  such.  But  all  alcoholic  drinks,  wines  included,  stimulate  the 
body,  and  thereby  morbidly  excite  the  animal  propensities  and  thus  violate 
the  requirements  of  the  gospel.    Wine-drinking  Christians,  therefore,  are 


108  IFFLUENCE  OF  THE  BODY  ON  THE  BASE  OF  THE  BRAIN. 

It  may  be  objected,  that  if  alcohol  stimulates  the  animal  propen- 
sities, it  is  a  good  thing  in  case  they  are  weak.  I  answer,  better 
have  them  too  weak  than  too  strong.  When  too  weak,  it  is  be- 
cause the  body  is  feeble,  and  must  be  strengthened,  not  merely  by 
stimulating  the  body,  but  by  invigorating  the  health. 

If  it  be  farther  objected  that  these  drinkers  sometimes  induce  a 
preaching  and  a  praying  disposition,  I  answer  :  this  never  occurs  in 
the  earlier  stages  of  drink — never  till  it  has  so  deadened  the  animal 
organs  that  large  and  more  vigorous  (because  less  stimulated)  moral 
organs  may,  in  one  case  in  thousands,  take  on  more  stimulant  than 
the  partially  deadened  propensities  are  able  to  receive,  but  such 
piety,  such  religion,  such  intellect  will  neither  fit  a  man  for  his 
duties  in  this  world,  nor  his  destinies  in  the  next.  I  grant  that  these 
drinks  sometimes  stimulate  the  brain  as  a  whole,  yet  this  very  rare 
exception  does  not  invalidate  the  general  law  under  consideration, 
especially  since  it  occurs  only  Vvhere  the  moral  and  intellectual 
organs  decidedly  predominate. 

In  case  alcoholic  liquors  excited  each  of  the  faculties  alike,  why 
do  they  not  render  the  pious  man  a  hundred  fold  more  pious,  and 
the  literary  man  ten  times  more  literary  ?  "Why  not  deepen  and 
widen  the  channels  of  thought  ?  Why  not  render  ordinary  men 
Websters,  Franklins,  Broughams,  and  Herschels,  and  these  intel- 
lectual giants  actual  Gabriels  in  intellect  ?  Or  why  should  they 
not  excite  the  moral  faculties,  instead  of  the  animal  feelings  1 
Why  not  make  an  infidel,  an  Enoch  ?  a  deist,  a  Wesley  1  or  a  scep- 
tic a  Payson  ?  Why  are  not  all  spirit-drinkers  patterns  of  piety 
and  good  morals,  and  also  stars  in  the  firmament  of  intellectual 
greatness  1  Let  this  proposition  answer.  Not  only  does  it  not 
augment  the  talents  of  talented  men,  nor  the  literature  of  the  litera- 
ry, nor  make  the  profane  pious,  but  it  actually  reverses  this  state  of 
things.  It  prostrates  talent,  beclouds  the  intellect,  darkens  coun- 
sel, renders  the  ideas  muddy,  and  before  its  approach,  literary  at- 
tainments, intellectual  greatness,  and  moral  purity,  one  and  all, 
vanish  like  the  dew  before  the  rising  sun.  It  sometimes,  though 
rarely,  increases  a  certain  kind  of  eloquence,  yet  it  is  universally  a 

as  great  a  self-contradiction  as  hot  ice  or  cold  fire.  On  the  other  hand 
wickedness  consists  in  that  very  dominance  of  the  animal  passions  which 
alcoholic  drinks  cause.  As  well,  then,  talk  about  wicked  Christians  as  about 
wine- drinking  Christians. 


ARTIFICIAL    STIMULANTS    GENERALLY.  '  109 

sworn  enemy  to  good  morals,  and  to  all  literary  and  intellectual 
attainments.  ^ 

Again :  by  a  law  of  our  nature,  to  over-idiX  any  organ   draws 
the  strength  from  the  other  portions,  and  concentrates  it  upon  the 
laboring  part.    Thus,  an  overloaded  stomach  withdraws  the  strength 
from  the  muscles,  from  the  brain,  from  every  other  part,  to  remove 
the  load.     This  renders  us  drowsy,  dull,  and  averse  to  both  mental 
and  physical  action.     Close  mental  application,  powerful  thinking, 
or  intense  emotion,  impair  the  appetite,  retard  digestion,  and  induce 
dyspepsia,  because  they  draw  off  the  energies  of  the  system  from  the 
stomach  to  the  head.      Now,  if  this  well-established  physiological 
principle  applies  to  the  several  portions  of  the  brain,  great  excite- 
ment, in  the  animal  passions  actually  weakens  the  intellectual  and 
moral  organs,  and  that  at  the  very  time  when,  in  order  to  keep 
pace  with  the  over-stimulated  animal  propensities,  thus  lashed  up 
to  increased  action,  they  require  augmented  vigor. 
-    The  inference,  then,  becomes  obvious,  powerful,  and  inevitable, 
both  that  all  alcoholic  drinks,  and  also  whatever  preternaturally  sti- 
mulates the  brain  and  nervous  system,  thereby  excite  the  merely 
animal  propensities  mainly,  but  weaken  the  moral  and  intellectual 
powers.     No  more  can  any  human  being  take  alcoholic  liquors  in 
any  form  or  degree,  or  opium,  tea,  coffee,  mustard,  spices,  or  any 
other  stimulant,  without  thereby  proportionably  inducing  this  result 
— without  brutalizing  his  nature,  degrading  his  manhood  below  his 
beasthood,  and  subjugating  intellect  and  moral  feeling  to  the  sway 
of  animal  passion — than  he  can  "  carry  coals  of  fire  in  his  bosom 
and  not  be  burned."     As  soon  will  any  other  law  of  nature  fail  as 
this.     As  soon  will  the  deadly  poisons  become  harmless,  or  water 
run  up  the  inclined  plane  of  itself,  or  the  sun  rise  in  the  west,  as  will 
stimulants  of  any  kind  fail  to  produce  animality.     Nor  is  there  any 
middle  ground.    Every  item  of  artificial  stimulant  produces  this  ani- 
mal result  as  its  legitimate,  its  constitutional  eflfect.    As  far  as  any- 
thing stimulates  at  all,  just  so  far  does  it  excite  the  propensities 
mainly,  and  just  in  that  proportion  produces  vice.* 

*  In  a  small  treatise  on  Intemperance,  founded  on  Phrenology  and  Phy- 
siology, the  author  brings  the  preceding  principle  and  train  of  remarks  to 
bear  upon  alcoholic  drinks,  showing  that  every  identical  drop  stimulates 
the  propensities  proportionably,  and  is  productive  of  vice  and  misery.  It 
has  been  pronounced  a  most  powerful  appeal  and  argument  in  behalf  of 
total  abstinence. 
9 


110    INFLUENCE  OF  THE  BODY  ON  THE  BASE  OF  THE  BRAIN. 

This  principle  suggests  one  of  the  most  easy  and  efficient  of  all 
means  of  subduing  the  propensities,  and  of  elevating  the  moral  sen- 
timents, namely,  by  keeping  the  hody  in  a  cool,  quiet  state,  and  at 
the  same  time  discovers  one  of  the  most  prolific  causes  of  vice  and 
misery  that  exists,  both  in  children  and  adults,  namely,  an  excitable 
physiology.     It  thereby  shows  that  the  way  to  reform  man  morally, 
is  to  reform  him  physically.     Ministers  may  preach,  and  revivals 
may  be  multiplied  to  any  extent,  without  laying  the  axe  at  the  root 
of  this  tree  of  vice.     Men  must  learn  to  eat  and  drink  first — must 
govern  their  appetites,  must  avoid  flesh  and  condiments,  and  live 
mainly  on  fruit  and  farinaceous  food,  before  they  can  expect  to  be 
more  virtuous,  or,  consequently,  more  happy.     In  violation  of  this 
law  of  relation  between  the  body  and  the  propensities,  pious  Chris- 
tians go  on  praying  to  God  to  give  them^  grace  to  enable  them  to 
overcome  their  easily-besetting  sins,  with  the  one  hand,  and  with 
the  other,  poking  up  and  adding  new  fuel  to,  those  already  fierce  fires 
of  animal  passion  which  they  are  vainly  praying  and  trying  to  sub- 
due.    So,  also,  parents  weep  and  pray  over  the  bad  tempers  and 
wayward  dispositions  of  their  children,  and  try  by  every  known 
means  to  reform  them,  but  they  only  grow  worse,  simply  because 
they  do  not  know  how  to  conduct  their  physical  education  or  regi- 
men.    Few  parents  know  how  to  feed  their  children ;    and  the 
final  result  is,  that  the  bodies  of  their  children  become  disordered 
and  inflamed,  and  thus  their  propensities,  partaking  of  this  inflam- 
mation, become  permanently    and   preternaturally   excited,   and 
general  depravity  ensues.     In  consequence  of  the  feverish  excite- 
ment of  their  children's  nervous  system,  their  combative,  destructive, 
selfish,  lying,  and  other  animal  propensities,  are  kept  under  contin- 
ual morbid    excitement,  producing  ill-temper,  thievishness,  lying 
&c.,  for  which  they  receive  repeated  chastisements,  only  to  increase 
these  depraved  propensities.     Rather,  chastise  those  ignorant  pa- 
rents and  nurses,  whose  utter  ignorance  of  the  great  laws   of  our 
being  causes  much  of  this  depravity,  by  deranging  their   physical 
functions.     The  crying  of  children  is  mostly  an  expression  of  their 
combative  and  destructive  feelings,  or  of  sickness  ;  hence,  by  keep- 
ing them  in  perfect  health,  which  might  be  done  if  the  laws  of  phy- 
siology were  obeyed,  they  would  cry  very  little,  and  be  always 
mild,  amiable,  and  sweet  in  their  disposition,  and  require  no  chas- 
tisement. 


THE   PHYSIOLOGY   OF    CHILDKEN.  Ill 

Infants  of  a  few  days  or  weeks  old  cry  very  little,  till  bad  regi- 
men has  disordered  their  bodies,  and  then  they  cry,  and  show  anger. 
Children  cry  when  they  are  sick,  and  because  they  are  eick ;  keep 
them  perfectly  well,  and  they  will  cry  little,  if  any,  and  grow  up 
infinitely  more  lovely  and  heavenly-minded  than  when  brought  up 
in  utter  and  continual  violation  of  the  laws  of  physiology.  Above 
one-half  of  the  children  of  our  cities  and  villages  die  under  four 
years  old.*  Is  this  shocking  mortality  a  part  of  the  original  design 
of  nature  ?  No  !  It  is  downright  murder  by  the  wholesale  ? — and 
all  from  wicked  ignorance  on  the  part  of  parents,  and  especially  of 
mothers  !  Take  them  as  a  class,  they  are  as  ignorant  of  physiolo- 
gy and  the  laws  of  life,  health,  and  happiness,  as  babes.  Young 
women  attend  to  everything  in  preference  to  fitting  themselves  to 
become  wives  and  mothers.  The  influence  of  fashion  on  woman, 
and  especially  on  young  women,  is  most  pernicious,  first  on  them- 
selves, and  secondly,  in  totally  disqualifying  them  for  becoming 
wives  or  mothers.  They  know  every  new  fashion  as  soon  as  it  is 
published,  but  do  not  know  how  to  feed  their  children.  Oh,  wo- 
man! woman!  "how  art  thou  fallen!"  "Thou  art  beside  thy- 
self." Much  fashion  hath  made  thee  mad.  Wilt  thou  not 
return  to  the  simplicity  and  benignity  of  thy  original  nature,  and 
again  fill  the  sphere  appointed  thee  by  thy  God  and  thy  develop- 
ments, namely,  that  of  educating  children  both  physically  and 
morally,  and  making  home  "  a  heaven  here  below  ?" 

Hereafter,  we  shall  present  still  another  means  of  restraining 
the  propensities  and  promoting  virtue,  that  of  offsetting  them  by 
the  higher  faculties.  Still,  the  above  is  the  main  one,  and  the 
one  most  efficient. 

*Iq  Syracuse,  the  deaths  in  1842  were  one  hundred  and  thirty-four;  of 
these  eighty-four  were  children  under  five  years  old. 


112  PERFECTION   OF    CHAKACTEK, 


CHAPTER    II. 

PERFECTION  OF  CHAEACTEK— ITS  CONSTITUENTS,  AND  HOW  TO 

ATTAIN  IT. 

SECTION  L 

BALANCE  OF  POWERS^  OR  PROPOETIONATE  ACTION  OF  ALL  THE  PARTS, 

Having  seen,  first,  that  happiness  consists  in  oheying  the  laws 
of  our  being  ;  secondly,  that  the  correlative  relations  between  the 
body  and  the  mind  are  perfectly  reciprocal ;  and,  thirdly,  what 
particular  conditions,  both  organic  and  physiological,  produce  their 
appropriate  effects  upon  the  mind  ;  that  is,  how  to  induce  given 
states  of  mind  by  producing  their  correlative  states  of  body,  we 
pass  naturally  from  the  body  to  the  mind,  and  come  to  consider, 
those  mental  conditions  on  which  virtue  and  happiness  depend- 
There  are  three  primary  laws  of  virtue  and  happiness,  appertain- 
ing to  the  mental  faculties,  viz. : 

1st.  That  they  should  be  proportionately  developed  and  exerci- 
sed :  the  moral  sentiments,  however,  governing  5 

2d.  That  each  should  be  exercised  in  harmony  with  all  the 
others  ;  so  that  no  clashing  or  opposition  can  occur ;  and, 

3d.  That  every  faculty  should  be  exercised  upon  its  legitimate 
object  ;  that  is,  in  harmony  with  its  primary  function. 

As  obedience  of  the  first  of  these  laws  is  of  the  utmost  impor- 
tance, and  since  its  presentation  is  to  constitute  the  main  body  of 
this  work,  its  full  elucidation  here  is  indispensable.  This  doctrine 
of  balance  of  power— of  the  proportionate  action  of  parts — we  re# 
gard.  as  one  of  the  most  important  laws  of  nature,  whether  organic 
or  inorganic.  It  involves  the  inquiry.  What  constitutes  a  perfect 
head  and  character  ?  Let  our  answer  and  its  reason  be  duly  con- 
sidered. The  head  and  character  of  every  child  and  adult,  should 
be  trained  and  fashioned  in  harmony  with  this  law ;  and  those  thus 
formed,  are  models  of  perfection. 

Our  phrenological  developeraents  constitute  the  media  through 
which  we  look  at  objects ;  and  our  judgment,  conduct,  and  opinions 
are  mainly  governed  by  them.     An  uneven  head,  or  one  in  which 


BALANCE    OF    FACULTIES.  *  113 

some  of  the  organs  are  large  and  others  small,  indicates  an  equally 
uneven  character.     Such   are  liable  to  have  excesses  and  defects  j 
to  take  partial  and  one-sided  views  of  things  ;    and  subject  to  ex- 
tremes, which  is  only  another  name  for  imperfection  and  excesses, 
and  means  much  the  same  thing  as  tendencies  to  evil.      But  an 
€ven  head,  one  in  which  all  the  organs  are  equally  developed,  and 
the  faculties  harmoniously  exercised,  indicates  correct  judgment^ 
consistent  conduct,  perfection  of  character,  and  a  virtuous,  happy 
life.     Indeed,  the  very  definiton  of  virtue,  according  to  Phrenolo- 
gy, is  the  harmoniOTS  exercise  of  all  the  faculties  in  due  propor- 
tion, upon  their  legitimate  objects,  controlled  by  the  moral  senti- 
ments and  directed  by  intellect ;  but  vice  or  sin  consists  in  the  ex- 
cessive, defective,  or  perverted  action  of  the  faculties,  and,  especial- 
ly, of  the  animal  propensities,  not  thus  directed.      This  principle 
applies  both  to  the  individual  faculties,  and  to  their  classes.    Thus, 
when  the  propensities  predominate  in  action,  they  demoralize  and 
debase  reason  and  moral  feeling — the  highest,  noblest  gifts  of  God 
to  man — and  while,  in  one  sense,  they  assimilate  the  "  lord  of  crea- 
tion" to  the  "  beasts  that  perish,"  in  another,  they  reader  him  far 
worse,  because  of  his  greater  susceptibility  of  enjoyment  and  suffer- 
ing.    Selfishness  punishes  its  possessor.      A  selfish  or  vicious  man 
is  of  necessity  a  miserable  being  ',  for  his  selfishness  and  vice  natu- 
rally render  him  so.    On  the  other  hand,  their  deficiency  constitutes 
imperfection;  for  one  with  feeble  animal  and  selfish  organs,  has 
too  little  force  to  carry  forward  any  important  plan,  or  even  to  take 
care  of  himself.      He  must  therefore  be  taken  care  of  by  others, 
and  poorly,  too ;  for,  to  depend  upon  others  for  support  or  protec- 
tion, is  to  depend  upon  a  broken  reed. 

On  the  other  hand,  those  in  whom  the  rnoral  faculties  are  very 
large,  and  the  animal  weaker,  are  indeed  good,  moral,  virtuous, 
■&C.,  but  they  are  too  good — so  very  good  as  to  be  good  for  nothing. 
They  have  no  force  or  energy  to  carry  their  good  feelings  into  ex- 
-ecutien.  A  man  with  weak  propensities  and  great  intellectual  or- 
gans, will  never  effect  much  with  his  intellect.  One  with  weaker 
intellect  and  strong  propensities,  wall  effect  much  more. 

A  predominance  of  the  propensities  and  intellect  over  the  moral 
faculties,  leads  to  most  disastrous  consequences ;  for  powerful  ani- 
mal desires  w^ill  then  employ  a  powerful  intellect  to  effect  purely 
selfish,  wicked  emds,  and  stop  at  no  means  of  attaining  them.    This 


k 


114  .  PERFECTION  OF  CHARACTER^ 

was  the  organization  of  Patty  Cannon,  (see  Phrenological  Journal, 
■vol.  ii.,  or  Almanac  for  1841,)  and  is  that  of  most  of  the  scourges 
of  mankind.  Nor  is  the  predominance  of  the  moral  faculties  with- 
out the  propensities  and  intellect,  favourable  ;  for,  4hough  this  or- 
ganization gives  piety,  yet  piety  without  intellect,  is  also  bad.  It 
lit  the  fires  of  Smithfield ;  devastated  the  world  by  the  "  Holy  Wars;" 
caused  the  "  Salem  Witchcraft  j"  and  has  instigated  religious  per- 
secutions, and  created  pious  sinfulness.  But  where  each  of  these 
three  great  classes  of  faculties  are  equally  developed,  the  propen- 
sities give  force,  daring  energy,  and  eager  desir^ ;  the  moral,  con- 
vert the  animal  into  a  philanthropic  and  religious  channel,  and  the 
intellect,  guides  them  both,  by  the  light  of  reason,  to  happiness — 
the  great  end  of  our  being.  The  propensities  require  to  be  strong, 
but  should  be  checked,  and  made  subservient  to  high  moral  ends  ; 
the  moral  sentiments  require  to  be  predominant,  but  must  have  the 
helping-hand  of  the  propensities  to  carry  them  out,  and  both  require 
knowledge  to  enlighten,  and  judgment  to  conduct  them  to  the  best 
results. 

This  same  principle  of  balance  or  proportionate  action,  applies 
with  equal,  if  not  still  greater,  force,  to  the  individual  faculties. 
The  predominance  or  deficiency  of  either  is  injurious ;  but  their 
proportionate  action  is  a  leading  condition  of  perfection  and  enjoy- 
ment. Thus,  Amativeness  fairly  developed,  and  governed  by  the 
moral  sentiments,  produces  connubial  love,  than  which  there  is  not 
a  more  virtuous  or  pleasurable  feeling  in  man  ;  but  its  deficiency, 
causes  the  proportionate  absence  of  this  virtue,  while  its  excessive 
action  constitutes  one  of  the  worst  and  most  painful  of  vices.  Ex- 
cessive Philoprogenitiveness  spoils  children  by  over-indulgence  and 
excessive  tenderness  ;  while  its  deficiency  cuts  off  the  joys  of  a  pa- 
rent, and  renders  children  intolerable  and  burdensome,  instead  of 
the  greatest  of  pleasures  ;  but  its  due  developement  experiences  all 
the  joys  of  parental  love  ;  and  if  governed  by  enlightened  intellect 
and  high  moral  feeling,  secures  the  best  good  of  the  parent.  Ex- 
cessive Combativeness,  acting  alone,  creates  contention,  causing 
physical  fighting,  and  a  sour,  ugly  temper,  which  is  highly  vicious^ 
thereby  incurring  the  penalty  attached  to  the  violation  of  this  men- 
tal law ;  but  this  faculty,  acting  in  obedience  to  Conscientiousness 
and  Benevolence,  becomes  moral  courage,  defence  of  rights,  and 
of  the  oppressed,  &c.,  a  highly  virtuous  emotion.     The  due  exercise 


BALANCE    OF    FACCULTIES.    •  115 

of  Alimentlveness,  by  strengthening  the  body,  and  thereby  the 
moral  and  intellectual  qualities,  is  virtuous,  bringing  with  it  its  own 
reward,  while  its  excessive  indulgence,  by  overloading  the  stomach, 
and  thus  clouding  the  intellect  and  blunting  the  moral  sensibilities, 
becomes  vice.  Average  Secretiveness,  governed  by  Conscientious- 
ness, employs  policy  in  a  good  cause,  whilst  its  excessive  action, 
unchecked  by  the  higher  faculties,  leads  to  lying  and  duplicity. 
Acquisitiveness,  or  love  of  property,  duly  exercised,  promotes  in- 
dustry and  sobriety,  gathers  around  us  the  comforts  of  life,  and, 
aided  by  Conscientiousness,  produces  even-handed  justice,  but  its 
predominance  leads  to  cheating,  extortion,  &c.  Excessive  Cau- 
tiousness produces  irresolution,  procrastination,  and  timidity,  and  is 
unfavourable  both  to  virtue  and  efficiency,  but,  duly  balanced,  it 
gives  that  discretion  which  is  the  better  part  of  valor.  Does  Self- 
Esteem  predominate,  unchecked  by  Conscientiousness  or  intellect^ 
it  inflates  one  almost  to  bursting  with  pride,  self-sufficiency,  haugh- 
tiness, and  egotism  ;  whereas  its  due  developement,  controlled  by 
the  moral  and  intellectual  faculties,  imparts  dignity,  and  that  self- 
respect  which  elevates  one  above  meanness  and  trifling ;  causing 
him  fully  to  appreciate  and  fulfil  the  great  objects  of  life.  But,  if 
it  be  small,  he  underrates  himself,  and  is  therefore  underrated  by 
others,  and  feels  too  diffident  and  insufficient  to  attempt  great 
things.  Predominant  Firmness,  uncontrolled,  renders  one  obsti- 
nate ;  impervious  to  conviction ;  and  blindly  tenacious  of  his  opin- 
ions, whether  right  or  wrong,  merely  because  of  his  ivill ;  but  those 
in  whom  it  is  small,  are  too  fickle  to  accomplish  much ;  sow,  but 
have  no  perseverance  to  wait  for  the  harvest,  "  being  blown  about 
by  every  wind  of  doctrine,"  every  new  notion,  every  novel  doctrine ; 
but,  fairly  developed  and  balanced,  no  element  of  character  is 
more  valuable.  Predominant  Ideality  renders  one  fastidious,  and 
too  delicate  and  refined ;  its  deficiency  leads  to  coarseness  and  vul- 
garity ;  but  its  fair  developement  blends  the  serviceable  with  the 
perfect,  combining  utility  with  beauty. 

This  same  principle,  that  balance  of  faculties  is  indispensable  to 
perfection  of  character,  applies  with  still  greater  force  to  the  moral 
faculties,  besides  explaining  that  diversity  which  characterizes  the 
religious  opinions  and  practices  of  mankind.  Few  think  alike, 
even  in  the  fundamentals  of  religion,  and  fewer  still  in  its  details, 
because  of  the   difference   in  their  phrenological  developments. 


lit)  BALANCE    OF  POWERS    GIVES    PERFECTION. 

These  constitute  the  media,  or,  as  it  were,  the  colored  glasses, 
through  which  we  look  at  the  Deity  and  his  moral  government,  as 
well  as  at  the  moral  relations  of  man  to  man,  and  to  his  Maker. 
Thus,  the  ancients,  having  large  Veneration,  paid  great  attention  to 
religious  worship;  but  as  their  Benevolence,  Conscientiousness 
and  Causality,  were  usually  moderate  or  small,  and  their  propen- 
sities predominant,  they  worshipped  gods  governed  by  animal  pas- 
sion. This  organization,  combined  with  their  powerful  Amative- 
ness,  worshipped  a  Venus,  or  the  goddess  of  love  and  beauty  • 
with  very  large  Combativeness  and  Destructiveness,  a  Mars,  the  god 
of  war  and  carnage ;  with  Acquisitiveness  large,  the  god  Termi- 
nus, who  protected  their  property  ;  with  large  intellectual  and  ani- 
mal organs  combined,  a  Jupiter,  the  dictator  and  governor  of  the 
world,  to  whom  they  attributed  every  vice  in  its  most  aggravated 
form,  joined  with  great  intellectual  power. 

In  harmony  with  this  principle,  each  modern  religious  sect  has 
it^  own  peculiar  set  of  phrenological  developments,  which  harmo- 
nizes perfectly  with  the  peculiarities  of  its  creed.  To  show  min- 
utely what  characterize  each,  and  their  departures  from  the  only 
true  standard  of  religious  faith  and  practice  involved  in  this  prin- 
ciple, would  be  to  thrust  our  face  into  a  hornet's  nest  of  the  worst 
character,  which  is  unnecessary  ;  yet  we  will  give  a  few  illustra- 
tions. Universalists  almost  invariably  have  large  Veneration,  com- 
bined with  predominant  Benevolence  and  Adhesiveness,  and  mode- 
rate Destructiveness,  and  hence  adore  God  for  his  goodness  mainly, 
and  dwell  in  glowing  colours  upon  his  love  ;  but  the  old-fashioned 
Calvinists  usually  have  large  Veneration,  with  predominant  Self- 
Esteem  and  Firmness,  and  large  Conscientiousness,  and  accordingly 
adore  the  Sovereignty  and  unbending  justice  of  God.  Has  not  the 
reader  often  seen  stiff  orthodox  deacons,  whose  heads  rose  rapidly 
from  the  intellectual  organs  to  Firmness  and  Self-Esteem,  showing 
more  Reverence  than  Benevolence,  and  more  Firmness  and  Con- 
scientiousness than  either,  with  a  tolerably  wide  head  ?  But  did  a 
Methodist,  or  Universalist,  or  Unitarian,  or  Episcopalian,  ever  have 
this  form  of  head  ?  These  remarks  do  not  apply  to  Congregation- 
alists,  nor  to  be  believers  in  the  "  New  School"  doctrines,  whose 
Conscientiousness  is  usually  predominant,  but  Self-Esteem  mode- 
rate and  Destructiveness  only  full,  and  whose  high-toned,  or  rather 
ultra-Calvinistic  notions,  are  materially  softened  down.      In  them, 


THE    DEVELOPMENTS  OF  THE  DIFFERENT  SECTS.  117 

Araativeness  is  usually  moderate,  and  accordingly,  they  abhor  no 
sin  more  than  its  perversion.  Episcopahans  usually  have  large 
Veneration,  with  predominant  Benevolence  and  large  Ideality? 
Firmness,  Self-Esteem,  and  social  faculties,  with  Conscientiousness 
not  always  large,  though  often  full,  and  hence  they  place  their  re- 
ligion in  works  of  charity,  and  in  attending  "  the  church,"  rather 
than  in  penitence,  and  are  not  as  strict  and  rigid,  as  the  orthodox  ; 
yet  they  are  always  genteel,  rather  exclusive,  and  eminently  social. 
Nearly  all  their  ladies  have  superior  heads,  are  remarkable  for  de- 
votion, good  sense,  the  domestic  qualities,  and  especially  Benevo- 
/e;ice— the  best  we  examine  except  Quakeresses,  though  often 
rather  proud.  The  developements  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  are 
much  the  same.  Quakers  have  no  characteristic  moral  develop- 
ments, and  accordingly  allow  their  members  to  hold  any  and  every 
belief,  provided  they  do  thus  and  so.  Infidels,  Deists,  &c.,  usually 
have  moderate  Hope,  small  Veneration,  scarcely  the  least  Marvel- 
lousness,  large  Benevolence,  and  Conscientiousness  variable.  I 
never  saw  one  of  Infidel  sentiments  who  had  not  a  poorly  balanced 

moral  head. 

We  always  find  that  those  who  have  Conscientiousness  predomi- 
nant, with  small  Veneration  and  Marvellousness,  place  their  reli- 
gion in  doing  right,  or  in  honesty  and  morality,  but  disregard  the 
externals  of  religion ;  yet  those  in  whom  these  organs  are  reversed, 
attend  to  its  outward  forms  and  ceremonies ;  but,  t)iough  they  are 
devout,  they  are  often  unjust  and  immoral.  Those  in  whom  Be- 
nevolence predominates,  place  their  religion  in  doing  good,  to  the 
comparative  neglect  of  the  other  Christian  duties.  Those  in  whom 
Marvellousness  is  large,  regard  religion  as  consisting  in  faith,  and 
implicit  reliance  upon  Divine  Providence  ;  but  those  in  whom  this 
organ  is  small,  do  not  feel  that  awe  of  God,  that  sense  of  the  Di- 
vine presence,  which  this  faculty  inspires,  but  attribute  all  events  to 
cause  and  effect.  But  those  in  whom  all  these  organs  are  fully 
and  evenly  developed,  "  put  on  the  whole  armor  of  righteousness." 
They  do  good,  do  right,  worship  their  God,  and  trust  in  his  provi- 
dence ;  which,  united,  constitute  the  very  perfection  of  the  Chris- 
tian character.  Such  take  consistent  views  of  God,  of  his  attributes, 
and  of  moral  subjects,  besides  living  a  blameless  life,  worthy  our 
admiration  and  imitation ;  while  imperfect  religious  faith  or  prac- 
tice is  the  natural  fruit  of  unevenly  developed  moral  organs. 


118  BALANCE    OF    FACULTIES. 

This  same  principle  of  balance  applies  equally  to  the  intellectual 
faculties.  When  they  are  all  large,  the  judgment  is  good  in  regard 
to  all  subjects,  but  deficieucy  in  any  of  them  impairs  the  judgment 
in  regard  to  the  functions  of  those  that  are  feeble.  Thus,  let  a 
picture  be  hung  up  for  inspection,  and  if  the  beholder  have  Size 
large,  and  all  the  other  intellecluals  small,  though  he  will  judge 
accurately  as  to  its  proportions,  and  derive  pleasure  from  admiring 
them,  yet  all  its  other  qualities  w^ill  be  unseen,  unadmired,  and  his 
pleasure  proportionably  restricted.  But  if  he  have  Form  also  large, 
he  will  observe  and  admire  its  likeness  as  well  as  its  proportions, 
and  thus  be  doubly  delighted  ;  and  if  large  Color  be  added,  he  will 
also  be  delighted  with  the  beauty  of  its  colors,  and  the  richness  and 
delicacy  of  its  tints  and  shades,  which  will  triple  his  pleasure.  Add 
large  Ideality,  and  he  will  discover  what  without  it  he  would  not 
have  seen  the  beauty,  richness,  and  those  other  qualities  of  the 
picture  which  appeal  to  this  faculty. 

One  having  large  Eventuality  only,  will  learn  and  remember 
events  alone,  including  history,  news,  &c, :  with  only  Locality 
large,  he  will  learn  geography,  and  recollect  places,  but  nothing 
else ;  with  Form  large,  the  shape  of  things ;  with  Calculation 
alone  large,  he  wull  excel  in  mental  arithmetic,  but  be  poor  in 
everything  else ;  with  Causality  prominent,  he  will  think  much? 
and  investigate ^r^^  principles,  yet  be  poor  in  other  things. 

If  one's  perceptive  powers,  which  give  the  various  kinds  of  mer 
mory  and  the  ability  to  collect  and  retain  knowledge,  greatly  pre- 
dominate over  his  reflectives,  though  he  may  be  very  apt  as  a  scho- 
lar and  talker,  yet  he  will  be  superficial,  lack  thought,  judgment, 
and  contrivance,  and  be  incapable  of  ascending  from  facts  up  to  the 
first  principles  that  govern  them;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  if  his 
perceptives  be  small,  but  reflectives  predominate,  he  will  have  a 
wretched  memory  ;  be  unable  to  command  his  knowledge,  or  bring 
his  talents  to  bear  upon  practical  matters ;  be  given  merely  to 
speculative,  scholastic,  abstract,  therefore-and-wherefore,  metaphy- 
sical theorizing,  which  is  valueless;  and,  though  he  may  know 
how  to  reason,  yet  his  knowledge  of  facts  will  be  too  limited  to  fur- 
nish data  sufficient  to  form  correct  inductions.  But  where  both  are 
equally  balanced,  the  former  will  collect  abundant  materials,  which 
the  latter  will  work  up  into  correct  arguments  and  sound  conclu- 
sions.    Both  equally  developed  give  a  general  talent,  constitute  a 


KEQUISITE    TO    PERFECTION    OF    CHARACTER.  119 

well-balanced  and  truly  philosophical  mind,  and  give  the  true  Ba- 
conian, inductive  method  of  studying  nature,  by  ascending  from 
facts  up  to  first  principles — the  only  possible  means  of  arriving  at 
the  truth.  This  developement  is  not  only  perfectly  adapted  to  the 
laws  of  nature,  and  harmonizes  v^'ith  the  constitution  of  the  human 
mind,  but  it  also  gives  what  is  called  sound  common  sense,  correct 
judgment,  and  enlarged  views  of  subjects ;  while  its  absence  causes 
the  intellectual  lameness,  warped  views,  and  fallacious  and  diversi- 
fied opinions  existing  among  mankind. 

Those  having  large  Language,  with  small  Reasoning  Organs, 
will  talk  much  but  say  little  ;  will  have  words  in  great  abundance 
and  variety,  but  no  ideas  ;  and  therefore  experience  and  communi- 
cate but  little  pleasure;  for  who  wishes  to  listen  to  senseless  prat- 
tle 1  On  the  other  hand,  those  having  Language  small,  with  lai'ge 
Reasoning  Organs,  will  have  excellent  ideas  and  much  valuable 
matter  to  communicate,  yet  be  barren  of  expression ,'  their  rich 
mines  of  thought  remaining  buried  for  want  of  language,  and  the 
pleasure  and  profit  of  listening  to  them  being  proportionably  abrid- 
ged. But  those  having  Language  and  the  Reflective  organs  both 
large,  will  experience  double  pleasure,  first  in  thinking,  secondly 
in  communicating  their  glowing  thoughts  in  rich,  expressive  lan- 
guage; thereby  administering  much  pleasure  and  profit  to  their 
delighted  listeners. 

But  the  power  and  importance  of  this  principle  of  balance, 
are  greatly  augmented  when  applied  to  the  various  combina- 
tions of  the  faculties.  Thus,  to  have  predominant  Cautious- 
ness is  bad,  but  to  have  it  combined  with  small  Hope,  is  much 
worse ;  causing  the  most  gloomy  apprehensions  and  fearful 
forebodings,  and  shutting  out  every  ray  of  expectation  which 
large  Hope  would  throw  in  upon  perpetual  darkness.  Exces- 
sive Approbativeness  added,  creates  the  strongest  desire  for 
approval,  mingled  with  a  constant  dread  of  incurring  censure, 
and  no  hope  of  obtaining  that  commendation  so  much  desired 
— a  most  unhappy  state  of  mind.  Large  Veneration,  and  small 
Self-Esteem  and  Combativeness,  added  to  this  combination, 
produce  the  most  oppressive  diffidence,  accompanied  with 
that  confusion  and  utter  want  of  self-possession  which  prevents 
any  one,  however  talented  or  deserving,  from  accomplishing 
much,  or  even  from  enjoying  intercourse  with  men,  together 


320 


BALANCE    OF   FACULTIES 


with  pusillanimity,  and  even  cowardice.  But,  let  any  one 
tiave  tliese  faculties  equally  balanced,  and  strong  Approba- 
tiveness,  will  aspire  to  distinction;  strong  Hope,  expect 
that  praise  which  Approbativeness  desires ;  large  Self-Esteem 
will  impart  enough,  but  not  too  much,  of  that  "  modest  assur- 
ance" requisite  to  push  one's  self  forward  ;  large  Combative- 
aiess,  will  nerve  him  for  contest  with  every  difficulty,  and  give 
vigor  and  efficiency  to  all  he  says  and  does.  And  if  his  facul- 
ties are  still  farther  balanced  by  large  Intellectual  organs,  they 
will  give  him  the  req.uisite  talents ;  and  high  Moral  organs,  will 
will  impart  moral  worth,  sanctifying  his  ambition,  el-evat- 
ing  his  motives,  and  ennobling  his  character  ;  and  he  will  be 
every  way  calculated  to  enjoy  life  himself,  and  to  become  a 
blessing  to  mankind.  But,  let  either  of  these  organs  be  much 
larger  or  smaller  than  the  others,  and  his  enjoyment  will  be 
proportionally  marred,  and  his  usefulness  diminished. 

Though  predominant  Acquisitiveness,  which  predisposes  to 
dishonesty,  covetousness,  and  a  miserly  selfishness  and  mean- 
ness, and  also  its  deficiency,  which  allows  of  extravagance? 
and  diminishes  industry,  are  each  adverse  to  virtue  and  hap- 
piness, yet  the  evil  is  greatly  magnified  by  its  combinations. 
Thus,  one  having  small  Acquisitiveness  combined  with  large 
Benevolence,  will  give  away  largely  to  every  apparently 
needy  sufferer,  leaving  nothing  for  himself,  and  no  capital 
with  which  to  make  more  to  enable  him  to  aid  future  sufferd- 
ers,  or  even  to  live.  Large  Adhesiveness  increases  the  evil, 
by  causing  him  to  ruin  himself  in  helping  his  friends,  and 
by  exciting  commiseration  for  those  whom  he  desires,  but  is 
unable,  to  relieve  ;  whereas,  had  Acquisitiveness  been  as  large 
as  Benevolence  and  Adhesiveness,  he  would  have  gratified 
the  former  by  acquiring  property,  and  retaining  enough  to  live 
comfortably,  and  continue  business  in  order  to  make  more ; 
and  the  latter,  by  giving  the  balance  to  relieve  friends  and 
sufferers.  This  would  more  than  double  his  pleasure,  besides 
preventing  that  distress  occasioned  by  bestowing  his  all,  and 
that  perhaps  upon  unworthy  objects.  But  those  in  whom 
Acquisitiveness  predominates  over  Benevolence,  may  indeed 
experience  a  sordid  pleasure  in  making  money,  but  are  strang- 
ers to  the  exquisite  satisfaction  which  accompanies  works  of 
charity.     Predominant  Acquisitiveness  holds  in  its  iron  grasp 


EEQTTISITS   TO   PERFECTION   OF   CHAKACTEE.-  12 S 

the  means  of  gratifying  Benevolence  hj  giving  ;  Adhesive- 
ness, by  entertaining  friends ;  Ideality,  by  having  nice  things^ 
and  indulging  a  refined  taste  ;  the  Intellectual  Faculties,  by 
purchasing  books,  and  taking  time  to  think  and  study ;  Philo- 
progenitiveness,  by  spending  money  in  educating  and  improv- 
ing children  f  Locality  and  Sublimity,  by  travelling  ;    Con- 
scientiousness, by  paying  debts,  and  freely  discharging  all  pe- 
cuniary obligations ;  Hope,  by  investing  capital  in  what  pro- 
mises pleasure  to  the  other  faculties;    Approbativeness,  by 
making  a  respectable  appearance  ;  Alimentiveness,  by  indulg- 
ing in  table  luxuries,?  &c. ;  thus  abridging  most  of  the  enjoy- 
ments of  life,  besides  preying  ultimately  upon  itself  hy  grudg- 
ing every  farthing  expended,  and  giving  its  possessor  a  world 
of  trouble  for  fear  of  losing  bis  possessions.  The  combination  of 
very  large  Acquisitiveness  and  Cautiousness,  with  small  Hope;, 
is  an  organization  v/hich  produces  a  state  of  mind  truly  deplo- 
rable.    We  were  brought  up  near  an  old  miser,  named  Gee 
Rogers,  who  had  this  combination,  and  who,  besides  burying 
his  money  in  different  places,  watched  it  the  whole  of  dark 
and  stormy  nights — suffering  every  thing  from  fear  of  being 
robbed.     The   combination   of  predominant   Acquisitiveness 
with  small  Cautiousness,  by  speculating  too  largely  and  grasp- 
ing at  enormous  profits,  often  loses  all ;  besides  contracting 
debts  beyond  the  means  of  payment,  inducing  a  perpetual 
series  of  difficulties,  and,  (if  Conscientiousness  be  also  small,) 
prompting  to  dishonest  and  unprincipled  conduct.     Moderate 
Causality  added,  causes  the  individual  to  try  a  variety  of  ill- 
advised  ways  and  means  to  get  rich ;  but,  he  fails  in  all,  and 
is  tantalized  with  improper  desires,  which  he  is  unable  to  gra- 
tify, and  so  grasps, at  one  straw  after  another,  only  to  sink  into 
still  deeper  poverty,  and  more  hopeless  disappointment. 

*  About  twenty  miles  from  Raleigh,  W.  C,  there  lived  an  old  misery 
worth  $20,000,  who  also  allowed  his  only  daughter  to  live  destitute  of 
every  comfort,  dressed  only  in  clolhes  coarse  and  shabby,  almost  starved, 
and,  finally,  even  to  go  to  the  poor-hoiase,  because  he  was  too  miserly  to 
support  her. 

fMr.  Green,  a  carpenter,  living  in  Norfolk,  Va.,^  has  Acquisitiveness  so< 
strong,  that  he  lives  upon  spoiled  meat,  cold  victuals,  and  such  ends  of  the 
table  as  he  can  get  for  almost  nothing ;  and  is  an  old  bachelor,  because 
he  is  too  stingy  to  marry,  though  worth  some  ^20,000. 

I  e.  g.  Speculators  m  mulberry  trees  in  1840, 


12S  BALANCE   OF   FACULTIES 

But  when  these  organs  are  equally  developed,  Acquisitive- 
oess  desires  property  and  prompts  energetic  efforts  to  acquire 
it ;  Hope  creates  due  enterprise,  and  feasts,  but  not  to  excess, 
upon  unfolding  prospects ;  Conscientiousness  is  gratified  in 
paying  all  dues;  and  Cautiousness  and  Causality  combine 
foresight  and  prudence  with  that  judicious  application  of  ap- 
propriate means  to  the  end  desired,  which  crowns  one's 
efforts  with  success.  This  combination  secures  the  harmoni- 
ous exercise,  and  unalloyed  gratification,  of  both  these  facul- 
ties, and  of  all  the  others  if  similarly  developed. 

One  having  predominant  Self-Esteem,  combined  with  large 
Firmness,  Combativeness,  and  Destructiveness,  and  only  mo- 
derate Conscientiousness,  Approbativeness,  and  Intellectual 
Paculties,  will  be  self-sufficient,  proud,  haughty,  imperative, 
overbearing,  dictatorial,  obstinate,  insolent,  supremely  selfish, 
and  revengeful  towards  all  who  do  not  obey  his  unreasonable 
demands,  and  submit  to  become  his  servant,  and  yet  he  will 
have  too  feeble  an  intellect  to  support  his  high-sounding  pre- 
tensions ;  but,  one  having  all  these  organs  equally  developed, 
■ — large  Self-Esteem,  to  impart  dignity  and  nobleness  of  cha- 
racter, so  that  he  cannot  be  trifled  with,  combined  with  large 
Intellectual  organs,  to  impart  the  strength  of  mind  requisite 
fully  to  sustain  his  high  pretensions  ;*  large  Conscientiousness, 
to  add  moral  worth  to  intellectual  greatness  ;  and  large  Firm- 
ness and  Combativeness,  to  impart  perseverance,  moral  cour- 
age, and  energy  of  character— will  duly  respect  himself  for 
his  moral  and  intellectual  qualities  alone,  and  combine  the 
man  and  the  gentleman,  with  superior  intellectual  abilities  and 
high-toned  moral  principles  ;  thus  enjoying  life  himself,  and 
promoting  the  happiness  of  those  around  him. 

Another  still  more  striking  illustration  of  the  importance  of 
a  balance  of  the  faculties,  might  be  drawn  from  the  social  or- 
gans; and  others  still  from  every  phrenological  and  physical 
organ  in  man.  But,  why  enlarge  upon  a  principle,  the  neces- 
sity and  value  of  which  are  self-evident — a  principle  clearly 
shown  to  be  so  powerful  and  universal  in  its  application,  as  to 
be  inseparably  interwoven  with  the  nature  and  happiness  of 

^  Dr.  C.  Caldwell  has  this  combination. 


EEQUISITE    TO    PERFECTION  OF    CHARACTER.  123 

every  human  being  ?  Have  we  not  already  shown  how  it  is 
that  a  well  balanced  intellect  is  so  superior  to  the  same  amount 
of  intellect  unbalanced — how  the  moral  faculties,  when  harmo. 
niously  developed  and  exercised,  produce  that  moral  feeling, 
that  true  piety,  which  constitutes  the  grace  of  graces — the 
crowning  excellence  of  man — and  that  this  endless  diversity 
in  the  religious  faith  and  practice  of  mankind  which  disgraces 
modern  Christianity,  and  makes  so  many  infidels,  is  caused 
by  a  want  of  this  balance  ?  Indeed,  words  cannot  express  its 
value  and  importance.  Hence,  should  not  parents  and  teach- 
ers, in  educating  the  young  and  moulding  their  character 
physical,  intellectual,  and  moral,  and,  indeed,  all  who  seek 
health,  long  life,  happiness,  or  self-improvement,  be  guided 
by  it  as  their  polar-star,  making  it  the  nucleus  around  which 
their  every  effort  to  remedy  defects  or  cultivate  virtues,  should 
cluster  ? 


SECTION  11. 

HOW   TO   INCREASE    THE    ORGANS. 


Having  shown  in  what  perfection  of  head  and  body  consists,  or 
the  one  great  and  leading  condition  of  virtue  and  enjoyment,  name- 
ly, in  the  even  developement  and  harmonious  exercise  of  our  facul- 
ties of  body  and  mind,  we  fall  back  upon  the  eventful  inquiry, 
"  Do  any  means  exist  of  attaining  this  harmony,  or  of  improving 
the  character  7  Can  the  weak  faculties  be  strengthened,  and  the 
energy  of  predominant  ones  weakened  ?  or  is  man  fated  to  carry 
his  virtues,  faults,  excesses,  and  defects  to  his  gnjive  V  Our  answer 
is  an  unequivocal  no!  We  say  with  emphasis,  that  weak  faculties 
can  be  strengthened,  and  the  power  of  predominant  ones  reduced  ; 
and  that  their  organs  can  be  enlarged  and  diminished.  We  know, 
indeed,  that  although  the  organs^in  children  are  more  evenly  devel- 
oped than  in  their  parents, — a  proof  that  our  leading  principle  is 
founded  in  nature, — yet  that  the  natural  tendency  is  for  the  large 
organs  to  become  larger,  and  the  small  ones,  smaller — the  very 
reverse  of  what  should  take  place.  The  reason  of  this  is,  that  the 
larger  an  organ  becomes,  the  greater  the  pleasure  taken  in  its  exer- 


124  HOW   TO   INCREASE    THE    OKGANS, 

else,  and  the  more  spontaneous  and  continual  its  exercise,  which 
re-augments  its  size,  and  re-increases  its  activity ;  and  also,  that 
when  nothing  special  occurs  to  excite  a  given  faculty,  its  organ 
becomes  sluggish,  and  remains  mostly  quiescent,  which  reduces  its 
size.  This  decreases  its  capacity  to  afford  pleasure,  which  still 
farther  diminishes  its  action  and  weakens  its  power.  This  principle 
illustrates  the  Scripture  doctrine,  that  "  to  him  that  hath  shall  be 
given,  and  he  shall  have  more  abundantly ;  but  from  him  that  hath 
not  shall  be  taken  away  even  that  he  hath."  Phrenology  shows 
both  how  to  counteract  and  how  to  reverse  this  unfavorable  ten- 
dency. 

The  reader  will  see  that  we  are  now  approaching  a  most  im- 
portant subject ;  but  before  we  can  consistently  point  out  the  means 
of  attaining  this  most  desirable  end,  we  shall  be  required  to  demon- 
strate the.  fact  that  the  organs  can  be  enlarged  and  diminished,  and 
the  power  of  their  faculties  increased. 

And  here  a  serious  difficulty  presents  itself,  namely,  how  is  it  pos- 
sible  for  so  soft  a  substance  as  the  brain  to  press  out  so  hard  a  sub- 
stance as  the  skull.  This  question  should  be  discussed,  not  upon 
the  ground  of  reason  alone,  nor  solely  on  the  ground  of  fact,  but 
according  to  that  principle  of  balance  we  have  presented,  of  the 
two  combined.  We  will  then  show,  first,  the  rationale  of  this  en- 
largement, or  how  it  can  take  place,  and,  secondly,  establish  it  by 
facts  ;  though  Phrenology  says  that  the  facts  should  precede  the 
reasonings. 

1st.  The  whole  head  continues  to  enlarge  till  after  thirty,  and 
the  inference  is  conclusive  that  if  the  resistance  of  the  skull  does  not 
prevent  tRe  enlargement  of  the  brain  as  a  luhole,  it  will  surely 
allow  any  part  of  it  to  become  enlarged.  2d.  Phrenology  demon- 
strates the  fact  that  the  brain  is  composed  of  particular  organs,  each 
of  which  exercises  a  particular  function ;  and  both  Phrenology  and 
daily  observation  establish  the  fact,  that  the  exercise  of  every  organ 
causes  a  flow  of  blood  to  that  organ  in  proportion  to  the  vigor  and 
continuance  of  that  exercise.  Hence,  the  vigorous  and  continuous 
exercise  of  any  faculty,  as  of  Benevolence,  Causality,  Combative- 
ness,  &c.,  causes  a  proportional  flow  of  blood  to  its  particular  organ ; 
which  blood  is  freighted  with  matter  which  it  deposits  wherever 
it  goes,  and  in  proportion  to  its  abundance.  This  causes  each 
organ  to  enlarge  in  proportion  to  the  exercise  of  its  faculty.     This 


ENLARGEMENT  OF  THE  OEGAKS.  125 

law  of  increase  by  exercise,  and  decrease  by  inaction,  is  familiar  in 
its  application  to  the  hands  of  sailors,  laborers,  &c. — to  the  feet  of 
expert  dancers,  pedestrians,  &c. ;  to  the  chests  of  rowers  ;  to  the 
right  hand  compared  with  the  left ;  and,  indeed,  to  every  portion  of 
the  body ;  and,  since  the  brain  is  governed  by  this  same  physiolo- 
gical law,  the  exercise  of  any  faculty  will  cause  a  proportionate 
flow  of  blood  to  its  organ,  which  will  naturally  enlarge  that  organ. 
3.  This  enlargement  is  caused  not  by  the  inechanical  pressure  of 
the  brain  upon  the  skull,  but  by  the  natural  process  of  growth  and 
formation.  The  matter  which  composes  the  body  is  not  perma- 
nently fixed  in  its  place,  but  is  undergoing  a  constant  succession  of 
changes,  (See  Combe's  Physiology,  p.  46.)  abundantly  sufficient  to 
allow  of  any  required  changes  in  size.  One  portion  of  nature  never 
prevents  or  interferes  with  the  action  of  any  other  part.  The  bark 
of  the  tree,  notwithstanding  all  its  strength  and  toughness,  allows 
the  limpid  sap  to  insinuate  itself  between  this  bark  and  the  wood, 
thereby  causing  the  enlargement  of  both.  Neither  the  shells  of 
oysters,  lobsters,  turtles,  &c.,  nor  the  toughness  of  the  skins  of  ani- 
mals, prevent  their  growth.  Why  then  should  the  skull,  which  is 
merely  the  protector  and  servant  of  the  brain,  throw  any  serious 
obstacle  in  the  way  of  its  enlargement  ? 

One  of  the  means  by  which  nature  effects  this  enlargement  of 
organs  is,  rendering  the  skull  covering  them  thin  ;  whilst,  in  their 
diminution,  it  becomes  thicker.  In  our  collection  we  have  some 
twenty  skulls  illustrating  these  phenomena,  and  none  known  to 
militate  against  them.  A  physician  in  Westchester  Co.,  Pa.,  pre- 
sented us  with  the  skull  of  a  female,  respectably  connected,  who, 
in  spite  of  the  entreaties  of  her  friends,  had  voluntarily  abandoned 
herself  to  the  indulgence  of  Alimentiveness  and  Amativeness,  and 
whose  skull  is  so  very  thin  as  to  be  trasparent  where  those  oi'gans 
are  located,  but  not  elsewhere.  The  skull  of  John  Earl,  who  mur- 
dered his  wife,  and  who  was  given  to  the  unrestrained  and  habitual 
indulgence  of  both  these  passions,  is  also  thin  in  the  same  places. 
So  is  that  of  Burley,  presented  by  Mr.  Harris,  treasurer  of  the  London 
District,  U.  C,  and  a  volunteer  in  the  burning  of  the  Caroline. 
This  Burley  armed  himself  for  the  purpose,  and  deliberately  shot 
the  sheriff  who  arrested  him  for  stealing  a  young  bullock  and  kil- 
ling it  for  food.  He  was  an  habitual  drunkard,  excessively  licen- 
tious, and  by  turns  extremely  given  to  prayer  and  religious  exer- 
10 


126  ENLARGEMENT  OF  THE  ORGANS 

cises.*  One  of  his  religious  seasons  immediately  preceded  his 
execution.  "When  swung  off,  the  rope  broke.  During  the  conse- 
quent delay,  he  proposed  to  have  a  season  of  prayer,  and  was 
himself  earnestly  engaged  in  supplicating  the  Divine  blessing  when 
the  sheriff  interrupted  him  to  re-adjust  the  rope. 

L.  N.  Fowler  has  the  skull  of  a  slave,  so  notorious  for  his  pro- 
pensity to  steal,  that  after  he  had  been  repeatedly  whipped  almost 
to  death  for  stealing,  but  to  no  purpose,  on  the  perpetration  of  a 
new  theft,  his  master,  seizing  an  axe,  struck  it  through  his  skull 
into  the  brain,  exclaiming, "  1  will  break  you  of  stealing,  if  I  have 
to  kill  you."  He  Hved,  but  still  continued  to  steal ;  and  his  skull 
is  remarkably  thin  and  transparent  at  Acquisitiveness  and  Secret=> 
iveness.  The  skull  of  another  slave,  noted  for  kindness,  is  thin 
where  Benevolence  is  located. 

He  has  also  the  skull  of  a  woman,  who,  from  being  a  moral  and 
virtuous  member  of  society,  and  a  consistent  and  exemplary  profes- 
sor of  religion,  became  a  self-abandoned  outcast,  and  grossly  immo- 
ral, yet  was  passionately  fond  of  music.  This  skull  is  thin  where 
Amativeness,  Combativeness,  and  Tune  are  located,  but  thickened 
upon  the  top  in  the  region  of  the  moral  organs.  We  will  gladly 
show  those  of  our  readers  who  visit  us,  these  and  many  other  simi- 
lar proofs  and  illustrations  of  the  fact,  that  the  exercise  of  an  organ 
absorbs  the  portion  of  the  skull  covering  it,  so  as  to  render  it  thin ; 
while  inaction,  and  also  excessive  action,  reduce  the  size  of  the 
organs,  allowing  the  skull  to  become  thick.  Indeed,  this  point  has 
become  fully  established ;  and,  although  it  prevents  our  observing 
the  whole  of  the  increase  in  the  exercise  of  active  organs,  still  it 
shows  how  an  increase  and  decrease  of  organs  can  take  place. 

It  is,  therefore,  possible  to  enlarge  aud  diminish  the  size  of  the 
phrenological  organs;  first,  by  the  skull  becoming  thin  ;  and,  se 
condly,  by  the  actual  protrusion  of  the  skull  itself. 

Having  shown  both  the  possibility  and  the  "  rationale  "  of  a 
enlargement  of  the  organs,  we  next  proceed  to  demonstrate  thi 
point  hy  facts.     In  1835,  Mr.  Bailey,  of  Manchester,  England,  took 
from  life  a  bust  of  the  Rev.  John  Pierpont,  of  Boston.     In  1841, 
we  took  from  life  a  bust  of  the  same  head.     The  latter  shows  a 
decided  increase  of  the  whole   intellectual  lobe  over  the  former 

*  For  a  satisfactory  explanation  of  this  seeming  anomaly,  see  Journal, 
Vol.  iv.  pp.  21,  and  107. 


IN  REV.  JOHN  PIERPONT  AND  OTHERS.  127 

This  increase,  any  accurate  eye  will  detect  instantly,  the  latter  being 
deeper,  broader,  higher,  and  every  way  more  ample.  Benevolence 
and  Combativeness  are  larger,  while  Cautiousness  is  smaller,  in  the 
latter  than  in  the  former.  The  cause  of  this  increase  of  some  or- 
gans, and  decrease  of  others,  is  to  be  found  in  the  vigorous  and 
almost  continual  exercise  of  his  intellectual  faculties,  in  the  compo- 
sition of  poetry,  for  which  he  has  becomely  justly  celebrated ;  in 
lectures  in  the  cause  of  temperance,  truth,  and  freedom;  as  well  as 
in  his  severe  and  protracted  intellectual  and  moral  contest  with  the 
rum-sellers  of  his  congregation.  Ts  an  ode  or  poem  wanted  on 
occasions  like  the  death  of  Spurzheim,  or  Harrison,  or  for  any  na- 
tional or  local  jubilee,  Rev.  John  Pierpont  furnishes  the  best.  His 
unremitted  labors  in  the  temperance  cause — the  number,  power,  and 
eloquence  of  his  lectures  on  various  subjects — the  logical  clearness 
and  cogency  of  his  letters  to  his  Vestry — evince  a  powerful  and 
continuous  exercise  of  his  intellectual  faculties  sufficient  to  account 
for  the  increase  of  his  intellectual  organs,  as  well  as  of  Benevolence 
and  Combativeness,  and  the  decrease  of  Cautiousness. 

This  case  establishes  our  position  beyond  a  doubt.  Both  busts 
were  taken  when  he  was  upwards  of  forty -five,  and  so  taken  that 
the  manner  of  taking  could  cause  none  of  this  striking  difference- 
The  case  is  clear  and  unequivocal,  and  subject  to  the  inspection  of 
all  who  wish  to  see  or  purchase  copies. 

A  fev/  days  ago,  Mr.  J.  G.  Forman,  a  phrenologist,  remarked, 
that  he  had  recently  seen  a  woman  in  Sing  Sing  prison,  who,  from 
a  child  had  seen  with  the  right  eye  only,  and  whose  perceptive 
organs  on  the  left  side  were  much  larger  than  those  on  the  right. 
I  proposed  to  send  my  artist  to  take  a  mask,  whom  Mr.  F.  kindly 
volunteered  to  accompany.  My  first  glance  at  the  mask  disap- 
pointed me,  for  Calculation  and  Order  w^ere  equal  on  both  sides. 
But  a  second  glance  actually  electrified  me  with  delight,  for  it 
revealed  the  fact  that  Individuality,  Form,  Size,  and  Locality,  the 
functions  of  which  are  exercised  mainly  by  means  of  the  eye,  were 
much  larger  on  the  side  opposite^  the  seeing  eye   than  the   same 

*  Our  recent  discoveries  in  Magnetism  and  Phrenology  combined,  show 
that  the  magnetic  currents  all  cross  each  other.  Thus,  each  Phrenological 
organ  has  a  magnetic  nature  and  current  in  each  hemisphere  of  the  brain, 
which  extend  to  the  face,  and  cross  each  other.     The  magnetic  current  of 


128    .  ENLARGEMENT  OF  THE  ORGANS 

organs  on  the  seeing  eye;  while  the  organs  of  Order,  Calculation^ 
and  Weight,  which  can  act  as  well  without  the  aid  of  the  eye  as 
with  it,  or  at  least,  as  well  with  one  eye  as  both,  were  alike  on  both 
sides.  This  difference  is  most  striking.  Locality  rises  nearly  half 
an  inch  on  the  lej^t  side,  above  the  same  organ  on  the  right  side. 
Size  on  the  left  side  has  both  elevated  and  protruded  the  inner  por- 
tion of  the  left  eyebrow  about  half  an  inch,  while  Language,  Com- 
parison, and  Causality  are  equal  in  both.  This  mask  can  be  inspect- 
ed and  obtained. 

In  our  collection  may  be  seen  two  masks  of  Oldham,  machinist 
to  the  Bank  of  England,  taken  by  Spurzheim  twenty  years  apart. 
The  last,  after  he  became  celebrated  throughout  Europe  for  his 
mechanical  and  inventive  powers,  shows  a  breadth  at  Construct- 
iveness  greater  than  the  first  by  nearly  an  inch,  while  the  other 
organs  remained  nearly  stationary.  Spurzheim  exhibited  these 
masks  in  Boston  to  prove  the  possibility  of  enlarging  the  organs, 
■ — a  favourite  doctrine  with  him. 

The  bearing  of  these  facts  is  positive  and  direct.  They  prove, 
beyond  all  dispute,  the  possibility  of  enlarging  the  size  of  organs 
by  exercising  their  faculties,  as  well  as  of  the  required  protrusion  of 
the  skull,  and  hence  prepare  the  way  for  evidence  less  positive  in 
its  character,  which,  without  this  as  an  entering  wedge,  would  be 
comparatively  valueless.  They  demonstrate  the  point  now  under 
consideration,  which,  once  established,  may  now  be  illustrated  and 
enforced  by  an  order  of  evidence  too  low  in  itself,  satisfactorily  to 
prove  it. 

Deville's  cabinet  in  London,  contains  about  seventy  busts  Illus- 
trating this  point.  Caldwell  brought  over  with  him  some  fourteen 
of  them,  and  says  that  this  increase  of  organs  is  placed  beyond  a 
doubt  by  these  and  other  specimens.  Dr.  Carpenter,  of  Pottsville, 
Pa.,  and  Prof.  Bryant,  of  Philadelphia,  and  many  others  who  have 
seen  these  casts,  bring  a  similar  report  of  them.  One  of  these 
changes  occurred  in  the  head  of  Herschel,  the  great  astronomer. 

the  right  organ  of  Cautiousness,  terminates  in  the  left  side  of  the  face^ 
and  "  vice  versa  ;"  and  so  of  all  the  organs.  We  have  many  facts  in  our 
possession,  which  go  to  establish  this  principle  of  crossing  to  be  a  lav/ 
of  our  nature,  showing  that  when  the  exercise  of  any  phrenological  faculty- 
calls  any  bodily  organ  into  exercise,  this  principle  of  crossing  always  takes 
place. 


IN  HERSCHEL   AND    DEVILLe's  COLLECTIONS. 


129 


In  the  first,  taken  when  he  was  about  forty,  to  which  time  he  devo- 
ted himself  to  music,  Tune  is  very  large,  and  the  perceptive  organs 
are  no  way  remarkable ;  whereas,  in  another,  taken  when  about 
sixty,  after  he  had  dropped  music  and  become  the  first  Astronomer 
of  the  age,  the  perceptive  faculties  are  astonishingly  developed, 
but  Tune  diminished. 


Franklin.  Herschel. 

The  accompanying  cut  of  Herschel,  copied  from  an  English  en- 
graving said  to  be  the  best  ever  taken,  shows  enormous  perceptive 
organs  in  the  length  and  the  arching  of  his  eye-brows,  and  bears 
evidence  of  its  having  been  taken  when  he  was  about  seventy ; 
whereas,  a  mask  of  him  now  in  our  collection,  evidently  taken 
when  about  forty,  shows  only  a  fair  development  of  these  organs. 

Several  months  since,  we  wrote  to  M.  B.  Sampson,  our  London 
correspondent,  to  forward  us  copies  of  Deville's  specimens  illustra- 
ting this  point,  hoping  to  receive  them  before  we  published  this 
portion  of  the  lecture.  The  following,  while  it  explains  the  cause 
of  their  delay,  gives  encouragement  of  their  early  reception  : — 
Dated,  Bank  of  England,  Feb.  3,  1842. 

"  In  the  course  of  a  week  or  two,  I  shall  procure  from  Mr.  De- 
ville  the  casts  which  you  require,  and  will  send  them  to  you  with- 
out delay.  You  would  have  received  them  ere  this,  but  Mr.  Deville 
has  been  confined  by  indisposition."* 

*  These  casts  were  rceived,  but,  not  being  aware  of  their  reception, 
they  were  sold  at  auction.  If  this  should  meet  the  eye  of  their  purchaser, 
I  should  be  most  happy  to  see  him. 


130  .  ENLARGEMENT  OF  THE  ORGANS 

Changes  similar  to  those  already  described,  took  place  in  the  head 
of  Franklin,  except  that  his  reflectives  increased,  but  perceptives 
diminished.  An  engraving  of  him,  copied  from  a  portrait  taken 
when  he  was  a  young  man,  will  be  found  in  his  life  published  by 
Hillon  &  Grey.  Boston,  which  represents  the  perceptive  organs  as 
very  large,  and  Causality  retiring,  so  as  to  leave  his  forehead  nar- 
row and  sloping  at  the  top,  evincing  prodigious  Individuality,  Form, 
Size,  Locality,  and  Eventuality,  and  large  Comparison,  with  but 
moderate  Causality. 

The  author  has  also  a  plaster  bust  of  him,  cast  from  a  marble 
bust  made  in  France,  by  Oudon,  whose  accuracy  in  sculpturing  is 
too  well  known  to  require  comment.  In  this  bust,  chiselled  after 
a  mask,  taken  from  Franklin's  /ace,  and  said  to  be  a  perfect  like- 
ness of  him  at  that  time,*  his  perceptives  and  reflectives  are  both 
large,  the  perceptives  rather  predominating,  but  reflectives  promi- 
nent. But,  in  the  statue  taken  of  him  when  old,  and  placed  in  a 
niche  in  the  Franklin  Library,  in  Fifth  street,  near  Chesnut,  Phila- 
delphia, Causality  and  Comparison  stand  out  in  the  boldest  relief? 
while  Individuality  and  Eventuality  are  small.  Most  of  the  busts 
and  engravings  of  this  great  philosopher  found  in  shops,  books, 
&c.,  represent  him  as  old,  and  evince  predominant  reflective  or- 
gans, but  defieient  perceptives.  See  the  portrait  of  him  in  Peale's 
Museum. 

Our  next  inquiry  relates  to  the  existence  or  absence  of  a  corres- 
ponding change  in  his  intellectual  character.  Of  this,  all  are  al- 
lowed to  judge  for  themselves,  but  my  firm  conviction  is  that  young 
Franklin  was  remarkable  for  observation,  memory  in  general,  de- 
sire for  acquiring  knowledge,  especially  of  an  experimental  char- 
acter, and  facility  of  communication,  &c. ;  while  old  Franklin  was 
all  reason  and  philosophy,  rich  in  ideas,  full  of  pithy,  sententious 
proverbs,  which  are  only  the  condensation  of  Causality,  and  always 
tracing  every  thing  up  to  their  causes  and  laws,  but  less  inclined 
to  observe  and  remember  facts  as  such. 

*  This  original  marble  bust  was,  we  believe,  recently  purchased  by 
some  scientific  body  in  Philadelphia,  and  the  original  mask,  taken  from 
his  face,  was  recently  sold,  among  other  effects  of  Oudon,  for  about  two 
dollars,  and  was  taken  to  Italy.  Will  not  some  American  traveller  in  Ita- 
ly procure  this  original,  or  a  copy  ? 


IN  FRANKLIN,  HERSCHEL,  BUONAPARTE,  &C.  131 

This  conclusion  is  endorsed  by  the  natural  language  of  his  or- 
gans— an  unfailing  index  of  the  true  character.  Young  Franklin 
is  represented  as  throwing  the  lower  or  perceptive  portion  of  his 
forehead  forward,  which  evinces  their  predominance;  while  old 
Franklin,  as  in  the  accompanying  cut,  throws  the  reflective  organs 
forward,  as  if  in  the  attitude  of  deep  thought.  This  shows  young 
Franklin  to  have  been  what  his  portrait,  taken  when  he  was  young, 
evinces,  namely,  a  great  observer  ;  but  old  Franklin  to  have  been 
a  profound  reason  er,  a  characteristic  already  shown  to  appertain  to 
his  later  busts  and  portraits. 

The  likenesses  of  Bonaparte,  as  stamped  upon  coins  of  different 
dates,  show  a  decided  enlargement  of  his  forehead,  especially  of 
his  reflective  organs,  as  he  advanced  in  years.  This  difference  is 
very  great ;  and,  if  exercise  enlarges  the  organs,  surely  those  of 
no  other  man  would  be  enlarged  faster. 

Let  us  now  enter  another  field  of  inquiry,  to  see  if  we  obtain 
similar  results  from  another  class  of  observations  still  more  gene- 
ral. Stone-cutting,  and  especially  lettering,  requires  a  vigorous 
and  intense  exercise  of  Form,  Size,  and  Locality  ;  and,  according- 
ly, stone-cutters  all  have  these  organs  large.  For  the  correctness 
of  these  remarks,  appeal  is  made  to  observation. 

Not  one  farmer,  merchant,  &c.,  in  fifty  is  found  to  possess  Weight 
above  moderate,  while  nearly  all  the  sea-faring  men  I  have  ever 
examined,  have  had  this  organ  fully  developed,  with  large  Form 
and  Locality,  and  usually  Order  and  Calculation.  The  reason  of 
this  is  obvious.  This  organ  keeps  the  balance  ;  and,  since  the 
perpetual  motion  of  a  ship  is  continually  destroying  this  balance. 
Weight  is  kept  unceasingly  active  to  regain  and  preserve  it,  especi- 
ally when  in  the  rigging.  Their  Form  is  brought  into  frequent 
and  vigorous  action  by  looking  for,  and  watching,  ships,  land,  &c., 
in  the  distance  ;  and  Locality,  by  remembering  the  beds  of  rivers? 
the  navigable  parts  of  harbors,  the  localities  of  rocks,  shoals,  &c., 
and  by  remembering  the  looks  of  various  parts,  as  well  as  by  prac- 
tical geography  in  general.  In  machinists,  engineers,  and  those 
who  work  about  machinery,  this  organ  is  usually  large,  and  also 
in  billiard  players,  expert  marksmen,  good  riders,  &c.,  while  ordi- 
nary mechanics,  not  connected  with  machinery,  usually  have  it 
small,  except  those  whose  occupation  requires  climbing.  In  fe- 
males, Weight  is  seldom  developed  ;  yet,  in  factory  girls,  it  is  unu- 


132  ENLARGEMENT  OF  THE  ORGANS 

sually  large.     Constructiveness  is  found  to  be  large  in  nearly  all 
weavers.  • 

At  Adams,  Mass.,  in  1834, 1  was  struck  with  the  fact  that  ail 
the  loeavers  examined  had  large  Concentrativeness,  an  organ  be- 
low par  in  ninety  American  ladies  in  every  hundred.  The  same 
results  have  been  observed  in  every  factory  I  have  since  visited. 
At  Young's  factory,  in  Delaware,  in  1839,  I  selected  some  fifty 
weavers  from  those  employed  in  other  occupations,  making  but  a 
single  failure,  and  that  on  a  lady  of  thirty-five,  who  had  been 
weaving  only  fifteen  months — too  short  a  period,  at  this  age,  ful- 
ly to  develope  this  organ.  The  reason  is  obvious ;  because  weav- 
ing keeps  the  whole  mind  exclusively  occupied  upon  one  and  the 
same  thing,  day  after  day,  and  year  after  year.  This  will  serve  as 
a  valuable  hint  to  those  who  wish  to  improve  this  organ.  Eng- 
lishmen and  Germans  generally  have  this  organ  large,  while  it  is 
small  in  most  Americans,  which  corresponds  with  their  national 
habits.  The  former  usually  devote  themselves  exclusively  to  one 
study  or  occupation,  and  can  make  a  living  at  no  other,  while  the 
versatile  talents  of  the  latter  enable  them  to  turn  their  hands  to 
almost  any  and  every  thing  with  success.  One  leading  error  of 
m,odern  education  is,  putting  scholars  to  reading,  writing,  spelling, 
arithmetic,  definitions,  geography,  grammar,  drawing,  &c.,  &c., 
all  in  six  hours.  Just  as  this  organ  concentrates  the  mind  upon 
one  study,  another  study  is  thrust  upon  them,  and  hence  Americans 
know  a  little  about  every  thing,  yet  not  much  about  any  07ie  thing. 
Scholars  taught  by  teachers  having  Concentrativeness  large,  are 
apt  to  have  it  large  also.  A  Mr.  Morris,  who  stands  de- 
servedly high  as  a  teacher,  in  New-York,  has  this  organ  very  large 
and  two-thirds  of  his  scholars  have  this  organ  above  moderate  ; 
whereas,  in  ordinary  scholars,  the  tables  are  reversed.  On  expres- 
sing surprise  at  this,  and  asking  for  an  explanation,  the  answer 
satisfied  me  that  his  having  called  it  into  continual  exercise  in  his 
scholars,  was  the  cause  of  its  unusual  development. 

Inhabitiveness  is  almost  universally  large  in  those  who  have 
lived  in  one  house  till  fifteen,  but  small  in  those  who  moved  in 
childhood.  In  thousands  of  instances,  when  examining  the  heads 
of  children,  I  have  said  to  their  parents,  "  I  perceive  you  have 
moved  since  the  birth  of  this  child,  or  else  it  has  lived  from  home," 
and  do  not  remember  to  have  failed  more  than  two  or  three  times  j 


IN  THE  DEAF    AND    DITBIB,    SCOTCH,  LADIES  IN  NEW  YORK,  &C.    133 

in  which  cases,  hereditary  influences  prevailed  over  the  exercise  of 
the  organ.  The  reason  is  this  :  Inhabitiveness  becomes  attached 
to  the  homestead  where  one  has  lived  ;  to  the  domicil  in  which  we 
are  reared,  and  the  surrounding  trees,  stones,  &c. ;  but  removing? 
disturbs  this  attachment,  and  weakens  the  organ.* 

We  have  examined  many  blind  persons  without  finding  one  in 
■whom  color  is  even  fairly  developed.  As  color  is  exercised  by 
means  of  the  eye,  it  is  not  surprising  that  its  not  being  exercised? 
keeps  it  small. 

The  deaf  and  dumb  converse  mainly  by  signs,  and  by  acting  out 
what  they  want,  that  is,  by  imitating.  They  are  the  best  actors 
of  pantomime,  and  the  best  mimics,  to  be  found.  This  continual 
exercise  of  Imitation  is  doubtless  the  cause  of  its  being  universally 
predominant  in  this  class. 

In  nearly  every  Scotchman,  Causality  and  Conscientiousness  will 
be  found  to  be  large,  which  is  in  keeping  with  their  reasoning  so 
much  upon  moral  and  doctrinal  subjects.  For  additional  facts  of 
this  class,  see  the  chapter  on  this  subject  in  "  Fowler's  Phrenolo- 
gy," p.  365. 

Probably  not  one  New-York  city  lady  in  twenty,  has  Acquisi- 
tiveness above  moderate ;  while  a  large  proportion  of  Yankee 
ladies  have  this  organ  full.  The  latter  are  taught  industry  from 
the  cradle,  but,  whether  this  is  true  of  the  former,  we  leave  others 
to  judge.  In  southern  ladies  also,  this  organ  is  usually  small. 
Constructiveness  is  much  larger  at  the  north  than  at  the  south,  and 
in  manufacturing  towns,  than  in  those  classes  that  are  too  good  to 
work.  After  examining  ten  heads  in  any  place,  I  can  usually  tell 
the  general  character  of  its  inhabitants,  whether  they  are  proud, 
secretive,  acquisitive,  moral,  ingenious,  &c.  Every  ^jZace  has  as 
much  a  distinctive  character  as  every  person.  This  is  easily  solved 
by  supposing  that  the  original  founders  of  these  places  had  certain 
faculties  predominant,  which,  by  being  continually  exercised,  exci- 
ted the  same  in  all  new  comers,  and  thus  developed  the  correspond- 
ing organs,  thereby  stamping  the  impress  of  their  own  minds  upon 

*  This  aims  a  deadly  blow  at  the  renting  system,  lately  becoming  so 
prevalent.  That  system  is  wrong,  and  will  eventually  be  found  to  pro- 
duce evil  both  to  landlord  and  tenant.  See  the  analysis  of  Inhabitiveness 
in  "  Phrenology  applied  to  Matrimony." 


134  ENLAEGEBIENT  OF  THE  ORGANS 

others.      Other  causes,  however,  doubtless  aid  in  bringing  about 
this  result. 

This  principle  explains,  in  part,  why  lawyers  and  politi- 
cians have  large  Language,  Combativeness,  and  Comparison 
— their  vocation  bringing  these  faculties  into  constant  action  ;  and 
why  the  religious  denominations  have  each  a  characteristic  set  of 
developments,  as  mentioned  on  p.  100,  &c.,  though  the  major  part  of 
this  is  doubtless  caused  by  hereditary  descent. 

We  grant  that  these  and  similar  facts,  if  weighed  hy  them- 
selves in  the  scales  of  inductive  reason,  would  be  light,  and 
might  not  even  cause  it  to  preponderate  in  their  favor ;  but, 
thrown  into  the  same  balance  with  those  already  mentioned, 
(drawn  from  the  busts,)  they  add  much  weight  to  a  scale  al- 
ready preponderating  in  their  favor. 

But  another  class  of  facts  more  unequivocal,  is  found  in  ex- 
aminations of  the  same  head,  made  at  different  periods.  As 
the  public  have  given  the  author  some  credit  for  correct  exami- 
nations, they  will  doubtless  place  some  reliance  upon  the  re- 
sults of  his  observation,  namely,  that  every  year's  practice 
increases  his  astonishment  at  the  number  and  extent  of  these 
changes;  a  few  of  which  he  will  narrate. 

In  1836,  a  gentleman  w^as  examined,  and  his  Veneration 
marked  three — I,  at  the  same  time,  putting  his  finger  into  the 
marked  depression  between  Firmness  and  Benevolence..  A 
few  days  ago,  he  called  again,  and  I  marked  Veneration  large; 
the  depression  to  which  his  attention  was  called  in  1836,  hav- 
ing been  entirely  filled  up.  He  then  stated  that  he  became  a 
praying  man  soon  after  the  first  examination,  and  had  contin- 
ued one  ever  since.  He  called  mainly  to  inquire,  if  becoming 
religious  could  have  caused  the  change  in  his  developments? 
which  he  had  observed  for  the  last  two  years. 

In  1835,  I  examined  the  head  of  Mr.  S.,  of  R.,  and  ascribed 
to  him  strong  rehgious  feeling,  making  the  whole  examina- 
tion turn  upon  this  point.  In  1841, 1  re-examined  him  with- 
out knowing  him,  and  the  moment  I  touched  his  head,  ex- 
claimed, "  Infidel,  irreligious,  utterly  destitute  of  belief,"  &c. 
At  the  first  examination,  he  was  a  very  consistent  professor 
of  religion,  and  zealously  engaged  in  promoting  revivals ;  but, 
soon  after,  he  became  a  disbeliever  ;  and,  at  length,  a  con- 
firmed infidel,  so  that  he  was  expelled  from  the  church,  not 


IN  THE  JEWS,  THE  RICH,  MARTIAL  MEN,  ETC. 


135 


for  immoral  conduct,  but  solely  on  the  ground  of  his  injidelity. 

In  1836,  a  young  gentleman  of  considerable  intelligence, 
stated  that  when  a  boy,  he  had  a  school-mate  of  exactly  his 
size,  age,  and  height,  whose  clothes  and  hat  perfectly  fitted 
him ;  that  when  of  the  proper  age,  his  friend  went  to  West- 
Point,  and  he  to  a  mechanical  trade ;  that  when  his  friend 
had  graduated,  they  met,  and  again  changed  hats;  that  his 
friend's  hat,  instead  of  fitting  his  head  as  before,  was  too 
large  in  the  forehead,  and  too  small  over  the  temples,  whilst 
his  hat  pinched  the  forehead  of  the  cadet,  but  was  loose  over 
Constructiveness ;  thus  showing  an  increase  of  the  intellectual 
organs,  and  particularly  the  reflective,  in  the  cadet,  whose 
studies  called  these  faculties  into  powerful  action,  and  an  in- 
crease of  Constructiveness  in  the  head  of  the  mechanic. 

I  have  always  found  Eventuality  very  large  in  Jews.  They 
were  required  to  tell  the  Lord's  doings,  to  their  children  and 
grand-children,  in  doing  which  they  powerfully  exercise  their 
Eventuality.  The  same  is  true  of  the  North  American  In- 
dians, who  perpetuate  their  history  in  the  memories  of  the 
rising  race.  / 

In  the  children  of  the  rich,  Acquisitiveness  is  almost  inva- 
riably small.  Having  every  want  supplied,  and  therefore  no 
occasion  for  the  exercise  of  this  faculty,  its  organ  becomes 
small  from  mere  disuse* 

In  nearly  every  soldier  and  inferior  officer  whom  I  examin- 
ed in  Canada,  (and  they  were  hundreds,)  I  found  predominant 
Firmness,  Self-Esteem,  Amativeness,  and  Alimentiveness, 
and  large  to  very  large  Combativeness,  Destructiveness,  Hope, 
and  perceptive  Faculties ;  with  smaller  Causality,  and  defi- 
cient Conscientiousness  and  Acquisitiveness — the  very  organi- 
zation which  their  occupation  would  produce,  provided  this 
doctrine  of  increase  by  exercise,  and  decrease  by  inaction,  be 
true.  They  cultivate  a  bold,  daring,  reckless  spirit;  drink 
and  carouse  daily  ;  and  have  no  occasion  to  exercise  Acquisi- 
tiveness, for  their  food,  raiment,  &c  ,  are  furnished,  whilst 

*  How  beautiful  and  efficient  a  contrivance  for  preventing  the  amassing 
of  immense  wealth  in  a  particular  family,  and  for  scattering  the  hoarded 
thousands  of  the  miser !  See  our  article  on  the  "hard  times,"  No.  2., 
p.  76,  Vol.  iv.  of  the  Phrenological  Journal. 


136  ENLARGEMENT  OF  THE  OEGANS 

their  pay  is  regular,  and  scarcely  capable  of  being  increased. 
All  their  associations  deaden  Conscientiousness,  and  excite 
their  passions.  It  is  possible  that  men  with  this  organization 
seek  the  army,  yet  more  probable  that  military  associations 
enlarge  and  diminish  their  developments. 

This  argument  for  the  increase  of  organs  by  exercise,  de- 
rives additional  force  from  its  beautiful  harmony  with  many 
analogous  phenomena.  In  one  of  the  examinations,  reported 
in  the  Journal,  a  fact  was  related,  showing  that  the  intense 
and  continuous  action  of  organs,  turned  the  hair  above  them 
gray.  We  could  give  scores  of  facts  of  this  class,  accompa- 
nied with  names  and  dates.  Another  article,  written  by  a 
Canadian  correspondent,  showed  that  the  excitement  of  any 
faculty  caused  an  itching  or  tickling  sensation  of  its  organ. 
In  another,  it  was  shown,  that  the  recent  activity  of  faculties 
could  always  be  detected  by  the  sharpness  of  their  organs,  &c. 

Every  reader,  who  will  take  the  trouble  to  observe,  will 
find,  that  when  any  of  his  faculties  have  been  called  into  un- 
usual activity,  their  organs  feel  as  if  crawling,  or  disturbed,  or 
feverish,  or  heated,  according  to  the  kind  and  extent  of  the 
excitement.  Observe  your  own  mental  exercises,  in  connec- 
tion with  your  cerebral  sensations,  and  you  Avill  daily  be  more 
and  more  surprised  at  the  numerous  and  striking  coincidences 
of  this  character.  Those  who  think,  write,  study,  lecture,  &c. 
much,  will  frequently  put  their  hands  to  theiY: foreheads  ;  whilst 
those  who  are  fond  of  family,  and  much  at  home,  when  they 
sleep  away  from  their  family,  will  involuntarily  put  their 
hands  upoa  their  social  organs. 

President  Mahan,  of  Oberlin,  to  whom  all  must  concede  a 
highly  excited  state  of  the  moral  faculties,  when  recently 
preaching  in  New-York,  often  put  his  hands  on  the  top  of  his 
head.  In  short,  this  principle  of  the  increase  of  organs  by 
exercise,  will  be  found  to  harmonize  most  strikingly  with  all 
the  facts,  and  classes  of  facts,  that  can  be  brought  to  bear 
upon  it. 

Again,  we  know  that  marked  changes  of  character  often 
take  place.  If,  therefore,  this  principle  of  a  corresponding 
change  of  organs  did  not  obtain.  Phrenology  could  not  be  true, 
because  it  would  be  at  war  with  the  known  manifestations  of 


IMPOETANCE    OF    THIS    PRIKCIPLE.  137 

mind  ;  whereas,  this  principle  goes  far  to  prove  its  truth,  by- 
proving  a  coincidence  between  known  changes  of  character, 
and  accompanying  clianges  in  the  developments. 

Turning  from  the  organs  to  their  faculties,  we  find  them  also 
susceptible  of  improvement  to  a  degree  truly  astonishing, 
which,  after  all,  is  the  thing  mainly  desired — the  increase  of 
the  organs  being  only  a  means  of  attaining  this  most  important 
end.  Who  does  not  know  that  every  species  of  memory, 
taste,  judgment,  and  indeed  every  faculty  of  mind,  is  suscepti- 
ble of  improvement  to  a  degree  really  surprising  ?  And  does 
not  this  degree  far  exceed  what  is  generally  supposed  ?  This 
increased  power  of  function  is  gained,  not  exclusively  or  even 
mainly,  by  the  increased  size  of  the  organs,  but  by  their  great- 
er activity,  a.nd  Jricilify  of  operation. 

There  is  no  principle  or  fact  in  nature  which  we  contem- 
plate with  more  intense  dehght,  or  in  propagating  which  we 
glory  more,  than  the  one  which  we  are  now  advocating.     It 
shows  how  to  improve  the  immortal  mind,  how  to  educate  our 
race,  how  to  diminish  human  suffering,  and  promote  man's 
highest  happiness.    It  holds  out,  in  the  language  of  demonstra- 
tion, to  one  and  all,  a  sovereign  remedy,  a  panacea,  for  all  in- 
tellectual weaknesses  and  moral  maladies.     Is  your  memory 
short  or  treacherous  to  its  trust,  it  shows  you  how  to  strength- 
en it.     If  any  of  your  passions  predominate,  it  teaches  you 
how  to  reduce  their  power  and  activity ;  or,  if  any  faculty  be 
weak  or  inactive,  it  shows  how  to  cultivate  and  invigorate  it. 
But  it  is  to  parents  that  it  holds  out  by  far  the  brightest  star 
of  promise.     You  love  your  children  as  you  love  your  own 
souls,  and  are  even  more  anxious  to  improve  them  than  your- 
selves, because  you  are  too  apt  to  regard  your- season  for  im- 
provement as  past.     You  are  ever  ready  to  expend  your  time 
or  your  money,  upon  their  intellectual  or  moral  education ; 
but,  unfortunately,  hitherto  you  have  only  groped  your  way 
in  the  dim  twilight,  while  this  principle  opens  upon  you  the 
full  orb  of  reason  and  mental  science — the  only  correct  guides 
to  the  results  you  seek.     But  let  it  be  remembered,  that  so 
precious  a  jewel  as  mental  and  moral  improvement  cannot 
be  purchased,  or  obtained  by  proxy,  or  inherited,  except  in  its 
rudiments,  but  must  be  cultivated,  and  that  by  every  one  for 


138  HOW   TO    INCREASE   THE    ORGANS. 

himself.  Parents  and  teachers  may  indeed  place  the  proper 
means  or  mental  stimulants  before  the  minds  of  the  young, 
just  as  they  m^ay  place  nourishing  food  before  them,  but  can 
no  more  exercise  the  minds  of  children  by  proxy,  than  they 
can  eat,  or  sleep,  or  breathe,  or  die  for  them. 

Reader,  do  you  desire  to  know  how  this  can  be  effected? 
Do  you  wish  this  mine  of  self-improvement  opened,  so  that 
you  may  begin  now  to  lay  up  its  richest  treasures?  Then, 
give  us  your  ear.  The  means  of  self-improvement  are  simple, 
easily  applied,  and  within  the  reach  of  all ;  and,  they  are  cer- 
tain and  powerful.  They  consist  simply  in  exercising  the 
organs  you  wish  to  improve  :  and,  in  not  exercising  those  you 
wish  to  restrain.  This,  every  one  must  do  for  himself,  and  do 
it,  not  "  here  a  little  and  there  a  little,"  but  habitually  ;  and 
the  richest  harvests  mortals  can  reap,  will  crown  your  efforts, 
— harvests  infinitely  richer  than  all  the  mines  of  the  world, 
because  harvests  of  moored  pleasure  and  intellectual  attainment ; 
harvests  as  far  above  all  earthly  possessions,  as  mind  is  supe- 
rior to  matter. 

Will  you  sow,  that  you  may  reap  this  harvest?  or,  will  you 
fold  your  arms,  and  allow  your  brain,  at  least  in  part,  to  die  ; 
yes,  to  die  while  you  live,  merely  from  inaction  ?  Does  not 
the  glorious  truth,  just  presented,  inspire  your  hope,  and  nerve 
your  determination  to  carry  forward  your  intellectual  and  mo- 
ral attainments  as  high  in  the  scale  of  improvement  as  nature 
will  allow  ?  Already,  you  eagerly  ask,  "Aowj  can  we  exercise 
owx  faculties,  so  as  to  enlarge  the  organs?  how  bring  them 
into  vigorous  and  continuous  exercise  ?  how  discipline  the  in- 
tellects, and  call  out  the  moral  feelings  of  children  and  youth  ? 
Listen  again,  and  we  v/ill  present 

THE    MEANS    OF    EXCITING    THE    FACULTIES. 

Every  faculty  has  its  own  proper  aliment  or  stimulant,  the 
presentation  of  which  naturally  induces  spontaneous  action. 
Thus,  Alimentiveness  is  stimulated,  not  by  gold  or  diamonds, 
but  hj  food,  its  natural  exciter.  Hence,  the  sight  of  food,  or 
seeing  others  eat,  or  even  the  taste  or  smell  of  food,  excites 
hunger;  whereas,  without  these  natural  stimulants,  Alimen- 


139  MEANS  OF  ENLARGING  THE  ORGANS. 

tiveness  would  have  remained  quiescent.  Acquisitiveness  is 
stimulated  to  action  by  property,  or  the  possession  of  things, 
&c.,  but  not  by  food,  or  distress,  or  danger.  Causality  is  ex- 
cited to  action  by  bringing  causes  within  its  reach.  To  excite 
and  thereby  strengthen  tliis  faculty,  think,  reason,  inquire  into 
the  causes  of  things,  and  trace  out  the  relations  between  causes 
and  effects— that  is,  bring  this  faculty  into  action  upon  the 
causes,  principles,  and  laws  of  things.  Combativeness  is  ex- 
cited by  opposition,  not  by  beef-steak,  or  money,  or  a  fact  in 
philosophy,*  Approbativeness  is  excited  by  praise  or  re- 
proach ;  Benevolence,  by  suffering ;  Reverence,  by  thoughts 
of  God  5  Conscientiousness,  by  ngA^  and  torong  ;  Ideality,  by 
the  beautiful,  exquisite,  or  perfect ;  Mirthfulness,  by  the  laugh- 
able or  ridiculous;  Locality,  by  travelling ;  Combativeness, 
by  opposition,  &c. 

But  mark:  one  faculty  can  neither  perform  the  function  of 
any  other,  nor  supply  its  place.  Though  a  person  having 
Acquisitiveness  small,  may  make  money  to  leave  his  children 
rich,  or  to  show  off,  or  to  aid  the  poor,  or  to  furnish  the  means 
of  acquiring  knowledge  ;  yet,  these  motives  neither  excite  nor 
enlarge  Acquisitiveness ;  for,  the  first  is  an  exercise  of  Philo- 
progenitiveness ;  the  second,  of  Approbativeness  ;  the  third, 
of  Benevolence ;  the  fourth,  of  Intellect,  &c.  To  exercise 
Acquisitiveness,  therefore,  he  must  make  and  love  money  to 
possess  and  hoard— must  love  property  to  lay  up,  and  for  its 
oion  sake.  You  may  eat  a  meal,  not  because  you  relish  it,  but 
because  a  certain  hour  has  come — that  is,  from  Time,  not  Ali- 
mentiveness.  Fighting  desperately  from  motives  of  honor, 
and  not  for  the  love  of  fighting,  is  no  more  an  exercise  of  Com- 
bativeness or  Destructiveness,  than  the  apparent  fondness,  in 
company,  of  a  husband  and  wife  who  cordially  hate  each 
other,  is  an  exercise  of  pure  connubial  love. 

This  illustration  shows,  first,  that  the  precise  nature  or  legiti- 
mate function  of  every  faculty,  mast  be  known,  as  well  as  its 
natural  ?X\meXi\.  or  stimulant;  and,  secondly,  that  this  stimu- 
lant must  be  placed  before  the  faculty  so  as  to  excite  it,  in  or- 
der thereby  to  enlarge  it. 

*  Tliis  train  of  remarks  does  not  refer  to  the  power  one  faculty  has  of 
bringing  another  faculty  into  action — a  point  to  be  elswhere  presented. 


140  APPLICATION    OF    THESE    PP.INCIPLES, 

* 

SECTION  II. 

APPLICATION    OP    THESE    PRINCIPLES    TO    SELF-IMPROVEMENT. 

Having  thus  far  seen :  first,  v/ha.t  constitutes  a  good  physi- 
cal organization ;  that  is,  health,  and,  with  it,  the  condition  of 
body  most  favorable   to  intellectual   and   moral   enjoyment, 
namely,  the  normal,  vigorous,  and  p'oporfionate  action  of  all  the 
corporeal  organs ;  and,  secondly,  in  what  mental  health,  or 
the  conditions  of  intellectual  and  moral  happiness,  consist ; 
that  is,  what  constitutes  a  good  head,  or  perfection  of  character, 
namely,  the  evenly  developed,  equal,  harmonious,  and  proportion- 
ate exercise  of  every  phrenological  organ  and  faculty  ;  we  pro- 
ceed to  apply  these  principles  to  both  self-improvement  and 
the  moral  training  and  government  of  children.     And  the 
first  thing  to  be  done  in  this  application,  is  to  ascertain  where- 
in we,  our  children,  or  those  to  whose  improvement  these 
principles   are  to   be  applied,  depart  from  that  balance,  or 
standard  of  perfection,  already  shown  to  embody  the  great 
condition  of  virtue  and  enjoyment — to  ascertain  what  physi- 
cal organs  are  too  weak,  {none  can,  be  too  strong,  if  duly  ba- 
lanced,) or  abnormal  in  function ;    that  is,  inflamed,  or  per- 
verted, or  improperly  directed ;  and  the  second  is,  to  set  about 
restoring  their  balance,  and  their  normal  action.     Thus,  if  the 
head  be  too  large  for  the  body,  or  if  the  mental  temperament 
greatly  predominate,  especially  in  children,   remove  books, 
excitement,  all  stimulants,  and  business  of  all  kinds — every 
thing  that  has  induced  this  preponderance — and  set  about  a 
vigorous  cultivation  of  the  muscular  system,  by  judicious,  but 
almost  constant,  muscular  exercise,  in  the  open  air;  that  is, 
by  walking,  laboring,  horticultural  employments,  riding,  gym- 
nastic exercises,  climbing  the  hills — any  thing  and  every  thing 
that  will  give  action  to  the  muscular,  digestive,  circulatory, 
respiratory,  and  perspiratory  systems,  and  prosecute  this  course 
till  this  balance,  and  with  it  health,  are  restored;  besides  ab- 
staining from  tea,  coffee,  condiments,  tobacco,  and  all  artifi- 
cial stimulants.     If  digestion  be  poor,  circulation  feeble,  and 


APPLICATION  OF    THESE    PRINCIPLES  TO    SELF-IMPROVEMENT.       14<1 

dyspeptic  or  coasumptive  tendencies  begin  to  appear,  pursue 
a  similar  course,  and  at  whatever  sacrifice.  Neglect  not  for 
a  day,  any  means  of  restoring  yourself  to  health,  virtue,  and 
happiness.  In  other  Avords,  apply  the  principles  presented  in 
the  section  on  Physiology  and  Health. 

But,  if  your  nutritive  system  be  too  active — if  you  eat  and 
breathe  more  than  you  exercise  your  mvscles  or  brains,  and 
are  therefore  becoming  plethoric,  fat,  lazy,  and  predisposed  to 
gout,  apoplexy,  and  febrile  diseases,  feed  less  and  work  more, 
till  you  consume  animal  energy  as  fast  as  you  manufacture  it. 
Sleep  less,  give  little  time  for  leisure,  but  take  on  all  the  work 
you  can  possibly  do,  and  keep  at  work,  late  nights  and  early 
mornings,  and  every  effort  will  make  you  twice  happy — once 
in  the  very  e'fort  itself,  and  the  other,  in  the  beneficial  ends 
secured  thereby. 

But  more  specific  still.  If  you  are  thin-faced,  sharp-featured, 
lank,  slim  in  the  abdominal  region,  or  inclined  to  bend  forward 
you  are  working  off  more  animal  energy  than  you  are  manufactu- 
ring. Perhaps  you  are  dyspeptic.  Perhaps  you  over  eat.  Per- 
haps you  over  work.  Perhaps  both.  Perhaps  you  confine  your- 
self within  doors,  and  get  too  little  fresh  air.  Possibly  you  take 
too  little  exercise.  Or,  it  may  be  too  much.  Perhaps  too  little 
sleep.  Or  your  digestion  being  bad,  you  may  sleep  hours  enough, 
but  it  does  you  little  good.  Or  your  mind  may  be  worn  down, 
with  care.  Some  secret,  permanent  occasion  of  grief  may  be 
preying  upon  you,  (for  there  is  no  telling  the  damage  done  to  the 
animal  economy  by  mental  unhappiness.)  A  thousand  causes  may 
conspire  either  to  prevent  the  manufactory  of  vitality,  or  to  work 
it  off  too  fast  when  it  is  manufactured.  Though,  if  a  full  supply  is 
but  manufactured,  it  is  almost  impossible  to  work  it  off  faster  than 
it  is  made.  The  great  danger  is,  that  sufficient  vitality  will  not  be 
'produced,  not  that  men  over  do.  Put  your  vitality-manufactory  in 
good  order,  and  there  is  little  danger  that  you  will  work  off  energy 
faster  than  it  will  be  furnished.  This  is  the  danger.  Mankind 
allow  their  vital  apparatus  to  become  disordered — digestion  to  be 
impaired,  so  that  the  food  ferments  or  sours  on  the  stomach  instead 
of  being  converted  into  nourishment ;  their  circulation  to  become 
impaired,  their  lungs  to  be  compressed  by  a  stooping  posture,  by 
whalebone,  by  corsets,  or  by  staying  much  within  doors,  their  skin 
11 


142  THE    PRACTICAL    APPLICAXION    OF    THESE    PRIKCIPLES. 

to  become  inactive,  and  colds  to  multiply  on  them,*  &c., — and  yet 
continue  to  work  o^  animal  energy  as  fast  as  they  did  while  their 
vital  apparatus  was  vigorous.  Not  that  they  absolutely  over  do  ; 
but  only  relatively,  compared  with  the  amount  of  animal  energy 
furnished  by  the  vital  apparatus.  There  is  little  danger  as  long  as 
men  keep  their  vital  apparatus  good,  except  of  surfeiting.  I  say, 
then,  the  very  fact  that  you  are  poor  in  flesh,  spare,  and,  especially 
caved  in  at  the  abdomen,  is  a  certain  indication  that  you  are 
working  off  vitality  faster  than  your  vital  apparatus  is  manufactu- 
ring it ;  and  thereby  prematurely  and  permanently  exhausting 
your  constitution.  Turn  a  square  corner.  Follow  at  once  those 
directions  already  given  for  restoring  the  normal  and  vigorous  ac- 
tion of  the .  vital  apparatus,  and  thereby  avoid  a  doom  otherwise 
sure  soon  to  enfeeble  both  mind  and  body,  blast  all  the  joys  of  life, 
and  lay  you  in  the  cold  and  silent  tomb.  Above  all,  let  vspare  per- 
sons qidt  tobacco  in  all  its  forms.  The  very  fact  that  they  are 
spare  shows  that  they  have  too  little  vitality  for  their  action,  while 
tobacco  increases  that  action,  already  too  great. 

If  you  are  ^00  fleshy,  and  especially,  corpulent,  or  fully  devel- 
oped in  the  abdomen,  the  opposite  of  the  last  supposition,  then  you 
must  eat  less  and  do  more  both  muscularly  and  intellectually. 
Otherwise,  obesity  is  your  doom,  and  therewith,  one  or  other  of 
those  diseases  that  accompany  a  plethoric  habit. 

Especially  applicable  and  important  to  children,  are  these  rules 
and  directions.      They  are  usually  fleshy,  plump  featured,  and  full 

*  What  means  the  extraordinary  severity  and  prevalence  of  colds  of 
late  years?  For  example:  In  June  and  July,  1843;  in  February  and 
March,  1844  ;  and  at  other  times  previously,  when  nine  in  ten  of  all  you 
met  had  the  "Tyler  pripe,"  or  the  "prevailing  influenza,"  or  a  "terrible 
cold  1"  This  will  never  do.  First,  it  is  not  necessary  ;  and,  secondly,  no 
epidemic  is  equally  dangerous,  because  the  yeliow  fever,  scarlet  fever,  bi- 
lious fever,  &c.,  do  their  depredations  openly  and  rapidly,  so  that  people 
take  the  alarm  ;  but  colds,  while  they  are  even  more  fatal,  are  so  insidious 
and  so  ofien  induce  oiher  diseases,  consumptions  especially,  that  they  are 
regarded  with  indifference,  and  thus  allowed  to  go  on,  adding  cold  to  cold, 
till  the  system,  entangled,  like  the  fly  in  the  gathering  folds  of  the  spider's 
web,  sinks  in  its  struggles  for  emancipation,  weacktned  in  every  part,  tho- 
roughly diseased,  and  is  then  handed  over  to  some  other  disease  to  finish 
up  the  work  of  death.  But,  I  hail  with  joy  the  growing  custom  of  daily 
ablutions,  and  of  the  water  cure,  &c.,  as  preventatives  of  colds,  and  there- 
by, of  the  diseases  they  engender. 


APPLICATION    OF  THIS    PRINCIPLE    TO    CHILDREN.  14<i 

in  the  abdomen,  and  ought  alvvnys  so  to  be.  And  if  a  child  ever 
becomes  thin  and  sharp  featured,  depend  upon  it  that  child  is  run- 
ning down  hill  in  point  of  health,  and  thereby,  in  point  of  jtll  that 
is  valuable.  Let  such  change  at  once  to  the  opposite  of  their  pre- 
sent course.  Let  them  be  taken  from  school,  and  sent  into  the 
country.  Let  them  play,  be  much  out  of  doors,  and  pay  no  atten- 
tion to  study,  till  this  balance  is  fully  restored  between  the  brain 
and  nervous  system  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  muscular  system  on 
the  other. 

But,  besides  applying  this  doctrine  of  balance  of  parts  to  the 
various  physical,  bodily  organs,  so  as  to  produce  physical  health, 
apply  it  also  to  the  mental  organs,  so  as  to  secure  mental  health, 
and  escape  moral  disease.  See  what  Phrenological  organs  are 
too  large,*  and  what  are  too  small,  and  proceed  at  once  to  remove 
stimulants  from  the  former,  and  apply  them  to  the  latter.  Thus,  if 
Cautiousness  be  larger  than  Hope  or  Combativeness,  first  put  your 
intellect  over  against  your  fears,  and  bear  constantly  in  mind,  that 
yOur  fears  are  too  active,  and  your  horizon  be-clouded  with  merely 
imaginary  danger ;  that  you  are  anxious  when  there  is  no  need 
of  it,  and  tbo  irresolute,  procrastinating,  and  undecided ;  and  se- 
condly, place  motives  before  Hope.  Encourage  yourself  Cal- 
culate your  chances  of  success  often  and  mainly,  and  never  allow 
yourself  to  contemplate  the  dark  side  of  the  picture.  And  if  to 
this  you  add  large  Conscientiousness  and  Veneration,  and  small 
Self-Esteem,  you  will  be  likely  to  suffer  from  religious  melancholy 
— to  feel  that  you  are  unworthy  the  notice  of  the  mercy  of  your 
Heavenly  Father,  and  to  mourn  over  your  sins  in  dust  and  ashes, 
as  if  guilty  and  unclean.  Now,  remember  that  all  this  results  from 
your  organs,  and  not  from  your  being  as  you  esteem  yourself.     If 

*  Strictly  speaking,  ?zo  organ  can  be  too  large,  provided  it  be  properly- 
balanced  and  directed.  In  reality,  there  is  no  need  of  diminisliing  the  size 
or  power  of  any  organ  or  faculty.  The  larger  the  better,  if  there  be  an 
equal  and  proportionate  action  of  all  the  others.  Still,  it  may  be  more  easy 
to  restore  this  balance  by  reducing  the  larger  organs  somewhat,  than  to 
bring  the  small  ones  the  whole  of  the  way  along  up  to  them.  Generally 
the  larger  organs  require  to  be  directed  property,  guarded  against  perver- 
sion, rather  than  reduced  in  power. 


1^.4;  SPECIFIC    DIRECTIONS    FOE.    SELF-IMPROVEMENT. 

you  had  opposite  developments,  you  would  have  opposite  feelings, 
though  your  actions  should  be  every  way  the  same. 

So,  if  Hope  be  too  large,  bear  in  mind,  that  you  are  constitu- 
tipnally  inclined  to  "  count  your  chickens  before  they  are  hatched," 
and  sometimes  to  reckon  on  two  to  an  egg  at  that — that  you  mag- 
nify every  favorable  prospect,  and  underrate  all  difficulties,  and  are 
almost  certain  to  enter  too  largely  into  business.  Deck  your  hopes, 
therefore,  half  or  one-third  before  you  act  upon  them.  Make  al- 
lowance for  your  constitutional  tendency  to  overrate.  Remember 
the  fate  of  Icarius  and  his  companion,  who,  not  content  with  flying 
across  the  Bosphorus,  and  thereby  performing  the  greatest  feat  the. 
world  had  ever  witnessed,  and  which  the  whole  world  till  then  had 
tried  but  failed,  turned  their  flight  upward,  and  flew  so  near  the 
sun  as  to  melt  their  wings,  and  fall  into  the  Bosphorus.  Remem- 
ber that  your  sail  is  too  great  for  your  ballast.  Reef  up,  and  slack 
away,  till  you  bring  your  Hope  on  a  par  with  your  other  organs, 
and  count  your  difficulties  more  than  your  prospects,  and  in  a  few 
years  you  will  obviate  a  constitutional  tendency  which  has  ruined 
more  than  almost  any  other,  and  which  is  almost  certain  to  ruin 
you. 

An  anecdote  in  point.     In  1835,  in  examining  the  head  of  an 

old  schoolmate,  now  the  Rev. ,  I  gave  him  the  advice  given 

above,  which  so  impressed  him  that  he  put  it  into  immediate  prac- 
tice. In  1843,  I  again  examined  his  head,  and  finding  it  below 
average,  yet  remembering  the  council  given,  eight  years  before,  I 
said  to  him,  "  Why,  what  has  become  of  your  Hope  ?"  "  Do  you 
not  remember  telling  me  to  curb  it,  when  you  examined  it  before  ?" 
said  he.  "  I  have  done  as  you  directed.  If  it  is  smaller,  that  is 
the  reason."  "  Then  turn  about  and  cultivate  it  again,  for  now 
it  is  too  low%"  said  I.  He  said  he  was  fully  sensible  of  having 
•wrought  a  change  in  his  feelings  corresponding  with  the  change 
that  had  taken  place  in  his  organ  of  Hope,  he  having  been  per- 
manently elated  then,  whereas  now,  he  is  particularly  depressed  in 
spirits. 

But,  having  barely  stated  the  principle,  I  leave  its  more  full  il- 
lustration till  after  we  have  analyzed  the  faculties,  partly  because 
the  reader  is  not  yet  supposed  to  be  familiar  with  their  functions, 
and  partly  because  when  thus  acquainted  therewith,  these  illustra- 
tions will  strike  him  with  far  greater  force  than  now. 


SELF-KNOWLEDGE ITS    VALUE,    AND    HOW    TO    OBTAIN    IT.        145 


SELF    KNOWLEDGE ITS    VALUE,   AND    HOW    TO   OBTAIN    IT. 

The  road  to  self-improvement  is  thus  fairly  and  fully  opened  ; 
and  the  first  step  to  be  taken  is  for  every  one  who  would  walk 
therein  to  study  himself.  Self-knowledge  will  show  you  just 
what  you  are,  and  the  principle  of  balance  already  explained, 
what  you  should  become,  and  that  of  the  increase  of  organs,  how 
to  become  what  you  should  be.  As,  before  you  can  repair  a  watch, 
you  must  ascertain  what  portion  of  it  is  out  of  order ;  so,  before 
you  can  do  the  first  correct  thing  towards  self-improvement,  except 
by  accident,  you  must  know  exactly  wherein  you  depart  from  the 
true  standard  of  mental  and  moral  perfection. 

"Know  thyself,"  was  written  in  golden  capitals  upon  the 
splendid  temple  of  Delphos,  as  the  most  important  maxim  which 
the  wise  men  of  Greece  could  hand  down  to  unborn  generations. 
The  Scriptures  require  us  to  "search  our  own  hearts,  and  try  our- 
selves ;"  and  the  entire  experience  of  mankind  bears  testimony, 
that  ^e//"- knowledge  is  the  most  important  oiall  knowledge.  A  tho- 
rough knowledge  of  one's  own  self — of  his  good  properties,  and 
how  to  make  the  most  of  them ;  of  his  defects,  and  how  to  guard 
against  the  evils  growing  out  of  them;  of  his  predispositions  to v 
and  sources  of,  temptations  to  excess  and  error,  and  the  means  of 
keeping  these  desires  quiescent ;  of  what  he  is  capable  of  doing 
and  of  becoming,  and  what  not ;  and  wherein  he  is  liable  to  err> 
either  in  judgment  or  conduct — is  more  intimately  associated  with 
his  virtue  and  happiness,  and  success  through  life,  than  all  other 
knowledge  united.  Before  he  can  correct  any  defect,  he  must 
know  precisely  in  what  that  defect  consists — must  know  the  pre- 
cise faculty  that  is  too  strong,  or  too  weak,  or  wrongly  exercised. 

Now,  this  very  knowledge,  phrenology,  if  true,  furnishes,  and 
that  with  the  certainty  attending  physical  deinonstration.  It  will 
enable  every  individual  to  place  his  own  fingers  upon  every  ele~ 
ment  of  his  character;  and  in  case  his  predominant  self-esteem 
has  rendered  him  proud  and  self-conceited,  or  its  deficiency  led 
him  to  underrate  his  capabilities  or  moral  worth,  and  produced 
diffidence,  it  will  correct  these  estimates,  and  teach  men  precisely 
what  they  really  are. 


146  SELF-KNOWLEDGE ITS  VALUE, 

But  in  case  you  cannot  afford  time  to  study  Phrenology  enough 
to  arrive  at  this  self-knowledge  with  the  required  precision  and 
certainty,  apply  to  a  skilful  and  experienced  practical  Phrenologist, 
not  from  motives  of  curiosity,  not  to  test  the  science,  not  to  be 
amused,  but  to  learn  your  failings.  Tell  him  frankly  your  object, 
your  circumstances,  state  of  health,  education,  parentage,  &c. 
Request  him  to  examine  your  physical  organization,  or  state  of 
body,  as  well  as  the  development  of  your  organs,  and  to  give  "phy- 
siological as  well  as  phrenological  advice.  Request  a  thorough 
examination,  and  a  full,  frank  exposition  of  the  true  state  of  the 
case,  placing  yourself  under  his  instruction  as  you  would  under  the 
tuition  of  other  teachers,  or  as  in  the  case  of  a  physician  when 
sick.  And  by  combining  your  own  experience  with  his  examina- 
tion, you  will  be  able  to  learn  with  certainty  at  least  all  your  lead- 
ing excesses  and  defects  :  their  remedy  will  be  pointed  out  in  the 
following  pages.  If  he  require  additional  compensation  for  this 
extra  labc  r,  it  will  be  money  well  spent,  provided  he  can  be  relied 
upon  as  a  correct  examiner  ;*  otherwise  his  examination  is  worth 
nothing. 

*  This  application  of  Phrenology  shows  how  infinitely  superior  practi- 
cal Phrenology  is  to  all  the  hooks  evi;r  written  or  lectures  ever  delivered 
upon  the  science  itself,  or  its  hearings.    This  "  examining  hods  "  has  heen 
frowned  upon  long  enough  by  speculating,  reasoning,  hook-making  phreno- 
logists.    Even  George  Corahe,  lo  whcm  all  concede  very  superior  ahili- 
ties  as  a  writer  merely,  when  solicited  to  examine  heads,  uniformly  re- 
plied: " /Szr,  I  did  7ioL  come  in  this  country  to  examine  heads.''''     Were 
examining  heads  wrong  or  disgraceful,  this  reply  would  have  been  right? 
but  there  is  no  other  justification  of  it  except  inability.     The  Kew  York 
Phrenological  Fociety  refuses  to  admit  any  practical  Phrenologist  as  mem- 
ber, because  of  their  hostiliiy  to  examinations;  and  Andrew  Bcardman,  in 
his  imroductory  to  George  Combe's  Leciures  on  Phrenology,  takes  strong 
ground  against   practical  Phrenology,  thereby  putting  weapons  into  the 
mouth  of  ami-Phrenologists.     (See  Dr.  Hamilton's  Lectures,  p.  25.)     Let 
the  ptihlic  judge  between  them  and  us.     We  have  foueht  a  desperate 
battle,  not  against  anii-plirenoloeisis  merely  nor  mainly,  but  against  these 
IPim  osoi'msj'^G  phreno/ogists.     But  the  daj  is  now  ours.  Thair  application 
of  practical  phrenology  to  the  ascertainment  of  faults  preparatory  to  their 
correction,  is  itself  a  host.     Every  anti-praciica!  phrenolrgiral  S(-ciety  has 
died  ;  and  wiihotu  practical  Phrenology,  the  science  itself  must  inevitably 
die,  at  least  in  effect,  with  this  matter-of-fact  age  and  nation. 


AND    HOW    TO    OBTAIN    IT.  147 

The  time  has  been,  when  men  applied  to  the  author  for  exami- 
nations mainly  as  a  matter  of  novelty,  or  curiosity,  or  to  put  the 
science  to  a  practical  test.  But,  a  most  gratifying  change  is  now 
eoming  over  the  public  mind.  The  majority  of  those  who  now 
apply  for  examinations,  are  pretty  thoroughly  convinced  of  its 
truth,  and  wish  to  derive  benefit  therefrom,  and  I  make  it  a  profes- 
sional point  to  specify  the  faults,  and  put  them  upon  the  track  of  self- 
improvement,  that  is,  to  tell  them  what  organs  are  too  large,  and 
what  too  small,  and  especially,  to  administer  'physiological  advice 
by  telling  them  which  of  the  physical  organs  are  becoming  too 
feeble,  or  inflamed,  or  perverted.  And  thousands  have  testified, 
both  their  gratitude,  and  their  improvement,  by  having  followed 
my  advice.  Indeed,  I  practice  Phrenology  more  in  order  to  use 
the  tremendous  power  it  affords  of  giving  wholesome  advice,  and 
thereby  doiriT;  good,  than  from  all  other  motives  combined.  And 
hence,  in  ra  irking  charts,  I  of  late  always  throw  a  circular  stroke 
over  organs  that  are  too  small,  ami  re:|uire  to  be  brought  up,  and 
under  those  that  are  too  large,  and  require  to  be  watched  or  guard- 
ed against  excess.  Those  signs,  especially  in  connection  with  this 
work,  will  be  found  to  be  invaluable,  especially  to  the  young.  By 
these  signs  they  will  see  what  organs  require  to  be  brought  up  and 
down,  and  by  referring  to  this  work,  they  are  told  hoio  to  strengthen 
those  that  require  to  be  strengthened,  and  to  guard  those  that  re- 
quire guarding.  And  to  present  this  whole  matter  at  one  glance, 
a  table  has  been  placed  at  the  beginning  of  the  work,  by  marking 
which  the  reader  is  referred  to  those  pages,  which  tell  him  how  to 
do  what  these  marks  tell  him  requires  to  be  done. 

To  children,  these  examinations  are  especially  important.  They 
point  out  what  organs  are  too  large  and  what  too  small,  and  then 
this  work  will  tell  parents  how  to  stimulate  defective  ones  continu- 
ally, and  to  remove  stimulating  action  from  those  that  are  too 
large.  Above  all,  phrenology  furnishes  a  method  of  telling  chil- 
dren, youth,  and  men,  companions  and  friends,  their  faults,  incom- 
parably superior  to  all  others.  By  having  a  parent  or  a  iiiend. 
reiterate  a  fault  for  the  hundredth  time,  and  not  unfrequently  in  a 
blaming  spirit,  they  become  impatient  or  angry,  and  are  injured 
thereby  ;  but  the  Phrenologist  has  no  prepossessions  or  prejudices 
either  way.  He  goes  by  the  developments.  He  sees  by  the  head 
that  I  possess  such  and  such  faults,  and  therefore  it  must  be  so. 


148  ASCENDANCY    OF    THE    MOEAL    SKNTIMENTS. 

He  also  tells  me  how  to  avoid  them.  I  will  try  to  do  as  he  tells 
lue.  If  you  wish  to  lell  a  friend  or  a  child  their  real  faults,  take 
them  to  a  thorough  Phrenologist.  He  will  be  sure  to  espy  the  er- 
ror, and  to  point  it  out.  And,  being  pointed  out  scientifically,  they 
can  hardly  fail  to  perceive  their  errors  and  reform. 

Nor  am  I  afraid  that  there  will  ever  be  too  many  good  Phreno- 
logists. Every  town  should  have  one  or  more.  They  should  be 
more  numerous  than  doctors  (not  are,  but)  should  be,  and  should 
be  consulted  upon  all  points  touching  self-knowledge  and  self-im- 
provement, as  much  as  physicians  are  in  sickness.  Especially,  do 
we  require  female  phrenologists  to  advise  in  regard  to  children. 
Public  lectures  by  females  may,  and  may  not,  be  proper ;  but  for 
females  to  give  professional  advice,  especially  to  children,  youth, 
and  their  own  sex,  is  as  proper  as  to  teach  school.  At  least,  I  stand 
ready  to  support  it  by  all  the  influence  I  can  bring  to  bear  upon  it. 

But,  after  all,  as  there  is  nothing  like  every  one's  being  his  own 
doctor,  so  there  is  nothing  like  every  one's  being  his  own  phre- 
nologist. Parents  should  understand  it  as  a  guide  in  educating 
and  choosing  occupations  for  their  children,  and  should  teach  it  to 
their  children  as  a  branch  oj" study.*  Our  population  should  grow 
up  Phrenologists.  They  will  then  grow  up  virtuous,  healthy,  and 
happy. 


SECTION  III. 


THE    ASCENDANCY   OF  THE    MORAL    SENTIMENTS    AND    INTELLECT,    AND 
THE    PROPER   DIRECTION    OF    ALL    THE    FACULTIES. 

Before  proceeding  directly  to  the  subject  matter  of  the  work — 
the  analysis  and  means  of  cultivating  the  faculties,  it  is  necessary 
that  we  state  and  illustrate  two  other  important  laws  of  our  nature, 
or  conditions  of  virtue  and   enjoyment.     The  first  is  the  great  law 

*  Just  as  soon  as  the  author  can  get  up  the  pocket  edition  of  his  works^ 
he  intench  to  prepare  a  work  on  Phrenoloiry,  expressly  for  children,  (ama- 
teurs included,)  which  shall  make  it  so  plain  ihat  a  child  can  be  his  own 
teacher,  and  make  an  eflbrt  to  introduce  it  as  a  branch  of  learning  into 
the  common  schools  of  the  country. 


AND    INTELLECTITAL    FACULTIES.  149 

which  requires  the  ascendency  of  the  higher  faculties  over  the  pro- 
pensities, or,  at  least,  that  the  latter  be  governed,  guided,  directed, 
and  restrained,  by  the  combined  action  of  the  moral  sentiments 
and  intellect. 

Without  rendering  obedience  to  this  law,  there  is  no  virtue,  no 
enjoyment  in  life ;  but,  this  law  obeyed,  all  is  peace  and  happiness. 
A  few  illustrations  will  serve  to  explain  both  the  law  itself,  and 
its  importance.  Let  it  still  be  borne  in  mind,  that  v/e  live  to  be 
happy — that  whatever  augments  our  pleasures,  both  temporarily 
and  ultimately,  furthers  the  ends  of  our  being,  and  that  whatever- 
causes  pain,  is  wrong,  and  should  be  avoided.  In  short,  we  need 
only  to  be  selfish — to  promote  our  own  greatest  ultimate  good. 
Our  own  happiness,  then,  and  also  that  of  our  fellow-men,  require 
that  we  govern  our  conduct  by  the  moral  sentiments  and  intellect 
— that  we  never  exercise  the  propensities  but  "  by  and  with  the 
consent,"  and  under  the  direction,  of  the  intellectual  and  moral 
faculties — that  every  exercise  of  the  propensities  not  thus  govern- 
ed, results  in  misery,  both  to  the  individual,  and  also  to  all  concerned. 

Thus :  the  exercise  of  Appetite,  by  itself,  indulged  for  the  mere 
pleasures  of  Ihe  palate,  and  without  the  intellect  to  choose  the  kind 
and  quality  of  our  food,  or  the  moral  sentiments  to  restrain  its  ex- 
cessive action,  will  often  eat  unwholesome  food,  and  in  excessive 
quantities,  which  will  derange  the  stomach,  undermine  the  health, 
blunt  the  moral  sensibilities,  benumb  the  intellect,  and  sap  the 
fountain-head  of  nearly  all  our  physical  as  well  as  mental  andf 
moral  pleasures,  besides  greatly  abridging  those  very  pleasures  o 
the  palate  sought  in  its  indulgence.  But,  let  it  be  indulged  under 
the  control  of  intellect — let  the  latter  chose  the  best  kind,  and  dic- 
tate the  proper  amount,  offood,  and  let  the  moral  sentiments  restrain 
its  excess,  and  the  consequences  will  be,  the  greatest  gustatory 
enjoyment  that  we  are  capable  of  experiencing,  as  well  as  abun- 
dant sustenance  to  all  the  other  physical  and  mental  faculties,  and 
the  greatest  pleasures  in  the  expenditure  of  this  sustenance. 

If  Combativeness  be  exercised  alone,  without  the  sanctifying 
influences  of  the  moral  sentiments,  and  in  opposition  to  the  dictates 
of  reason,  it  becomes  mere  brute  force,  mere  bravado  and  physical 
fight,  bursting  forth  on  all  occasions,  quarrelling  with  every  body, 
not  only  without  cause,  but  in  opposition  to  right,  and  making  its 
possessor  and  all  around  him  miserable.     But,  let  this  organ  be 


150  SUPREMACY    OF    THE    MORAL    SENTIMENTS. 

exercised  iinder  the  direction  and  control  of  the  intellectual  and 
moral  faculties,  and  it  becomes  moral  courage,  a  defence  of  right 
and  truth,  and  of  the  oppressed,  and  opposes  whatever  is  wrong 
and  pernicious  in  its  tendency — than  which  no  element  of  our  na- 
ture yields  its  possessor  a  richer  harvest  of  the  most  pure  and 
exalted  pleasure,  in  addition  to  the  pleasure  felt  in  exercising  this 
feeling,  and  the  beneficial  ends  obtained  thereby. 

Let  a  man  exercise  Acquisitiveness  as  the  robber  and  knave 
exercise  it,  without  intellect,  to  tell  him  that  this  course,  in  the 
long  run,  will  prevent  his  becoming  rich,  and  without  the  moral 
sentiments  to  show  how  wrong  and  unjust  this  course,  that  is,  let 
him  exercise  this  organ  without  intellect  to  point  out  the  most  suc- 
cessful course,  or  the  moral  sentiments  to  prevent  his  getting  it  by 
extortion  and  robbery,  and  other  similar  means,  however  unjust, 
and  tills  organ  will  make  him  w^retched,  and  also  all  whom  he 
wrongs  by  his  dishonesty.  Ill-gotten  wealth,  injures  all  and  bene- 
fits none.  But  let  intellect  guide  a  man  so  that  he  chooses  the  hest 
course  to  make  money,  and  then  let  Conscientiousness  cause  him 
to  make  money  honestly,  and  pay  all  he  owes,  and  Benevolence 
prevent  his  distressing  any  one  by  his  efforts  to  acquire  property, 
and  that  man  will  enjoy  his  money,  and  enjoy  life,  ir^^nitely  more 
than  will  he  whose  Acquisitiveness  is  not  thus  governed.  The 
merchants  in  a  town  in  which  I  once  resided,  held  their  goods  at 
so  enormous  a  price,  that  they  drove  all  the  valuable  custom  to 
a  neighboring  town,  where  the  merchants  had  moral  feeling  enough 
to  ask  only  a  fair,  livmg  profit,  and  intellect  enough  to  see  that  "  a 
nimble  sixpence  is  better  than  a  slow  shilling."  The  former  mer- 
chants failed,  and  thus  defeated  their  own  object,  but  the  latter 
are  very  prosperous,  and  enjoy  much  more,  both  in  the  possession 
of  their  wealth,  anil  in  the  thought  that  they  obtained  it  honestly, 
than  the  former  class. 

Let  a  mother  be  ever  so  fond  of  her  child,  but  let  her  not  guide 
her  maternal  love  by  the  dictates  of  enlightened  reason,  nor  by 
the  direction  of  her  moral  feelings,  and  she  will  sfoil  that  child  by 
over-indulgence  and  mismanagement — an  occurrence  as  lamentable 
as  it  is  common — but,  let  a  parent  love  this  child  intellectually ^ 
that  is,  let  his  intellect  be  exercised  along  with  his  parental  attach- 
ment, and  be  guided  by  it,  and  he  will  manage  his  child  in  the 
best  manner  possible,  and  also  seek  the  moral  education  and  spirit- 


SUPUEMACY  OF  THE  MORAL  SENTIMENTS.  151 

ual  good  of  his  child  by  training  him  up  in  the  way  he  should  go, 
and  the  happiness  of  both  parent  and  child,  and  of  all  who  come 
within  iheir  influence,  will  be  the  delightful  result.  How  heaven- 
wide  the  contrast  between  a  good  and  a  bad  child  !  Even  if  the 
parent  love  his  child  morally,  and  seek  to  make  him  better,  but 
unguided  by  intellect,  actually  makes  him  worse,  a  course  very 
common,  then  his  child  is  a  torment  to  himself,  his  parents,  and  all 
concerned.  We  must  love  our  children  intellectually  and  morally, 
if  we  would  either  have  thejn  enjoy  life,  or  we  enjoy  life  in  our 
children. 

If  a  man  exercise  his  Friendship,  without  the  governing  influ- 
ences of  intellect  and  the  sanctions,  of  the  moral  sentiments,  he 
will  choose  low  and  immoral  associates,  who  will  lower  down  the 
tone  of  his  moral  feelings,  and  lead  him  into  the  paths  of  sin,  and 
thus  make  him  unhappy.  But,  if  he  exercise  his  friendship  under 
the  sanction  of  the  moral  faculties  and  intellect — if  he  choose  in- 
tellectual and  moral  companions,  they  will  expand  his  intellect 
and  strensfthen  his  virtuous  feelino;s,  and  this  will  make  him  and 
them  the  more  happy.  Friendship,  founded  on  intellect  and  virtu- 
ous feeling,  is  far  more  exalted  in  its  character,  and  beneficial  in 
its  influence,  than  when  founded  on  any  olher  considerations,  while 
friendship  founded  on  the  propensities,  will  increase  the  depravity 
and  misery  of  all  concerned. 

Let  Approbativeness,  or  love,  of  the  good  opinion  of  others,  be 
governed  by  the  moral  sentiments,  and  it  becomes  ambition  to 
excel  in  works  of  philanthropy,  and  seeks  to  keep  the  moral  cha- 
racter pure  and  spotless  ;  and  let  it  be  guided  by  the  intellect,  and 
it  becomes  intellectual  ambition,  and  seeks  eminence  in  the  walks 
of  literature  or  the  fields  of  science  ;  but  when  7iot  thus  governed, 
it  degenerates  into  a  low,  animal,  grovelling,  sensual  ambition,  an 
ambition  to  become  the  greatest  eater,  or  fighter,  or  duellist,  or 
dandy,  or  coquette,  which  causes  unhappiness  to  the  possessor? 
and  to  all  concerned.  If  Self-Esteem  be  governed  by  intellect 
and  moral  feeling,  it  imparts  nobleness  and  elevation  to  the  charac- 
ter and  conduct,  which  sheds  a  beam  of  exalted  pleasure  on  its  pos- 
sessor and  on  all  around  him  ;  but  when  Jiot  thus  governed,  it  dege- 
nerates into  egotism,  self-conceit,  imperativeness,  and  supercilious- 
ness, which  gives  pain  to  himself  and  to  all  affected  by  this  quality 
in  him. 


MEANS    OF    SUBDUING    THE    ANIMAL    PROPENSITIES.  l52 

Let  Cautionsness  be  exercised  withont  intellect,  that  is,  when 
there  is  no  reason  for  being  afraid,  and  it  produces  evil  only ;  but 
let  intellect  govern  it,  so  that  it  is  exercised  only  when  there  is 
real  danger  to  be  avoided,  or  let  it  be  exercised  with  Benevolence, 
or  Justice,  making  us  fearful  lest  we  do  wrong,  or  careful  not  to 
injure  others,  and  its  product  is  most  beneficial.  This  principle 
might  be  illustrated  and  enforced  by  Amativeness,  and  indeed  by 
every  one  of  the  lower  organs,  and  also  reversed  by  showing  how 
haj)]py  is  the  man  who  governs  his  principles  and  conduct  by  enlight- 
ened intellect  and  high-toned  moral  sentiment  s,but  it  is  already  ren- 
dered too  plain  to  require  it.  In  short,  man  is  constituted  to  be  go- 
verned thoughout  by  his  higher  faculties,  and  there  is  no  enjoyment 
for  him  unless  he  puts  intellect  on  the  throne  and  the  moral  senti- 
ments as  joint  rulers  of  the  kingdom  of  his  animal  nature.  Much 
of  the  evil  existing  in  society,  much  of  the  suffering  which  stares 
us  wherever  we  turn  our  eyes,  have  their  origin  in  the  violation 
of  this  law.  Nor  is  this  misery,  so  extensive,  so  diversified,  to  be 
wondered  at,  if  we  consider  that  nineteen-twentieths  of  the  time, 
desiies,  pursuits,  pleasures,  anxieties,  &c.,  of  mankind  are  con- 
sumed in  feeding  and  gratifying  his  animal  nature  merely;  in 
scrambling  after  property ;  in  getting  something  to  eat,  and  drink, 
and  wear,  and  live  in,  and  show  off"  with ;  in  gratifying  his  love 
or  povi^er,  or  his  grasping  ambition ;  in  politics,  friendship,  and  fa- 
mily cares  ;  in  combating,  conteiiding,  backbiting,  lasciviousness, 
and  like  animal  gratifixations.  War,  love,  money,  and  display, 
sura  up  the  history  of  man  since  his  creation  to  the  present  time. 
Before  man  can  become  virtuous  and  happy,  his  animal  nature  must 
be  subjected  to  the  control  of  his  moral  and  intellectual  faculties. 
This  animality  of  man  is  in  striking  harmony  with  the  fact,  that  a 
large  proportion  of  the  human  brain  is  in  the  region  of  the  feel- 
ings, while  but  a  small  moiety  is  found  in  the  region  of  the  in- 
tellect. 

The  question,  then,  returns  with  great  force,  on  the  means  of 
subduing  our  animal  propensities,  and  of  improving  the  tone  and 
vigor  of  the  sentiments  anrl  intellect.  A  more  important  question 
can  hardly  be  asked,  and  the  answer  to  none,  is  better  calculated 
to  make  mankind  virtuous  and  happy. 

And  one  of  the  answers  to  this  important  question,  is  to  be  found 
in  applying  the  pinciple  already  presented  of  relation  between  the 


SINFULNESS    OFTEN    CAUSED    BY   THYSICAL    DI30RDEE.  153 

body  and  the  base  of  the  brain.     That  principle  renders  it  self-evi- 
dent that  sin  is  often,  if  not  generally,  caused  merely  by  physical 
disorder — by  an  inflamed  or  an  over  stimulated  state  of  the  body, 
which  keeps  the  base  of  the  brain,  or  the  propensities,  in  a  fevered 
state,  the  result  of  which  is  sinful  feelings  and  conduct.     No  one 
doubts,  but  that  those  who  drink  are  more  sinful  than  if  they  were 
temperate^  not  alone  in  the  mere  act  of  drinking,  but  in  that  phren- 
zy  of  animal  passion  caused  by  that  physical  disease  induced  by 
drink.     Strong  drink  has  well  been  called  the  parent  of  all  the 
vices.     It  is  so,  because  it  sets  the  whole  basilar  region  in  com- 
motion, and  thereby  gives  the  propensities  the  ascendency  over 
the  moral  sentiments  and  intellect.     No  one- doubts  that  men  curse, 
swear,  fight,  gamble,  revel,  and  do  every  thing  else  that  is  wicked, 
more  when  intoxicated  than  when  sober,  and  no  one  doubts,  there- 
fore, that  the  physiological  state  induced  by  liquor  produces  these 
sins.     No  one  doubts,  either,  that  a  man  is  rendered  more  irritable 
and  ill  tempered  by  dyspepsia,  than  by  health,  or  that  this  ill 
temper  is  sinful,  that  is,  a  merely  physical  disease  augments  sinful- 
ness.    Nor  will  it  be  doubted  that  children  are  usually  more  cross, 
peevish,  and  oftener  and  more  easily  angered,  when  unwell  than 
when  well,  nor  that  this  bad  temper  is  sinfuL     That  is,  they  are 
rendered  sinful  by  being  sick,  and  if  kept  unwell  most  of  the  time, 
this  constant  exercise  of  the  propensities  augments  their  power, 
and  they  become  bad  members  of  society  from  being  unwell  while 
young.     No  one  doubts,  but  that  cheating  and  selfishness,  in  the 
common  acceptation  of  the  latter  term,  are  sinful,  and  yet  they  are 
often  induced  by  a  fevered  state  of  the  body,  brought  on  by  confine- 
ment, care,  want  of  sleep,  or  one  or  more  of  those  thousands  of 
things  that  throw  the  body  into  a  fevered  state,  and  thereby  keep  the 
propensities  in   a  constant  fever  and  excitement.     Need  I  name 
thousands  of  other  illustrations  of  the  general  fact,  that  much  of 
the  sinfulness  of  mankind  has  its  origin  in  a  disordered  physiology? 
This  cause  of  much  of  man's  sinfulness,  reveals  also  its  cure, 
namely,  by  curing  the  body.     If  you  chew  or  smoke  tobacco,  se- 
gars  of  cause  included,  you  thereby,  necessarily,  throw  your  ner- 
vous system,  and,  consequently,  your  propensities,  into  a  fevered 
state,  and  hence  are  rendered  irritable,  apt  to  over-eat,  liable  to 
over-reach  in  trade,  perhaps  rendered   licentious,  or  at  least,  are 
corrupted  by  impure  feelings,  desires,  and  thoughts,  blunted  as  to 


254  TOBACCO,    TEA,    AND    COFFEE. 

your  moral  sensibilities,  and  every  way  rendered  more  animal  and 
less  moral  by  this  filthy  practice.  Nor  is  it  possible  for  any  hu- 
man being  to  take  tobacco  in  any  form  without  being  artificially  sti- 
mulated thereby  ;  nor  to  be  thus  stimulated,  without  experiencing 
a  morbid  craving  action  of  the  propensities,  and  thus  consequen; 
ascendency  over  the  moral  sentiments  and  intellect.  Every  tobacco 
eater  or  smoker  is  thereby  and  therefore  rendered  immoral ;  that  is, 
animal,  and  necessarily  so ;  because  tobacco  always  and  neces- 
sarily stimulates,  and  all  artificial  s'imulants  necessarily  induce  the 
morbid  and  sinful  actions  of  the  propensities.  The  fact  that  tobac- 
co stimulates,  is  incontestible,  and  the  principle  already  demonstrat- 
ed that  stimulants  act  mainly  upon  the  propensities,  has  been 
placed  beyond  all  cavil  or  doubt,  and  the  law  that  the  predomi- 
nence  of  the  propensities  over  the  moral  sentiments  and  intellect 
produces  sin  and  misery,  no  one  will  dispute.  Now  put  this  and 
that  together.  That  tobacco  stimulates  the  propensities,  and  there- 
by gives  them  the  ascendency  over  the  upper  faculties,  renders  the 
inference  incontestible,  that  tobacco  produces  vice  and  misery— 
always,  necessarily. 

Similar  remarks  apply  to  the  use  of  tea  and  coffee.  They  also 
stimulate  always,  necessarily.  This  is  their  nature  and  constitu- 
tional effect,  as  well  as  the  facts  of  the  case.  Who  ever  saw  a 
strong  tea  or  coffee  drinker  who  was  not  peevish,  fretful,  impati- 
ent, easily  vexed,  and  more  or  less  given  to  scolding,  or  at  least  to 
teasing  ?  They  also  induce  depression  of  spirits  and  thus  dissatis- 
faction with  every  thing,  and,  in  conjunction  with  religious  feeling, 
often  induce  pious  melancholy,  a  state  of  mind  as  foreign  from 
true  piety  as  sickness  is  from  health.  And  yet  it  passes  for  the 
very  extieme  of  piety.  I  refer  to  that  species  manifested  by  David 
Brainard,  and  strong  tea-drinking  old  grandmothers  who  feel  so 
very  unworthy  and  fearful  of  eternal  misery.  Nothing  can  obvi- 
ate the  inference  that  tea-drinking  excites  the  propensities  and  pro- 
duces sinfulness.  It  excites  Language,  and  hence  the  gossip  and 
neighborhood  scandal  that  circulates  around  the  tea  table.  But 
enough.  The  principle  that  tea  is  a  stimulant,  and  as  such  excites 
the  propensities,  is  beyond  all  dispute.  Remember,  ye  lovers  of 
narcotic  drugs,  that  they  do  not  render  you  one  whit  the  more  hap- 
py, but  only  the  more  miserable  and  animal. 

Various  kinds  of  food  might  be  specified  as  producing  similar 
effects,  flesh  and  condiments  especially,  but  our  want  of  space  for- 


THE    NORMAL    ACTION    OF    THN    FACULTIES.  155 

bids.  The  principle  is  before  the  reader.  I  only  say  in  gene- 
ral terms  to  those  who  wish  to  enjoy  their  moral  sentiments  and 
subdue  their  propensities,  rectify  your  i^hysiology.  Put  your 
body  into  a  quiet  state.  This  is  the  first  and  the  main  direction  re- 
quisite for  making  individuals  or  mankind  better.  To  parents  who 
wish  to  make  their  children  good,  we  give  the  same  advice,  and 
especially  recommend  bathing  as  every  way  calculated  to  carry  off 
feverish,  morbid  excitement  from  the  body,  and  of  course  from  the 
propensities,  thus  giving  the  moral  sentiments  and  intellect  abun- 
dant opportunit)'  to  assume  the  ascendency. 

To  three  other  important  laws  of  virtue,  or  conditions  of  enjoy- 
ment, I  will  briefly  advert,  before  passing  to  the  analysis  of  the  or- 
gans, one  of  which  is,  that,  to  be  productive  of  happiness,  every 
faculty  must  be  exercised  upon  with  its  legitimate  object,  and  in 
accordance  with  \ts  normal  fund  Ion.     In  other  words:  every 
faculty  has  two  modes  of  manifestation  ;  the  one,  it  normal,  pleasu- 
rable, or  virtuous  ;  the  other,  its  abnormal,  painful,  or  sinful  action. 
Thus  ;  the  normal,  pleasurable  exercise  of  Conscience  is  that  hap 
py  state  of  mind  which  results  from  a  consciousness  of  having  don^ 
right,  that  is,  from  the  approbation  of  a  clear  conscience ;  but,  its 
painful,  abnormal  action,  produces  the  compunctions  and  the  goad- 
ings  of  a  guilty  conscience; — those  upbraidings  or  self-condemna- 
tions, which  result  from  a  consciousness  of  having  done  wrong.  The 
natural,  primitive  function  of  Ideality  is  the  pleasure  we  experience 
in  beholding  or  contemplating  the  beautiful  in  nature,  art,  or  senti- 
ment,  and  in   exercising  those  refined,  elevating  feelings  which 
flow  from  the  exercise  of  this  faculty ;  while  its  reversed  action 
causes  those  painful  feelings  of  disgust  and  loathsomeness  with 
which  this  organs  regards   vulgarity  and   grossness.     The  normal 
function  of  Approbativeness  is  that  delight  which  we  experience 
when  commended  for  truly  praiseworthy,  honorable  conduct,  while 
its  abnormal,  or  reversed  action,  causes  that  feeling  of  mortification 
and  shame  which  we  experience  when  rebuked  for  what  we  know 
to  be  disgraceful.     The  normal  function  of  Adhesiveness  is  that 
unalloyed  pleasure  taken  by  cordial,  sincere,  intimate  friends  in  the 
society  of  each  other,  but  its  reversed,  unnatural  function  is  the 
pain  felt,  the  lacerations  of  friendship  produced,  by  the  loss,  death, 
removal  or  separation  of  friends,  or  by  their  turning  enemies.     The 
natural  function  of  Philoprogenitiveness  is  the  pleasure   parents 


THE    NORMAL    ACTION    OF    THE    FACULTIES.  156 

take  in  their  children  when  they  see  them  growing  up  healthy,  ta- 
lented, and  good,  while  their  heing  sick,  or  depraved,  or  wretched, 
wounds,  pains,  reverses  this  faculty.  The  normal  function  of  Com- 
bativeness  is  resistance,  resolution,  self-defence,  protection,  energy 
of  character  ;  its  unnatural  or  viciousc  ation,  is  anger,  violence  of 
temper,  irrltabihty,  peevishness,  faultfinding,  abusiveness,  &c.  The 
natural  function  of  Alimentiveness  is  appetite  for  those  kinds  of 
food  best  calculated  to  sustain  nature,  and  in  a  due  degree ;  its  sin- 
ful exercise,  is  gormandizing,  gluttony,  sensuality,  intemperance, 
tobacco  chewing,  tea  and  coffee  hankering  and  drinking,  (fcc.  The 
natural  function  of  Causality  is  to  reason  by  way  of  investigating 
truth,  and  in  exposing  error,  as  well  as  in  adapting  lawful  means  to 
the  attaimnent  of  proper  ends ;  its  perverted  function  consists  in 
either  employing  wrong  means,  or  effecting  wicked  ends,  or  rea- 
soning against  truth,  or  in  defence  of  wrong,  that  is,  in  putting  it 
to  an  improper  use.  The  natural  function  of  Language  is  to  ex- 
press correct  and  useful  ideas,  in  a  proper,  beautiful  manner ;  its 
perversion  consists  in  retailing  petty  slander,  or  using  it  to  excite 
improper,  injurious  feelings,  or  communicate  what  will  do  harm. 
Similar  remarks  will  apply  to  Mirthfulness,  Individuality,  Time, 
Calculation,  Secretiveness,  Acquisitiveness,  and  indeed,  to  every 
mental  power  and  physical  organ.  In  other  words.  There  is  a 
healthy,  and  an  unhealthy  function  belonging  to  every  mental  fa- 
culty, as  w^ell  as  to  every  physical  organ.  The  idea  may  be  new, 
but  it  is  true,  that  Combativeness,  and  Appetite,  and  Caution,  and 
each  of  the  Affections,  as  well  as  Hope,  Justice,  Devotion,  Taste, 
and  all  the  organs,  are  capable  of  being  sick,  and  often  are  sick — 
as  effectually  diseased  as  the  stomach,  lungs,  liver,  nerves,  or  any 
physical  organ.  And  in  regard  to  the  mental  organs,  as  in  regard 
to  the  physical,  their  healthy  action  gives  pleasure,  that  is,  is 
virtuous  and  happy,  while  the  product  of  their  sickly,  or  diseased 
function,  is  'pain,  sin,  wickedness.  Whether  all  the  sin,  and  wic- 
kedness, and  consequent  misery  of  man,  is  caused  solely  by  this 
sickness  of  his  phrenological  organs,  readers  will  judge  for  them- 
selves ;  but  that  very  much  of  it  is,  the  author  entertains  not  a 
doubt.  I  put  much  of  the  sinfulness  of  mankind  on  a  par  with 
insanity,  with  physical  disease.  I  regard  it  as  a  sickness  of  the  err- 
ino-  organs.  I  spare  many  whom  others  condemn.  And  I  tell 
many  who  are  striving  to  overcome  their  ^^easily  besetting  sins, 


HARMONIOUS    ACTION    OF    THF    FACULTIES.  157 

that  some  of  their  organs  are  sickly,  and  must  be  cured  before  they 
can  be  restored  to  moral  purity  or  health.  This  sickness  causes  the 
action  of  the  sick  organs  to  be  unnatural,  pervertetl,  reversed,  ab- 
normal, painful,  sinful, — all  different  names  for  the  same  thing. 
Cure  the  orgcms,  and  you  restore  the  diseased  function  to  its  na- 
tural, primitive,  virtuous  happy  action.  This  restoration  can  be 
greatly  aided  by  an  effort  of  the  will,  and  also  by  knowing  what 
that  normal  function  is,  so  as  to  set  the  faculties  at  work  upon  their 
proper  object,  or  in  harmony  with  their  primitive  constitution. 
Hence,  in  the  subsequent  analysis  of  the  faculties,  I  shall  give  both 
their  healthy  and  their  sickly  manifestions — their  virtuous,  and  vi- 
cious action — the  former  under  the  head  of  their  definitions,  and 
adoptions,  the  latter  under  the  head  of  abuses.  And  in  edu- 
catino-  children,  too  much  pains  cannot  be  taken  to  give  their 
faculties  this  healthy  direction ;  or  rather,  to  retain  that  healthy 
direction  which  they  must  have  at  first.  And  let  every  one  to  whom 
pain  is  painful,  or  happiness  desirable,  study  out  the  normal,  con- 
stitutionul  pleasurable  function  of  every  faculty,  and  direct 
his  faculties  accordingly.  To  be  happy,  is  not  so  very  difficult  a 
matter  after  people  know  how,  and  this  principle,  simple  as  it  is, 
opens  up  one  of  the  greatest  causes  of  suffering  that  exist,  and 
one  of  the  broadest  roads  to  enjoyment  conceivable. 

The  other  principle  is,  that  the  faculties  be  trained  all  to  work 
harmoniously  with  each  other,  and  never  be  allowed  to  conflict  or 
quarrel  with  each  other.  The  bible  says  truly,  "  Happy  is  that  man 
who  condemneth  not  himself  in  that  which  he  alloweth ;"  and  mis- 
erable indeed  is  he  who  doth.  This  warring  of  the  faculties  is 
utterly  destructive  of  happiness,  and  the  very  quintessence  of  suffer- 
ing. A  few  illustrations.  I  know  a  young  woman  who  became 
strongly,  devotedly  attached  to  a  young  man  whom  she  at  first  sup- 
posed every  way  worthy  her  tender  and  confiding  love,  but  whom 
she  afterwards  found  to  be  directly  the  reverse,  and  depraved,  in 
many  respects.  When  finally  convinced  of  his  guilt,  she  yet  could 
not  cease  to  love  him.  Marry  him,  her  moral  feeling  utterly  refu- 
sed to  allow  her  to  do ;  cease  to  love  him,  her  social  affections 
would  not,  and  this  contention  between  misplaced  but  deep-rooted 
love  on  the  one  hand,  and  intellect  and  the  moral  sentiments  on  the 
other,  broke  down  one  of  the  best  of  constitutions,  rendered  one  every 

way  capable  of  being  most  happy  in  the  domestic  relations,  most 
12 


158  THE  CONCERTED  ACTION  OF  THE  FACULTIES. 

miseraWe,  and  continued  in  spite  of  separation,  in  spite  of  the  re- 
monstrances of  both  friends  and  her  own  superior  faculties,  till  she 
was  magnetized,  and  in  that  state  forbidden  by  her  raagnetizer  to 
dwell  upon  this  painful,  ruinous  subject.  This  alone  gave  that  re- 
lief,* without  which  it  is  morally  certain,  that  this  struggle  between 
her  faculties  would  have  ruined  both  mind  and  body.  Like  tearing 
one's  self  in  two — like  pulling  one  part  of  the  body  one  way  and 
another  part  the  other  way,  till  the  ligaments  that  united  thera  are 
torn  asunder — is  this  internal  fretting  and  w^arring  of  the  faculties. 
And  I  doubt  not  but  many  women  who  read  these  pages,  will  them- 
selves have  experienced  this  clinging  of  their  atfections  to  objects 
that  were  repulsive  to  some  of  their  other  faculties,  and  that  many 
others  will  call  to  mind  pitiable  illustrations  of  the  disastrous  conse- 
quences of  this  quarrelling  of  the  faculties.  Have  not  many  men 
who  may  read  these  pages,  while  forming,  or  proposing  to  form 
matrimonial  alliances,  for  their  pride  wandered  by  something  that 
required  more  submission  or  dependence  than  they  were  willing  to 
cancell,  and  yet  been  unable  to  withdraw  their  affections,  though 
rendered  most  miserable  thereby,  and  willing  to  do  any  thing  in  the 
world  to  restore  peace  to  their  troubled  minds?  troubled  because 
of  this  civil  war  of  their  faculties. 

Let  a  young  man  who  loves  his  independence,  and  yet  loves 
money,  go  into  a  store  W'here  he  is  made  a  menial,  with  the  certain 
prospect  of  becoming  a  partner  and  getting  rich  if  he  will  submit 
for  a  while  to  their  dictation.  He  wants  the  place  but  he  hates  the 
service;  and  this  struggle  between  liberty  and  interest,  is  perfect  tor- 
ment to  his  troubled  soul.  Have  not  many  readers  had  experience, 
if  not  in  this,  at  least  in  other  kindred  illustrations  ? 

Pardon  a  personal  allusion  here.  A  godly  clergyman  who 
preached  where  the  author  was  brought  up,  and  to  whom  he  looked 
up  as  a  model  of  perfection,  was  rarely  ever  seen  to  smile,  and  some- 
times remarked  that  the  Savior  was  often  known  to  w' eep,  but  never 
to  laugh.  From  this,  joined  with  a  very  rigid  religious  education, 
I  imbibed  the  notion  that  it  was  wucked  to  laugh  or  joke.  Still, 
mirthfulness  would  out.     Conscientiousness  would  then  upbraid  till 

*The  author  has  seen  many  cases  of  magnetized  persons  being  required 
to  do  particular  things  at  certain  times,  which  he  never  knew  ihem  fail  to 
do.  Some  such  cases  were  stated  in  vol.  V.  of  the  Phrenological  Journal. 
He  designs  soon  to  prosecute  this  subject  still  farther,  in  the  Journal. 


THE  CONFLICT  OP  THE  FACULTIES.  I59 

a  promise  of  reform  gave  a  truce.  But  traitorous  mirthfulness  would 
break  the  armistice  and  again  and  continually  embioil  the  conten- 
ding armies  in  civil  war.  Year  after  year  d'd  this  internal  warfare 
go  on  without  cessation  till  Phrenology  separated  the  combatants  and 
restored, peace  by  telling  Conscience  that  it  was  not  wronp-  to  lau^h 
but  was  both  right  and  necessarj',  as  a  means  of  health,  as  a  means 
of  enjoyment,  as  a  primitive  function  of  man's  nature.  I  have  suf- 
fered from  a  broken  leg,  and  have  endured  a  dislocated  arm.  Much 
pain  ;  much  debility;  but  the  like  of  this  civil  war  I  never  expe- 
rienced before  or  since.  And  all  from  this  vi'arring  of  the  faculties. 
And  this  from  ignorance  and  superstition.  The  exercise  of  every 
primitive  faculty  is  right,  is  necessary,  provided  it  be  in  conjunction 
with  all  the  others,  and  upon  its  legitimate  object. 

A  man  whose  Combativeness  is  subject  to  quick  and  powerful 
excitement,  yet  whose  large  Conscientiousness  condemns  him  there- 
fore, endures  more  than  the  pains  of  purgatory  by  this  quarrellino- 
of  Conscientiousness  and  Combativeness.  Or,  perhaps  Appetite 
and  Conscience  quarrel — the  former  insisting  on  eating  more  than 
the  latter  will  allow,  and  a  guilty  conscience  continually  upbraidino- 
him  for  his  continual  violation  of  what  he  knows  to  be  right  and 
duty.  Reader,  does  not  this  illustration  go  home  to  thy  own  expe- 
rience 1  Does  not  thy  conscience  and  thy  appetite  struggle  for  vic- 
tory, each  at  the  same  time  inflicting  deep  wounds  upon  the  other 
that  lacerated  thy  guilty  soul  with  more  than  thousands  of  stripes'? 
Or,  perhaps  thy  kindness  and  thy  justice,  or  thy  justice  and  thy  love 
of  money,  or  thy  devotion  and  thy  propensities,  are  at  swords'  points, 
each  thrusting  daggers  through  thy  soul  more  dreadful  than  death 
itself,  or,  at  least,  sufficient  to  mar  all  the  pleasures  of  life  1  A 
house  divided  against  itself  cannot  stand.  He  who  condemns  him- 
self for  what  he  does,  or  any  of  whose  faculties  act  in  opposition  to 
each  other,  is  thereby  rendered  inconceivably  wretched. 

Yet,  happy  is  he  all  of  whose  faculties  work  together  in  the  silken 
cords  of  union  and  harmony.  Happy  he  whose  conscience  approver 
him  for  what  he  likes  to  eat,  or  to  do,  or  to  be,  and  thereby  sweet- 
ens his  rich  repast.  Whose  love  of  family  and  of  money  each  re« 
double  the  energy  and  augment  the  happiness  of  the  other.  Whose 
feelings  and  love  of  children  are  both  gratified  by  seeing  his  chil- 
dren growing  up  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  and  walking  in  the  ways 
of  wisdom.     Who  loves  the  wife  of  his  bosom  without  alloy,  and/ 


160  ADVANTAGES  OF  CONCERT  OF  ACTION. 

sees  no  blemish,  but  every  perfection  to  heighten  the  action  and 
the  pleasure  of  all  his  other  faculties.  Whose  love  of  justice  and 
love  of  money  delight  to  acquire  money  to  discharge  all  his  pecuni- 
ary obligations.  Whose  hopes  and  fears  never  vascillate.  Whose 
intellectual  convictions  of  truth  never  clash,  but  always  blend 
"with  all  his  feelings  and  conduct.  Whose  tastes  are  all  gratified 
by  his  occupation  and  associations.  Whose  friends  have  every 
quality  that  he  likes,  and  none  that  mar  his  pleasure  in  them.  All 
of  whose  faculties  move  on  in  harmonious  concert,  to  attain  one 
common  end,  desired  by  all,  delightful  to  all.  Who  is  completely 
at  peace  with  himself.  He  is  happy.  His  cup  of  pleasure  is  full 
to  its  brim,  unmingled  with  a  single  drop  of  bitterness  or  atom  of 
pain.  He  is  holy.  He  is  perfect.  He  is  happy.  May  every  rea- 
der see  this  law,  apply  this  law,  enjoy  this  law,  and  their  children 
and  household  along  with  them. 

In  presenting  this  principle,  let  me  not  be  misunderstood.  I  shall 
elsewhere  show  that  one  way,  and  that  the  most  effectual,  of  sub- 
duing dominant  propensities,  is  to  array  the  moral  sentiments  against 
them.  If  the  propensities  become  perverted,  array  the  moral  sen- 
timents and  intellect  against  them  in  mortal  combat.  This  will 
reform  them  if  they  can  be  reformed  ;  besides  being  the  severest 
punishment  mankind  can  possibly  endure.  But  I  mean  that  this 
clashing  should  not  occur  except  as  a  means  of  reform;  and  that 
when  it  does  occur,  its  cause  should  be  ferreted  out  and  corrected. 
When  all  the  faculties  operate  in  harmony  with  their  legitimate 
functions,  none  of  this  clashing  can  occur.  When  it  does  occur, 
let  the  guilty  sufferer  (his  suffering  implies  that  he  is  guilty)  ferret 
ut  the  matter.  Let  him  see  which  faculty  has  broken  from  its 
normal  function,  or  whether  both  have  strayed  from  the  fold  of 
virtue,  and  restore  the  wanderer.  In  other  words,  let  no  faculty  be 
found  arrayed  against  the  legitimate  function  of  any  others,  but  only 
against  their  abnormal  or  vicious  manifestation,  and  then  for  the 
express  purpose  of  affecting  reform.  But  this  point  will  be  more 
ful  y  presented  hereafter. 

An  additional  advantage  derived  from  this  concert  of  action  is  the 
increased  strength  given  by  this  co-operation  of  all  the  faculties.  Thus, 
if  cautiousness  and  combativeness  oppose  each  other,  they  produce 
that  mental  uncertainty,  and  consequent  irresolution,  which  palsies 
every  effort  and  blasts  success,  but,  blending  together,  they  give 


ANALYSIS  AND  CULTIVATION  OF  THE  FACULTIES.  16 1 

both  that  energy  and  prudence  combined,  which  renders  success  al- 
most certain.  Let  causality  lay  hold  of  the  same  rope,  and  devise 
a  well  concerted  plan  for  this  combined  prudence  and  energy  to  ex- 
ecute. Let  Benevolence  draw  in  the  same  traces.  Let  this  well 
concerted  and  efficiently  executed  plan  seek  the  happiness  of  man- 
kind. Let  conscientiousness  sanction  it,  and  urge  on  every  other 
faculty  to  labour  for  its  accomplishment.  Let  hope  cheer  them 
On  with  bright  prospects  of  abundant  success.  Let  language, 
let  all  the  other  organs  contribute  their  resources,  and  find  ample 
employment  in  furthering  this  labour  of  love.  Let  Firmness  keep 
them  stable  to  their  work,  and  prosecute  this  well  laid  scheme  till 
it  is  completely  effected.  Let  ambition,  let  piety,  let  every  ele- 
ment of  soul  and  body  league  together  to  carry  on  and  carry  out  the 
noble  progress,  and  each,  besides  contributing  its  quota  of  help,  al- 
so increases  the  action  of  all  the  others.  Union  is  strength.  Di- 
vision is  weakness.  A  vast  augmentation  of  power  is  derived  from 
this  harmonious  cooperation  of  all  the  faculties.  If  any  faculty  re- 
fuses to  come  up  to  the  work,  besides  the  absolute  loss  of  its  own 
power,  it  weakens  the  hands  of  all  the  others.  Frequently,  a  sin- 
gle faculty  will  completely  nullify  the  combined  effort  of  all  the 
rest.  But  enough.  The  principle  is  clear ;  is  forcible.  Let  eve- 
ry mother  apply  it.  Let  every  child  be  trained  in  view  of  it.  Es- 
pecially, let  all  those  faculties  which  the  business  or  the  pleasure  of 
any  othei  require  to  act  in  concert,  be  trained  accordingly,  and  a 
vast  augmentation  of  success  will  follow. 

I  must  here  explain  one  other  important  principle  of  Phrenology, 
Or  rather  of  mind,  partly  because  I  wish  to  employ  it  in  this  connex- 
ion, and  partly  because  I  shall  have  frequent  occasion  to  employ  it 
hereafter.  I  allude  to  the  fact  that  the  faculties  are  catching — that 
the  activity  of  any  faculty  in  one,  naturally  excites  the  same  facul- 
ty in  others ;  and  excites  it  pleasurably  or  painfully,  according  as 
its  action  in  the  first  is  painful  or  pleasurable.  Combativeness  in 
one,  for  instance,  kindles  Combativeness  in  others,  w^hile  Benevo- 
lence excites  Benevolence  ;  Causality,  Causality,  &c.  Thus,  when 
Kindness  does  you  a  favour,  you  are  anxious  to  return  it,  and  are 
rendered  more  obliging  to  all ;  Benevolence  in  him,  exciting  kind- 
ly feelings  in  you.  Being  addressed  in  an  angry,  imparative  tone, 
kindles  your  ovra  anger  in  return,  and  excites  in  you  a  spirit  of  re- 
sistance and  reaentmeat.    For  example  :  ^j 


162  EVERY   FACULTY   IN   ONE 

Mr.  Sharp*  said,  angrily,  to  a  lad,  "  Go  along,  and  bring  me  that 
basket  yonder.  Be  quick,  or  I'll  fiOg  you  !"  The  boy  went  tar- 
dily and  poutingly,  muttering  as  he  went.  "  Why  don't  you  hur- 
ry there,  you  idle  vagabond,  you  ?  Come,  be  quick,  or  I'll  whip 
your  lazy  hide  off  your  back,  you  saucy,  impudent  rascal  you,"  re- 
echoed Mr.  Sharp,  still  more  imperatively.  The  boy  went  still 
more  slowly,  and  made  up  a  face  still  more  scornful ;  for  which 
Mr.  Sharp  flogged  him ;  and  in  return,  the  boy  conceived  and  che- 
rished eternal  hatred  to  Mr.  Sharp,  and  eventually  sought  and  ob- 
tained the  long  desired  revenge.  But  Mr.  Benign  said  kindly,  to 
the  same  boy,  "  John,  will  you  please  run  and  bring  me  that  bas- 
ket ?"  "  Yes,  Sir,"  said  John,  and  off  he  started  on  the  run,  glad 
to  do  the  good  old  man  a  favour. 

All  the  neighbours  of  Mr.  Contentious  cordially  hate  him,  be- 
cause he  is  continually  contending  with,  and  blaming,  and  sueing 
them.  His  combativeness  manifested  towards  them,  has  excited 
their  enmity  towards  him,  so  as  to  cause  a  perpetual  warfare. — 
Hence,  they  all  cherish  ill-will  against  him,  and  most  of  them 
watch  every  opportunity  to  injure  him,  and  he  seeks  to  be  revenged 
on  them. 

But  every  neighbour  of  Mr.  Obliging  gladly  improves  every  op- 
portunity to  serve  him  ;  his  neighbourly  feelings  towards  them  ha- 
ving excited  their  better  feelings  not  only  towards  him,  but  even 
towards  each  other. 

Mr.  Justice  deals  fairly  with  all — asking,  and  offering  but  one 
price ;  so  that  Mr.  Banter  never  tries  to  beat  him  dow^n,  nor  thinks 
of  making  or  receiving  a  second  offer,  but  deals  fairly  with  him. — 
But  when  Mr.  Banter  deals  with  Mr.  Close,  he  stands  more  upon 
a  sixpence  than  it  is  worth,  or  than  he  does  for  a  dollar  when  deal- 
ing W'ith  Mr.  Justice,  and  will  neither  sell  as  cheap  nor  give  as 
much  for  the  same  article  to  Mr.  Close  as  to  Mr.  Justice,  because 
^he  Acquisitiveness  of  Mr.  Close  and  Mr.  Banter  each  excites  that 
of  the  other,  while  the  higher  faculties  of  Mr.  Justice  restrain  the 
action  of  this  Jewing  spirit  in  all  who  deal  with  him. 

As  Parson  Reverence  enters  the  sanctuary,  clothed  with  the  spi- 
rit of  devotion,  and  in  the  air  and  attitude  of  sanctity,  instantly  a 
solemn  feeling  pervades  the  whole  assembly,  so  that  even  the  play- 

*  I  employ  this  forra  of  expression,  because  it  enables  me  to  personify 
the  organs,  and  thereby  to  embody  and  bring  the  full  force  of  the  idea  pre- 
sented, and  the  principle  illustrated,  direcily  before  the  mind  in  a  manner 
more  tangible  and  easily  remembered  than  any  other. 


EXCITES    THE    SAME    IN   OTHERS.  163 

ing  boys  in  the  gallery  catch  the  pervading  spirit  of  solemnity,  and 
drop  their  sports.  But  when  Parson  Gaity  enters  the  church,  a 
gay,  volatile  feeling  spreads  throughout  the  congregation,  and  'the 
boys  laugh  aloud.  The  former  is  a  successful  preacher  of  right- 
eousness, and  has  been  instrumental  in  promoting  many  revivals  of 
religion ;  while  Parson  Gaity  has  a  worldly,  fashionable  congrega- 
tion. Revivals  of  Religion  beautifully  and  forcibly  ^lustrate  this 
principal  of  Sympathy. 

Mr.  Elegant  enters  into  the  company  of  Messrs.  Useful  and  Mis- 
ses Plain,  and  at  once  a  feeling  of  refinement  and  elegance  infuses 
every  breast,  chastens  every  remark,  and  polishes  every  action  an'd 
feeling ;  but  when  Mr.  Homespun  enters  the  company  of  Messrs. 
Wellbred  and  Misses  Genteel,  the  elevated  tone  of  feeling  that 
before  pervaded  the  company,  is  lowered  as  effectually  and  percep- 
tibly as  when  the  mass  of  ice  is  introduced  into  a  heated  atmos- 
phere ;  and  he  is  not  well  received  simply  because  he  interrupts 
the  exercise  of  refinement  and  good  taste. 

Mr.  Self-Esteem  swells  and  struts  past  you  in  the  natural  expres- 
sion of  pride  and  scorn,  and  instantly  your  own  self-sufficiency  is 
excited,  you  strengthen  up,  and  feel  that  you  are  as  good  as  he  is  ; 
whereas,  but  for  this  manifestation  of  pride  on  his  part,  you  would 
not  once  have  thought  of  yourself — pride  and  scorn  in  another  ex- 
citing the  same  feelings  in  you. 

Two  Messrs.  Mum  were  sitting  silently  in  a  room,  neither  hav- 
ing a  woid  to  say,  when  Mr.  Talkative  entered,  and  began  to  rat- 
tle away.  This  so  excited  the  Language  of  Messrs.  Mum,  that 
they  talked  incessantly,  so  that  there  was  not  room  to  put  in  a  word 
edgewise;  v\hereas  neither  would  have  said  a  word  had  not  the 
Language  of  Mr.  Talkative  excited  Language  in  Messrs.  Mum. 

Mr.  Logical  Reason  began  to  discuss  and  expound  certain  im- 
portant philosophical  principles  to  Mr.  Business,  who,  though  he 
had  been  too  busy  before  to  take  time  to  think  or  investigate,  saw 
their  force,  and  immediately  exclaimed,  "  How  true  that  is,  though 
I  never  thought  of  it  before  !"  and  then  proceeded  to  show  how 
perfectly  the  principle  brought  to  view,  and  explained  what  he  had 
often  seen,  but  never  before  understood.  It  also  set  him  to  thinking 
upon  other  subjects,  and  to  investigating  other  causes. 

Miss  Display  came  out  in  a  splendid,  new-fashioned  attire,  and 
almost  every  lady  in  town  was  set  on  fire  by  a  spirit  of  emulation. 


164  ANALYSIS    AND    CULTIVATION    OF    THE    FACULTIES. 

and  would  not  let  their  husbands  and  fathers  rest  till  they  too  could 
dress  like  her  ;  although,  unless  Miss  Display  had  indulged  her 
own  Approbativeness,  that  of  the  other  milliner-made  ladies  would 
not  have  been  excited. 

Mr.  Witty  threw  off  a  joke,  and  this  excited  the  risibles  of  Mr. 
Serious,  who,  in  return,  manufactured  another;  whereas,  but  for 
Mr.  Witty's  influence,  the  face  of  Mr.  S.  would  still  have  remained 
as  long  as  ever. 

Mrs.  Timid,  while  in  a  church,  screamed  out  with  fright,  and 
nearly  all  in  the  house  were  instantly  electrified  with  fear,  but  for 
■what,  they  did  not  know. 

In  1836,  Mr.  Hope  embarked  in  speculations  in  stock,  real  es- 
tate, mulberry  trees,  &c.,  arid  counted  his  thousands  in  prospect, 
"which  inspired  confidence  in  the  breasts  of  thousands  of  the  Messrs. 
Doubtful,  who  were  excited  by  his  spirit  and  followed  his  example. 

Mr.  Appetite  commenced  eating  his  breakfast  greedily,  when  in 
came  his  boy,  who  soon  cried  out  for  a  piece,  which  he  probably 
would  not  have  thought  of  for  hours  if  he  had  not  seen  his  father 
eating  so  greedily. 

I  now  appeal,  whether  this  principle  of  sympathy,  this  feeling  as 
others  feel — this  spreading  of  the  emotions  from  heart  to  heart — 
is  not  a  law  of  human  nature,  as  well  as  a  doctrine  of  Phreno- 
logy ?  whether  it  is  not  as  universal  and  as  uniform  as  the  nature 
of  man,  and  as  powerful  as  it  is  universal  1  What  heart  is  so 
adamantine  as  not  to  experience  its  power,  or  be  swayed  by  its 
influence  1 


SECTION  III. 


ANALYSIS   OF    THE    FACULTIES,   AND  MEANS    OF    INCREASING   AND   DIMIN- 
ISHING THEIR   ORGANS. 

We  come  now  to  the  direct  application  of  these  principles  to  both 
Self  Improvement,  and  to  the  moral  training  and  government  of 
children.  That  is,  we  shall  now  proceed  to  show  directly  how  to 
enlarge  and  strengthen  the  weak  faculties,  and  control,  direct,  and 
restrain  those  that  are  too  large.  In  effecting  this  most  desirable 
end — this  greatest  and  best  work  to  which  mortals  can  apply  them- 
selves— the  first  and  the  most  important  thing  to  be  done,  is  to  ob- 


ANALYSIS  AND  CTLTIVATION  OF  THE  SOCIAL  FACULTIES.         165 

tain  a  distinct  knowledge  of  the  precise  function  of  every  faculty. 
This  knowledge  will  tell  us  the  food  of  every  faculty,  by  feeding 
which  to  that  faculty,  that  is,  by  keeping  that  faculty  continually 
stimulated,  it  will  be  called  into  constant  action,  and  thereby  en- 
larged. To  impart  this  knowledge,  let  us  briefly  analyze  the  fac- 
ulties, and  in  order  to  do  this  in  the  shortest  and  most  effectual  manner 
possible,  I  shall  point  out  the  adaptation  of  every  faculty  to  its  coun- 
terpart in  nature,  or  the  want  in  the  nature  of  man  it  supplies.  Thus  ^ 
Philoprogenitiveness  is  adapted  to  the  infantile  condition  of  man ; 
Causality,  to  the  arrangement  or  existence  of  laws  of  cause  and 
effect ;  Appetite,  to  the  arrangement  of  nutrition  and  our  constant 
requisition  for  food  rConstructiveness,  to  our  demand  for  houses, 
clothes,  tools,  and  things  made ;  Ideality,  to  the  bountiful  and  per- 
fect in  nature;  Language,  to  our  having  ideas  to  communicate,  and 
the  benefit  derived  therefrom;  Benevolence,  to  our  being  in  a 
world  of  suffering,  which  this  faculty  can  mitigate,  &c.  There  is 
no  other  short-hand  method  of  impressing  indelibly  the  nature  and 
function  of  every  faculty  at  all  to  be  compared  with  this,  united  with 
definition  instead  of  description.  Remembering  this  adaptation  of 
a  faculty  to  its  object,  is  comparatively  easy,  and  this  rivets  its 
true  function  concisely,  yet  completely. 

We  begin,  then,  with  the  'propensities ;  and  shall  analyze  the 
social  group  first,  though,  having  treated  this  subject  somewhat 
fully  in  my  work  on  Matrimony,  I  shall  proceed  no  further  than  to 
show  how  to  control  and  restrain  these  several  organs. 

1.  AMATIVENESS. 

The  reciprocal  attachment  and  love  of  the  sexes  for  each  other. 
"Soft  coercive  band,  connecting  souls  !     Without  thee  what  is  Hfe?" 

Adaptation. — As  death  appertains  to  man's  worldly  existence, 
some  means  for  propagation  became  necessary,  in  order  to  pre- 
vent extinction.  It  is  adapted  to  the  great  arrangement  of  pa- 
rentage. Its  primary  function  is,  connubial  love — that  tender  affec- 
tion and  union  of  soul  which  exists,  or  at  least  should  always  ex- 
ist, between  husband  and  wife.  Its  products  are  marriage  and  off" 
spring. 

Its  abuses  are  licentiousness  and  lust,  in  all  their  forms  and  de- 
grees.    But,  as  I  shall  soon  publish  a  work  devoted  exclusively  to 


166    PHILOPROGENITIVENESS ITS  ADAPTATION  AND  CULTIVATION. 

this  subject,  entitled,  "  Amativeness,  its  uses  and  abuses,  together 
with  the  means  of  restraining  its  excessive  or  perverted  action,"*  I 
will  not  even  enter  upon  it  here,  farther  than  to  say  to  those  who 
wish  to  subdue  it,  banish,  as  far  as  possible,  all  those  thoughts  and 
associations  that  excite  these  feelings,  and  above  all,  avoid  all 
stimulants,  even  in  diet,  because  the  connection  is  most  intimate 
between  the  states  of  the  body  and  those  of  this  organ  and  faculty. 

2.  PHILOPROGENITIVENESS. 

Pare7ital  love  ;  attachment  to  one^s  ovm  children  ;   love  of  children 

generally. 

Adaptation. — If  all  mankind  had  been  brought  forth,  like  the  fa- 
bled Minerva  from  the  brain  of  Jupiter,  in  the  full  possession  of  all 
his  physical  and  mental  powers,  capable,  from  the  first,  of  ta- 
king abundant  care  of  himself  without  requiring  parents  to  sup- 
ply a  single  want,  this  faculty  would  have  been  out  of  place;  for 
then  it  would  have  had  nothing  to  do.  But  the  fact  is  far  otherwise. 
Man  enters  the  world  in  a  condition  utterly  helpless.  Infants  re- 
quire a  g7-eat  amount  of  care  and  nursing.  This  infantile  condition 
of  man  has  its  counterpart  in  this  faculty.  Without  its  stimulus  to 
provide  for  and  watch  over  infancy,  every  child  must  inevitably 
perish,  and  our  race  become  extinct. 

Abuses. — Spoiling  children  by  over  indulgence ;  fussing  with 
them ;  being  so  tender  of  them  as  to  ruin  their  health,  or  unfit  them 
to  take  care  of  themselves. 

Its  primary,  distinctive  function  is  parental  love— attachment  to 
one's  own  children ;  and  the  more  helpless  the  child,  the  more  vig- 
orous its  action.  None  but  parents  can  ever  know  the  genuine 
feelings  of  parental  love.  There  is  something  peculiarly  enduring 
in  the  thought  that  they  are  bone  of  oar  bone  and  flesh  of  our  flesh, 
and  this  feeling  is  greatly  augmented  by  their  being  begotten  by  a 
husband,  or  borne  by  a  wife,  whom  we  dearly  love. 

A  few  words  in  regard  to  its  cultivation,  must  suffice.  The  rela- 
tions between  parents  and  their  children  should  be  of  the  most 
friendly  character,  and  nothing  should  be  allowed  to  interrupt  or 
lacerate  it.  Make  them  confidants,  and  induce  them  to  disclose 
freely  all  that  troubles  or  delights  them.      Parents  and  children 

*  It  will  be  ready  ia  Juue  or  July.     Price  25  cls.,  or  5  copies  for  $1. 


ANALYSIS  OF   ADHESIVENESS. 


167 


should  be  separated  as  little  as  possible,  and  a  perfect  understanding 
should  be  had  between  them.  Let  parents  never  assume  any  ap- 
pearance of  austerity  or  distance,  but  let  them  do  all  they  can  to 
cultivate  good  feeling  between  them  and  their  children,  and  be- 
tween children  and  children.  Let  families  be  separated  but  little. 
Special  care  should  also  be  taken  to  choose  their  associates,  for 
they  exert  a  powerful  influence  in  the  formation  of  character.  As- 
sociates they  should  have;  for  without  them,  not  only  will  one  pow- 
erful faculty  lie  dormant,  but  all  the  advantages  to  be  derived  from 
society,  be  lost ;  yet  better  have  no  associates,  than  those  at  all 
objectionable.  This  organ  can  b6  cultivated  by  playing  with  chil- 
dren, and  indulging  it  in  witnessing  their  innocent  gambols,  &c. 
The  elder  children  can  cultivate  it  by  taking  care  of  the  younger, 
and  the  younger,  by  loving  dolls,  pets  and  toys  representing  vari- 
ous animals.  Raising  stock,  and  bringing  this  feeling  into  action 
by  being  with  children,  is  calculated  to  enlarge  it;  but  the  most 
effectual  means  of  cultivating  it,  is  to  enter  upon  the  parental  rela- 
tions, and  love  and  provide  for  your  own  children.  AH  other  means 
sink  into  insignificance  compared  w'ith  this. 

ADHESIVENESS. 

Friendship  :  the  social  feeling :  love  oj^  society :  desire  and  ability 
to  form  attachments,  congregate,  associate,  visit,  entertain 
friends,  8fc. 

■"A  new  Commandment  give  I  unto  j^ou,  that  ye  love  one  another."   "Love 
is  the  fulfilling  of  the  Law." — Bible. 

If  man  had  been  created  a  lonely,  unsocial,  solitary  being,  nearly 
half  his  faculties,  having  nothing  to  excite  them  to  action,  would 
have  lain  dormant,  and  the  balance  have  been  but  feebly  exercised. 
The  activity  of  every  faculty  in  one,  naturally  excites  the  same 
faculty  in  those  around  him.  Hence,  without  the  element  of  Friend- 
ship, to  bring  mankind  together  into  associations,  neighborhoods, 
families,  &c.,  they  could  have  had  no  opportunity  for  the  exercise 
of  Language,  Ambition,  Imitation,  and  many  other  faculties,  and 
little  for  that  of  Kindness,  Justice,  &c. ;  and  the  action  of  all  the 
remainder  would  have  been  far  less  efficient  and  pleasurable  than 
now.  Without  this  arrangement,  co-partnerships,  and  those  public 
and  private  works  which  require  the  coml)ined  labor  and  resources 


m 


EVILS    OF    SEPARATING    FROM    FRIENDS. 


of  ifiore  than  one  for  their  completion,  would  have  remained  un- 
known; and  the  selfish  propensities  have  rendered  all  men  Ishma- 
elites,  turning  every  man's  hand  against  his  neighbor,  rendering 
each  most  hateful  to  all ;  kindling  rising  jealousies,  animosities,  &c., 
into  burning  flames,  and  for  ever  blotting  out  the  pleasant  smile  of 
glowing  friendship  ;  the  cordial  greeting  of  old  associates,  the 
hearty  shake  of  the  hand,  and  that  silent  flow  of  perpetual  happi- 
ness which  springs  from  being  in  the  company  of  those  we  like. 

This  faculty  casts  into  the  shade  the  modern  ceremony  of  formal 
introductions,  and  of  waiting  for  the  last  call  to  be  returned,  or  let- 
ter answered.  It  should  be  in  constant  action,  and,  therefore,  lonely 
travellers  should  wile  away  their  tedious  hours  by  opening  at  once 
the  portals  of  their  hearts,  engaging  freely  in  conversation,  and 
"  scraping  acquaintance  "  at  first  sight.  Still,  intimate  friendships 
should  be  formed  judiciously  ;  for  it  is  a  most  powerful  means  of 
intellectual  and  moral  elevation  or  degradation.  Young  people,  in 
particular,  though  they  should  form  speaking  acquaintances  and 
passing  friendship  readily,  to  which  they  are  strongly  predisposed, 
should  nevertheless  be  careful  how  they  make  confidants  and  bosom 
friends. 

The  young  form  attachments  much  more  readily  than  those  who 
are  older,  partly  because  they  become  hardened  by  frequent  disap- 
pointments, in  finding  supposed  friends  unfaithful,  and  partly  because 
loiig  separated  from  the  friends  of  their  youth.  This  blunting  of 
the  fine,  glowing  feelings  of  friendship,  is  certainly  most  unfortu- 
nate. Friendship  should  be  regarded  as  most  sacred,  and  never  be 
trifled  with.  Do  almost  anything  sooner  than  violate  this  feeling  j 
and  let  friends  bear  and  forbear  much,  at  least  until  they  are  certain 
that  a  supposed  injury  or  unjust  remark  was  'premeditated  ;  and 
then,  when  friendship  is  thus  violated,  think  no  more  of  your  former 
friend,  not  even  enough  to  hate  him.  Dwell  not  upon  the  injuries 
done  you,  but  banish  him  from  your  mind,  and  let  him  be  to  you  as 
though  you  had  never  known  him ;  for  dwelling  upon  broken 
friendships  only  still  farther  lacerates  and  blunts  this  feeling,  and 
more  efieclually  sears  your  friendship.  Never  form  friendships 
where  there  is  any  danger  of  their  being  broken  ;  and  never  break 
them  unless  the  occasion  is  intentional  and  most  aggravated  :  and 
let  friends  try  to  make  up  little  differences  as  soon  as  possible.* 

*  1  have  seen  a  young  man  rendered  crazy,  and  thrown  into  a  perfect 


THE    CULTIVATION    OF    FRIENDSHIP.  169 

These  remarks  apply  with  redoubled  power  to  members  of  the 
same  family.  Let  parents  cultivate  affection  for  one  another  in 
their  children,  and  let  brothers  and  sisters  separate  as  little  as  pos- 
sible, correspond  much,  never  allow  a  breach  to  be  made  in  their 
attachments,  and  continually  add  new^  fuel  to  the  old  fire  of  family 
friendship.  Let  the  right  hand  of  hospitality  be  extended  oftener 
than  it  now  is,  and  let  friends  entertain  friends  around  the  family 
board,  as  often  as  possible,  instead  of  allowing  them  to  eat  their 
unsocial  fare  at  the  public  hotel.  We  have  too  little  of  the  good 
old  Yankee  custom  of  ''  cousining,"  and  of  English  hospitality ; 
and  spend  far  too  little  time  in  making  and  receiving  social  visits. 
Still,  these  formal,  polite  calls  are  perfect  nonsense — are  to  friend- 
ship what  the  smut  is  to  the  grain — poisonous.  True  friendship 
knows  no  formality.  Those  who  are  very  polite  to  you  are  strang- 
ers, or  enemies,  not  friends  ;  for  true  friendship  knows  no  ceremo- 
ny, no  formality,  but  expires  the  moment  it  is  shackled  by  the  rules 
of  modern  politeness.  We  should  all  love  owx  friends,  and  as  often 
as  may  be,  relax  from  the  more  severe  duties  of  life  to  indulge  it ; 
but  let  XiO  formality,  no  etiquette,  mar  this  friendship.  True  friend- 
ship unbosoms  the  heart  cordially  and  freely,  pouring  forth  the  full 
tide  of  friendly  feeling,  without  any  barrier,  any  reserve.  The  mere 
recreation  afforded  by  friendship  is  invaluable,  especially  to  an  in- 
tellectual man,  as  a  means  of  health,  and  to  augment  his  talents. 

To  cultivate  this  faculty,  seek  every  favorable  opportunity  to  ex- 
ercise it.  Choose  your  friends  from  among  those  whose  feelings  and 
opinions  harmonize  with  your  own,  that  is,  in  whose  society  you 
can  enjoy  yourself,  and  then  frequently  interchange  friendly  feeling 
with  them.  And  do  not  break  up  your  youthful  associations,  if  you 
can  well  avoid  it.  If  you  do,  renew  them  as  soon  or  as  often  as 
possible.  Nothing  is  better  calculated  to  blunt,  and  therefore,  re- 
duce this  faculty,  than  separation  from  friends,  especially  from  those 
who  have  sat  for  years  at  the  same  table,  and  become  cordially  at- 
tached to  each  other. 

Association  seems  to  me  to  furnish  perhaps  a  more  power- 
ful and  constant  stimulant  to  this  faculty  than  any  other  system 
of  society.     Not  that  I  would  endorse  all  the  doctrines  of  Fourier 

frenzy  of  excitement,  by  being  imposed  upon  by  a  supposed  friend,  of  his 
own  sex.  He  appeared  very  much  like  those  who  have  been  recently  dis- 
appointed in  love. 


170  THE    CULTIVATION    OF  FRIENDSHIP. 

nor  of  his  disciple  Brisbane ;  but  I  do  say,  and  without  the  fear  of 
contradiction,  that  associations  wight  be  so  formed  as  to  give  this 
faculty  all  the  food  its  nature  requires,  or  could  bear,  (and  this  is  a 
great  deal,)  and  also  avoid  those  frequent  separations  of  friends  so 
detrimental  to  this  faculty. 

Giving  and  receiving  presents,  is  also  directly  calculated  to  stim- 
ulate this  faculty  to  increased  action.  They  are  the  natural  food  of 
this  faculty  ;  and  with  this  food  let  it  be  fed  abundantly.  I  ld<e  the 
good  old  custom  of  making  New-year"s,  Christmas,  and  other  pre- 
sents, thereby  promoting  good  feeling  between  man  and  man,  as 
well  as  kindling  anew  the  old  fires  of  friendship.  Make  presents, 
receive  presents,  and  hold  them  as  sacred  tokens  of  that  union  of 
soul  which  it  is  the  province  of  this  faculty  to  create. 

To  diminish  or  sustain  this  faculty,  (and  this  is  necessary  only 
when  it  has  been  placed  upon  the  wrong  object,  or  in  case  of  the 
death  of  friends,)  break  up  all  association,  all  connexion,  all  inter- 
chano-e  of  all  ideas  or  feelings  with  them.  Exchange  no  letters, 
exchange  no  looks,  no  thoughts.  Banish,  as  far  as  possll.^  all 
ideas  of  the  person  loved.  Busy  yourself  so  effectually  about  other 
matters  as  to  compel  you  to  withdraw  your  feelings  from  this  per- 
son, and,  above  all,  form  other  friendly  relations.  There  is  no 
cure  for  lacerated  affection  equal  to  its  transfer.  Stop  its  flow,  you 
cannot,  should  not,  but  you  can  only  direct  it  into  another  channel. 
Find  other  and  better  objects  on  which  to  expend  it,  and  especially, 
array  reason  against  friendship.  When  your  affections  revert  to 
their  former  object,  bring  them  back  by  placing  the  motive  for  their 
withdrawal  before  the  mind.  Intellect  should  reign  supreme.  It 
can  govern  the  feelings.  It  should  govern  them  all.  And  every 
one  should  train  his  feelings  to  obey  the  dictates  of  enlightened 
reason. 

These  remarks  will  apply  particularly  to  those  who  have  fallen 
in  love  injudiciously,  and  wish  to  tear  their  affections  from  those  on 
whom  they  have  been  improperly  or  unwisey  placed.  To  such 
they  will  be  found  invaluable;  as  also  to  those  who  lose  friends, 
children,  or  a  beloved  companion.  Let  the  dead  be  dead  to  you- 
Mourning  over  their  decease  does  not  benefit  them,  but  it  is  ruinous 
to  you,  in  point  of  health,  in  point  of  mind,  as  well  as  in  urious  to 
the  faculties  thus  lacerated.  And  the  more  you  dwell  on  this  loss, 
the  more  you  sear  this  element  of  your  nature.     Beware  of  this  la- 


INHABITIVENESS.  171 

ceration,  and  to  avoid  it,  I  repeat,  banish  them  from  your  mind,  and 
engross  your  time,  attention,  every  thini^j  in  other  matters.  Seek 
any  thing  that  will  thus  divert  you.  Bitke  'philosopher.  May  I 
never  be  brought  to  a  severe  trial,  but  if  so,  I  do  think  I  could  put 
in  practice  the  direction  here  given.  Many  shrink  from  this  direc- 
tion, but  it  is  the  true  one.  It  is  the  only  way  to  shelter  yourself 
from  that  merciless  storm  which  threatens  to  drive  you  to  distrac- 
tion and  wreck  your  all. 

UNION  FOR  LIFE. 

Continuance  and  congeniality  of  affection. 

"  That  silken  tie  which  binds  two  willing  souls."    "And  ihey  twain  shall 
be  one  flesh." 

This  faculty  is  located  between  Adhesiveness  and  Amativeness? 
and  disposes  husbands  and  wives  in  w'hora  it  is  large  and  active 
to  be  always  togeih:r.  They  cannot  endm'e  the  absence  of  their 
companion,  even  for  an  hour,  and  feel  as  though  the  time  spent 
away  from  them,  was  so  much  of  their  existence  lost.  It  is  devel- 
oped before  amativeness  appears,  and  hence  this  Union  is  often 
formed  in  childhood.  It  purifies  and  refines  the  sentiment  of  love  . 
desires  to  caress  and  be  caressed ;  and  is  the  soul  and  centre  of  con- 
nubial love  ;  creating  that  union,  that  oneness  of  feeling,  that  har_ 
mony  of  spirit  and  that  Jioioing  together  of  soul,  whish  characterize 
true  conjugal  affection.  It  is  very  reluctant  to  fasten  upon  more 
than  one,  and  that  is  upon  first  love.  I  have  seen  several  strik- 
ing proofs  and  illustrations  of  the  existence  of  this  faculty,  and  the 
location  of  its  organ.  It  is  much  larger  and  more  active  in  woman 
than  in  man,  and  in  fact  causes  and  accounts  for  the  far  greater  power 
and  intensity  of  woman's  love  than  that  of  man. 

INHABITIVENESS  : 

Or  love  o/'home,  and  thz  domicil  of  both  childhood  and  after  life  ; 
attachment  to  the  place  where  one  lives,  or  has  lived :  unwilling- 
ness to  change  it:  desire  to  locate,  and  rer,iain,  permanently,  irt 
one  habitation,  and  to  own,  and  improve  a  homestead :  patriotism 

"  Home,  home  !  sweet,  sweet  home !    There's  no  p'ace  like  home." 

The  advantages  of  having  a  permaneit  home,  and  the  e\ils  and 


172  [cONCEPftRATIVEKESS. 

losses  consequent  upon  changing  it,*  are  each  very  great;  "three 
moves,"  it  is  said,  "  are  as  bad  as  a  fire."  Those  who  have  homes 
of  their  own,  be  they  ever  so  homely,  are  comparatively  rich.  They 
feel  that  no  crusty  landlord  can  turn  them  homeless  into  the  streets, 
or  sell  their  furniture  at  auction  for  rent.  Rent-days  come  and  go 
imheeded,  and  the  domestic  affections  have  full  scope  for  delightful 
exercise.  Every  married  man  is  bound  by  this  inhabitive  law  of  his 
nature,  as  well  as  in  duty  to  his  family,  to  oien  a  house  and  garden 
spot ;  and  every  wife  is  bound  by  the  same  law  and  dutj^,  to  render 
that  home  as  happy  as  possible.  The  prevalent  practice  oi  rent- 
ing houses,  violates  this  law  and  arrangement  of  man's  domestic 
nature,  and  must  necessarily  produce  evil  to  both  owner  and  tenant. 
Inhabitiveness  can  be  cultivated  by  having  a  home,  staying  much 
at  home,  and  improving  that  home  by  setting  out  fruit  trees  and 
shrubbery,  multiplying  conveniences  about  it,  and  indulging  a  love 
of  home  as  your  home.  Moving  often,  by  tearing  us  away  from  the 
place  which  has  become  endeared  to  us,  interrupts  and  pains  this 
faculty,  and  this  hardens,  sears,  and  enfeebles  it.  Children  should, 
if  possible,  be  brought  up  in  one  house,  and  Jiome  should  be  rendered 
as  delightful  a  place  to  them  as  possible.  I  have  always  observed, 
that  children  who  have  lived  in  one  dwelling,  and  especially  on  a 
farm,  till  they  were  fifteen,  have  this  organ  large ;  whereas  it  is 
small  in  those  who  have  lived  in  different  places  during  childhood. 
This  shows  the  importance  of  cultivating  it  in  childi'en,  and  says  to 
parents,  in  the  language  of  nature — "  Make  as  few  moves  as  possi- 
ble, and  generally  keep  your  children  at  home^ 

CONCENTRATIVENESS. 

Unity  and  continuity  of  thought  ayid  feeling  ;  application  ;  ability 
and  disposition  to  attend  to  one,  and  bid  one,  thing  at  a  time,  and 
to  complete  that  before  turning  to  another. 

Adaptation. — Many  of  the  operations  of  life,  and  especially  the 
acquisition  of  knowledge,  require  the  continued,  united,  and  patient 
application  of  the  faculties  to  one  thing  at  a  time.  Firmness  gives 
continuity  as  regards  the  general  plans,  opinions,  &c.,  of  life,  while 
this  organ  is  adapted  to  the  minor  operations  of  the  mind  for  the 

*  It  is  estimated,  that  tiie  expenses  of  moving  on  the  first  of  May,  in  the 
city  of  New- York  alore,  exceeds  $25,000. 


CONCENTKATIVENESS — iADABTATION  AND  CTTLTIVATION.  173' 

time  being.  Without  Concentrativeness,  the  mental  operations 
would  be  extremely  imperfect,  wanting  in  thoroughness,  and  too 
vapid  and  flashy.  Its  absence  may  be  advisable  in  some  kinds  of 
business,  as  in  the  mercantile,  where  so  many  little  things  are  to  be 
done,  so  many  customers  waited  upon  in  a  short  iimej  and  somuth 
versatility  of  talent  required. 

Abuses. — Prolixity,  dwelling  or  talking  on  one  subject  till  it  is 
worn  thread  bare,  and  reintroducing  it  after  others  have  beenintro» 
dueed. 

The  whole  cast  and  character  of  the  Amejican  people,  evincesr 
an  almost  total  deficiency  of  this  faculty  in  character,  and  accord<^ 
ingly,  in  ninety- nine  in  every  hundred  of  the  heads  I  examine,  its 
organ  is  small.     The  error  lies  in  our  defective  system  of  education 
— especially  in  our  crowding  so  many  studies  upon  the  attention  of 
children  and  youth  wi  a  day.     In  our  common  schools,  a  few  min- 
utes are  devoted  to  reading,  a  few  minutes  to  spelling,  a  few  mor» 
to  writing,  a  few  more  to  arithmetic,  &c.,  &c.,  all  in  half  a  dap. 
By  the  time  Concentrativeness  brings  the  organs  required  by  a  given 
study,  to  bear  upon  it,  so  that  it  begins  to  do  them  good,  the  njinA 
is  taken  off,  and  the  attention  directed  to  another  study.     This  is 
wrong.     When  the  mind  becomes  engaged  in  a  particular  study  or 
train  of  thought,  it  should  be  allowed  to  remain  fixed  without  inter- 
ruption, until  fatigue  is  induced.      And  I  am  of  the  opinion  that 
not  more  than  one,  at  best  only  two  studies  or  subjects  should  be 
thrust  upon  the  mind  in  a  day.     I  incline  to  the  opinion  that  a  sin- 
gle study  at  a  time  should  be  the  study,  and  the  others,  recreations 
merely.     Make  thorough  work  of  one  study,  and  then  of  another. 
The  Germans  devote  a  life-time  to  a  single  study,  and  in  them, 
this  organ  is  usually  large.     It  is  much  larger  in  the  English  and 
Scotch  than  in  the  Americans ;  and  is  not  generally  developed  ift 
the  French  head. 

To  diminish  this  faculty,  fly  from  thing  to  thing.  Read  a  para*, 
graph  here,  and  a  scrap  of  news  there.  Get  a  mere  smattering  of 
one  thing  after  another,  but  dwell  on  nothing.  Pick  up  informa*' 
tion  here,  there,  every  where,  but  let  it  be  a  little  of  every  thing, 
yet  not  much  of  any  one  thing.  Go  into  a  store  or  engage  in  some 
"business  where  there  is  a  constant  succession  of  things  to  be  atten- 
ded to  in  quick  succession,  each  of  which  requires  but  an  instant,  to 
be  followed  by  Lnotasir.     ir'oke  iron  after  iron  into  the  fu:e  sa  as  to 


174'  ANALYSIS  OF  COMBATIVENESS, 

compel  you  to  divert  your  attention  frora  one  thing  to  another  with*^ 
out  cessation. 

The  means  of  cultivating  this  organ  may  in  part  be  drawn  from 
tiie  preceding  remarks.  Fix  the  mind,  and  keep  it  fixed,  on  one 
single  subject,  for  a  long  tirpe,  and  avoid  interruption  and  transition. 
The  weavers  in  our  factories  usually  have  this  faculty  large,  be- 
cause their  whole  attention  is  required  to  one  and  the  same  thing, 
hour  after  hour  and  day  after  day,  and  if  you  wish  to  cultivate  it 
you  must  seek  some  business,  or  do  something  that  will  compel  you 
to  keep  your  mind  upon  one  and  the  same  thing  hour  after  hour  and 
day  after  day  for  years  together.  Force  of  will  may  do  some- 
thing, but  this  will  do  vastly  more. 

The  precise  function  of  this  faculty  is  not  generally  understood. 
It  gives  continuity,  and  a  patient  dwelling  on  one  subject,  but  not 
intensity  or  concentration  of  mind.  These  are  imparted  by  its  ab- 
sence, and  an  active  temperament.  It  dilutes,  instead  of  concentra- 
ting, the  mental  faculties.  With  this  organ  small,  and  an  active 
terhperament,  the  mind  acts  with  energy  and  rapidity,  but  soon 
despatches  one  subject,  and  passes  to  another,  and  then  to  a  third. 

COMBATIVENESS, 

Nemo  me  impune  lacessit. 

Resistance  ;  self-protection  ;  defence  j  personal  courage  ;  presence 
of  mind  in  times  of  danger;  defence;  opposition;  determina- 
tion;  boldness ;  resolution;  energy ;  the get-out-of-my-way, and 
let-me-and-mine-alone  feeling  ;  anger ;  resentment ;  a  threat- 
ening, contrary  spirit. 

Adaptation. — Man  has  been  thrown,  by  his  Creator,  into  a  world 
beset  with  difficulties,  some  of  which  are  to  be  overcome  by  Cau- 
tiousness, which  "  foreseeth  the  evil  and  fleeth  therefrom,"  and 
others,  by  boldly  meeting  and  defying  danger  and  braving  difficulty. 
Cautiousness  looks  out  for  the  storm,  and  provides  against  it  as  far 
as  possible ;  Combativeness  then  takes  the  helm,  and  resolutely  de- 
fies that  storm,  and  imparts  that  indefatigable  energy  and  determi- 
nation to  stick  it  out,  which  is  the  main  element  of  success.  This 
organ  should  be  cultivated,  because,  without  it,  nothing  difficult  or 
important  can  be  accomplished,  yet  its  excess  and  perversion,  are 
most  disastrous  to  the  happiness  of  its  possessor.      A  contentious 


175 

man  is  necessarily  an  unhappy  man,  and  quarrelsome  children  are  a 
torment  to  themselves  and  to  all  around  them,  but  "  blessed  are  the 
peace-makers"  for  they  shall  enjoy  life.  Has  the  reader  never  no- 
ticed how  much  more  agreeable  and  happy  his  own  feelings  and 
those  of  a  family,  when  a  child  is  mild,  pleasant,  sweet  in  looks  and 
words,  and  good  humored,  than  when  the  same  child  is  cross,  ugly, 
fretful,  spiteful,  disobedient,  hateful,  and  crying  half  the  time  ?  In 
other  words,  predominant  Combativeness  renders  its  possessor  and 
all  around  him  unpleasant  and  unhappy. 

Aruses. — When  excessive  or  perverted,  or  not  governed  by  the 
higher  faculties,  it  degenerates  into  pugnacity,  giving  a  quick,  fiery 
temper,  and  rendering  one  contentious,  ungovernable,  fault-finding, 
cross,  and  ugly  in  feehng  and  conduct,  and  sometimes  leads  to 
fighting,  and  mobocracy,  tumult,  &c.  From  its  excessive  or  per- 
verted action  spring  most  of  the  bickerings,  contentions,  law-suits 
wranglings,  threatenings,  animosities,  litigations,  abusiveness,  po- 
kmical  discussions,  wrath,  ill-temper,  &c.,  that  prevail  in  society. 

The  precise  function  of  this  faculty  seems  to  be  to  impart  Jhrce 
of  character*  It  gives  that  I  can  and  I  tmll  which  grapples  right 
hold  of  difficulties  as  though  they  must  be  overcome.  Without  i^ 
one  is  tame,  and  takes  hold  with  an  "  Oh,  I  can't,  if  I  try,"  which 
prevents  trial  and  blasts  success.  Thus :  if  but  a  log  is  to  be  lifted 
he  in  whom  it  is  large  tokes  hold  of  it  with  a  "  get  out  of  my  way," 
•which  removes  it,  while  he  in  whom  it  is  small,  takes  hold  as 
though  he  had  the  labor  of  a  Hercules  before  him.  Spirit,  reso- 
lution, efficiency,  tone,  vigor,  determination,  these  are  the  products 
of  this  faculty,  as  well  as  defence,  protection,  coi. rage,  daring,  and 
that  let-me-and-mine-alone  which  wards  off  all  imposition  and 
breaks  down  all  obstacles. 

The  usual  conduct  of  parents  to  their  children,  is  calculated 
to  excite  this  organ  in  children,  in  the  most  direct  and  power- 
ful manner,  "and  that  continually''  rather  than  to  allay  it. 
Most  parents  fret  or  scold,  or  blan^e,  or  punish  their  children 
daily  and  almost  hourly,  and  for  things  either  harmless  in 
themselves,  or  else  perfectly  right.  For  example:  Children, 
as  is  perfectly  natural,  make  a  good  deal  of  noise,  both  with 
th^ir  tongues  and  feet.  This  is  as  it  should  be.  Without  ac- 
tion, they  die  ;  and  nothing  contributes  more  to  the  develop- 
ment of  the  child's  body,  and  thereby  of  the  mind,  than  the 


176  EVILS    OF    FRETTING    CHILDREN, 

noisy  plays  and  prattle  of  youth.  Talkisg  incessantly,  halloo- 
ing, &c.,  inflates  the  lungs,  and  increases  the  circulation  of 
the  blood,  besides  developing  the  muscles — functions  of  the 
last  importance  to  them,  and  for  which  lr.::::l^  ;.r.s  atiiply  pro- 
vided in  the  restlessness  and  talkativeness  of  their  natures. 
And  yet,  fifty  times  in  the  day,  all  their  innocent  prattle  or 
healthful  play,  are  broken  in  upon  by  parents  and  teachers, 
in  a  combative  spirit  and  tone.  "  Oh,  do  hush  your  eternal 
clatter  !"  "  Stop  that  noise  yonder,  or  I'll  give  you  something 
to  make  a  noise  about,  (chastise  yon,)  or,  "  Do  be  still,  chil- 
dren, you'll  make  me  crazy  ;"  or,  "  There,  nov  sit  down  and 
sit  still !  If  you  stir,  or  make  another  bit  of  noise  for  an  hour^ 
I'll  punish  you,"  or  some  similar  threat  or  imperious  com- 
mand. As  well  punish  them  for  breathing,  as  for  talking  or 
playing  boisterously.  They  cannot  avoid  the  latter  any  more 
than  they  can  stop  breathing.  They  should  not  stop.  They 
are  but  yielding  obedience  to  an  irresistible  law  of  their  na- 
tures and  should  be  encouraged  and  facilitated  rather  than 
repressed.  K  they  are  in  your  way,  let  them  go  out  doors  to. 
foup  and  prattle  there:  but  do  not,  I  beseech  you, continually 
irritate  their  tempers,  by  requiring  of  them  what  they  cannot 
and  should  not  perform,  and  then  blaming  or  punishing  them 
for  disobedience.  ^ 

A  child  takes  hold  of  a  table  spread,  and  thoughtlessly  pulls 
it  along  till  a  dish  or  two  falls  off;  for  which  he  is  severely, 
punished,  though  he  knew  no  better.  You  tell  a  child  to  bring 
you  a  tumbler  of  water,  or  in  doing  something  with  much 
spri^htliness  which  you  requesled  of  him,  he  slips  down  and 
breaks  a  dish,  or  does  some  other  damage.  Your  own  Acquis 
sitiveness  is  wounded  by  the  loss,  and  your  Combativeness 
raised  which  makes  you  scold  the  child,  whernas  you  should 
pitv  him.  Thus  it  is  that  children  are  blamed  for  a  thousand 
ather  things  constantly  occurring,  when  entirely  innocent, 
or  deserving  commendation.  This  blaming  and  finding  fault 
iust  because  they  do  not  know  how  to  do  things  exactly  to 
suit  you,  or  because  it  is  not  done  exactly  as  you  wish,  excites 
their  Combativeness  and  reverses  their  Conscientiousness,  and 
hence  they  too  grow  up  to  find  fault,  and  be  ill-tempered.  Their 
Combativeness  is  kept  in  a  continual  ferment,  and  consequent- 


BLAMING   AND    TEAZING   CHILDREN.  177 

\y  becomes  morbidly  and  permanently  active,  and  so  breaks 
forth  continually  upon  themselves  and  even  upon  inanimate 
objects. 

Or,  it  may  be  that  a  child  hits  its  toe  against  a  stick,  stone, 
or  chair,  and  falls  down  and  hurts  itself.  The  over-tender 
mother  catches  up  that  which  caused  the  child  to  fall,  and 
whips  or  scolds  it  for  hurting  "  ittle  sissy."  The  Jiext  day, 
another  child  occasions  pain  to  "  ittle  sissy,"  and  she,  follow- 
ing the  example  set  by  her  parent  or  nurse,  of  punishing  what 
gives  it  pain,  beats  the  other  child,  and  gets  beaten  back  again, 
and  a  regular  quarrel  ensues;  whereas,  if  the  parent  had  but 
taught  lessons  of  forbearance  and  forgiveness  rather  than  of 
revenge,  the  disposition  of  the  child  would  have  been  sweet 
and  amiable. 

Sora3,  whose  Mirthfulness  and  Combativeness  are  activpj 
take  pleasure  in  teasing  children,  just  to  se6  them  get  mad,  and 
retort  in  a  saucy  mmner.  This  is  most  pernicious.  Children 
should  never  be  pestered.  Parents,  if  you  love  your  families, 
remonstrate  with  those  who  plague  your  children  just  to  hear 
their  pert  or  saucy  answers,  and  if  they  do  not  stop  it  entirely^ 
dismiss  them  from  your  family.  On  no  account  should  you 
suffer  the  tempers  of  your  children  to  be  permanently  soured, 
and  their  moral  feelings  lowered,  by  being  tantalized.  Chil- 
dren get  much  of  their  ill-temper  from  he\i\2.  plagued. 

This  organ  is  sometuues  too  small.  Children  and  adults 
can  be  so  very  mild  and  amiable  as  to  be  inefficient.  Such 
might  possibly  not  be  injured — might  even  be  rendered  bet- 
ter— by  being  provoked.  There  is  no  doubt  but  that  this  or- 
gan may  be  too  small,  and  therefore  require  to  be  enlarged. 
Still,  I  cannot  regard  fretfulness,  temper,  contention,  and  this 
whole  class  of  functions,  as  the  legitimate  functions  of  this 
organ,  but  only  as  products  of  its  perversion.  To  overcome  t 
this  is  its  specific  function.  Hence,  to  increase  its  action  in  a 
child,  encourage  him  to  overcome  something.  Do  not  give  him 
so  much  to  do  as  to  dishearten  him.  Rally  his  courage.  Tell 
him  he  can  do  it  if  he  tries.  Show  him  that  by  putting  the 
matter  right  through,  he  will  gain  this  and  that  desirable  end. 
Above  all  things,  do  not  wait  on  him  in  little  matters,  or  fuss 


178  THE    KAT    STORY. 

over  him,  or  baby  him,  or  let.  him  feel  that  any  one  can  do  for 
him  but  himadf. 

My  brother  tells  an  excellent  story,  that  will  illustrate  this 
point.  The  son  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  L„  a  lad  some  four  or  five 
years  old,  was  waked  np  in  the  evening  by  the  noise  of  the 
rats,  scampering  and  screaming  over  his  head,  which  frighten- 
ed him  so  terribly  that  his  mother  was  obliged  to  take  him 
up.  On  hearing  this,  his  father  said  it  would  never  do, 
and  staid  at  home  the  next  evening,  on  purpose  to  conquer 
his  fears.  Soon  after  being  put  to  bed  the  next  night,  he 
heard  the  screaming  and  racing  of  the  rats,  and  again  became 
terribly  frightened.  His  father  went  to  the  bed,  intending  to 
compel  him  not  to  be  scared  ;  but  the  poor  agonized  boy  caught 
hold  of  his  neck,  and  clung  to  it  with  the  grasp  of  desperation. 
Compelled  at  last  to  yield  to  the  overwhelming  violence  of  the 
boy's  fear,  he  took  him  up,  and  cast  about  for  some  other 
means  of  subduing  a  feeling  calculated,  otherwise,  to  render 
him  wretched  for  life,  by  making  him  a  prey  to  fears  wholly 
groundless.  He  sent  for  a  stick,  not  to  whip  the  hoy,  as  many- 
parents  would  have  done,  (though  such  a  course  would  only- 
have  increased  the  evil,)  but  for  the  boy  to  whip  the  rats.  Giv- 
ing it  to  him,  he  encouraged  him  to  strike  on  the  floor,  so  as 
to  scare  away  the  rats.  The  boy,  finding  the  staff  in  his  own 
hands,  felt  quite  courageous,  struck  on  the  floor,  and  was  in- 
duced, after  much  persuasion,  to  go  up  to  the  wall  and  strike 
on  it.  The  father  helping  him,  noise  enough  was  made  to 
really  scare  away  the  rats  for  the  time  being.  "  There,"  says 
the  father,  "  you  see  you  have  driven  off  the  rats.  They  are 
afraid  of  you,  so  you  need  never  fear  them  again.  If  they 
plague  you  again,  strike  them  with  your  stick."  The  boy 
finally  went  to  bed,  stick  in  hand,  full  of  courage,  feeling  that 
he  was  master.  This  single  incident  gave  Combativeness  the 
ascendency  over  Cautiousness,  and  saved  him  from  becoming 
a  coward. 

But,  as  this  organ  seldom  acts  alone,  before  we  can  present 
all  we  have  to  say  on  this  point,  we  must  analyze 


ANALYSIS    AND    REGULATION    OF    DESTRUCTIVENESS.  179 


DESTRUCTIVENESS. 

Executiveness  ;  indignation  ;  hatred  ;  a  pain- causing,  punishing^ 
retaliating,  exterminating  disposition  ;  harshness  ;  sternness  / 
bitterness  of  feeling  ;  revenge  ;  violence  of  anger  ;  disposition 
to  destroy,  kill,  exterminate,  8fc. 

Its  abuses  are,  rage,  revenge,  cruelty,  malignity,  malice  pre- 
pense, war,  murder,  &c. 

Adaptation. — Man  is  placed  under  the  dominion  of  certain 
physical  and  moral  laws.  Without  these  laws,  or  without 
causes  and  effects,  everything  would  be  chaos  and  confusion: 
nothing  could  be  effected,  and  no  result  calculated  upon.  And 
without  pain  attached  to  the  violation  of  these  laws  as  a  pen- 
alty, and  pleasure  as  a  reward  of  obedience,  they  would  be 
powerless  and  useless.  Therefore  pain  is  productive  of  good, 
and  even  necessary  to  our  present  state  of  existence.  De- 
structiveness  is  adapted  to  this  necessity  for  pain,  and  enables 
us  to  cause  suffering  and  to  endure  it,  and  also  to  destroy 
what  requires  destruction.  It  also  imparts  hardness  and  force 
to  the  character,  and  makes  its  possessor  feared. 

This  organ  is  usually  very  active  in  children,  and  requires 
more  restraint  than  any  other.  It  gives  them  their  disposi- 
tion to  break  and  destroy,  and  a  love  of  harsh,  boisterous, 
noisy,  rough  plays.  It  also  gives  severity  of  temper,  and  vio- 
lence and  vindictivene&s  of  anger.  A  lad,  in  whom  it  was 
large,  though  but  four  years  old,  became  enraged  at  a  brother, 
and  catching  up  a  fork,  plunged  it  into  his  neck.*  Children 
in  whom  this  organ  is  large,  become  violent  when  ar  gry, 
stamp,  bite,  strike,  throw  themselves  upon  the  floor  and  bawl 
loud  and  long,  and  very  spitefully.  Hence,  to  restrain  this 
organ  in  children,  forms  one  of  the  most  important  and  diffi- 
cult tasks  in  conducting  the  moral  education  and  government 
of  children.     How,  then,  can  this  be  done  ? 

*  This  child  lives  in  a  tavern,  and  is  teazed  continually.  A  public 
house  is  certainly  no  place  to  bring  up  children.  They  learn  all  they 
should  not  knovir,  and  little  that  they  should,  and  form  associations  of  a 
most  ruinous  character. 


180  CORPOREAL   PUKISHMENT ITS    EVIL    CONSEQUENCES. 

Not,  surely,  by  showing  anger  towards  them.  This  only 
re-kindles  the  fire  ah-eady  too  fierce.  Anger  always  excites 
or  increases  anger.  "  A  soff  answer  tnrneth  away  wrath,  but 
grievous  words  stir  up  strife."  The  exercise  of  the  moral 
sentiments  towards  a  person  in  anger,  as  effectually  deadens 
that  anger,  as  ice  deadens  a  fire.  Fret  your  children,  and  they 
will  return  the  coUipHment ;  hut  be  benign  while  they  are  an- 
gry, and  do  them  favors  when  they  refuse  to  do  things  for 
you,  and  you  "  heap  coals  of  fire  on  their  heads."  You  break 
down  their  anger  and  conquer  by  love.  Never  chastise  them. 
This  only  adds  new  fuel  to  the  fierce  fires  already  consuming 
your  own  and  their  happiness,  by  powerfully  exciting,  and 
thereby  enlarging,  the  very  organs  you  wish  to  subdue.  The 
exercise  of  organs,  enla.rges  them,  and  the  way  to  reduce  the 
tone  and  power  of  organs,  is  to  let  them  slumber.  Hence, 
exereising  your  own  Combativeness  and  Destructiveness  to- 
wards children,  by  inflicting  punishment,  only  vit)leiitly  excites, 
'and  thus  re-augments^  the  very  organs  you  wish  to  subdue. 
You  cannot  punish  a  child  without  exercising  Combativeness 
and  Destructiven(!ss  towards  it,  and  you  cannot  exercise  these 
organs  towards  it  without  re-increasing  these  organs  in  it. 
Children  should  never  he  'punished.  jYo  one  should  ever  be  pun- 
ished ;  though  children,  and  all,  should  be  allowed  to  punish 
themselves.  The  Deity  never  punishes  us,  though  Ite  allows  us 
to  punish  ourselves.  His  entire  governoient  is  conducted  on 
the  principle  that  all  our  sins  are  punished,  and  good  deeds 
rewarded,  in  the  very  ad,  and  its  consequences.  He  never 
l^ours  out  the  vials  of  his  wraJh  on  us,  but  lets  us  bring  down 
the  punishments  of  his  violated  law  upon  ourselves.  The  no- 
tion that  God  f)unishes  sin  and  sinners,  is  as  erroneous  and  as 
fatal  as  it  is  general  and  revolting.  He  does  not.  Not  a  pain 
does  the  Almighty  ever  intlicf,  other  than  that  which  we  incur 
and  inflict  in  the  very  act  of  violating  his  laws.  Pursue,  then, 
the  same  course  in  regard  to  your  children,  that  the  great  Pa- 
reni  of  the  universe  pursues  towards  us  all.  His  government 
is  a  perfect  model,  after  which  we  may  safely  pattern.  All 
the  punishment  that  should  ever  be  inllicted,  is  to  show  them 
how  and  wherein  their  wicked  condwct  makes  them  unhappy.. 


ANTAGONIZING  THE  PROPENSITIES  BY  THE  MORAL  SENTIMENTS.     ISl 

This  bold  and  startling  doctrine  requires  defence,  and  shall 
have  it.  It  is  not  in  the  nature  of  absolute  punishmeul,  to 
make  men  better,  but  it  always  makes  them  worse.  Our 
worst  boj's  are  those  who  have  been  whipped  most,  and  our 
worst  men  are  those  who  have  often  been  in  jails  or  prisons, 
and  the  offener  imprisoned  the  worse  they  become.  Putiish- 
ment  naturally  and  necessarily  hardens  the  heart,  instead  of 
softening  it,  and  excites  Destructiveness  and  Combativeness 
to  rage  and  retaliation.  No  fact  can  be  more  extensively  or 
lamentably  proved  than  is  the  fact  that  punishments  make  men 
worse. 

But  my  main  proof  of  this  bold  announcement,  that  chil- 
dren should  not  be  punished,  wi'l  be  found  in  the  fact,  that 
the  moral  sentiments  are  the  natural  and  legitimate  antagonists 
of  the  propensities  as  well  as  the  natural  punishers  of  their  In- 
ordinate action.  The  former,  when  brought  to  bear  upon  the 
latter,  as  effectually  counteract  and  aniagonize  them  as  an  al- 
kali does  an  acid.  Even  the  feeble  exercise  of  the  moral  sen- 
timents and  intellect  in  reference  to  a  desired  animal  indul- 
gence, will  effectually  subdue  that  unholy  desire.  We  have 
only  to  bring  these  higher  faculties  to  bear  upon  the  lower, 
and  the  victory  is  gained,  almost  without  a  struggle.  The 
great  trouble  is,  that  men  do  not  exercise  Iheir  higher  facul- 
ties in  conjunction  with  their  lower;  but  they  exercise  one 
at  a  time.  The  main  thing  that  men  require  to  make  them 
virtuous  and  happy,  is  to  train  their  propensities  to  act  in 
unison  with,  and  obedience  to,  (the  former  implies  the  latter,) 
their  moral  sentiments  ajid  intellect.  A  few  illustrations  will 
both  prove  and  explain  this  point. 

Veneration  is  a  perfect  anticeptive  against  animal  passion. 
No  one,  even  in  the  feeble  exercise  of  the  thought,  "  Thou, 
God,  seest  me" — none,  while  realizing  the  goodness  of  Godj, 
and  that  the  eye  of  his  Maker  is  fixed  upon  him,  so  that,  if  he 
does  this  or  that  wicked  act,  he  does  it  before  his  God,  and  ia 
violation  of  his  laws,  can  knowingly  commit  sin  ;  and  were  I 
to  recommend  one  of  the  strongest  checks  upon  vicious  indul- 
gence I  know  of,  I  would  recommend  prayer.  I  well  remem- 
ber, that  when  a  boy,  on  my  father's  having  discovered  any- 


182 


CONTENTION    OF    THE    FACULTIES    INDUCES    PAIN. 


thing  wrong  in  my  conduct,  he  would  call  me  up,  and  talk  to 
me  in  such  a  manner  as  to  make  me  condemn  myself,  and  as- 
sign my  own  punishment,  and  appoint  a  period  for  inflicting 
It.  That  day  arrived,  he  would  summon  me  for  the  purpose 
of  administering  it;  but,  before  doing  so,  being  a  religious 
man  and  a  deacon,  he  would  often  take  me  aside,  and  -pray 
with  and  for  me.  The  praying  had  an  infinitely  greater  effect 
than  the  whipping.  Set  Veneration  in  opposition  to  an  easily 
besetting  propensity,  and  it  will  do  more  to  check  that  vice, 
than  all  the  punishments  that  can  possibly  be  inflicted.  This 
is  equally  true  of  children,  and  of  every  individual  for  himself. 
Keep  "  the  fear  of  God  continually  before  your  eyes,"  and  it 
will  undoubtedly  tend  to  cool  off  the  propensities.* 

Benevolence  also  furnishes  a  powerful  check,  especially 
upon  excessive  or  perverted  Destructiveness.  If  a  child  hurt 
another,  put  Benevolence  over  against  cruelty,  by  exciting 
the  sympathy  of  the  aggressor  in  behalf  of  the  one  hurt ;  and 
this  will  prevent  the  repetition  of  cruelty. 

Conscientiousness,  also,  properly  trained,  holds  a  powerful 
check  upon  animal  indulgence.  Few  men  have  the  moral 
hardihood  to  do  wrong  knovnngly,  and  while  they  are.  feeling  it 
to  he  wrong.  Few  persons  can  sin  while  conscience  is  active,  un- 
less the  intellect  is  perverted,  or  Conscience  so  warped  a^ 
to  consider  the  act  justifiable.  Most  persons  feel  justified  jn 
their  wickedness,  however  criminal  it  may  be  in  the  eyes  of 
others,  and  this  erroneous  opinion  of  what  is  right  and  wrong, 

*  In  thus  recommending  prayer  and  piety  as  an  antidote  for  sinful  de- 
sires, I  do  not  recommend  sectarianism,  or  even  insist  on  going  to  chnrch 
Sundays,  especially  if  arrayed  in  fashionable  attire.  It  is  not  all  gold  that 
shines,  nor  all  piety  that  claims  to  be  so.  I  refer  more  to  private  piety,  and 
not  at  all  to  owf side  pretences  or  ceremonies.  Sectarianism  makes  few 
better,  but  many  worse  ;  yet  communing  with  one's  own  heart  and  with 
his  God,  will  make  all  the  better,  and  none  the  worse. 

The  author  has  sometimes  been  accused  of  being  irreligious.  This  is 
an  erroneous  inference  drawn  from  occasional  allusions  in  his  writings  to 
modern  religionism.  The  reader  will  find  remarks  in  this  work,  from 
which  his  religious  sentiments  may  be  partially  gleaned,  but  they  will  find 
his  views  on  this  point  more  at  large,  and  in  a  body,  in  his  work  on  Reli- 
gion founded  on  Phrenology,  the  second  edition  of  which  will  soon  be  pub- 
lished. 


ARTIFICIAL    PUNISHBIENT   IS    WRONG.  183 

constitutes  the  great  fountain  of  wickedness.  Ciiildren  should 
be  taught  what  is  right  and  what  wrong,  and  then  have 
their  consciences  trained  to  resist  the  wrong  and  advocate  the 
right.  If,  when  conscience  is  thus  trained,  they  do  commit 
a  wrong,  conscience,  on  reflection,  gives  them  so  much  pain 
in  the  compunctions  of  a  guilty  conscience,  that  this  pain  will 
prevent  their  repeating  the  wrong.  Indeed,  by  far  the  strong- 
est inducement  to  virtue  and  restraint  upon  vice,  is  to  be  found 
in  the  pain  or  punishment  caused  by  tlie  conflict  between  the 
propensities  and  sentiments.  l( punishment  be  the  end  sougiit, 
no  punishment  can  be  greater  than  this  arraying  the  moral 
sentiments  against  vicious  indulgences. 

It  has  already  been  shown,  that  contention  between  any 
of  «:he  faculties  induces  mental  pain  of  a  most  intense  charac- 
ter ;  but,  the  horrors  of  a  civil  war  between  the  higher  moral 
faculties  and  the  propensities,  causes  the  very  climax  of  men- 
tal anguish.  I  repeat,  natural  punishment  is  quite  punishment 
enough,  else  the  Deity  has  taken  man  in  as  a  punishing  ^ar^- 
nei\  To  suppose  that  the  Deity  has  not  made  due  and  ample 
provision  for  the  punishment  of  all  breaches  of  his  laws,  or  to 
suppose  that  any  artificial  punishment  need  ever  be  added  to 
that  already  provided  by  God,  is  to  suppose  that  the  great 
Creator  of  man  did  but  a  part  of  the  work  he  took  in  hand, 
ant!  left  the  balance  to  be  executed  by  man.  I  repeat,  show 
children — show  all — wherein  they  punish  themselves  by  doing 
wrong,  and  then  array  the  higher  faculties  against  the  lower^ 
and  besides,  giving  them  more  pain  than  any  thing  else  can 
give  them,  you  will  employ  the  most  effectual  means  possi- 
ble— means  devised,  employed  by  God — of  producing  reform. 
Bat,  to  inflict  physical,  artificial  pain,  makes  them  hate  you. 
I  submit  to  any,  to  all,  whether  it  is  not  constitutional  for  man 
to  l)ate  what  causes  pain,  and  to  like  what  gives  pleasure. 
Hence  it  is  that  we  turn  from  what  gives  us  pain,  and  seek 
what  gives  us  pleasure.  Am  I  not  standing  on  a  law  of  mind  ? 
Is  not  this  a  universal  fact  ?  Unquestionably.  The  reason, 
or  philosophy,  was  given  in  our  introductory  remarks ;  namely, 
man's  nature  is  to  be  happy,  and  hence  he  has  a  natural  affi- 
nity for  happiness ;  but  a  shrinking  from  pain,  because  it  is  a 
violation  of  that  nature.     Hence  it  is  impossible  to  inflict  arti- 


Ifiii  ma'n's  nature  is  to  be  happy. 

ficial  pain  upon  children — pain  not  growing  out  of  the  nature 
of  things,  but  originating  wholly  from  yourself— \^ithout  mak- 
ing them  hate  you  in  just  that  proportion  iu  which  you  pun- 
ish them.  Nor  is  it  possible  to  make  them  happy  without 
causing,  even  thereby  compellivg  them  to  love  you.  It  even 
forms  the  very  basis  of  that  mind.  Let  parents  never  violate 
this  law  of  mind  ;  or,  if  they  do,  let  them  expect  that  their 
children  will  dislike  them,  and  therefore  disobey  them,  as  well 
as  punish  back  again,  sooner  or  later,  in  one  way  or  in  an- 
other.    It  cannot  be  otherwise. 

Again.  Love  forms  the  most  powerful  incentive  to  obedi- 
ence known  to  the  mind  of  man.  Men,  women,  children,  all 
mankind,  will  do  for  love  what  no  money,  nor  any  thing  else 
cou'd  possibly  induce  them  to  do.  For  example.  A  wife  who 
really  loves  a  husband,  when  he  is  sick,  will  do  more  for  him 
than  the  wealth  of  the  world — than  all  other  motives  put  to- 
gether— can  purchase,  besides  feeling  herself  happy  in  so  doing* 
What  are  hired  services,  forced  services,  all  other  services 
compared  with  those  prompted  by  attachment,  be  it  connu- 
bial, parental,  filial,  or  friendly.  To  secure  the  love  of  a  child, 
is  to  secure  his  perfect  obedience.  First  get  your  children's 
affection.  Try  to  do  nothing  till  then.  That  done,  you  may 
mould  them  to  your  liking,  and  have  only  to  make  known 
your  desire,  and  they  fly  to  grytify  every  wish.  If  this  be  not 
a  law  of  mind,  then  mind  has  no  law.  If  it  be,  never  punish, 
for  in  so  doing,  you  of  course  cause  pain,  else  it  is  no  punish- 
ment, and  this  always,  necessarily,  unavoidably,  excites  the 
child's  dislike,  andt  his  cannot  but  render  him  disobedient  and 
bad. 

In  harmony  with  this  demand  or  requisition  that  children 
should  love  their  parents,  the  latter  have  an  organ  oi  Parental 
L'we  that  makes  them  love  their  children,  and  love  to  caress, 
feed,  and  gratify  them.  In  return,  children  have  an  organ  of 
Filial  love,  located  by  the  side  of  parental  love,  which  appre- 
ciates these  blessings  showered  from  the  hand  of  Parental  love. 
Give  a  child  its  daily  bread  without  unkindness,  and  that  child 
will  love  you.  It  is  natural  for  children  to  look  up  with 
a  dutiful,  affectionate  eye  to  those  who  feed  and  clothe  them. 
Much  more  so  when  you  caress  them.     Children  naturally/ 


GOVERNING    CHILDREN    BY    LOVE.  185 

love  those  who  treat  them  kindly.     Much  more  their pa7'eniSy 
who  should  treat  them  ajfeclionately.     Caress  children  and, 
gratify  them  as  often  as  possible  by  taking  them  out  to  walk 
or  ride,  by  feeding  their  intellects  and  making  them  presents 
of  toys,  garments,  &c.,  and  any  child  will  feel  spontaneous 
love  and  gratitude  to  its  benefactor.     Affection  and  gratitude 
are  indigenous  in  the  soil  of  the  youthful  heart,  and  they  are 
virtues  which  should  by  all  means  be  cultivated.     This,  those 
who  have  the  care  of  children,  have  every  possible  opportu- 
nity of  doing.     They  are  obliged  to  feed  and  clothe  them,  and 
in  doing  this  their  duty  and  pleasure,  they  can  plant  a  feeling 
of  gratitude  and  love  in  the  bosom  of  any  child,  however 
hardened  or  abandoned,  that  can  never  be  erased,  and  will 
make  those  children  the  most  faithful  servants,  the  most  will" 
ing  and  obedient,  imaginable.     Let  children  but  see  in  you  a 
disposition  to  gratify  them  as  far  as  is  proper,  and  because  you 
love  them,  and  lo  deny  them  nothing  except  their  own  good 
requires  it,  and  they  will  soon  love  you  with  a  pathos  and  fer- 
vency which  will  make  them  bound  with  delight  to  fulfil  your 
every  wish  (not  command.)     Your  every  request  has  but  to 
be  made  known,  and  they  experience  the  most  heart-felt  de- 
light  in  gratifying   their  beloved   benefactor.      Pursue   lhi» 
course  a  single  year,  and  the  worst  child  that  ever  was,  will, 
be  subdued  by  it.    There  is  no  withstanding  its  power.    Kind- 
ness will  melt  a  heart  oi  stone,  and  produce  kindness  m  returoi 
The  principle  that  every  organ  in  one,  excites  the  same  or- 
gans in  another,  applies  with  great  force  to  this  train  of  re* 
marks,  and  shows  that  punishment  excites  Combativeness  and. 
Destructiveness,  and  that  kindness  and  affection  will  ejHjite 
these  same  faculties  in  return. 

If  it  be  objected  that  this  anti-flogging  doctrine  is  in  opei> 
opposition  to  the  teachings  of  Salomon,  who  says  that  sparino" 
the  'rod  spoils  the  child ;  I  answer,  the  probable  meaning  of 
that  passage  is,  when  you  take  down  the  rod,  whip  till  you 
conquer,  and  spare  not  on  account  of  his  crying  j  but  this  doe» 
not  say  that  it  shall  be  taken  down  every  day,  Phrenology 
also  says,  when  you  begin  to  whip,  whip  it  out.  Make  the 
child  obey ;  but  if  your  child  be  a  human  being,  endowed 
with  reason  and  moral  feelings,  you  CdiXi  cotiquer  by  love,  andi 


186  PERSUASION  BETTER  THAN  FORCE, 

by  the  child's  own  consciousness  of  what  is  right,  and  of  his 
obligation  to  do  it.  If  your  child  be  an  intellectual  and  moral 
idiot,  and  have  no  more  intellect  or  moral  feeling  than  a  horse 
or  an  ox,  then  govern  it  as  you  would  a  horse  or  an  ox, 
namely,  by  brute  force — hy  physical  pain  and  fear;  but  then 
what  morality  or  virtue  can  there  be  in  doing  right  or  not  do- 
ing wrong,  for  fear  of  the  lash  ?  No  more  than  there  is  m  a 
horse's  going  because  he  is  goaded  every  step.  The  flogging 
discipline  blunts  all  the  finer  feelings  of  our  nature,  degrades 
and  debases  the  whipped  in  his  own  eyes  and  in  the  eyes  of 
his  mates,  and  cultivates  the  low  and  the  brutal  by  its  exciiing 
Combaliveness  and  Destructiveness— the  very  organs  already 
too  large.  Indeed,  one  of  the  very  functions  of  Destructiveness 
is  to  endure  pain.  A  child  in  whom  this  organ  is  large,  if 
whipped,  hardens  himself  up,  and  feels  if  he  does  not  say, 
«  Put  it  on,  you  old  heathen  tyrant ;  I  can  bear  without  cry- 
ing all  you  can  inflict." 

Far  be  it  from  me  to  advocate  the  odious  doctrine  that  chil- 
dren need  not  obey  their  parents  and  teachers ;  or,  more  pro- 
perly, need  not  comply  with  their  wishes.  Indeed,  the  very 
end  at  which  I  am  aiming,  is  to  secure  this  obedience  most  ef- 
fectually.  Govern  by  love.  "  Persuasion  is  better  than  force," 
and  will  do  more  to  secure  this  obedience.  One  man  may 
drive  a  horse  to  water,  but  ten  men  cannot  make  him  drink. 
Reader,  I  put  it  to  your  own  feelings,  will  you  not  do  a  thou- 
sand fold  more  from  persuasion  than  from  force  ?  How  is  it 
with  your  neighbors  ?  What  is  the  nature  of  man  on  this 
point  ?  The  response  is  one  and  universal,  "  I  can  be  coaxed, 
but  not  driven.''^  "  I  can  be  led  by  a  hair,  but  not  driven  by 
a  cat  o'  nine  tails.'"  And  the  answer  of  men  is  the  answer 
of  children.  If  this  principle  be  not  planted  in  a  law  of  our 
nature,  then  nature  has  no  laws;  but  if  it  be,  then  obey  that 
law,  and  never  again  resort  to  corporeal  punishment.  Forced 
obedience  is  no  obedience ;  nor  does  either  law  or  common 
sense  regard  any  act  or  any  promise  extorted  by  force,  as 
either  binding  or  possessed  of  any  intrinsic  character,  good  or 
bad  JVb  obedience,  is  better  than  forced  obedience.  If  your 
children  will  not  obey  voluntarily,  let  them  disobey,  and  then 
show  them  the  evil  consequences.     Never  require  any  thing 


EVIM  OF  PUNISHING   CHILDREN   IN   ANGER.  187 

of  them  that  is  not  obviously  right,  and'  clearly  reasonable, 
and  then  let  the  mere  reasonableness  and  justice  of  your  re- 
quirements enforce  the  obedience.  I  insist  upon  it  that  chil^ 
dren  whose  Combativeness  and  Bestructiveness  you  wish  to 
restrain,  should  be  crossed  as  little  as  possible.  Every  thing  not 
positively  pernicious,  should  be  allowed  them,  and  their  tem- 
pers provoked  as  little  as  may  be,  for  every  fit  of  anger,  en- 
larges and  inflames  these  organs  in  them. 

But  if,  contrary  to  this  well  known  law  of  mind,  you  still 
insist  on  punishing  your  children,  do  let  me  entreat  of  you^ 
above  all  things,  never,  on  any  account,  to  punish  them  in  a 
passion.  To  punish  them  in  cold  blood,  from  a  sense  of  dutyj, 
telling  them  that  you  hate  to  do  it,  but  their  good  and  your 
own  conscience  require  it,  is  bad  enough,  and  excites  and  in- 
creases the  organs  you  are  trying  to  subdue  ;■  but,  to  chastise 
them  in  a  passion,  and  because  you  aremud,  is  both  barbar- 
ous in  the  extreme,  and  calculated  more  than  anything  else  to 
rouse  their  organs  and  blunt  their  mo-ral  !-ensibilities.  Said  a 
mother  of  one  family  of  children,  to  the  father  of  another, 
"  Why,  uncle  H.,  you  are  the  most  cruel  man  I  ever  saw,  be- 
cause you  punish  your  children  in  cold  blood.  I  can  never 
whip  my  children  unless  I  get  right  down  mad,  and  then  I 
love  to  tuck  it  on  like  fury,  tilll  I  get  over  it ;  but  you  are  cool 
about  it,  and  every  blow  or  two,  you  stop  and  tell  them  how 
you  hate  to  whip  them.     I  love  to  whip  mine." 

A  master  at  the  south,  having  a  very  bad  slave,  while  pun- 
ishing him  for  theft  and  other  misdemeanors,  after  striking 
wo  or  three  blows,  stopped  and  talked  thus:  "Sambo,  you 
know  I  have  tried  every  way  I  can  think  of  to  make  you  bet- 
ter, but  all  to  no  effect.  I  do  not  love  to  whip  you  but  1  must; 
for,  if  I  do  not,  all  the  others  will  become  disobedient."  And 
then  after  striking  two  or  three  blows  more,  stop  again,  and 
talk  :  "  Do  I  not  do  all  I  can  for  you — give  yoe  plenty  of  food 
and  clothes,  take  good  care  of  your  wife  and  children,  and  not 
sell  you  when  you  are  so  very  bad  ?"  "  Massa,  whip  on,  I'd 
rather  you'd  whip  than  talk,"  cried  Sambo. 

Above  all  things,  do  not  flog  children  to  school.  This  whip- 
ping ideas  into  children,  does  not  excite  the  intellectual  facul- 
ties, and  therefore  does  not  enlarge  their  organs.    Nothing  can 


188  IMPORTANCE    OF    TRAINING   THE    WILL. 

be  more  absurd  than  punishing  children  to  make  them  learn, 
for  it  creates  loathing  and  hatred  of  books.  Make  learning  a 
pleasure,  which  can  be  done  b\'  proper  instruction,  and  they 
will  never  need  to  he  whipped.  Still  more  absurd  is  it  to  try 
to  whip  religion  into  children. 

To  one  other  means  of  subduing  too  large  Corabativeness, 
or  Destructiveness,  or  Appetite,  or  almost  any  other  faculty, 
both  in  children  and  in  oneself,  I  will  barely  allude  here, 
nann  ly,  \o  the  principle  of  diversioriy  which  may  be  applied 
with  great  utility  iu  subduing  violence  of  temper,and,  indeed, 
appetite,  or  any  of  the  other  faculties  that  require  restraint. 
Somathing  displeases  your  child,  and  it  breaks  out  in  a  violent 
fit  of  rage  and  crying.  If  you  punish  the  child,  even  though 
you  ultimately  subdue  it,  yet  you  excite  Combativeness  and 
Destructiveness  to  a  still  higher  degree  than  it  is  already.  If 
you  say  nothing  to  the  child,  but  let  the  fit  go  off  itself,  its  du- 
ration also  increases  it^  but  if  some  of  the  elder  children  or 
one  of  the  parents,  start  up  something,  perhaps  some  music  or 
noise  out  of  doors,  or  aomsement  in,  up  jumps  the  child  and 
away  he  goes,  forgetting  h;s  grievance,  and  thus  these  organs 
t^ecoiiie  quiescent  at  once- — sooner  than  by  any  otber  method, 
fkud  of  course  are  increased  and  inflamed  less. 

Siill  another  powerful  antagonist  of  the  animal  propensities:^ 
is  to  be  foiuid  in  the  will,  in  conjunction  with  the  intellect. 
The  will,  of  all  other  faculties,  is  the  direct  antagonist  of  the 
passions.  Were  I  responsible  for  the  moral  conduct  of  a  thou- 
sand youth  committed  to  ray  care,  I  would  labor  mainly  Xo 
4j;UiUivate  self-government^  and  to  set  their  moral  serdimeats 
Q5fe*  against  their  propensities.  Let  intellect  b©  trained  to 
pereeive  the  best  course,  and  will  to  choose  and  adhere  to  it, 
Ij^  their  possessor  will  ride  safe  on  the  sea  of  passion,  and 
4hli&ugh  the  storms  of  temptation.  Let  your  children  go  forth 
iato  the  world  with  these  faculties  trained  to  choose  the  right 
and  refuse  the  wrong,  and  they  are  sufey  however  strong  the 
(temptations  that  beset  them. 

To  strengthen  these  faculties,  they  must  be  exerxised  ;  and 
la  order  to  give  them  exercise,  children  and  youth  should  have 
the  right  data  placed  before  them,  and  then  allowed  and  re- 
qfiirzd  to  choose  and  aci  for  ikemselves.     One  oi  the  greatest 


ALLOWING- CHILDREN    TO    CHOOSE    AND    ACT    FOR    THEMSELVES.  139 

evils  in  the  government  of  children,  is  that  parents  do  the 
willing'  for  their  children,  by  compelling  theni  to  do  thus  and 
so,  till  thoy  arc  of  age,  and  iheji  send  them  out  to  encounter, 
all  at  once,  and  without  the  previous  training  of  their  will, 
strong  temptations.  As  well  may  thiey  do  all  the  walking  for 
their  children  till  the  day  they  become  of  age,  and  then  set 
them  off  on  a  long  and  difficult  journey,  at  the  rate  of  forty 
miles  a  day.  The  old  Puritanical  notion  that  children  were 
made  to  mind — to  be  very  slaves  till  of  age,  is  erroneous,  and 
productive  of  immense  mischief  by  paralyzing  their  powers  of 
will.     A  story  from  real  hfe  will  best  illustrate  this  point. 

Near  where  I  was  bought  up,  there  lived  a  family  whose 
parents  governed  by  shall,  shan^t,  and  the  rod.  The  country 
was  new,*  and  the  young  people  were  very  wild,  vulgar,  and 
sensual.  Balls,  panics,  sleigh-rides,  &c.,  &c.,  at  which  drink- 
ing, carousing,  swearing,  and  licentiousness  abounded,  were 
numerous.  As  the  parents  of  these  children  were  religious, 
they  of  course  wished  to  keep  them  from  becoming  contami- 
nated by  those  vices  that  surrounded  them,  and  especially 
from  these  balls  and  parties.  When  these  children  went  to 
their  father,  requesting  permission  to  go  to  a  ball  or  party,  his 
answer  was  "No!  you  shan't  go."  They  plead  with  him, 
"Father,  we  zva7it  to  go  very  much,"  and  gave  as  their  rea- 
sons that  such  and  such  of  their  mates  were  to  be  there.  "  I 
tell  you,  you  shan't  go,  so  there  !  If  you  do,  I'll  xohip  you„ 
So  go  if  you  dare.''  This  threat  deterred  them  a  short  tia:e, 
but  left  their  desire  to  go,  increased ;  because  opposition  al- 
ways increases  desire.  "  Father,  mayn't  we  go  and  slide  down 
hill  to-night  ?"  "  Oh  yes,  do  go  along,  and  hold  your  tongues." 
This  was  only  a  contrivance  to  go  to  the  party,  whereas,  had 
their  parents  removed  their  desire  to  go  to  balls  and  parties,  no 
occasion  for  such  duplicity  would  ever  have  existed.  Thus 
by  various  pretences,  they  contrived  for  some  time  to  elude  the 
vigilance  of  their  parents,  till,  at  length,  they  were  found  out, 
and  punished  according  to  the  threats  of  their  parent.     But 

*  The  author's  father  settled  in  the  middle  of  a  twenty-four  mile  woods, 
and  the  author  was  ihe  fourth  child  born  in  his  native  town,  in  a  wild  and 
mountainous  section  of  country,  on  the  head  waters  of  the  Susquehannah, 
Oswego,  and  Genessce  rivers. 


190  SELF-GOVERNMENT,    ITS    CULTIVATION. 

by  this  time,  their  interest  in  these  parties  had  become  so  great, 
that  nothing  could  stop  them.  Go  they  ivould,  and  go  they 
did  ;  yet  every  time  they  were  caught,  they  were  flogged, 
which  squared  the  account  with  their  parents  till  they  went 
again.  Still,  as  they  knew  no  reason  why  they  should  not  go 
except  that  they  would  get  a  flogging,  and  as  the  parties, 
balls,  &c.,  gave  them  more  pleasure  than  the  whipping  gave 
them  pain,  they  continued  to  go  till  both  health  and  morals 
were  ruined.  Though  whipped  severely  almost  daily,  yet 
they  were  utterly  ungovernable,  and  engaged  in  continual  war 
and  rebellion  against  their  parents.  They  lost  their  standing 
in  society,  became  addicted  to  several  vices,  some  of  thenj 
died  in  consequence  of  diseases  engendered  by  their  nightly 
revels,  and  the  others  were  unfitted  for  usefulness  and  incapa- 
ble of  enjoyment,  and  all  in  consequence  of  their  bad  govern- 
ment, or  rather,  of  their  utter  wajit  of  government — either 
5e//^government,  ox  parental  government. 

Another  family  of  children,  whose  parents  lived  on  a  farm 
near  the  first,  belonged  to  the  same  church,  were  nearly 
related,  and  had  the  same  moral  improvement  of  their  chil- 
dren at  heart,  were  governed  by  the  principle  we  are  advocat- 
ing. When  they  asked  leave  of  their  parents  to  go  to  balls 
and  parties,  they  were  answered  much  as  follov/s :  "  Well,  my 
son,  let  us  talk  over  the  matter,  and  see  what  is  best  for  you. 
Who  is  to  be  there  ?  Is  Jim  Brown  going  ?"*  "  Yes,  sir." 
"  Did  you  not  tell  me  the  other  day  that  Jim  Brown  used 
naughty  words,  and  was  a  very  wicked  boy  ?  Do  you  want 
to  mingle  in  the  company  of  such  boys  as  Jim  Brown,  and 
learn  to  swear  and  fight  as  he  does  ?  for  we  insensibly  become 
like  those  with  whom  we  associate.  "  No  sir."  Is  not  Joe 
Smith  going  to  be  there  too?"  "Yes  sir."  "Did  you  not 
tell  me  that  Joe  Smith  had  been  caught  stealing,  and  do  you 
want  to  go  in  company  with  a  thief?  And  very  likely  Job 
Fay  will  be  there,  and  you  know  that  he  lies  and  swears,  and 
is  bad  to  his  parents.  Do  you  want  to  go  in  company  with 
such  boys.  Besides,  you  will  be  out  late  at  night,  and  per- 
haps be  sick  to-morrow,  will  see  and  hear  many  things  that 

g_*  Keal  names  are  not  given,  because  some  of  them  are  yet  alive. 


A   PRACTICAL    ILLUSTRATION.  19l 

will  make  you  unhappy,  will  make  me  unhappy,  and  above 
all,  will  displease  your  God.  My  son,  I  have  always  done  all 
I  could  for  you.  I  send  you  to  school.  I  make  you  comfort- 
able at  home.  I  love  you.  My  greatest  desire,  my  daily 
prayer  to  God  is,  that  you  may  be  good.  I  spare  no  pains  to 
make  you  a  good  boy.  Nothing  will  grieve  me  of  much  as 
for  you  to  go  with  bad  boys,  and  become  bad  yourself.  If 
you  go,  you  will  make  me  very  unhappy.  Still,  if  you  really 
insist  upon  going,  go.  There  is  the  horse,  and  I  will  help  you 
off;  but  I  much  prefer  that  you  would  be  contented  to  stay  at 
home ;  and  if  so,  I  will  get  you  some  good  book,  or  a  new  ar- 
ticle of  dress,  or  let  you  spend  a  day  with  your  cousins,  or  go 
a  fishing,  where  you  will  take  full  as  much  pleasure  as  in  go- 
ing to  the  party,  and  without  leaving  a  stain  behind.  And 
now,  choose  and  act  for  yourself" 

Love  of  these  pernicious  amusements  was  thus  nipped  in  the  hud, 
and  all  desire  to  attend  them,  effectually  eradicated.  They  had  no 
occasion  to  deceive  their  parents  by  false  pretences  in  order  to  go, 
but  looked  upon  the  amusements  with  aversion  instead  of  with 
pleasure.  The  same  principle  of  government  was  employed  with 
equal  success  in  regard  to  all  other  matters,  and  the  result  was, 
that  the  family  became  remarkable,  far  and  wide,  wherever  it  was 
known  (and  that  was  very  extensively,  as  it  was  a  kind  of  minis- 
ter's and  laymen's  tavern)  for  their  perfect  obedience  and  their 
high-toned  moral  feelings.  These  children,  now  men  and  women, 
are  now  exerting  a  great  and  highly  salutary  moral  influence. 
With  natural  talents  and  advantages  inferior  to  the  other  family, 
they  are  now  every  way  their  superiors,  and  doing  mnch  good. 

No  child  trained  in  a  way  similar  to  this,  by  reasoning  with  him, 
and  then  throwing  him  on  his  own  responsibilities,  can  find  it  in 
his  heart  to  disobey  the  wishes  (not  commands)  of  his  parents,  and 
the  plain  dictates  of  reason.  Or,  if  he  does  occasionally,  a  course 
like  the  following  will  cure  him.  My  little  daughter,  about  four 
years  old,  after  her  return  from  Michigan,  wished  very  much  to  go 
from  my  residence  in  Williamsburgh,  to  New  York  city,  to  spend 
the  day  in  my  office,  at  the  Museum,  and  in  seeing  the  city.  I 
promised  to  take  her  the  first  fair  day.  The  next  morning  was 
clear,  but  the  wind  blew  very  hard.  She  plead  my  promise  that 
she  might  go  the  next  day  the  sun  shone.    I  reasoned  with  her, 


192  A   PEACTIUAL   ILLUSTSATIO:^. 

and  told  her  that  she  would  suffer  with  the  cold,  and  be  almost 
certain  to  take  cold  ;  but  without  success,  leaving  it  to  her  to  go 
or  stay.  She  insisted  on  going  that  day.  I  wrapped  her  up,  and 
started.  The  place  was  bleak,  and  a  cold  wind  blew  dead  ahead. 
She  was  often  compelled  to  turn  around  and  take  breath,  and  soon 
complained  of  being  cold.  I  urged  her  to  go  back,  and  come  ano- 
ther day,  telling  her  that  she  would  enjoy  it  much  better.  But  no, 
she  kept  on.  Again  she  complained  of  being  cold,  and  again  I 
insisted  on  turning  around,  yet  leaving  it  to  her  own  choice  She 
ebose  to  go.  1  told  her  that  we  should  soon  be  too  far  to  go  back, 
because  we  should  be  as  near  the  ferry-boat  as  home.  She  com- 
plained of  cold,  and  wanted  to  be  carried,  but  would  not  turn  about, 
till  we  had  passed  the  place  where  I  told  her  she  could  not  go 
back.  She  became  so  very  cold  that  she  wanted  to  return,  but  the 
ferry-boat  was  now  nearer  than  home,  and  I  proceeded.  The  little 
creature  suffered  exceedingly  with  the  cold,  though  I  stopped  to 
■warm  at  the  first  house,  where  she  suffered  again  in  getting  warm, 
because  she  had  been  so  coW.  I  then  reasoned  with  her ;  recalled 
to  her  mind  my  advice  to  her  to  stay,  and  her  insisting  on  coming ; 
showed  her  that  she  had  brought  this  upon  herself,  and  told  her 
that,  if  she  had  taken  my  advice,  she  would  have  gone  to  New 
York  some  fair  day,  without  suffering  at  all,  and  have  enjoyed  it 
much  more  than  she  could  enjoy  it  that  day.  She  saw  her  error, 
and  promised  always  to  do  as  I  advised  her.  That  single  practical 
lesson  did  more  to  secure  obedience,  not  to  my  commands,  but  to 
my  vrisJies,  and  also  to  make  her  govern  her  desires  by  the  dictates 
of  reason,  and  to  give  me  an  influence  over  her  conduct,  than  any 
other  lesson  could  have  done,  except  one  like  it.  Its  influence  re- 
mains to  this  day,  and  widens  and  deepens  continually. 

It  is  a  principle  of  our  nature,  a  principle  planted  in  the  breast 
of  every  human  being,  (and  children  are  only  little  men  and  wo- 
men) that  we  are  morally  responsible,  not  guilty  for  the  wrong, 
nor  praiseworthy  for  the  right, that  we  do  in  obedience  to  the  wills- 
of  others,  or  when  compelled  to  do  or  not  to  do.  No  human  being 
can  feel  guilty  for  anything,  however  criminal,  in  which  he  had  no 
free  choice,  or  in  which  compulsion  is  used.  Free  will  is  a  ne- 
cessary concomitant  of  virtue  and  vice.  As  long  as  children  do 
this,  or  do  not  do  that,  because  they  are  told  or  obliged  to  do  or 
not  to  do,  their  moral  feelings  cannot  be  brought  to  bear  upon  their 


GOVERNING   BY   MOTIVES,    NOT   BY   FORCE.  193 

actions,  and  therefore  slumber,  and  hence  become  weaker ;  but, 
put  them  on  their  own  responsibility,  let  them  choose  and  actybr 
themselves,  and  they  will  not  dare  knowingly  to  do  wrong,  Oj 
refuse  to  do  right.  After  intellect  has  decided  what  is  right,  Con- 
scientiousness is  brought  to  bear,  and  compels  specific  performance, 
or  lashes  them  for  not  doing  what  they  know  they  ought  to  do ; 
and  this  strengthens  their  moral  feelings,  but  the  opposite  course 
weakens  them.  Parents  should  as  soon  think  of  doing  the  eating, 
or  the  sleeping,  or  the  breathing,  or  the  dying  of  their  childi'en,  as 
their  willing.  As  soon  as  childi'en  are  old  enough  to  obey,  they 
are  of  course  old  enough  to  understand  and  to  will.  Hence,  chil- 
dren should  never  be  commanded  ;  but  simply  reasoned  with  and 
advised.  Let  them  feel  that  w^ith  them  rests  the  responsibility, 
the  moral  character  of  their  actions  and  opinions,  and  that  on 
them  will  the  good  or  evil  consequences  fall.  Keep  it  before 
them,  that  they  were  created  to  be  happy  ;  and  that  choosing 
the  rgiht  course  will  always  ultimately  result  in  happiness ;  but 
that  every  wrong  thing  they  do,  will  ultimately  render  them 
miserable,  and  that  they  are  to  be  the  main  ones  to  be  benefited 
or  injured  by  their  own  conduct.  Men's  wills  are  not  trained, 
and  this  is  one  of  the  most  prolific  causes  of  the  vice  and  de- 
pravity every  where  so  abundant ;  "  original  sin  "  and  "  total 
depravity"  not  excepted. 

Nor  can  this  will  be  set  right  by  punishments,  but  the  more  they 
are  flogged,  the  more  hardened  and  wicked  they  become.  Every 
one,  young  and  old,  that  has  a  will  of  his  own,  is  rendered  obsti- 
nate by  being  driven.  Ask  yourself,  reader,  if  you  are  willing  to 
be  driven,  or  if  being  compelled  to  do  right,  weakens  your  desires 
to  do  wrong.  Or  rather,  ask  yourself  if  force  does  not  render  you 
much  more  contrary  and  obstinate  than  you  were  before.  And 
then  remember  that  children  are  men  and  women  in  miniature,  and 
have  the  same  'faculties  with  ourselves. 

We  occasionally  find  a  poor  slave,  who  has  but  a  feeble  will,  ready 
to^  yield  obedience  to  the  commands  of  others,  yet  such  an  one  is  a 
mere  cypher  in  society.  Who  would  wish  to  be,  or  to  make  their 
children,  like  him  1  Strength  of  toill,  self-governmn.t,  ability  *o 
resist  temptation  to  do  wrong,  and  to  do  what  intellect  dictates  and 
conscience  requires,  is  not  only  as  important  an  element  of  charac- 
ter as  mortal  man  can  possess,  but  it  is  a  more  sure  and  general 


194> 


PAEENT?    SHOULD    BE    MILC,    AXD    ^'EYEII 


restraint  upon  vice,  than  any  other  faculty  in  man :  indeed,  this 
is  its  specific  office.  Above  all  things,  then,  cultivate  this  element 
in  your  children.  Begin  with  the  first  dawn  of  intellect.  Begin 
the  first  moment  they  can  appreciate  the  difference  between  good 
and  evil,  pleasure  and  pain,  and  train  their  wills  daily  and  assidu- 
ously. Throw  them  on  their  own  responsibility.  Place  a  variety 
of  motives  before  them,  and  then  set  them  to  choosing  and  acting 
for  themselves,  and  always  see  to  it  that  the  consequences  of  their 
choice,  whether  good  or  bad,  are  set  before  them  ;  and  my  word 
for  it,  you  will  never  require  the  rod,  nor  even  severe  rebuke.  They 
will  be  a  law  unto  themselves. 

To  one  other  point  I  will  barely  allude.  Parents,  especially 
mothers,  often  induce  a  feverish  state  of  their  own  nervous  system 
by  confining  themselves  within  doors  day  after  day,  and  month 
after  month,  without  exercise,  (except  what  is  too  partial  to  be  of 
much  service,)  without  fresh  air,  and  even  in  heated  rooms,  eating 
unwholesome  food,  pouring  down  strong  decoctions  of  tea  and 
coffee,  &c.  till  a  chronic  irritability  of  their  nervous  system  or  a 
slow  fever  supervenes.  This  of  course  renders  them  extremely 
fretful.  Ignorant  of  the  fact  that  this  irritability  is  induced  by  a 
disorder  of  their  nervous  system,  they  blame  others,  while  they 
alone  are  blaraeable.  They  vent  these  sick,  sour  feelings  on  their 
children,  and  find  fault  with  every  little  thing.  Being  so  very  ner- 
vous, noise  is  especially  painful  to  them,  and  they  therefore  pour 
out  a  continual  storm  of  blame  and  anger  upon  their  children  be- 
cause they  are  noisy,  and  for  a  thousand  other  things  which  the 
very  nature  of  children  compels  them  to  do.  Children  feel  that 
they  are  blamed  without  cause.  This  wounds  and  lowers  their 
moral  feelings.  In  harmony  with  a  principle  aheady  presented, 
this  Combativeness  of  parents  also  naturally  excites  the  Combat- 
iveness  of  their  children,  and  the  consequence  is,  a  permanent  ex- 
citement and  an  undue  development  of  their  Combativeness  and 
Destructiveness.  And  all  because  their  parents  drink  tea,  and 
violate  the  laws  of  health.  Do,  parents,  look  at  this  subject  in 
a  proper  light,  and  keep  yourselves  well.  This  will  induce  good 
feeling  in  you,  and  this  good  feeling  will  continually  excite,  and 
thereby  develope,  the  moral,  better  feelings  of  your  children,  and 
cause  them  to  grow  up  under  the  reign  of  the  moral  sentiments. 

"We  close  our  observations  on  this  organ  by  a  few  remarks  on 
the  means  of  cultivating  it.     It  is  almost  always  too  large.    Hence 


IMPORTANCE   OF   A   PROPER    DIET.  195 

the  prevalence  of  the  war  spirit,  of  the  litigating  spirit,  of'  the 
controversio-religio-spirit,  of  the  revengeful,  ill-natured,  swearing, 
hating  spirit  of  the  age — of  man.  But  it  diminishes.  War  less- 
ens its  ravages ;  and  v^^hen  war  ceases,  the  progress  of  man  will  be 
more  in  one  year  of  peace,  than  in  ages  of  bloodshed.  This  or- 
gan need  not  be  cultivated  except  to  adapt  onesself  or  children  to 
the  bitter  spirit  of  the  age.  But,  if  it  be  desirable  to  cultivate  it, 
the  question  returns.  How  can  this  be  done  1  I  answer,  simply 
by  placing  stimulants  before  the  faculty.  "  What,"  says  one,  "  by 
killing  animals  or  men,  or  by  trying  to  excite  animosity  and  ha- 
tred 1"  No  :  for  these  are  but  the  perverted,  sickly,  morbid  mani- 
festations of  this  faculty.  The  legitimate  fmiction  of  one  faculty 
can  never  be  at  war  with  that  of  another.  The  exercise  of  De- 
structiveness  in  killing  animals,  is  in  direct  violation  of  the  func- 
tion of  Benevolence.  This  warring  of  the  faculties  was  never 
designed  by  the  God  of  nature.  It  is  wrong.  It  can  be  produc- 
tive of  misery  only.  The  butchery  of  animals  is  interdicted  to 
man  by  his  having  Benevolence.  If  he  had  no  sympathy  for  dis- 
tress, it  would  not  be  wi-ong  for  him  to  cause  it.  But  he  has.  It 
is  therefore  wrong.  That  this  exercise  of  Destructiveness  is  strictly 
forbidden  by  the  nature  of  man,  will  be  more  fully  shown  here- 
after. What,  then,  is  its  legitimate  exercise  1  Surgery  ?  Hardly. 
Except  in  extreme  cases,  it  is  discarded  by  the  same  principle. 
Swearing,  bitterness,  revenge  ?  No.  But  its  exercise  in  destroy- 
ing nuisances,  and  in  breaking  through  difficulties.  Force,  execu- 
tiveness,  breaking  through  obstacles,  is  its  true  function.  Hence,  to 
cultivate  it,  throw  yourself  into  those  situations  where  you  are 
obliged  to  employ  force  and  cope  with  difficulties.  Take  the  rough- 
and-tumble  of  life  with  a  zest,  and  put  your  plans  straight  through 
all  that  opposes  them.  Exercise  it  under  Conscientiousness  in 
moral  indignation  against  the  wrong,  and  in  urging  forward  the 
right.  Stand  by  the  innocent.  Brace  yourself  against  the  guilty. 
Exercise  this  element  in  these  and  similar  ways,  and  its  tone  and 
vigor  will  improve.  And  never  allow  yourself  to  indulge  in  a 
feeling  of  weakness  or  inefficiency. 

To  bring  it  out  in  children,  put  them  upon  their  own  resources. 
Do  not  for  them  those  thousand  little  acts  of  service  that  mothers 
so  often  do  for  their  children,  but  encourage  them  to  help  them- 
selves. If  a  son,  push  him  out  into  the  stream  of  life,  to  buffet  the 
■waves  of  opposition  single  Ij^nded  and  alone,  and  while  you  stand 


196  ANALYSIS  AND  ADAPTATION  OF  AQUATIVENESS. 

by  him  to  see  that  he  does  not  sink — to  encourage  and  incite  on- 
ward, and  keep  his  head  above  water — let  him  do  all  his  own 
swimming.  Let  him  hoe  his  own  row  and  fight  his  own  battles. 
From  these  remarks,  in  conjunction  with  the  analysis  of  the  organ 
already  given,  I  trust  the  reader  will  be  able  to  apply  in  detail  that 
stimulus  to  the  organ  which  can  increase  its  functions  and  aug- 
ment its  power. 

But,  in  attempting  to  cultivate  this  faculty,  let  not  the  principle 
of  relation  between  the  body  and  the  base  of  the  brain  be  forgotten. 
If,  as  already  seen,  to  inflame  the  body,  inflames  this  organ — of 
course,  to  invigorate  the  body,  and  give  tone  and  power  to  it,  that 
is,  to  improve  the  physiology,  (directions  for  doing  which  have 
already  been  given,)  will  re-invigorate  and  enlarge  this  organ,  and 
in  the  natural  way,  without  any  of  that  perverted,  bastardly  func- 
tion which  must  accompany  its  cultivation  by  killing  ammals, 
surgery,  &c 

ALIMENTIVENESS. 
Appetite;   desire  for  nutrition  ;  hunger;  the  feeding  instinct. 

Adaptation. — Man  is  an  eating  animal.  By  a  law  of  our  na- 
ture, every  exercise  of  mind  and  body — every  action  of  every  nerve 
and  muscle,  causes  an  expenditure  of  vital  energy.  This  expendi- 
ture must  of  com'se  be  re-supplied,  or  complete  exhaustion  would 
soon  ensue.  To  supply  this  waste  of  vitality,  man  is  provided  with 
a  digestive  apparatus  for  the  purpose  of  converting  food  into 
nourishment  Alimentiveness  gives  a  craving  for  this  food,  in  order 
to  keep  the  stomach  supplied.  Created  with  this  demand  for  nutri- 
tion, but  without  therewith  any^appetite,  man  would  soon  forget  to 
eat,  or  become  too  deeply  interested  in  other  things  to  afford  the 
time ;  but,  this  demand  for  nutrition  is  adapted  to  appetite,  and  ap- 
petite to  this  demand,  and  the  result  is  pleasure  in  eating,  and  plea- 
sure in  expending  the  energy  derived  therefrom. 

According  to  the  Bible,  the  sin  of  our  first  parents,  consisted  in 
their  eating  of  the  forbidden  fruit ;  and  if  there  be  one  cause  of  di- 
versified and  aggravated  depravity  greater  than  any  other,  it  is 
man's  eating  improper  kinds,  and  enormous  quantities,  of  food,  and 
in  drinking  unwholesome  drinks.  What  occasions  more  vice  and 
misery  than  alcoholic  drinks  1  a  few  illustrations  of  which  have 
just  been  given.  Well  may  intoxication  be  called  "  the  parent  of 
all  the  vices ;"  for,  as  just  see  i,  it  lashes  up  all  the  propensities  to 
inflamed  and  vicious  action.     The  same  principle  by  which  aico- 


IMPORTANCE  OF  A  PROPER  DIET.  197 

hoik  li<|uors  produce  vice,  namely,  the  intimate  relation  between 
the  body  and  the  hose  of  the  brain,  applies  equally  to  whatever  stim- 
ulates the  body  or  inflames  the  blood.  Flesh  is  conceded ,  on  al' 
hands  to  be  a  powerful  stimulant,  and  to  be  highly  corrupting  to  the 
blood.  Now  add  to  the  principle  that  stimulants  excite  the  pro- 
pensities mainly,  the  fact  that  a  flesh  diet  is  a  strong  stimulant, 
and  soon  becomes  putrid  in  the  stomach,  thus  corrupting  the  blood, 
and  you  have  one  prolific  cause  of  the  prevalence  of  vice  in  our  car- 
cass-eating age  and  nation.  Meat,  especially,  in  becoming  putrid, 
gives  off  vast  quantities  of  corruption.  What,  then,  must  necessa- 
rily be  the  amount  of  putridity  and  loathsome  corruption  engen- 
dered in  the  system  by  its  souring  on  the  stomach.  To  eat  meat 
when  digestion  is  poor,  is  to  cause  it  to  rot  in  you,  and  thus  to  evolve 
corruption  enough  to  ruin''  any  constitution  whatever.  To  have 
other  kinds  of  food  rot  in  you  is  bad  enough,  to  have  Jlesh  turn  t 
corruption  in  a  man  is  most  revolting  and  injurious.  Tea,  coffee 
condiments,  spices,  candies,  green"  com,  green  fruit,  bakers'  trash,* 
sourcrout,  pickles,  cucumbers,  and  many  other  articles  of  diet,  pro" 
duce  the  same  result,  while  over  eating,  or  the  enormous  stuffing 
and  gormandizing,  so  prevalent  in  all  classes  of  community,  are 
much  worse.  They  all  degrade  man,  animalize  his  nature,  fill  our 
prisons,  penitentiaries,  and  mad  houses,  and  spread  their  baneful 
influences  over  all  classes,  especially  the  higher. 

Gluttony  is  as  bad  as  drunkenness,  and  far  more  prevalent.  The 
temperance  reform  will  soon  reach  to  intemperance  in  eating,  or  its 
work  will  only  be  begun.  On  no  subject  do  we  [need  more  ligh^ 
than  on  diet.     On  none  require  more  reform. 

But  I  design  [rather  to  call  attention  to  this  subject,  than  to  lay 
down  rules  for  eating,  or  show  the  effects  of  different  kinds  of  food 
on  the  mind  and  body.  In  regard  to  the  feeding  of  children,  how- 
ever, I  have  yet  to  remark,  that  I  believe  milk  with  bread,  pudding, 

*  Bakers  bread,  fermented  to  death,  and  that  by  ammonia,  so  as  to  make 
it  very  porous  and  puffy,  and  that  a  little  flour  may  make  a  great  loaf  > 
cakers  cake,  covered  over  with  sugar  and  poison  paints,  though  not  trash 
exactly,  are  much  worse  than  trash.  Every  family  should  bake  their  own 
bread.  I  regard  bakers  bread,  cakes,  etc.,  as  most  unwholesome,  and  as  one 
great  cause  of  physical  disease,  and  this,  of  moral  depravity.  Eaters  of 
bakers  bread,  look  into  this  matter.  Mr.  Pratt  is  endeavoring  to  do  some- 
thing to  reform  our  city  and  village  baking  system,  which,  in  all  consci- 
ence, requires  it.  He  appears  to  have  taken  hold  of  this  subject  in  the 
right  pkee,  and  makes  as  good  bread  as  I  ever  ate. 


198  DIET,    BREAD,    ETC. 

&c.  to  be  as  good  an  article  of  diet  for  them  as  any  other ;  and 
that  good  home-made  bread,  manufactured  from-  flour  not  literally 
killed  by  being  ground  to  death,  which  is  the  case  with  most  o£ 
our  flour,  is  even  better  ;  that  puddings  made  from  Indian  meal  are 
excellent ;  as  are  also  peas,  beans,  rice,  N.  E.  bread,  &c.,  and  that 
the  plain  farmer's  fare  of  olden  times,  of  which  meat  formed  but  a 
small  portion,  is  infinitely  better  than  are  the  improvements  hack- 
wards  of  nineteenth-century  cooking. 

To  one  point  in  the  preparation  of  bread,  allow  a  passing  allu- 
sion. I  have  shown  the  evils  of  allowing  food  to  sour,  or  ferment- 
or  rot,  (all  the  same,)  in  the  stomach.  To  prevent  this,  food  should 
be  sweet  when  it  is  eaten,  and  if  it  has  already  become  partly  sour- 
ed before  being  eaten,  it  of  course  sours  the  sooner  in  the  stomach. 
Now,  bread  cannot  be  raised  without  thereby  being  subjected  to 
this  souring,  rotting  power.  The  emptings  put  in  to  raise  it,  must 
be  sour,  else  they  do  no  good.  The  raising  of  the  bread  is  simply 
souring  or  rotting  it  far  enough  to  engender  that  very  gas  which, 
when  condensed,  becomes  alcohol,  which  is  the  quintessence  of 
sourness.  In  England,  a  bakery  was^got  up  from  which  vast  quan- 
tities of  alcohol  were  manufactured  just  by  condensing  the  vapor 
disengaged  from  the  bread  and  filling  the  oven  while  the  bread 
was  being  baked  Bread  cannot  possibly  be  raised  without  form- 
ing in  it  this  alcoholic  gas,  which  makes  those  little  pores  all 
through  the  bread,  which  render  it  light  or  spongy.  I  say,  then, 
the  very  process  of  raising  bread,  is  ^fermenting,  decaying,  rotten- 
ing  process.  If  it  stand  a  little  too  long  this  sourness  is  render- 
ed very  apparent  to  the  taste. 

"And  what  of  that,"  says  one,  ^  Why,  simply  that  if  you  eat  brpad 
partly  decayed  before  it  is  taken  into  your  stomach,  it  will  rot  the 
sooner  after  it  gets  in.  That  is  all,  but  that  is  the  fact — nor  is 
there  the  least  chance  for  evasion.  "  What  then,"  he  retorts, 
"  would  you  have  us  live  on  unleavened  bread — that  heavy,  soggy 
stuff,  not  fit  for  hogs  ?"  Eat  what  you  please.  What  matters  it 
to  me.  But  I  warn  you  that  fermented  bread  is  far  more  xmwhole- 
some  than  unleavened.  But  more  of  this  whole  subject  of  diete- 
tics in  my  work  on  Physiology.  These  remarks  will  of  course  not 
be  approbated  at  first,  but  they  cannot  be  gainsayed.  Men  have 
yet  to  learn  that  the  more  simple  their  food,  the  more  happy  the 
eater.     Still,  let  each  suit  hiraiself. 

It  has  been  and  will  still  be  seen,  that  it  is  the  appropriate  and 


APPEAL   TO   WOMEN.  199 

specific  duty  and  sphere  of  wo7nan,  and  especially  of  mothers,  to 
educate  their  ovm  children  intellectually,  and  to  train  them  moral- 
ly and  physically,  and  they  should  be  furnished  with  a  recipe  for  find- 
ing the  time  requisite  for  discharging  these  momentous  duties.  That 
recipe,  we  now  proceed  to  give.     Its  items  are — 

First.  Do  that  first,  which  is  most  important,  and  other  things 
in  the  order  of  their  relative  importance,  leaving  undone  those  things 
that  are  less  necessary.  And  what,  I  ask,  next  to  providing  food 
and  clothing,  is  more  important  than  'preserving  the  health,  educa- 
ting the  minds,  and  training  the  m.oral  feelings  of  children  1  Hap- 
piness is  the  great  end  of  life,  and  mind  is  the  instrument  or  the 
chief  seat  and  source  of  all  our  enjoyments  and  sufferings.  All  our 
pleasures  flow  from  its  proper  exercise,  all  our  pains  from  its  im- 
proper exercise ;  so  that  the  proper  training  of  this  mind,  contri- 
butes more  to  human  happiness  than  almost  anything  else.  Mo- 
thers, you  cannot  find  any  thing  to  do  more  important  than  the  phy- 
sical and  moral  training  of  children.  As  are  your  children,  so  is 
the  world,  and  as  is  your  training  of  them,  so,  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent, are  they.*  Ye  mothers  it  is  who  hold  the  keys  of  man's  des- 
tinies— who  start  us  immortal  travellers  in  the  path  of  virtue  and 
happiness,  or  of  sin  and  misery.  On  you  an  awful  responsibility 
rests.  Woman  must  reform  our  race.  She  has  the  power  and  the 
disposition,  but  lacks  the  knowledge. 

Hark !  Hearest  thou  the  sound  of  yonder  long  and  loud  blast 
of  a  trumpet  ?  It  is  the  angel  of  Truth,  summoning  woman  to  a 
grand  assemblage.  And  now,  behold  woman  of  all  ages,  ranks, 
occupations,  colors,  and  nations,  stands  before  him.  Hear  what  he 
saith.  "fLo'  I  come  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  Millennium.  Wo- 
man, my  business  is  with  you  alone.  As  are  ye,  so  are  your  child- 
ren, and  so  is  the  world.  I  come  to  regenerate  the  race,  to  *  pre- 
pare the  way  of  the  Lord,'  to  banish  vice  and  misery,  and  establish 
happiness  and  peace  on  earth  by  reforming  you.  Your  life  is  now 
a  burden  and  a  bubble,  '  a  fleeting  show,  for  man's  illusion  given;' 
I  come  to  make  it  a  reality  and  a  pleasure.  Ye  now  spend  your 
precious  existence  in  trifling.     Turn  ye,  turn  ye,  to  your  nature  and 

*  I  would  not  underrate  the  importance  of  hereditary  influences  in  the  for- 
mation of  character,  hut  this  has  heen  treated  of  by  itself.  Hereditary  in- 
fluences and  education  together,  make  up  by  far  the  most  important  items 
of  character,  and  thus  mainly  shape  the  destinies  of  man. 


200  APPEAL   TO    WOMEN. 

your  natural  duties.  Ye  urmiarried,  what  are  ye  doing  1  Ye 
young  women,  how  do  ye  spend  your  time  ?  In  changing  the 
fashions  of  your  dresses  every  few  days  either  for  the  convivial  ball 
and  party,  or  to  profane  the  holy  sanctuary  of  your  God !  Ye  have 
other  and  more  important  duties  to  perform — duties  to  your  race, 
not  to  your  toilet.  God  has  sent  me  with  this  mandate,  Prepare 
ye  to  become  wives  and  mothers.  Strip  off  your  man-made  orna- 
ments, and  array  yourselves  m  the  ornaments  of  natitre's  loveliness. 
Be  yourselves,  as  your  God  created  you,  and  no  longer  blas- 
pheme your  Maker  by  preferring  artificial  ornaments  to  the  beau- 
ties and  the  graces  of  your  nature.  Be  yourselves,  and  you  will 
be  infinitely  fnore  lovely  and  happy  than  now.  Be  yoxjeselves  ; 
for  now,  a  part  of  you  are  parlor  toys  or  puppet  shows,  and  the 
rest  are  kitchen  drudges  or  heathen  slaves.  .  Be  yourselves  !  for 
you  will  soon  be  called  upon  to  educate  those  sons  which  will  guide 
and  govern  the  world.  For  your  own  sakes,  for  the  sake  of  all 
coming  ages,  be  yourselves!' 

And  ye  mothers,  pause  and  consider !  Stop  short !  for  ye  are 
spoiling  God's  works,  whereas  ye  were  placed  here  to  burnish  them. 
Now,  ye  are  most  unprofitable  servants,  but  will  ye  not  learn  wis- 
dom ?  0  mothers !  mothers  !  yom*  race  is  imploring  salvation  at 
your  hands !  Ye  can  bestow  it,  and  ye  must.  Go  your  way ;  first 
learn  your  duty,  and  then  DO  it." 

Woman  listens,  weeps,  repents,  and  reforms.  The  millennium 
dawns,  and  our  race  is  saved.  Vice  is  banished,  misery  follovrs, 
Eden  is  re-opened,  and  paeans  of  praise  break  forth  from  all  flesh. 

Woman !  what  is  thy  duty  and  what  thy  sphere,  as  indicated  by 
thy  Phrenological  developments  !  Maternal  aflfection,  how  strong 
how  yearning,  infinitely  more  so  than  paternal  love.  Why  1  To 
make  the  training  of  yomig  immortals  both  thy  duty  and  thy  high- 
est pleasure.  And  thy  fine  moral  sensibility,  admirably  fits  thee  for 
moulding  their  morals ;  instilling  into  their  tender  minds  the  first 
lessons  of  morality  and  virtue,  and  exciting  abhorrence  of  vice. 
The  deep  gushing  foimtain  of  thy  pure  connubial  love,  also  gives 
thee  a  power  over  thy  husband,  that  affects  him  and  his  influence 
beyond  all  computation,  and  this  greatly  swells  thy  power. 

And  now,  woman,  wielding  a  moral  power  so  tremendous,  and 
an  under  current  of  intellectual  influence  so  extensive,  and  so  effi- 
cient too,  is  it  proper,  is  it  right  for  thee  to  spend  thy  precious  ex- 


SPHERE    OP    WOMAN.  201 

istence  in  making  corselets,  and  then  committing  suicide  therewith  ? 
In  making  bran  bustles  and  cotton  bosoms  1  In  altering  the  jibs 
of  thy  bonnets  and  the  quirks  of  thy  dresses  every  fev*^  days  ?  In 
making  and  wearing  gewgaws,  and  in  being  fashionable?  In 
making  morning  calls  and  attending  evening  flirtations  at  balls  and 
fashionable  parties'?  In  making  and  exciting /ow?  In  coquet- 
ting, and  securing  admiration  1  G  od  forbid  that  the  end  of  thy  be- 
ing should  be  so  low,  so  utterly  insignificant  or  else  disgraceful ! 
No  I  thou  art  perverting  thy  nature  and  abusing  thy  power.  Fool- 
ish slaves  to  wicked  fashion,  will  ye  not  cast  off  your  self-forged 
fetters,  and  rise,  in  the  power  of  your  nature,  to  the  proud  elevation 
and  glory  of  your  native  sphere  1    • 

•  But  to  be  more  specific.  The  author  has  elsewhere  shown  that 
two  meals  per  day  were  better  than  three.  Habituated  to  them, 
they  would  be  alsundantly  sufficient,  and  we  should  eat  probably 
one-third  less  than  now,  and  be  better  every  way.  This  would 
save  woman  a  great  deal  of  time  now  devoted  to  cookery.  As  it 
now  is,  as  soon  as  a  woman  is  out  of  her  bed  in  the  morning,  she 
must  hurry  and  worry  to  dress  the  children  and  get  breakfast ;  as 
moti  as  the  breakfast  table  is  cleared  off,  she  must  turn  around  to 
get  dinner ;  and  that  over,  she  must  prepare  for  supper,  and  then 
put  her  children  to  bed.  Young  women  spend  their  days  in  sew- 
ing, or  reading  novels,  and  their  evenings  in  exhibiting  bran  bustles 
and  cotton  breast-works,  and  in  singing,  courting,  and  sighing  ;  and 
married  women,  in  cooking,  drudging,  and  scolding. 

Secondly :  woman  do^  twenty  times  the  amount  of  sewing  ne- 
cessary. If  she  would  have  one  permanent  fashion  for  her  bonnets, 
dresses,  &.C.,  she  would  not  need  to  take  one  stitch  where  she  now 
takes  ten ;  and,  if  she  sought  dicrahle  materials  only  for  her  dresses, 
she  would  save  many  of  the  remaining  stitches.  She  often  works 
on  an  infant's  cap  three  weeks,  though  this  head-confiner  only  in- 
jures the  child  every  way,  and  all  for  looks.  So  with  things  innu- 
merable. True,  many  of  these  stitches,  are  taken  by  milliners, 
dress-makers,  artificial  fiov/er-makers,  &,c.  &c.,  but  this  is  by  loo- 
man,  and  takes  the  time  of  woman  from  preparing  herself  to  edu- 
cate her  children.  Besides,  sewing  is  most  pernicious  to  the  health, 
and  the  debility  induced  thereby,  kills  more  women  than  spirituous 
liquors  kill  men  ;  besides  so  enfeebling  many  mothera  that  their 
children  are  sickly  and  die  young,  or  live  simpletons.     Woman,  it 


202  DUTY  OF  MOTHERS  TO  THEIR  CHILDREN. 

is  fooMsh,  it  is  wicked,  it  is  suicidal,  for  you  to  sit  and  sew  so 
much.  Fashion,  thou  art  a  wholesale  murderer  of  woman.  Cease 
thy  carnage  !  Stop  thy  tortures !  To  be  fashionable  is  to  be 
wicked. 

Another  great  waste  of  time  consists  in  the  smallness  of  our 
Jarmlies.  After  suitable  kitchen  utensils  and  an-angements  have 
been  provided,  it  is  not  more  than  double  the  work  to  cook  for  a 
hundred  than  for  five.  To  save  the  kitchen  drudgery  of  women,  I 
maintain  that  parents,  children,  grandchildren,  and  their  wives  and 
husbands  should  live  together  in  one  great  family — that  our  houses 
should  be  much  larger  than  now,  capable  of  accommodating  one 
or  two  hundred,  and  be  common  family  property,  as  well  as  a  home 
for  all  who  chose  to  stay  or  to  return  ;  and  that,  if  a  son  or  grand- 
son chooses  to  establish  another  family  colony,  he  should  do  so, 
and  on  the  same  large  scale,  capable  of  accommodating  hundreds 
of  his  descendants.  This  will  save  four-fifths  of  the  time  now 
spent  in  providing  meals  for  small  families,  besides  cherishing 
family  affection,  and  obviating  the  painful  feelings  attendant  on 
the  separation  of  parents  and  children,  and  their  dispersing  over 
the  globe  ;  one  to  the  West,  another  to  England,  a  third  to  a  city 
or  neighboring  village,  another  to  the  South,  and  another  to  the 
broad  ocean.  This  would  also  save  the  time  of  retail  merchants^ 
for  then,  goods,  groceries,  &c.,  could  be  bought  by  wholesale,  at 
nearly  half  their  present  cost. 

So  also,  abandoning  tea  and  coffee,  besides  obviating  much  sick- 
ness caused  thereby,  would  save  that  enormous  amount  of  time  now 
consumed  in  cooking  and  drinking  them.  And  then,  too,  we  should 
live  much  longer,  and  be  much  better,  if  we  ate  but  a  single  dish 
at  a  meal,  and  this  would  save  a  great  amount  of  time  now  spent 
in  pampering  the  appetite,  and  destroying  the  health. 

Merely  in  the  ways  thus  mentioned,  more  than  two-thirds  of  the 
time  of  woman  now  spent  unnecessarily,  would  be  saved,  to  be  de- 
voted to  preparing  herself  for  becoming  the  instructors  of  her  chil- 
dren. The  mother  of  Bishop  Doane,  of  New  Jersey,  educated 
herself  that  she  might  educate  her  son.  She  actually  learned  the 
languages  in  order  to  teach  them  to  him.  The  mother  of  Wesley, 
was  the  principal  educator  of  that  great  and  good  man.  Mothers, 
go  ye  and  do  likewise. 

1  know,  indeed,  that  woman  labors  under  difficulties  ahnost  in- 


ADVICE    TO    WOMAN.  ^03 

surmountable  in  making  these  proposed  changes,  I  appreciate  the 
fact  that  the  nature  of  woman  is  to  adapt  herself  to  the  requisitions 
of  man.  He  governs  the  market  and  regulates  the  demand  ;  she, 
adapts  the  supply  accordingly.  Married  woman's  affection  for  her 
husband,  makes  her  comply  with  his  wishes  ;  and  unmarried  wo- 
man's desire  to  get  married,  makes  her  conform  to  the  requisitions 
of  young  men,  even  to  the  perversion  of  her  nature.  Many  of  the 
faults  of  woman  should  be  laid  at  the  feet  of  man.  He  makes 
woman  sin  against  her  nature,  and  thus  depraves  that  nature, 
which  reacts  on  its  author  by  injuring  his  children.  Man  is  most 
criminal  as  regards  his  relations  with  woman,  and  is  the  author  of 
much  of  her  sins,  as  well  as  of  his  own.  It  is  right  that  woman 
should  conform  to  the  taste  and  requirements  of  men,  as  far  as  she 
can  without  violating  her  nature  and  abridging  her  usefulness,  but 
not  one  jot  or  title  farther.  If  man  should  require  her  to  appear 
unclothed  in  public  or  private  ;  or,  like  the  Hindoo  wife,  to  com* 
mit  suicide  on  the  funeral  pile  of  her  husband,  or  commit  other 
violations  of  her  nature,  she  should  not  obey.  Nor  should  she 
obey  when  his  perverted  and  depraved  tastes  require  her  to  immo- 
late herself  on  the  suicidal  altar  of  tight-lacing,  or  of  fashionable 
life.  Woman,  thou  hast  sense  enough  to  tell  thee  how  far  thou 
may  est  adapt  thyself  to  his  tastes.  There  stop.  Let  your  own 
nature  be  your  guide.  Your  own  nice  sense  of  right  and  of  pro* 
priety,  will  be  a  safe  chart  and  compass  by  which  to  steer.  Let 
not  your  natural  lord  and  master  degrade  your  angelic  nature  to 
your  present  fallen  state.  Come,  arouse  thee,  arouse  thee,  both 
married  and  single,  for  the  day  of  your  salvation  is  dawning. 
Your  field  is  all  ripe  for  the  harvest.  Plead  no  longer  a  want  of 
time  for  preparing  yourselves  to  educate  and  train  your  children. 
And  let  the  first  study  to  which  you  turn  yourself  for  a  knowledge 
of  your  duties,  be  Phrenology.*      Teach  yourselves  that  you  may 

'*  Spurzheim,  while  in  Boston,  remarked,  that  women  learned  phre- 
nology more  readily  than  men,  and  I  have  generally  found  them  more 
interested  in  the  science.  They  certainly  stand  in  more  need  of  its  aid 
in  the  discharge  of  their  maternal  duties,  than  men  do  in  the  discharge 
of  their  duties.  I  am  disposed  to  offer  them  every  facility  in  my  power 
for  the  acquisition  of  this  knowledge,  by  admitting  them  to  my  lectures 
free,  where  I  alone  regulated  the  terms  ;  and  by  giving  practical  instruc- 
tion to  classes  of  ladies.    1  am  also  inclined  to  encourage /ema/c  teachers 


£04  MEAKS    OP    GOVEEKING    APPETITE. 

teach  your  sons.  Study  dietetics  that  you  may  know  how  to  feed 
children  so  as  most  effectually  to  develop  all  their  physical  and 
mental  powers.  Teach  your  children  what  they  should  and  should 
not  eat,  and  above  all  things,  keep  them  from  eating  green  corn, 
cucumbers,  pickles  and  green  fruit. 

If  your  child  eat  too  much,  do  not,  in  order  to  restrain  its  appe- 
tite, tell  him  he  shan^t  have  any  more  ;  because  this  will  only  in- 
crease his  desire  for  it ;  nor  should  you  give  him  all  he  wants ;  for 
this  will  only  indulge  and  thus  strengthen  this  faculty;  but,  give 
him  what  you  think  he  should  eat,  and  then,  v/hen  he  has  about 
disposed  of  that,  let  a  noise  or  some  amusement  be  started  out  of 
door,  or  in  another  room.  Up  he  jumps  from  the  table,  and  off 
he  goes,  forgetting  his  dinner.  Then  keep  him  out  and  engaged, 
so  that  he  will  not  think  of  food  till  the  next  meal.  Do  Tiot  give 
children  pieces  between  meals,  for  this  will  only  stimulate  appetite 
to  still  greater  activity.  Feed  children  regularly  as  to  both  time 
and  quantity,  and  on  very  simple  but  nutritious  fare. 

If  you  tmist  punish  your  children,  one  of  the  best  of  corrections 
will  be  found  in  denying  them  some  luxury  of  the  palate,  or  keep- 
ing them  on  a  short  allowance.  Thus,  a  boy  becomes  angry  at 
table  because  he  cannot  have  whatever  he  wants,  and  throws  down 
his  knife  and  fork,  declaring  that  he  will  not  eat  any  more  unless 
he  can  get  what  is  wanted.  Take  him  at  his  word.  Let  him  leave 
the  table,  and  see  to  it  that  he  gets  nothing  more  till  the  next  meal. 
Fasting,  or  living  on  bread  and  water,  will  subdue  the  prc^>€risitie3 
when  nothing  else  will,  first,  becau^e^  as  most  people  eat  too  much, 
it  clearc  out  the  system,  and  this  improves  the  body,  and  thereby  the 
base  of  the  brain,  and,  secondly,  because  it  is  about  as  severe  a 
punishment  as  they  can  well  experience. 

If  it  be  asked,  how  can  a  craving,  hankering,  morbid  appetite, 
aiid  a  tendency  to  eat  too  much,  be  subdued,  I  answer,  by  eating 

and  practitioners  of  Phrenology,  at  least,  ia  case  they  confine  their  labors 
to  teaching  the  science  to  their  own  sex,  and  to  examining  the  heads  of 
females  and  children,  and  giving  professional  advice.  Whether  it  be 
proper  for  them  lo  lecture  bt-fore  promiscuous  audiences,  and  to  examine 
the  heads  of  gtntlemen  or  not,  I  leave  to  be  decided  by  their  own  sense 
of  propriety.  No  other  object  do  I  desire  more  than  the  diffusion  of  a 
knowledge  of  Phrenology  among  our  mothers  and  daughters.  Let  our 
women  understand  Phrenology,  and  our  republic  is  safe,  otherwise,  it 
requires  to  be  insured. 


GOVERNEENT  OF  THE  APPETITE.  205 

less,  not  at  a  meal,  for  this  is  much  like  leaving  off  drinking  grad- 
ually, which  usually  ends  in  drinking  still  more  ;    but  by  eating 
fewer  meals — by  keeping  away  from  the  table,  especially  from  the 
supper  table ;    and  by  confining  yourself  to  one  dish  at  each  meal. 
A  single  week's  abstinence  from  supper,  will  sensibly  weaken  a 
morbid  appetite,  and  greatly  aid  the  stomach  in  throwing  off  op- 
pressive burdens  with  which  it  is  so  often  almost  crushed.     Taking 
on  to  your  plate  at  first  all  you  design  to  eat  at  a  meal,  will  also 
greatly  aid  this  subjugation  of  appetite,  especially  by  showing  you 
how  much  you  do  eat.     But,  by  taking  a  little  on  to  your  plate  at 
one  time,  and  a  little  at  another,   you  eat  and  keep  eating  much 
more  than  you  intend  or  imagine.     I  am  firmly  convinced  thet 
quantity  is  more  important  than  quality  or  kind.      I  have  ob- 
served that  those  whose  digestion  is  perfectly  good,  eat  hut  little. 
It  is  those  whose  digestion  is  poor  that  eat  such  enormous  quanti- 
ties, and  without  its  apparently  doing  them  much  good.    Also  let  a 
friend  make  passes  with  his  hands  from  the  lower  part  of  the  ears 
down  to  the  chin,  and  from  the  same  point  upward,  the  former  to 
increase  the  action  of  the  stomach  by  magnetizing  its  poles  in  the 
face,  and  the  latter  by  de-magnetizing,  or  carrying  off  inflammation 
from  the  organ  of  Alimentiveness.* 

We  really  need  some  invention  for  subduing  a  depraved  appetite, 
by  some  physical  application,  just  as  we  now  subdue  the  inflamma- 
tion of  wounds  or  any  thing  else.  And  this  might  be  done  with 
perfect  ease,  if  we  only  knew  how.  The  principle  involved  is  sim- 
ply this.  Over  eating  disorders,  and  permanently  inflames,  the 
stomach.  This  inflammation,  in  consequence  of  the  intimate  con- 
nexion of  the  stomach  with  this  organ,  of  course  fevers  it  also,  and  this 
induces  that  hankering,  craving  appetite  so  common  to  dyspeptics. 
This  increases  the  excess  of  food  taken,  which  again  still  farther  dis- 
orders appetite,  and  increases  this  morbid  craving.  To  such  I  say 
with  emphasis,  stop  eating  almost  entirely.  While  your  stomach  is 
in  this  state,  food  does  you  little  good.  Refraining  from  eating,  or 
eating  but  little  once  a  day,  will  soon  relieve  the  stomach,  and  ena- 
ble it  to  throw  off  its  load.  Washing  the  face  in  cold  water,  will 
also  aid  the  digestion,  by  washing  off  the  corrupt  magnetism  from 

*  If  any  medicines  can  be  of  service,  I  believe  Sherwood's  magnetic  pills 
and  plaster,  will  probably  be  found  one  of  the  very  best  remedies  for  chro- 
nic affections  of  the  stomach,  liver,  and  lungs,  extant. 

15 


206  ANALYSIS   AKD  '  ADAPTATION    OF    AQUATIVENESS. 

the  poles  of  the  stomach  which  are  in  the  face,  and  also  by  charging 
it  with  healthy  magnetism. 

This  souring  of  the  food  on  the  stomach  produces  an  acid  which 
is  at  least  one,  and  perhaps  the  only  cause  of  irritation  of  the  stom- 
ach. This  acidity  may  be  removed  by  whatever  will  neutralize 
the  kind  of  acid  deposited.  Alkalies  will  neutralize  acids,  but  they 
leave  a  sediment  scarcely  less  injurious  than  the  acid  destroyed- 
Some  kinds  of  acid  neutralize  other  kinds.  I  have  no  doubt  but  a 
little  science  will  enable  us  to  determine  the  kind  of  acid  deppsited, 
and  also  tell  us  what  will  effectually  counteract  that  acidity.  In 
view  of  these  principles,  I  commend  this  matter  to  the  attention 
of  chymists.  We  understand  physical  chymistry  far  better  than  we 
do  animal,  yet  the. latter  is  infinitely  more  important  than  the  for- 
mer ;  because  life  itself  is  but  a  chymical  process,  complicated,  to 
be  sure,  but  governed  by  the  laws  of  chymistry,  and  capable  of  be- 
ing vastly  facilitated  and  augmented  by  a  proper  understanding  and 
application  of  the  laws  of  animal  chymistry. 

In  regard  to  Liebeg's  views  of  animal  chymistry,  I  am  prepared 
to  say  but  little,  for  I  have  not  yet  examined  them — a  duty,  and 
also  a  pleasure  which  I  propose  soon  to  give  myself.  This  whole 
subject  of  digestion  I  design  to  handle  thoroughly  in  my  work  on 
"  Physiology^  animal  and  mental,"  already  announced. 

AQUATIVENESS. 

Thirst ;  love  of  the  water — of  drinking,  washing,  bathing,  swim- 
ming, sailing,  Sfc. 

Just  in  front  of  Alimentiveness,  is  one  or  more  organs  which  cre- 
ate a  love  of  drinking,  hathing,  sailing,  &c.,  which  might  be  called 
Aquativeness,  or  Bibativeness,  or  Thirst,  as  thought  best. 

Adaptation. — Abundantly  is  our  eaith  supplied  with  water, 
oozing  forth  from  every  hill  side,  and  flowing  in  winding  currents 
through  every  valley ;  covering  two-thirds  of  the  earth's  sm-face, 
descending  from  heaven  in  copious  and  refreshing  showers.  Why 
this  vast  quantity  of  water,  and  in  so  many  places  and  forms  ?  This 
fact  teaches  us  a  great  lesson,  namely,  that  its  use  should  be  as  abun- 
dant as  its  provision.  As  a  beverage,  as  a  means  of  securing 
cleanliness,  as  ^  means  of  promoting  the  healthy  action  of  the  skin, 
its  importance  is  beyond  all  computation. 


DEINEIKG,    WASHING,    ETC.  207 

As  a^beverage.  Besides  containing  great  quantities  of  magnetism, 
or  of  the  principle  of  life,  when  taken  freely,  it  runs  through  the 
whole  system,  and  rushes  out  at  the  pores  of  the  skin  in  the  form  of 
'perspiraticn,  thus  completely  washing  out  the  whole  body  as  effec- 
tually as  if  water  was  filtered  all  through  it,  thus  rinsing  out  that 
corruption  which  is  continually  accumulating  in  the  system  in  con- 
sequence of  the  rejection  of  the  waste  materials  thrown  off  by  the 
process  of  life,  and  if  allowed  to  collect  in  the  system,  v/ould  soon 
oppress  and  break  down  any  constitution.  Perspiration  is  one  of 
the  great  sluices  for  carrying  off  this  waste  matter.  It  should 
therefore  be  kept  open.  Colds  close  it,  and  this  is  the  main  reason 
of  their  being  so  very  injurious.  Copious  and  frequent  draughts  of 
cold  water  tend  more  to  augment  perspiration,  and  thus*  aid  in  car- 
rying off  this  material,  than  any  other  thing  whatever.  The  cold- 
ness of  the  water  promotes  circulation  and  counteracts  any  feverish 
action  that  exists,  while  the  water  thus  taken  up  by  the  lacteals, 
forms  a  vapour,  which,  after  passing  through  all  parts  of  the  sys- 
tem, rushes  out  through  the  pores  of  the  skin,  carrying  along  w4th 
it  the  corrupt  matter  found  in  its  course.  Cold  water  and  labor 
will  soon  open  these  pores,  soon  clean  out  the  hive  of  the  animal 
economy,  and  throv/  off  almost  any  form  or  aggravation  of  disease. 
Infinitely  better  are  these  medicines  than  all  the  depletive  and  min- 
eral, all  the  Thomsonian,  all  the  Homoepathic,  and  all  other  medi- 
cines in  the  world.  If  men  would  but  take  this  medicine,  they 
would  rarely  ever  need  any  other.  Especially  as  a  cure  of  colds, 
nothing  equals  copious  and  frequent  draughts  of  cold  water  along 
with  labor  enough  to  make  one  sweat  profusely. 

Graham  objects  to  drinking  at  our  meals.  I  do  not  say  he  is 
wrong,  but  have  yet  to  be  convinced  that  he  is  right. 

Bathing  is  also  unquestionably  most  excellent,  not  only  as  a  pro- 
moter of  health  and  physical  happiness,  but  as  a  moral  curative — 
as  a  preventive  of  vice  and  promoter  of  virtue.  By  cooling  off  the 
body,  or  carrying  off  a  feverish  irritation  of  the  system,  it  removes 
inflammation  from  the  propensities,  and  promotes  moral  feeling. 

As  a  punishment,  if  punishment  must  be  inflicted,  cold  v^ater  is 
much  better  than  the  whip.  The  whip  increases  the  feverish  heat 
of  the  system,  cold  v/ater  diminishes  it.  It  also  carries  out  the 
principle  of  diversion  mentioned  above,  vvith  great  effect  A  sto- 
ry from  real  life,  will  best  illustrate  this  point. 


208  BATHING  CHILDREN  AS  A  PUNISHMENT. 

My  father  always  made  it  a  rule  to  conquer  his  children  thej^rs^' 
time  he  took  them  in  hand  ;  he  reasoned  thus  :  If  I  subdue  them 
the,  first  time  I  undertake  with  them,  I  shall  get  the  upper  hand  of 
them,  and  can  keep   it  easily  ;  but  if  they  come  off  victors  the  first 
time,  they  will  have  the   advantage  of  ■  me,  and  be  still  worse  the 
next  time.     My  brother  L.  N.  Fowler,  when  about  three  years  old, 
cried  for  a  piece  of  cake  which  he  saw  some  one  have.     As  there 
was  no  more,  he  could  not  be  gratified.     He  cried  more  and  more 
till  father  was  sent  for,  when  he  was  offered  bread  and  butter,  and 
ordered  to  stop  crying.     He  refused  the  bread  and  butter,  but  cried 
still  louder.     He  was  threatened  with  punishment,  but  only  cried 
the  worse,  and  became  very  angry.     My  father  sent  for  a  rod,  and 
began  to  chastise  him,  whipping  a  blow  or  two,  and  then  talking 
to  him.    This  made  him  still  more  angry,  and  the  punishment  was 
continued  with  increasing  severity  till  all  left  the  house  crying  with 
sympathy  for  the  suffering  boy,  but  not  daring  to  remonstrate,  for 
they  well  knew  my  father's  determination  to  conquer  his  children^ 
especially  the j^r^^  time  he  punished.     My  brother  held  out  till  my 
father  dared  not  whip  him  any  longer,  for  fear  of  injuring  him  se- 
riously.    Compelled  to'give  up,  he  was  careful  not  to  cross  his  son's 
track  for  more  than  a  year,  and  feared  that  he  should  never  be  able 
to  subdue  his  wilful  spirit.     One  rainy  day,  as  myself  and  broth- 
er were  playing  in  the  rain  trough,  which  answered  the  plasce  ol 
our  modern  ram  water  cisterns,  my  father  told  us  both  to  go  in  out 
of  the  rain.     I  obeyed,  but  my  brother  looked  up  at  him  in  a  saucy,, 
defying  manner.    My  father  again  said,  "  go  in,  or  I'll  duck  you." 
My  brother  laughed  again  Sneeringly,  when  my  father  caught  him 
up,  and  stripping  off  his  clothes,  soused  him  all  over  into  the  water.. 
He  came  up  panting  but  not  quite  subdued.    A  moment  was  giv- 
en him  to  breathe,  and  he  was  soused  under  again.   He  came  up  the 
second  time  subdued  and  pleading  for  mercy,  promising  to  be  a 
good  boy,  and  always  to  mind.    "  Oh,  but  you  have  been  a  very 
naughty  boy ;  you  don't  pretend  to  mind  me,  and  I  intend  to  keep 
ducking  you  till  you  always  do  just  as  I  tell  you,"  said  my  father  ; 
and  again  soused  him  under.    As  he  came  up  the  third  time,  he  ap- 
peared so  thoroughly  penitent,  and  promised  so  faithfully  to  do  ev- 
erything he  was  told  to  do,  that  he  was  let  off,,  and  always  after- 
wards remained  the  most  faithful  and  obedient  child  in  the  family,. 
My  brother  also  tells  a  good  story  of  a  Dr.  Taylor  conquering  a 


IMFOETANCE   t)F    BATHING, 


209 


veiy  way^'- ard,  wilful  daughter,  about  five  years  old,  by  similar 
means.  He  had  tried  the  rod,  and  tried  coaxing,  but  all  to  no  pur- 
pose. Nothing  he  could  do  had  yet  conquered  her.  She  would 
break  out  into  most  violent  fits  of  anger,  throw  herself  on  the  floor, 
and  beat  her  head  against  it,  strike,  kick,  and  exhibit  the  utmos* 
fury  of  anger.  He  heard  my  brother's  lecture  on  the  training  and 
government  of  children,*  in  which  he  advocates  the  use  of  the  cold 
wafer  shower  bath  as  an  effectual  means  of  subduing  ungovernable 
children,  and  the  next  morning,  his  daughter  having  one  of  her 
mad  fits,  he  pom'ed  a  pitcher  of  water  on  her  head.  Still  she  re- 
mained incorrigible.  He  tried  another ;  she  still  held  out.  He 
tried  the  third  and  the  fourth,  till  at  last  she  submitted,  which  he 
had  never  before  been  able  to  make  her  do.  After  that,  two  or 
three  pitchers  of  water  poured  upon  her  head,  alwaj^s  subdued  her. 
It  produces  this  effect,  first  by  the  sudden  shock  it  gives  the  whole 
■system,  especially  when  pom'ed  on  the  top  of  the  head,  where  the 
great  pole  or  centre  of  sensation  is  located,  and  secondly,  by ,  its 
general  cooling  effect  on  the  system,  and  thereby  on  the  propensi- 
ties. 

My  brother,  in  defining  these  views,  of  which  he  is  the  author, 
very  justly  remarks,  that  cold  water  is  certainly  cooling  ;  that  men 
never  Jight  in  the  rain  ;  that,  in  cases  of  mobs,  if,  instead  of  get- 
ting out  the  militia  and  firing  guns,  you  would  get  out  the  fire  en- 
gines and  throw  wafer,  the  mobites  would  soon  scud  and  scamper 
for  shelter,  and  disperse.  Try  this  course,  and  the  rowdies,  as  soon 
as  they  get  thoroughly  drenched,  will  be  glad  to  crawl  out,  like 
drowning  rats,  and  go  home  to  change  and  warm. 

Recent  discoveries  in  animal  chemistry,  establish  the  principle 
that  health  is  the  product  oi proportion  betv/een  the  action  of  the 
lungs,  skin,  and  stomach,  and  that  their  disproportionate  action  pro- 
duces disease.     The  skin  is  generally  less  active  than  it  should  be, 

*  I  have  long  tried,  but  thus  far  in  vain,  to  persuade  my  brother  to  give 
his  lecture  to  the  public  in  a  printed  form,  but  he  steadily  declines,  first, 
^rom  want  of  time  properly  to  prepare  it,  and  secondly,  the  want  of  the  ne- 
cessary means  to  defray  the  expenses  of  printing.  According  to  my  own. 
views  of  it,  I  have  seen  nothing  at  ail  to  compare  with  it  on  this  subject. 
Its  facts,  or  illustrative  anecdotes,  are  most  excellent  and  interesting.  A 
'few  of  them  will  be  introduced  into  this  work,  but  not  without  credit. — 
That  in  relation  to  his  own  ducking,  is  one  of  them.  I  hope  to  persuade 
him  to  publish  it  soon.  It  will  make  an  excellent  help-meet  for  this  work" 
The  two  should  he  amalgamated. 


210  VALUE    OF    THE   SHOWER-BATH. 

and  should  therefore  be  stimulated,  and  nothing  will  excite  it  more 
effectually  than  bathing  ;  especially  in  cold  uater.  As  already  re- 
remarked,  a  large  proportion  of  those  diseases  that  afflict  mankind, 
originate  from  colds.  Consumption,  rheumatic  afiections,  pleurisy, 
head- ache,  most  kinds  of  fevers,  &c.,  &c.,  are  induced  by  colds, 
vdiich  consists  in  a  stopping  of  the  pores  of  the  skin.  Bathe  of- 
ten, in  cold  water,  and  the  activity  of  the  skin  will  be  so  great  as 
to  resist  colds,  and  thus  ward  off  the  diseases  consequent  on  them. 
Nearly  every  morning,  for  eight  years,  both  winter  and  summer, 
,with  three  exceptions  of  about  a  month  each,  the  author  has  prac- 
ticed washing  his  whole  body  in  cold  w^ater,  and  follow  vs^ith  the 
flesh  brush.  The  first  exception  occurred  in  Washington,  in  the 
Spring  of  1838,  and  was  followed  by  a  severe  cold  and  fevers 
which  laid  me  up  nearly  all  the  following  summer.  The  second, 
occurred  in  the  fall  of  1839,  and  was  succeeded  immediately  by  a 
cold,  but  less  severe  than  the  first,  as  the  omission  was  shorter. — 
The  third  occurred  in  the  winter  of  1842-3,  and  lasted  about  two 
months,  and  was  immediately  followed  by  a  cold,  which  came  near 
throwing  me  into  a  consumption,  but  has  been  arrrested,  and 
mainly  by  a  faithful  application  of  the  cold  bath  every  morning. 
At  no  other  periods,  for  eight  years,  have  I  had  the  slightest  symp- 
tom of  a  cold,  and  presume  I  shall  not  soon  have  another.  In  the 
winter  of  1844,  being  in  Vermont  when  the  mercury  stood  at  40 
degrees  below  zero,  and  when  the  water  washed  in  was  half  ice,  I 
practiced  hand  bathing  every  morning,  and  though  accustomed  to  a 
much  more  southern  climate  for  the  winter,  I  went  safely  through 
the  coldest  spell  of  weather  known  there  for  forty  years,  and  lec- 
tured every  night  and  then  went  home  without  tying  up  my 
mouth.* 

*  I  cannot  disn)iss  this  subject  without  cordially  recommending  Bates' 
sliding-top  shower  bath.  The  apparatus  that  contains  the  water  can  be 
lowered,  filled,  and  raised  over  night,  or  by  a  domeslic  in  the  morning,  so 
that  you  can  step  from  your  bed  right  into  the  bath  before  dressing.  This, 
and  the  ease  vvith  which  it  is  charged,  constilute  its  excellency.  If  one 
waits  to  take  his  shower  bath  after  he  is  dressed,  he  is  likely  not  to  take  it 
at  all;  but  if  it  can  be  taken  before  dressing,  it  will  be  taken  ten  times  as 
often,  besides  being  better,  because  the  body  is  apt  to  be  both  warm  and 
moist — ;iust  right  to  produce  the  required  reaction.  On  the  whole,  I  re- 
gard it  as  invaluable,  Its  price  varies  from  ^10  to  $20,  according,  not  to 
convenience  or  utility,  which  are  alike  in  both,  but  to  the  style.  I  should 
be  happy  to  receive  and  transmit  orders  to  the  manufacturers. 


ANALYSIS    AND    REGULATION    OF    ACQUISITIVENESS.  211 

All  children  are  extremely  fond  of  playing  in  the  water.  This 
disposition  should  be  encouraged.  I  am  by  no  means  certain  that 
cold  water  is  always  advisable  for  children.  This  should  be  deter- 
mined, hov/ever,  by  experience  and  the  constitutions,  ages,  &c,  of 
the  children.  The  feet  may  always  be  washed  in  cold  water  with 
safety,  whether  in  children  or  adults.  Jefferson  attributed  his  uni- 
form health  in  part  to  the  fact  that  he  washed  his  feet  in  cold  water 
regularly  every  night.  The  injury  done  by  wet  feet  to  the  health, 
is  in  part  understood,  and  cold  feet  always  indicate  physical  debili- 
ty. Washing  the  feet  in  cold  water,  is  sure  to  make  cold  feet 
warm  and  keep  them  so,  and  this  will  wonderfully  improve  the 
heath  and  spirits.  Wash  your  children's  feet  and  keep  them  warm, 
yet  put  little  on  them,  and  give  them  abundance  of  room.  Going 
barefooted  in  the  summer,  will  benefit  boys,  rather  than  injure 
them.  Bare  arms  and  an  open  neck,  so  that  the  perspiration  can 
escape  freely,  will  improve  the  health.  In  fact,  the  more  the  sur- 
face of  the  body  can  be  exposed  to  the  atmosphere,  the  better. 

ACQUISITIVENESS 

Love  of  acq^uiring  property  as  such  :  the  feeling  of  mine  and  thine,  or 
of  claim,  rightfd  possession,  and  otonership  ;  economy  ;  frugalitij  / 
a  savivg  disposition  ;  love  of  trading  ;  thrift ;  taking  care  that  no- 
thing goes  to  toasie,  or  is  destroyed. 

"  Put  money  in  thy  purse." — Shaks. 

Adaptation. — Man  requires  to  lay  by  in  store,  a  full  supply  of 
the  necessaries  and  comforts  of  life,  and  of  the  bounties  of  nature, 
at  the  time  of  their  production,  sufficient  to  last  till,  by  a  return  of 
seasons,  another  supply  is  produced.  Without  this  organ,  after 
we  had  supplied  our  present  wants,  we  should  waste  the  balance, 
and  soon  be  in  want.  An  exchange  of  property,  or  trading,  is  al- 
so very  beneficial  to  both  buyer  and  seller ;  besides  interchanging 
the  commodities  of  every  clime  with  those  of  every  other.  We 
need  clothes,  houses,  tools,  commodities  innumerable,  and  property 
of  all  kinds,  laid  by  against  a  time  of  need.  This  organ  is  adapted 
to  this  requisition.  It  also  tends  to  restrain  that  waste  and  profu- 
sion which  the  other  faculties  would  otherwise  occasion;  and  pre- 
vents vice  by  producing  industry  and  economy. 

The  proper  regulation  of  this  faculty  is  all  important.     It  should 


212  GOVERNMENT    OF    ACQUISITIVENESS. 

be  sufficiently  active  always  to  procure  the  necessaries  of  life ;  that 
is,  to  furnish  the  other  faculties  with  the  means  of  obtaining  their 
legitimate  gratification,  and  to  secure  industry  and  economy,  but 
should  never  be  allowed  to  hoard  money.  Phrenology  abominates 
both  the  miser  and  the  spendthrift,  but  commends  frugality  and 
thrift.  To  say  that,  at  the  present  time,  this  organ  is  altogether  too 
large,  is  but  to  utter  a  truism  too  apparent  to  require  proof.  Men 
now  act  as  though  to  make  money,  was  the  summum  honum  of 
life,  the  great  end  and  object  of  existence.  They  seem  to  imagine 
that  there  is  no  enjoyment  in  life  except  in  riches,  and  hence,  in 
their  eager  chase  after  money,  they  forego  most  of  the  enjoyments 
of  life,  and  hasten  their  death.  Let  children  be  taught  to  valu^ 
money  mainly  as  an  end,  and  yet  to  allow  nothing  to  be  wasted  or 
squandered.  Prodigality  is  a  prolific  vice,  frugality  a  fruitful  vir- 
tue. 

This  organ  is  large  in  most  children,  and^usually  requires  res- 
traint. It  is  the  most  inordinate  activity  of  this  faculty  which 
makes  them  want  every  thing,  and  also  think  that  all  they  want  is 
their  own  ;  merely  because  they  desire  it.  They  claim  things  be- 
cause they  want  them,  and  do  not  seem  to  undestand  the  difference 
between  what  belongs  to  them  and  what  to  others.  This  should 
be  early  taught  them,  and  this  faculty  put  under  the  dominion  of  the 
moral  sentiments  and  intellect. 

In  order  to  subdue  it,  do  not  snatch  or  force  from  them  things 
which  they  may  have  gotten  hold  of,  but  persuade  them  to  give 
them  up  volantarily,  or  else  let  them  retain  them.  Not  long  since, 
I  entered  a  family  in  which  were  children  from  two  years  old  and 
upward.  The  youngest  two  had  become  interested  in  my  charts 
and  almanacs,  on  account  of  the  pictures  in  them,  and  were  muss- 
ing and  tearing  them.  Their  mother  caught  the  books  and  jerked 
them  away,  which  maddened  them  and  made  them  cry  violently. 
I  handed  the  books  back  to  the  children,  first  making  them  pro- 
mise they  would  not  injure  them,  and  then  that  they  would  return 
them  when  I  asked  for  them.  This  promise  they  readily  made' 
and  when  I  left,  they  surrendered  them  without  a  murmur.  Let 
children  be  induced  to  promise  to  do  what  is  right,  or  not  do  what 
is  wrong,  and  they  will  not  dare^io  do  otherwise,  because  conscience 
wnll  co7npel  them  to  fulfil  their  promise. 


HOW    TO    CULTIVATE  ECONOMY.  2l3 

Never  let  children  know  that  they  are  one  whit  the  better  be- 
cause their  parents  are  wealthy  or  they  likely  to  be  left  rich.  Let 
the  purse  never  be  a  standard  of  valuation. 

In  the  children  of  rich  parents,  this  organ  is  almost  always 
small.  Hence,  children  left  rich,  almost  always  squander  their 
father's  earnings,  and  die  poor.  In  such  cases,  let  this  organ  be 
cultivated.  Get  them  a  box,  and  encourage  their  dropping  their 
pennies  and  shilling  into  it,  rather  than  to  spend  then  for  cakes  and 
candies,  and  give  them  money  for  this  purpose.  After  they  have 
husbanded  a  sufficient  sum,  buy  them  a  sheep,  or  some  kind  of  pro- 
perty that  will  bring  them  in  something,  or  else  put  their  money 
out  at  interest ;  and  encourage  them  to  lay  up  ^for  the  future. 
When  children  have  every  thing  that  heart  can  wish,  furnished  at 
their  hands,  they  have  no  occasion  to  cultivate  thelaying-up  facul- 
ty, and  hence  this  organ  becomes  small,  and  this  results  in  their 
spending  the  property  left  them  by  unwise  parents.  A  youth  is 
richer  without  a  cent,  but  with  industrious  and  economical  habits, 
than  with  thousands  in  pocket  but  luithout  economy.  Do  not 
leave  children  wealthy,  unless  you  wish  to  curse  and  ruin  them. 
For  the  correctness  of  this  advice  I  appeal  to  the  observation  of 
the  reader  in  regard  to  those  within  his  knowledge  left  wealthy. 
I  would  allow  no  man  to  settle  ten  "thousand  dollars  upon  either 
of  my  children,  and  if  I  were  worth  millions,  I  would  set  them  to 
earning  their  own  property,  simply  furnishing  them  the  means  of 
doing  so.  Money  given  to  children,  is  never  prized.  They  know 
nothing  of  its  worth,  unless  they  have  acquired  it  themsehes,  but 
they  set  great  value  upon  what  their  ovm  efforts  have  procured. 
Give  them  a  chance  to  make  their  own  pocket  money,  and  you 
will  prevent  prodigality  and  secure  industry.  If  a  farmer,  give 
your  son  a  piece  of  ground  and  time  to  cultivate  it.  With  a  part 
of  his  products  let  him  buy  a  pig,  a  sheep,  or  a  calf,  and  feed  it 
on  the  rest,  and  so  go  on  to  augment  'his  property  till  he  is  old 
enough  to  set  up  business  for  himself.  So,  if  you  are  a  merchant 
or  a  tradesman.  Youth  should  have  a  chance  to  earn  money,  and 
then  have  the  disposal  of  all  they  make,  yet  of  but  little  more. 
Unless  really  in  distress,  parents  should  never  fpocket  the  earnings 
of  their  children,  but  they  should  let  them  have  an  opportunity  of 
making  all  they  feel  disposed  to  make,  and  then  have  the  entire 
disposal  of  it  j  except  that  they  should  be  advised. 


214. 


AN.ALYSIS    AND    REGULATION    OF    ACOUISITIVFNESS, 


The  practice  of  giving  children  pennies  or  small  change  to  spen 
for  candies,  sweetmeats,  toys,  &c.,  now  very  common,  and  prompted 
by  misguided  Philoprogenitiveness,  is  most  pernicious;  because,  it 
induces  an  insatiable  craving  after  what  will  do  them  no  good,  and 
also  renders  thera  prodigal  of  their  money,  and  often  leads  to  bad 
habits.  Especially,  this  prodigality  should  not  be  encom-aged  in 
conjunction  with  Appetite.  Never  give  children  pennies  with 
which  to  buy  eatables  between  meals,  suuh  as  apples,  cakes,  can- 
dies, ice  creams,  &c. 

To  cultivate  this  organ,  save  the^pennies.  Spend  less,  and  then 
only  for  what  is  really  necessary.  Always  keep  money  by  you,  and 
be  industrious.  Add  daily  to  your  pecuniary  resources.  Bar- 
gain closely,  and  mind  how  your  money  goes.  Try  to  get  ahead 
in  the  world,  by  savino-  the  items.  Read  and  practise  Franklin's 
advice,  much  of  which  has  reference  to  the  cultivation  of  this 
faculty.  Especially,  mind  the  driblets.  Abandon  all  expensive 
habits,  such  as  drinking,  chewing,  smoking,  oyster  suppers,  &c.  &c. 
In  other  words,  use  all  lawful  endeavors  to  acquire  property,  ga- 
ther around  you  the  comforts  of  life,  and,  above  all,  save.  Hold  on 
to  the  small  change,  and  remember  that  "  a  penny  saved  is  worth 
two  pence  earned." 

To  reduce  this  faculty,  be  more  liberaL  Let  the  small  change 
slide.  Remember  that  the  sole  use  of  money  is  to  purchase  pro- 
per gratification  for  the  other  faculties.  As  long  as  you  hoard  it, 
it  will  do  you  no  good.  Remember  that  you  are  too  penurious. 
That  you  bargain  too  closely.  That  you  are  disposed  to  claim 
more  than  is  your  own.  That  you  are  too  close-fisted  and  selfish, 
and  too  greedy  to  make  money.  In  other  words,  exercise  this  facul- 
ty less  proportionably,  and  the  others  more. 

There  are  two  organs  of  Acquisitiveness,  one  for  making  money 
another  for  keeping  it :  the  former  occupying  the  hack  and  lower 
portion  of  old  Acquisitiveness,  and  within  three  fourths  of  an  inch 
of  the  ear,  and  the  part  that  saves  it,  occupying  the  forepart 
of  it.  The  upper  portion,  also,  probably  creates  a  desire  for 
copartnership.  The  money  making  part  of  Acquisitiveness,  is 
geneially  large  in  American  heads, — hence,  their  "  compassing  sea 
and  land  to  make  one"  dollar;  but  their  money-keeping  organ  is 
usually  small ;  hence  their  extravagance  and  wastefulness. 


SECRETIVENESS,  ITS  FUNCTION  AND  GOVERNMENT.  215 


SECRETIVENESS.  - 

Policy;  management;  acting  under  assumed  aspects  ;  dis- 
guising one^s  real  sentiments  and  purposes ;  finesse ; 
evasion,  cunning,  reserve  ;  playing  'possum. 

Adaptation. — Man  requires  defence.  Corabativeness  de- 
fends and  protects  us  by  boldly  meeting  and  defying  threaten- 
ing danger  ;  Cautiousness  protects  by  foreseeing  the  evil  and 
fleeing  therefrom,  and  Secretiveness  protects  by  employing 
stratagem,  or  at  least  reserve,  operating  behind  the  curtain, 
and  pretending  to  do  one  thing,  yet  really  doing  another. 
Its  abuses  are  hypocrisy,  deceit,  lying,  slander,  double-deal- 
ing, &c. 

There  are  two  or  more  functions  or  subdivisions  of  this  or- 
gan, or  else  several  members  of  this  secretive  family.  Its 
fore  part  exercises  the  function  of  policy,  or  vnanages  well; 
employing  shrewdness  and  tact  in  obtaining  ends  by  hidden 
means ;  the  upper  portion  refuses  to  tell  the  truth,  but  either 
falsifies  outright*  or  evades  every  question  asked,  and  the 
back  and  lower  portion,  has  to  do  with  neighborhood  scandal, 
secrets,  &c.  Those  in  whom  it  is  small,  pursue  a  strait-for- 
ward, open,  sincere  course  ;  do  as  they  agree  ;  never  work 
the  wires;  are  what  they  seem  to  be  ;  and  hoist  no  false  col- 
ors. Those  in  whom  it  is  large,  appear  to  be  aiming  at  one 
thing,  when  in  reality  they  are  driving  at  another;  move  with 
adroitness  and  cunning;  are  oily,  mysterious,  enigmatical, 
guarded,  foxy  ;  and  always  employ  policy,  artifice,  and  strat- 
agem to  effect  their  ends. 

It  has  passed  into  a  proverb  that  "  children  and  fools  always 
speak  the  truth.'^     Children  never  falsify  till  they  have  been 

*  In  every  instance  in  which  I  have  seen  the  portion  of  this  faculty 
magnetized,  the  patient  has  asserted  the  most  palpable  and  downright 
falsehoods,  one  after  the  other,  each  denying  the  precediiig,  to  he  itself  con- 
tradicted in  the  next  breath.  Thus,  I  asked  one  with  this  faculty  magne- 
tized, where  he  came  from  io-day.  "  From  New  York,  no,  London,"  said 
he.  What,  from  London  to-day  ?  I  enquired.  "  No,"  said  he,  "  from 
Philadelphia."  I  told  him  he  came  from  Auburn  that  day.  This  he  roundly 
denied,  though  it  was  the  fact.  He  asserted  positively  that  the  Auburn 
State  Prison  had  been  removed  that  day  to  Syracuse. 


216  TELLING    CHILDREN    THE    TRUTH. 

taught  to  do  SO,  either  by  example  or  precept.  Parents  are 
by  no  means  sufficiently  careful  on  this  point.  They  tell  their 
children  more  lies  than  tliey  are  aware  of.  "  If  you  do  that 
again  I'll  whip  you,"  exclaims  a  vexed  parent.  The  next  day 
the  child  commits  the  same  offence,  but  the  punishment  is  not 
administered.  The  child's  confidence  in  the  parent's  integrity 
is  weakened  ;  the  parent  degrades  himself  in  the  eyes  of  his 
child  as  a  liar,  and  the  child  does  not  heed  subsequent  threats. 
While  standing  on  the  wharf  in  New  York,  a  little  girl,  some 
five  years  old,  stepped  several  times  on  the  edge  of  the  dock  to 
witness  the  rushing  of  the  waters  between  the  dock  and  a  ship. 
Two  or  three  times,  her  father  commanded  her  not  to  go  there 
again.  At  last,  he  threatened  that  if  she  did  go  there  again, 
he  would  throw  her  into  the  river.  A  minute  afterwards,  I 
stepped  up  to  the  girl  and  asked  her,  in  his  hearing,  if  she  re- 
ally thought  her  father  would  throw  her  into  the  river  if  she 
went  there  again-  She  hung  her  head,  but  said  nothing ;  for 
she  had  sense  enough  to  know  that  her  father  would  not  fulfil 
so  murderous  a  threat,  even  though  she  should  violate  his 
command.  In  other  words,  he  had  lied  to  her  in  threatening 
to  do  what  she  knew  he  would  not  do. 

Make  few  promises,  few  threatenings,  to  yonx  children,  and 
scrupulously  fulfil  every  one  of  them.  It  is  natural  for  chil- 
dren to  take  their  parents  and  others  at  their  word  ;  and  be- 
lieve that  they  tell  the  truth.  The  sentiment  of  truth  grows 
naiuruUy  in  ihe  soil  of  the  human  heart ;  and  confidence  in 
the  declarations  of  others,  is  one  of  its  blessed  fruits.  As  the 
law  regards  every  man  as  honest  until  he  \s  found  to  be  a  ras- 
cal, so  man  intuitively  regards  his  fellow  men  as  honest,  till 
experience  proves  them  to  be  rogues,  and  even  then  he  trusts 
them  still.  I  envy  not  those  who  pride  themselves  on  being 
suspicious  and  always  on  the  alert  in  regard  to  their  fellow 
men.  It  is  hard  to  be  deceived,  but  more  sorrowful  and  deso- 
late still  is  that  heart,  which  distrusts  and  suspects  all  around 
him.  This  suspicion  should  not  be  implanted  in  the  breast 
of  children,  at  least  by  deceiving  them,  or  telling  them  un- 
truths. 

My  brother  tells  another  excellent  story  to  illustrate  this 


FASHIONABLE   FALSEHOODS,  217 

point  A  very  pious  mother  in  Tennessee,  caught  her  son  in 
some  petty  falsehood,  and  took  him  to  task  for  it;  teiUng  him 
what  an  awfuUy  wicked  thing  it  was  to  tell  lies,  and  to  what 
an  awful  place  liars  would  go  hereafter,  &c.  As  he  left  her^ 
he  said  behind  her  back,  to  a  servant.  "  Well,  she'll  go  there 
too,  for  she  told  me  a  lie  yesterday."  What  effect  can  the  ad- 
monitions of  parents  as  to  telling  lies  have  on  those  children 
who  have  caught  their  instructors  in  aberrations  from  the 
truth.  Parents  and  teachers  cannot  be  too  careful  not  to  de- 
viate an  iota  from  the  naked  truth,  and  to  represent  things 
precisely  as  they  are. 

Fashionable  life  is  only  one  continual  round  of  deception 
and  mere  outside  pretences.   Modern  politeness  has  been  pro- 
perly defined  "telling  white  and  black  lies,  and  playing  I'm  a 
fool  and  your'e  another."     "  Oh,  how  do  you  do.  Miss  Fash- 
ionable ?     Wliy,  how  glad  I  am  to  see  you  !    I  have  not  seen 
you  this  long  time.     Why  have  you  not  called  before  7     Oh^ 
don't  be  in  a  hurry.     Now  doix't  go  yet.    Do  call  again,"  &c=. 
But  no  sooner  is  she  gone  than,  in  the  presence  of  her  children,, 
she  says,  "  That  old  thing  is  really  hateful — I  never  could 
bear  her,  and  don't  see  what  she  calls  so  often  for,  and  stays 
so  long.     Fm  sure  I  never  want  to  see  her  again."    Children 
hear  both  her  pleasantness  and  compliments  to  her  face,  and 
her  back-biting  after  she  leaves,  and  learn  to  put  on  appear- 
ances to  suit  occasions  ;  that  is,  to  be  deceitful,  and  make  pre- 
tences.    Thus  is  truth  sacrificed  at  the  shrine  of  fashion,  and 
the  moral   feelings   of  children  and  all  who   hear,  lowered 
down.    Let  truth  be  held  as  sacred.    Never  invite  persons  to 
visit  you  unless  you  really  desire  to  see  them.    Be  honest,  not 
only  because  "honesty  is  the  best  policy,"  but  especially  to 
make  j'^'^'^  children  so;  for  truth  is  more  valuable  than  ru- 
bies. 

Never  let  children  know  that  you  distrust  or  mistrust  them. 
Deal  with  them  as  though  you  thought  them  honest.  Take 
them  at  their  word.  Never  let  them  know  that  you  think 
they  c«;i  lie,  till  the  proof  is  too  positive  to  be  denied,  and 
then  rather  exhort  and  encoura;?e  them  to  do  better  than  dis- 


218  ANALYSIS    AND    ADAPTVTION    OF    CAUTIOUSNESS. 

grace  them  for  having  clone  wrong.     Reasons  for  this  will  be 
given  under  Approbativeness. 

It  is  perfectly  proper  to  exercise  their  Secretiveness,  but 
always  under  the  dominion  of  Conscientiousness.  It  may 
properly  be  exercised  in  withholding  some  things,  but  never  in 
false  coloring.  If  one  be  trying  to  ferret  out  your  business,  so 
as  to  take  advantage  of  you,  you  may  not  lie  to  him,  yet  may 
say  nothing,  or  ma}?"  put  him  off  the  right  track,  and  thus  let 
him  catch  himself  in  the  very  snare  he  has  laid  for  you,  but 
never  lie  ;  "  and  employ  Secretiveness  mainly  in  protecting 
yourself,  seldom  in  deceiving  others;  in  withholding,  not  hi 
mis-stating  ;  and  in  keeping  yourself  to  yourself,  but  not  in  de- 
parting from  the  exact  truth. 

To  increase  this  faculty,  measure  your  Avords.  Be  close 
mouthed,  guarded,  politic,  wise,  and  reserved.  Say  less  about 
your  plans  and  opinions,  and  be  less  distant  and  unequivocal 
in  what  you  do  say.  Do  not  express  yourself  as  plainly  or  as 
positively  as  you  are  disposed  to  do.  Do  not  speak  it  all  out 
quite  so  bluntly,  but  tell  only  a  part,  and  that  part  guardedly. 
Let  others  do  most  of  the  talking,  and  commit  themselves,  if 
they  please,  but  be  careful  not  to  commit  yourself.  Above  all, 
take  IcKsons  from  those  who  have  it  large.  That  is,  observe 
what  they  do  in  this  particular,  and  "  go  thou  and  do  like- 
wise." 

To  diminish  this  organ,  pursue  the  opposite  course.  Un- 
bosom yourself  more  freely.  Be  less  equivocal.  Do  things 
more  openly.  Take  less  pains  to  disguise  j/our  real  sentiments 
or  to  cover  up  your  designs.  In  short,  be  more  open  and  sin- 
cere, and  employ  less  false  colors  and  pretences. 

CAUTIOUSNESS. 

Precaution ;  care ;  solicitude  ;  fear  ;  provision  against 
loant  and  danger  ;  apprehensioii  ;  fleeing  from,  foreseen 
evils. 

"  Discretion  is  the  better  part  of  valor." 

Adaptation. — Man  is  thrown  into  a  world  full  of  dangers. 
His  whole  journey  through  life,  is  beset  with  them  at  every 


ANALYSIS    AND    REGULATION    OF    CAUTIOUSNESS.  219 

Step,  SO  numerous,  so  appalling,  as  to  threaten  him  contiuiially 
with  pain  and  death.  If  his  Maker  had  thrown  around  him 
the  shield  of  his  Ahnighty  protection,  so  that  no  evil  could 
penetrate  that  shield,  this  faculty  would  liave  heen  uncalled 
for,  and  very  detrimental,  by  continually  creating  false  alarms, 
and  keeping  him  in  suspense  without  cause;  but,  if  he  had 
been  created  without  this  faculty,  these  impending  dangers 
and  difliculties  would  soon  destroy  all  his  peace,  pleasures, 
and  even  life  itself.  The  shield  of  protection,  mentioned 
above,  would  have  been  cumbersome,  and  yet  man  must  be 
2'rotecied ;  and  this  faculty  effectually  protects  him  not  only 
without  inconvenience  to  him.self,  but  it  even  aifords  him 
pleasure  to  provide  against  prospective  evils,  make  all  .w/e, 
and  take  care  of  every  thing. 

Its  feebleness  is  followed  by  imprudence  and  misfortune,  its 
excess,  causes  unnecessary  fears,  procrastination,  irresolution, 
and  cowardice. 

The  fact  that  this  organ  is  generally  large  in  children,  is  in 
beautiful  keeping  with  their  greater  need  of  this  faculty.  In- 
experienced, their  muscles  weak  and  not  accustomed  to  vigor- 
ous exercise  and  their  minds  undisciplined,  unless  Cautious- 
ness were  extremely  active,  instinctively  to  warn  and  protect 
them,  they  would  soon  be  destroyed;  Even  a  mother's  tender 
care  and  incessant  watching,  are  insufficient  to  preserve  them 
from  accidents;  for  a  careless  child  is  continually  hurting,  or 
burning,  or  cutting  itself,  or  falling,  or  meeting  v/itii  a  thou- 
sand accidents  from  carelessness. 

This  organ  is  generally  quite  large  enough  in  children, 
without  increasing  its  action  hy  frightening  them.  Its  excess 
fills  its  possessor  with  continual  and  groundless  alarm,  and 
thus  causes  a  great  amount  of  suffering;  hence  this  excess 
should  never  be  induced  by  telling  them  frightful  stories,  or 
making  them  afraid  of  the  dark,  or  threatening  them,  &c. 
This  organ  is  too  large  in  most  mothers,  so  that  ciiildren  usu- 
ally inherit  too  much  fear,  and  then  these  very  mothers,  lov- 
ing their  children  so  intensely,  acd  then  having  so  naicli  fear, 
are  doubly  anxious  for  the  safety  of  their  children,  and  tliere- 
fore  keep  continually  cautioning  then),  teUing  them  to  take 
care,  or  that  they  will  fall,  Sic,  even  when  they  are  in  no  dan- 


220  FRIGHTENINa   CHILDREN. 

ger,  thereby  keeping  them  in  a  state  of  continual  alarm.  Add 
to  this,  that  parents  often  punish  their  children  by  shutting 
them  up  in  a  dark  room  or  in  a  cellar,  or  threaten  them  con- 
tinually, and  we  have  abundant  cause  for  those  false  alarms 
and  groundless  fears  whiih  render  so  many  lives  a  burden.  If 
this  organ  be  small,  scaring  them  may  do  them  good  by  excit- 
ing and  enlarging  it;  but  if  this  organ  be  large,  they  will  gen- 
erally look  out  for  the  breakers,  and  may  be  trusted  with  the 
care  of  themselves,  if  not  of  the  younger  children. 

When  this  organ  is  too  large,  not  only  should  the  child  never 
be  frightened,  but  every  opportunity  should  be  embraced  to 
quiet  fear,  and  make  them  feel  safe,  so  that  the  organ  may 
diminish  by  inaction.  Never  tell  frightful  stories  to  children 
having  this  organ  large,  nor  allow  them  to  be  frightened  with 
hideous  sights  or  sounds,  nor  tell  them  that  you  will  throw 
them  out  of  the  window,  or  cut  off  their  ears  or  finger,  &c. ; 
because,  if  they  believe  you,  they  will  really  be  frightened, 
but  if  they  do  not  believe  you,  they  will  think  the  less  of  5^ou. 
But  the  main  direction  of  Cautiousness  should  be  to  the 
higher  sentiments,  by  making  them  fear  to  do  wrong. 

In  order  to  diminish  this  organ  take  less  time  to  get  ready. 
Deliberate  less.  When  too  large,  offset  it  by  Combativeness, 
and  push  your  projects  forward  without  caring  as  much  for 
consequences  as  you  are  disposed  to  do,  or  put  intellect  ever 
against  it,  by  bearing  constantly  in  mind  that  your  fears  are 
excessive  and  usually  groundless ;  that  this  organ,  being  too 
large,  excites  more  solicitude,  doubt,  irresolution,  and  procras- 
tination than  is  reasonable  or  best ;  that,  therefore,  you  al- 
ways overrated  difficulties,  magnify  dangers,  and  even  make 
them  up  out  of  whole  cloth  ;  are  therefore  anxious  without  cause, 
and  fearful  where  there  is  no  danger.  By  impressing  this  upon  the 
mind,  I  do  not  see  how  your  Cautiousness  can  produce  alarm, 
any  more  than  looking  through  green  glasses  could  make  you  be- 
lieve that  every  thing  was  green.  This  principle  will  tell  you  that 
you  always  look  through  glasses  of  fear,  and  that  it  is  these  fear- 
ing glasses  that  alarm  you,  and  not  any  danger — that,  in  short, 
vour  apprehensions  are  mostly  groundless,  and  therefore  not  to  be 
regarded  or  acted  upon.  Also  deliberate  less.  Take  less  time  to 
e[  ready.     Dont  fuss  and  fix  so  much.     Be  more  off  hand  and 


DIMINUTION    OF    CAUTIOUSNESS.  221 

prompt.  Above  all,  do  not  allow  your  imagination  to  conjure  up 
objects  of  terror,  or  dwell  on  imaginary  danger.  Banish  all  such 
suppositions,  and  indulge  the  feeling  of  security  and  safety  in  their 
stead.  Withdraw  your  mind  as  much  as  possible  from  all  appre- 
hension and  contemplation  of  danger,  and  try  to  dismiss  all  anxiety, 
solicitude,  and  procrastination,  and  try  to  make  yourself  contented. 
Also,  decide  promptly  one  way  or  another,  so  as  to  allow  no 
chance  for  that  distracted,  painful  action  of  Cautiousness  which  al- 
ways accompanies  doubt,  uncertainty,  vascillation,  halting  between 
two  opinions,  &c. 

But  one  of  the  most  eifectual  causes  of  groundless  fears  and 
gloomy  forebodings,  is  to  be  found  in  a  disordered  physiology,  and, 
especially,  in  impaired  digestion.  AVhen  produced  by  this  cause, 
it  cannot  be  effectually  overcome  without  removing  that  cause — 
that  is,  without  restoring  the  bodily  functions  to  health,  directions 
for  doing  which  have  already  been  given.  If  your  fearfulness 
proceeds  from  nervousness,  then  rectify  your  nervous  system,  or  else 
expect  to  suffer  all  your  life  from  groundless  fears,  that  is,  to  be  al- 
ways miserable  on  account  of  this  violation  of  the  law  of  health. 
They  can,  however,  be  diminished  somewhat,  by  offsetting  them  by 
intellect. 

But  this  faculty  is  often  too  weak,  and  requires  to  be  strength- 
ened. To  do  this,  pursue  the  course  opposite  to  that  just  pointed 
out.  Remember  that  you  are  careless.  That  you  underrate  dan- 
ger, and  are  headless,  and  liable  to  constant  misfortune  in  conse- 
quence of  this  deficiency.  Watch  yourself,  therefore.  Dwell  much 
on  the  dangerous.  Often  suppose  to  yourself  that  this  or  that  had 
happened — that  such  a  fall  had  broken  a  limb,  or  such  a  careless 
act  induced  such  and  such  evil  consequences,  and  in  every  possible 
way,  excite  this  organ  to  action  by  dwelling  on  danger,  and  being 
•careful,  as  well  as  try  to  supply  its  place  by  the  increased  exercise 
of  reason  in  foreseeing  danger  and  guarding  against  it.  Children 
in  whom  it  is  large,  may  perhaps  be  benefited  by  being  frightened 
and  should  be  often  put  on  their  guard.  Still,  fear  is  less  the  func- 
tion of  the  faculty  than  care,  solicitude,  provision  against  danger. 

16 


222  ANALYSIS    AND    KEGULATION    OF    APPROEATIVENESS. 


APPROBATIVENESS. 

Ilegard  for  character,  reputation,  the  speeches  of  people,  what 
others  think  and  say,  8fc.  ;   desire  for  a  good   name  ;  love  of 

I  PRAISE,  popularity,  fame,  notoriety,  Ifc. ;  pride  of  character ; 
ambition  to  become  distinguished  ;  feeling  of  shame  and  morti- 
ficaiion. 

A  GOOD  NAME  IS  RATHER  TO  BE  CHOSEN  THAN  GREAT  RICHES. SolomOU. 

Adaptation. — Some  things  are  in  their  very  nature  praisewor- 
thy, while  others  are  shamefuh  We  cannot  help  praising  certain 
actions  and  qualities,  nor  help  regarding  others  as  disgraceful. 
We  naturally  esteem  some  persons  and  things,  and  despise  others 
This  original,  constitutional  quality  of  praiseworthiness  and  dis- 
.  graceflilness,  as  applied  to  actions,  has  its  counterpart  in  Ap- 
probativeness. 

"Are  you  not  ashamed  of  youi'self,"  and  "that  is  a  j^ne  boy,'' 
appeal  to  this  faculty.  Its  abuse  produces  vanity,  artificial  man- 
ners, extravagant  decorations  of  the  person,  out-side  show  and 
display  ;  formal  politeness,  fashionable  etiquette  ;  a  boastful  spirit, 
&c.,  &c.     Censure  and  ridicule,  both  strike  upon  this  faculty. 

This  organ  is  large  in  most  children,  and  extremely  liable  to 
be  perverted,  especially  in  girls  ;  hence  the  importance  of  proper 
cultivation.  Its  location  by  the  side  of  Conscientiousness,  shows 
that  it  is  designed  to  act  in  concert  with  it,  and  thereby  to  pro- 
duce a  regard  for  moral  character  mainly.  Praise  should  be  bes- 
towed mostly  on  moral  and  intellectual  worth,  yet  it  is  usually 
bestowed  upon  riches,  fine  and  fashionable  attire,  a  handsome 
face,  and  even  upon  fighting,  gormandizing,  &c.  Children  shoulj:] 
be  praised  mainly  for  intellectual  attainments  and  moral  worth. 
They  should  never  know  that  they  are  any  better  because  they 
have  on  a  fine  dress,  or  a  new  bonnet,  or  are  handsome,  or  ap- 
pear in  splendid  and  fashionable  attire  ;  and  yet  most  parents 
do  praise  their  children  for  things  wliolly  extraneous  to  them- 
selves, and  entirely  destitute  of  all  moral  character. 

When  this  organ  is  too  large,  great  care  should  be  taken  not 
to  foster  or  feed  it  by  praise,  its  natural  stimulant.     When  the 


DESIRE    FOR    A    GOOD    NAME.  223 

child,  already  overstocked  with  it,  says  and  does  smart  things 
''  to  be  seen  "  and  admired,  never  notice  their  fishing  for  praise, 
yet  do  not  frown  on  them ;  for  this  also  excites  and  sears  or 
hardens  this  faculty.  Let  their  attempts  to  elicit  praise  pass 
unheeded,  and  never  listen  to  praise  except  demanded  by  really 
praiseworthy  actions. 

Too  much  precaution  cannot  be  taken  not  to  mortify  or  dis- 
grace children.  Sense  of  character  is  one  of  the  strongest  pro- 
moters of  virtue  and  restraints  upon  vice,  that  can  be  brought 
to  bear  on  conduct.  When  a  young  person's  regard  for  charac- 
ter is  gone,  all  hope  is  gone,  and  almost  certain  ruin  awaits 
him.  Mortifying  and  shaming  children,  is  directly  calculated  to 
sear  or  harden  this  faculty,  because  it  is  painful,  and  the  painful 
exercise  of  every  organ,  benumbs  and  weakens  it.  As  becoming- 
familiar  with  distress,  blunts  benevolence  and  wears  off  its  tender 
edges — as  the  goadings  and  compunctions  of  a  guilty  conscience 
sear  and  benumb  moral  feelings,  as  oft-repeated  profanations  of 
God  and  things  sacred  blunt  Veneration,  as  the  loss  or  unfaith- 
fulness of  friends  wounds  friendship  and  tears  asunder  its  tender 
fibrils — so  shame  and  disgrace  blunt  sense  of  character,  and  wea- 
ken ambition.*  Great  care  should  therefore  be  taken  to  keep 
their  reputation  with  you  and  with  themselves  good.  If  they 
feel  that  they  are  disgraced  in  your  eyes,  their  wounded  Appro- 
bativeness  excites  Combativeness,  and  they  feel  indignant  at  you  ; 
more  especially,  if  you  shame  them  for  things  which  they  did 
not  know  to  be  disgraceful  beforehand.  The  reader  must  have 
often  seen  a  single  sharp  word,  or  even  a  slight  look  of  dis- 
pleasure wound  deeply  and  grieve  them  exceedingly,  even  though 
little  was  meant  by  the  parent.  Not  to  dwell  upon  the  positive 
cruelty  of  thus  lashing  up  their  feelings  so  umnercifully,  this 
shows  how  exceedingly  tender  are  the  feelings  of  children,  and 
how  much  care  should  be  taken  to  preserve  this  tenderness  un- 
violated. 

Do  not  educate  your  children,  especially  your  girls,  to  be  pu'p'pet 
shows,  nor  excite  their  love  of  display,  because  neither  of  these 
constitute  the  legitimate  function  of  this  faculty.  Never  incite 
children  to  learn  by  rewards,  premiums,  tickets,  or  medals  for  ex- 

*  Oa  p.  36  of  the  author's  work  on  Matrimony,  this  principle  will  be 
found  fully  presented  and  illustrated. 


224  CULTIVATION  AND  GOVERNMENT  OF  APPROBATIVENESS. 

celling  in  study.     Nor  should  honorary  appointments  at  colleges, 

academies,  &c.,  be  distributed  to  the  best  scholars.     Let  children 

and  students  be  induced  to  learn,  not  because  they  v;ill  thereby  get 

their  Approbativeness  inflated  by  praise,  but  let  the  inirinsic  value 

•5f  the  knowledge  acquired,  and  the  pleasure  derived  froip  study 

itself,  be  their  main  motive  for  study.     Studying  for  the  sake  of 

^  praise,  will  hardly  benefit  any  one,  but  studying  for  the  sake  of 

study,  or  for  the  pleasure  derived  from  the  exercise  of  the  mental 

faculties,  will  leave  a  permanent  good  behind.     If  children  study 

because  they  are  praised  for  it,  as  soon  as  the  praise  for  which  they 

study  is  discontinued,  the  inducement  to  study  ceases,  and  their 

books  are  laid  aside ;  but  if  they  study  because  of  the  pleasure  and 

advantage  derived  fi"om  study  itself,  these  inducements  will  always 

excite  them  to  new  and  increased  intellectual  effort. 

If  this  organ  be  too  large,  and  it  be  desirable  to  reduce  it,  do 
not  feed  it ;  but  put  intellect  over  against  it  by  reflections  like  the 
following.  "  "Well,  suppose  they  do  think  thus  of  me,  w^hat  of  it  1 
What  if  I  cannot  appear  as  well  as  others  ?  I'm  none  the  worse 
for  that.  I'm  too  sensitive  on  this  subject,  and  so  will  dismiss  it, 
and  employ  my  mind  on  other  matters."  Remember,  thatfothers 
think  less  about  appearances.  You  are  mistaken  in  supposing 
others  observe  you  as  much  as  you  think  they  do.  Do  not  indulge 
the  feeling  of  shame.  Appear  naturally,  not  effectedly,  nor  as 
though  all  eyes  were  turned  toward  you.  In  short,  feed  this  faculty 
as  little  as  possible.  Direct  it,  repress  it,  and  cultivate  the  do7iH  care 
feeling. 

When  it  is  too  small,  set  motives  before  it.  Refiect  on  praise, 
and  indulge  the  feeling  of  pleasure  springing  therefrom.  Indulge 
ambition,  especially  in  conjunction  w^ith  the  higher  sentiments* 
Think  more  of  character,  reputation,  appearances,  and  standing  in 
society.  To  cultivate  this  faculty  is  not  difficult.  Commend  this 
as  often  as  they  deserve  it,  and  keep  it  well  supplied  with  stimu- 
lants to  action. 

The  portion  of  brain  heretofore  allotted  to  Approbativeness,  has 
recently  been  found  to  contain  several  organs,  one  of  Jealousy, 
which  lies  between  this  organ  and  Cautiousness  ;  Modesty,  which 
lies  on  on  the  inside  of  Approbativeness,  next  to  Self-Esteem ;  love 
of  dress,  lower  down,  and  love  of  fame,  or  public  life,  higher  up, 
besides  several  others. 


ANALYSIS  AND  CULTIVATION  OF  SELF-ESTEEM,  225 

SELF-ESTEEM. 

"  I  am  better  than  thou."    "  Is  not  this  great  Babylon  which  I  have 
builded.'' 

Self-respect ;  self-confidence  ;  self-satisfaction;  self-complacency  ; 

nobleness;  dignity;    love   of  power ;    independence;  love  of 

liberty  and  freedom  ;  that  high-toned  sense  of  honor  and  manly 

feeling  lohich  despises  meanness,  commands  respect,  and  aspires 

to  be  and  do  something  worthy  of  one's  self 

Its  abtises  are  pride,  haughtiness,  egotism,  swaggering  preten- 
sions, a  domineering,  self-sufficient,  aristocratical,  tyrannizing  spi- 
rit, which  would  subject  all  others  to  obedience  and  servitude. 

Adaptation. — George  Combe,  in  his  lectures  in  Philadelphia, 
remarked,  in  reference  to  this  organ,  that  when  we  behold  the  won- 
derful exhibitions  of  power  displayed  in  the  works  of  nature — the 
vastness  and  glory  of  the  starry  heavens,  the  beauties,  wonders,  and 
infinite  wisdom  of  the  works  of  creation,  and  especially,  w^hen  we 
behold  in  mute  astonishment  the  falls  of  Niagara — we  feel  overpow- 
ered with  a  sense  of  our  own  utter  imioorthiness  and  nothingness, 
when  compared  with  the  rest  of  creation.  Left  to  feel  his  own  in- 
significance and  littleness  as  it  is,  man  could  never  hold  up  his  head, 
but  would  be  borne  down  to  the  earth  Vv^ith  this  overwhelming  sense 
of  utter  nothingness.  The  organ  of  Self-Esteem  is  given  us  to 
counteract  this  feeling,  and  make  ,us  feel  that  we  are  something, 
when,  in  fact,  we  are  comparatively  nothing. 

If  this  be  the  true  analysis  of  this  faculty,  nature  of  course  fal- 
sifies. From  this  doctrine,  I  dissent  in  toto.  Not  only  do  I  reject 
the  doctrine  that  nature  errs  by  telling  us  we  are  som^ething,  when 
we  are  nothing;  but  I  regard  man  as  "the  noblest  work  of  God" 
v.^ithin  our  knowledge.  1  regard  organized  matter  as  containing 
wonders  infinitely  greater  than  any  found  in  matter  not  organized. 
I  regard  man,  considered  merely  as  an  animal,  or  the  functions  and 
adaptations  of  his  physical  nature,  as  infinitely  m^ore  wonderful,  be- 
cause displaying  more  of  the  wisdom,  power,  and  greatness  of  the 
Creator,  than  all  the  rest  of  creation.  But  man's  physical  nature 
is  but  a  straw,  a  cypher,  when  compared  with  his  mental  and  moral 
nature.  Mind  forms  the  crowning  excellence  and  wonder  of  cre- 
ation.    The  world  was  made  for  man,  and  man  v/as  m.ade  for  mind 


226  SELF-KELIANCE  AND  SELF-RESPECT. 

In  man's  intellectual  and  moral  nature  it  is  that  the  greatness  and 
power  of  the  great  Creator  of  the  universe  is  mainly  exhibited. 
Man  forms  the  connecting  link  between  the  earth  and  its  Maker. 
Words  can  never  express  the  wonders,  beauties,  and  power  evinced 
in  the  creation  of  man's  mental  and  moral  nature.  Man  therefore 
holds  an  important,  and  an  elevated  position  in  the  rank  of  crea- 
tion, and  really  does  possess  excellencies  of  the  highest  order ;  and 
Self-Esteem  is  given  him  to  make  him  appreciate  these  high  ends 
and  noble  qualities  of  his  nature — to  make  him  feel  that  he  is  what 
he  is,  and  thus  to  increase  his  efforts  to  become  in  conduct  what  he 
is  by  nature. 

Without  this  faculty,  or  with  a  poor  opinion  of  one's  capabilities, 
how  little  will  be  attempted  or  accomplished  ?  All  effort  will  be 
paralyzed,  and  the  character  demeaned  and  depraved.  With  this 
faculty  fully  developed,  self-confidence  is  inspired,  the  aims  are 
high,  the  whole  character  and  conduct  are  ennobled,  and  a  dignified 
position  in  society  is  assumed. 

Self-reliance  should  be  cultivated  in  children.  Instead  of  help- 
ing them  to  every  little  thing,  learn  them  to  help  thenselves.  A 
man  that  requires  to  be  waited  upon  a  great  deal  w^ill  never  ac- 
complish much,  but  those  who  rely  on  their  own  exertions,  taking 
hold  w^ith  their  own  hands  whatever  is  to  be  done,  will  effect 
something  important.  The  story  of  the  quail  and  the  husbandman, 
will  illustrate  this  point.  As  long  as  the  old  quail  saw  the  hus- 
bandman rely  upon  his  neighhors  to  harvest  the  grain  in  which  she 
had  her  nest,  she  felt  safe,  and  made  no  preparations  for  moving  ; 
but  the  moment  she  heard  that  he  /iimself  was  to  harvest  it  the  next 
day,  she  changed  her  quarters.  Franklin  says,  if  you  want  any- 
thing done  well,  do  it  yourself.  The  due  exercise  of  Self-Esteem, 
creates  this  self-reliance. 

Children  should  also  early  be  encouraged  to  feel  and  act  as  though 
they  were  worth  something,  as  though  they  were  preparing  to  be- 
come men  and  women,  and  should  be  taught  that  they  were  created 
for  some  important  end.  This,  so  far  from  inflating  them  with 
pride,  is  calculated  to  humble  them,  or  at  least  to  increase  their  en- 
deavors to  fit  themselves  to  act  well  so  important  a  part.  The  idea 
is  quite  prevalent  that  this  course  will  render  them  egotistical  and 
self-sufficient,  but  from  this  opinion  I  take  the  liberty  of  dissenting. 
Self-Esteem  can  be  and  should  be  cultivated,  and  so  cultivated  as  to 


KESTRAINT  OF  SELF-ESTEEM.  227 

benefit,  not  injure.  Any  otker  view,  implies  that  Self-Esteera  is  a 
bad  faculty,  a  principle  wholly  refuted  by  Phrenology,  which  shows 
all  our  primary  faculties  to  be  good  in  their  original  natm-e  and 
primitive  functions. 

If  your  boy  be  guilty  of  any  mean,  self-degrading  act,  talk  to  him 
as  follows.  "  Why,  John,  I  thought  you  were  too  much  of  a  man 
to  do  that !  If  you  want  to  wear  clothes  like  men,  you  must  be  a 
man  in  everything.  I  really  want  you  to  think  more  of  yourself 
than  to  do  that  again,"  &c.  Still,  to  give  him  a  little  cane  and 
umbrella  when  it  rains,  to  dress  him  off  with  frills  and  ruffles,  and 
make  him  think  he  is  a  man  because  he  dresses  like  one,  is  ruinous. 
The  discriminating  reader  will  mark  the  difference  between  culti- 
vating the  noble  and  manly  in  feeling  and  conduct,  and  dressing 
them  till  they  swell  and  strut  and  vaunt  themselves  because  they've 
got  a  cane,  or  wear  a  fashionable  cloak.  When  I  see  a  boy  fi'om 
six  to  twelve,  dressed  in  the  height  of  gentlemen's  fashion,  swing- 
ing his  cane,  smoking  a  cigar,  talking  very  big,  perhaps  trying  to 
swear,  threatening,  and  priding  himself  on  his  exteriors,  he  pro- 
claims that  his  parents  do  not  know  much,  and  that  he  is  enter- 
ing the  broad  road  to  ruin. 

I  have  often  been  pained  to  see  little  girls  parading  the  pave- 
ment, superbly  dressed,  with  a  muff  and  sun-shade,  profusely  ruffled 
off,  and  walking  with  as  much  self-importance  as  though  they  were 
queens.  Let  me  entreat  parents  not  thus  to  make  fools  of  them- 
selves and  puppet-shows  of  their  children,  but  to  train  them  up  to 
pride  themselves  on  their  intellectual  and  moraPqualities  andnot 
on  their  exterior. 

Above  all  things,  do  not  try  to  make  your  girls  young  ladies. 
Green  fruit  is  umvholesome  and  unsavory ;  so  are  green  women. 
Let  girls  be  girls,  till  nature  makes  them  women.  Let  them  romp, 
rattle,  play,  and  appear  naturally,  till  they  themselves  assume  the 
appearance  and  station  of  women.  Trying  to  make  them  women 
while  they  are  girls,  besides  preventing  exercise  in  plays,  &c.,  and 
thus  retarding  the  growth  and  impairing  their  health,  renders  them 
artificial  and  affected,  and  bedims  the  beauties  and  graces  of  natiux* 

Self-Esteem  probably  comprises  two  or  three  organs,  the  lower 
part  of  it,  next  to  Concentrativeness,  exercising  the  function  of  vdll; 
and'creates  love  of  liberty,  disposition  to  do  one's  own  thinking  and 
acting,  to  choose  for  himself  and  take  the  consequences  of  his  own 


228 


CULTIVATION   OF  SELF-KSTEKW, 


conduct;  to  pay  one's  own  way  through  life,  and  take  favors  of  no 
one,  &c.;  and  the  upper  portion,  experiencing  the  function  of  dig- 
nity, elevation,  self-respect,  &c.  Love  of  power,  is  doubtless  loca- 
ted near  Self-Esteem.  On  all  Napoleon  coin,  the  lower  portion  of 
Self-Esteem  presents  a  most  extraordinary  protuberance.  Lovers 
of  popular  liberty,  and  all  true  republicans,  will  be  found  deficient 
there. 

To  cultivate  Self-Esteem,  remember  that  this  poor  opinion  of 
yourself  which  oppresses  you,  this  sense  of  unworthiness,  inferiority, 
insignificance,  and  shrinking  diffidence  under  which  you  labor,  is 
caused,  not  by  your  actual  inferiority  and  unworthiness,  but  by  your 
small  Self-Esteem  ;  that  you  underrate  yourself,  and  require  to  hold 
up  your  head,  and  assume  more  to  yom-self  That  is,  let  your  in- 
tellect counteract  this  defect,  and  then  cultivate  the  feeling,  by 
standing  and  walking  erect,  and  feeling  that  you  are  as  good  as 
others,  and  do  not  indulge  this  feeling  of  humility  and  self-abase- 
ment. If  it  be  small  in  a  child,  do  not  command  that  child  much, 
nor  conquer  or  subdue  its  will,  but  try  to  elevate  him  in  his  owti  es- 
timation. Much  injury  is  done  to  children  by  ruling  them  with 
too  much  severity,  thus  breaking  down  their  independence  of  feel- 
ing. 

To  diminish  Self-Esteem,  bear  in  mind,  that  these  high  notions 
of  yourself  proceed,  not  from  the  fact  that  you  are  better  than  oth- 
ers, but  solely  from  your  having  too  large  an  organ  of  self-conceit. 
Measure  your  head.  Examine  your  developments.  They  are  only 
so.  But  Self-Esteem  is  very  large.  Hence  you  are  led  to  over- 
rate yourself  and  all  that  appertains  to  you.  Then  why  swell  and 
swagger  thus.  Besides,  these  high-flown  pretensions  only  render 
you  jidiculous.  Remember,  that  you  are  more  disposed  to  lead  than 
others  are  to  follow — to  command  than  others  to  obey,  or  than  you 
should  be  to  lead  or  command.  Humble  yourself.  Keep  your  in- 
ordinate self-conceit  to  yourself.  I  repeat,  bear  constantly  in  mind, 
that  these  high-sounding  pretensions  grow  out  of  your  over-devel- 
oped Self-Esteem,  and  not  out  of  your  real  worth;  and  if  you  have 
any  sense  left,  this  reflection  cannot  fail  to  humble  you,  and  dimin- 
ish the  organ. 


DECISION    OF    CHARACTER,  229 

FIRMNESS. 

'•  Perseverance  conquers  all  things." 

Decision  of  character  ;  fixedness  of  purpose  ;  stability  ;  ferseve- 
rance  ;  tenacity  and  continuity  of  opinion  and  conduct ;  tin- 
willino-ness  to  chang-e. 

Adaptation. — After  a  man  has  sown  he  must  wait  patiently 
for  the  harvest,  or  he  will  fail  to  reap.  Many  ends  can  be  gained 
only  by  long-continued  application,  and  many  obstacles  are  to  be 
overcome  only  by  perseverance.  That  "  perseverance  conquers 
all  things,"  is  a  time-honoured  proverb ;  but  fickleness  accom- 
plishes nothing.  Scientific  attainments  are  not  the  grovv4h  of 
a  day,  nor  of  a  year,  but  of  a  lifetime.  Many  kinds  of  busi- 
ness can  be  rendered  profitable  only  by  years  of  patient  toil  spent 
in  building  them  up.  Scarcely  any  truly  valuable  end  can  be 
obtained  in  a  hurry.  Combativeness  may  overcome  some  obsta- 
cles and  attain  some  ends  with  despatch,  but  it  takes  time  to 
overcome  and  attain  others.  To  this  state  of  things,  to  this  de- 
mand for  firmness,  is  this  faculty  adapted.  Without  it  littk  good 
could  be  accomplished,  little  evil  successfully  resisted ;  but  with 
it,  difficulties  vanish,  and  temptations  flee  abashed.  Indeed,  I  never 
knew  a  man  distinguished  for  anything  good,  bad,  or  great,  without 
it.  It  should  therefore  be  cultivated,  yet  not  allowed  to  dege- 
nerate into  mulish  obstinacy. 

This  organ  can  be  cultivated  by  holding  out  inducements  to 
persevere,  and  by  rewarding  success.  Hope  is  located  upon  the 
two  sides  of  the  forepart  of  Firmness,  so  as  to  work  in  conjunc- 
tion with  it ;  and  certainly,  nothing  is  calculated  to  excite  Firm- 
ness more  than  confident  hopes  of  success,  and  the  two  combi- 
ned, form  one  of  the  strongest  elements  of  efficiency  and  suc- 
cess. Pains  should  be  taken  not  to  set  children  to  doing  what 
they  cannot  complete,  and  not  to  allow  them  to  leave  anything 
unfinished.  Let  them  be  taught  to  accomplish  all  that  they  hegin. 
Making  children  servile,  and  requiring  strict  obedience,  is  apt 
to  weaken  this  feeling.  The  author  knows  a  severe,  austere? 
tyrannical  father,  who  has  two  children  whom  he  rules  with  a 


230  DECISION    OF    CHAKACTER. 

rod  of  iron.  In  one  of  them,  Firmness  has  degenerated  to  almost 
nothing,  and  in  the  other  increased  to  obstinacy,  probably  be- 
cause the  former,  a  daughter,  had  the  firmness  subdued  and  cowed 
down  by  this  tyranny,  while  the  same  discipline  only  excited  and 
increased  that  of  the  other  to  mulish  stubbornness. 

Parents  should  always  hold  an  even  hand  with  their  chil- 
dren. They  should  not  be  one  thing  to-day,  and  another  to- 
morrow, but  be  uniform  and  constant  in  all  their  requirements; 
and  when  they  undertake  to  make  themselves  master,  should 
always  carry  it  through. 

My  brother  tells  a  story  in  illustration  of  this  point,  much 
as  follows:  Susan,  a  girl  of  about  fifteen,  had  invited  her 
playmate  Sarah,  to  go  that  afternoon  to  pick  strawberries. 
Sarah  came,  and  Susan  asked  her  mother's  consent  to  go. 
The  mother  refused  it.  Susan  plead  that  Sarah  had  come  to 
go,  but  all  to  no  purpose.  At  last,  she  took  up  her  pail  and 
started  with  an  "/will  go,  so  there.''''  Well,  if  you  will  go, 
get  good  ones,"  answered  the  mother.  A  daughter  wished  to 
go  to  a  ball,  which  her  mother  forbid  her  ;  the  daughter  got 
ready  ;  the  mother  seeing  that  the  daughter  loould  go,  said, 
"  If  you  are  determined  to  go,  lorap  up  warm."  Things  like 
these,  should  never  be  allowed  to  occur,  but  let  one  uniform 
line  of  conduct  be  pursued. 

To  increase  this  organ  in  yourself,  persevere.  Give  up  nothing 
till  it  is  completed.  Let  nothing  turn  you  from  your  purposed 
cause.  Have  a  mind  and  a  will  of  your  own,  and  do  not  yield  to 
the  persuasions  of  others,  nor  give  up  to  difficulties. 

To  diminish,  or  rather  to  direct  it,  first,  let  caution  and  intellect 
guide  Firmness  so  as  to  prevent  your  becoming  fixed  on  anything 
not  right,  or  attempting  any  course  not  best.  Secondly ;  hold 
yourself  always  open  to  correction.  Remember  that  excessive 
Firmness  is  likely  so  to  bias  your  judgment  as  to  prevent  your 
seeing  the  force  of  evidence  that  bears  against  you  ;  that  you  are 
too  hard  to  be  convinced ;  that  you  require  to  bend  a  little  more 
than  you  are  disposed  to  do,  and  such  like  reflections.  In  other 
words  :  Keep  your  firmness  in  subjection  to  your  intellect,  justice^ 
&c.  Let  it  neither  control,  nor  be  controlled,  but  work  harmo- 
niously and  proportionatel}^ 


SENSE    OF   JUSTICE. 


tdi 


CONSCIENTIOUSNESS. 

"  Let  Justice  be  done  if  the  heavens  fall." 

Moral  principle  :  sense  of  justice :  integrity :  regard  for  dutij :  per- 
ception of  right  and  wrong,  and  the  feeling  that  right  should  be 
rewarded  and  the  wrong  punished :  sense  of  moral  accountahility, 
of  guilt,  and  incumhency :  love  of  truth :  ^?e??i^e?zce  for  sins  and 
disposition  to  reform :  gratitude  for  favors  :  desire  for  mm-al  purity 
and  blamelcssness  of  conduct. 

Adaptation. — The  human  mind  is  so  constituted  that  it  cannot 
but  regard  some  things  as  right  and  others  as  wrong,  in  their 
very  nature  and  constitution.  It,  therefore,  recognizes  certain 
great  principles  of  rigid  and  fitness  as  lying  back  in  the  very 
nature  and  constitution  of  things,  and  approves  the  right  but 
condemns  the  wrong.  This  faculty  does  not  decide  what  is  right ; 
the  other  faculties  do  this,  and  then  Conscientiousness  enforces 
what  they  regard  as  right.  It  strives  to  do  the  fair  thing  between 
man  and  man,  endeavours  to  see  and  correct  faults,  and  embraces 
the  true  and  the  right  wherever  found.  Its  excess  causes  scrupu- 
lousness, and  self-condemnation,  and  makes  too  little  allowances 
for  the  faults  of  others,  but  requires  all  to  come  to  its  own  high 
standing  of  right. 

The  importance  of  cultivating  this  faculty,  especially  as  an  an- 
tagonist of  the  propensities,  has  already  been  presented,  yet  the 
means  of  exciting  it  has  not  been  given.  This  organ  is  usually 
large  and  the  sentiment  strong  in  children,  so  that  it  has  not  to 
be  made  large,  but  only  to  be  kept  so  by  constant  and  vigorous 
action.  Its  usual  development  is  much  greater  in  children  than  in 
men,  owing  to  its  having  been  worn  smooth  in  the  latter  by  the 
dishonest  practices  and  principles  of  the  age.  It  should  therefore 
be  kept  up  by  frequently  asking  if  this  be  right,  or  that  not  wrong 
and  by  closely  scrutinizing  the  moral  character  and  bearings  of 
all  our  principles  and  practices.  And  then  let  her  monitions  be 
always  heard  and  obeyed.  If  her  standard  be  wrong,  right  it,  but 
obey, ;  but  never  harden  or  blunt  the  moral  sensibilities,  by  ne- 
glecting or  silencing  her  warning  or  her  convicting^  voice. 


S32  DESIRE    KOR  MORAL  PURITY,    &C. 

The  best  way  to  excite  and  enlarge  it  in  children,  is  to  be  just 
to  them,.  Kvery  faculty  in  one,  excites  the  corresponding  faculty 
in  another,  as  already  explained.  Dealing  justly  and  truly  with 
men,  will  make  them  also  just  and  true,  but  violating  their  con- 
sciences by  doing  what  they  think  wrong,  encourages  them  to  do 
wrong  also.  Children  often  think  they  are  right,  when  we  think 
them  wrong,  and  punish  them  accordingly.  This  weakens  their 
sense  of  right,  and  paves  the  way  for  their  committing  the  errors 
or  abuses  upon  others  which  they  think  we  are  committing  upon 
them.  First  convince  them  that  they  are  wTong,  before  punish- 
ment is  administered. 

If  this  organ  be  small  in  your  own  head,  to  cultivate  it,  just 
remember  that  its  deficiency  incapacitates  you  for  seeing  your 
own  faults,  and  that  Self-Esteem,  if  larger  than  Conscientiousness, 
will  always  throw  the  mantle  of  charity  over  yom'  faults,  or  put 
them  in  a  bag  behind  you.  Remembering  this,  will  enable  you? 
in  some  measure,  to  correct  it.  The  fact  that  you  do  noXfeel  guilty, 
is  no  sign  that  you  are  not,  for  the  smaller  this  faculty,  the  less  it 
condemns,  and  yet  other  things  being  equal,  the  more  immoral 
you  are. 

Recent  discoveries  point  out  a  separate  organ  for  gratitude,  loca- 
ted upon  the  sides  of  the  back  of  Benevolence,  and  Penitence  as 
joining  it. 

It  is  supposed  to  be  divided,  one  portion  having  reference  to  om^ 
duties  to  our  fellow-men,  and  the  other,  to  God,  and  religion. 
Combined  with  Causality,  it  reasons  upon  what  is  right  and  just  j 
or  on  man's  moral  duties,  and  relations  to  his  fellow-men  and  his 
Maker ;  with  Firmness  it  adheres  to  what  is  right,  because  it  is 
right,  and  gives  moral  decision ;  and  if  large  Combativeness  be 
added,  it  urges  on  the  cause  of  truth  and  justice  with  great  bold- 
ness and  vigor  ;  and  gives  moral  courage,  defence  of  right,  truth, 
the  oppressed,  &c. 


LOCATION    AND    GOVERIN'MENT    OF    HOPE.  233 

HOPE. 

'       "  Man  never  Z5,  but  always  TO  BE  blessed."         ["'I  ' 

Anticipation  ;  expectation  of  success  and  happiness  ;  cheerful- 
ness ;  disposition  to  magnify  advantages,  and  to  underrate  or 
overlook  obstacles  ;  contemplating  the  brighter  shades  of  the 

I    picture. 

Adaptation. — Man  feeds  on  hope.  The  future  is  before  him, 
with  its  storehouses  of  good  and  ill.  He  desires  the  former,  but 
wishes  to  escape  the  latter.  With  this  organ,  he  not  only  desires 
things,  but  expects  to  obtain  them,  and  his  expectation  spurs  him 
on  to  greatly  increased  effort.  Without  Hope,  but  with  this  inten- 
sity of  desire,  he  would  long  for  objects,  but  put  forth  little  effort  to 
obtain  them,  because  he  would  not  expect  to  succeed.  Vivid  hope 
contributes  more  to  vigorous  effort,  and  this  to  success,  than  almost 
any  other  faculty. 

Abuses. — Wild  speculation,  attempting  more  than  can  be  ac- 
complished, and  losing  all  in  the  failure ;  a  visionary,  chimerical 
spirit. 

The  due  regulation  of  this  faculty,  is  all  important ;  for  then  it 
pours  a  continual  tide  of  pleasure  into  the  soul  by  enjoying  things 
in  anticipation,  and  also  gently  stimulates  effort  and  sweetens  toil 
by  the  expectation  that  full  fruition  will  soon  crown  these  labors. 
In  children,  this  organ  is  usually,  I  think  I  may  say  always,  large, 
and  forms  an  important  ingredient  in  their  happiness.  Success  in 
business  also  encourages  it,  but  repeated  and  continued  disappoint- 
ments often  crush  the  spirits,  annihilate  all  hope,  sadden  the  heart, 
relax  effort,  and  exert  a  withering  influence  over  the  whole  soul. 
Those  only  who  have  experienced  the  palsying  effect  of  "  hope 
deferred,"  crushing  their  spirits  beneath  the  weight  of  disappoint- 
ment, can  imagine  its  influence  over  the  whole  man,  mental  and 
physical.  External  circumstances,  by  elevating  and  depressing 
hope,  not  only  impair  and  diminish  appetite,  respiration,  circula- 
tion, &c.,  but  augment  the  power  and  energy  of  1;he  intellect,  or 
weaken  and  enfeeble  the  mind.  Hence  Hope  should  never  be  al-  . 
lowed  to  flag.  Gloomy  forebodings  and  despondency,  should  never 
be  indulged,  but  should  be  dismissed  at  once.     To  dismiss  them, 


234  ANALYSIS    AND    CULTIVATION  OF   MARVELLOUSNESS. 

especially  when  Cautiousness  is  larger  than  Hope,  remember  that 
gloomy  apprehensions  are  caused,  not  from  the  unfavorable  aspect 
of  your  circumstances,  but  from  your  Hope.  If  that  were  larger, 
the  sarae  prospects  would  appear  to  you  in  a  very  different  light.  I 
pity  the  desponding  heart ;  yet  none  need  despond.  If  they  can- 
not obtain  all  they  wish,  and  borrow  no  trouble  about  future, "  Suf- 
ficient unto  the  day  is  the  evil  thereof." 

If  this  organ  be  too  large,  and  therefore  liable  to  lead  you  into 
the  opposite  extreme  of  visionary  schemes,  remember  that  your 
splendid  prospects  are  caused  by  the  magnifying  influence  of  Hope. 
Dock  off  half  or  two-thirds  from  w^hat  you  really  expect  to  obtain, 
and  try  the  remainder.  This  is  all  you  may  reasonably  calculate 
upon.  Your  high  expectations  grow  solely  from  your  large  Hope, 
and  not  out  of  any  reality.  Bear  in  mind  that  you  are  constitu- 
tionally inclined  to  over-rate  every  prospect,  and  to  underrate  eve- 
ry difficulty.  Besides,  you  are  not  contented  with  the  present,  be- 
cause you  think  you  could  do  so  much  better  in  'something  else. 
Hence,  never  loS3  a  certainty  in  grasping  after  an  uncertainty.  Go 
more  slowly  and  surely.  Do  not  try  so  many  experiments,  or  en- 
ter on  so  many  schemes.  Undertake  but  half  what  you  are  dispos- 
ed to.  In  short :  put  intellect,  prudence,  and  your  other  restrain- 
ino-  faculties  over  against  Hope,  and  do  not  allow  yourself  to  act 
on  its  chimerical  projects. 

And  let  all  guard  against  both  the  excess  and  the  absence  of 
Hope.  Thousands  are  slaves  either  to  the  deficiency  or  the  excess 
of  this  faculty  ;  the  former,  making  the  worst  of  their  fate,  and 
suffering  in  the  mere  apprehension  of  imaginary  evil ;  the  latter,  pro- 
ducinf>'  the  wild  extravagances  of  1836,  and  resulting  in  the  down= 
fall  of  the  thousands  that  ensued. 

MARVELLOUSNESS. 

"  Without  faith  it  is  imposible  to  see  God." 
Faith  ;  belief  in  a  special  Divine  Providence,  and  reliance  upon  if 
for  guidance  ;  the  leading  element  of  true  piety ;  belief  in  su- 
pernatural manifestations  ;  a  realization  of  the  presence  of  God, 
and  communion  with  him:  belief  in  the  newystrange,  mys- 
terious, and  remarkable. 

Adaptation.  That  a  spiritual  state  exists,  and  that  spiritual  beings 
exist  in  that  state,  including  the  Supreme  Being,  has  been  the  al- 


EVILS    OF    LEAVING    CHILDREN    RICH.  235 

most  universal  belief  of  mankind  in  all  ages  and  conditions  ;  and 
many  men,  even  of  intelligence  and  true  mental  greatness,  believe 
in  forewarnings,  dreams,  pre-monitions,  second-sights,  prognostica- 
tions, spiritual  perceptions,  and  even  ghosts,  &c.  Children,  also, 
require  an  organ  to  enable  them  to  place  confidence  in  the  asser- 
tions, of  others,  else  they  could  believe  nothing  till  they  had  positive 
evidence,  which  their  limited  observations  and  feeble  reasoning 
powers  preclude.  To  this  spiritual  state  of  being,  and  this  requi- 
sition for  belief,  this  faculty  is  adapted.  There  are  doubtless  two 
organs,  one  for  trusting  in  a  Divine  Providence,  or  resignation  to 
the  Divine  Will,  and  the  other,  belief  in  the  wonderful  and  marvel- 
lous. The  former  is  located  near  Veneration,  and  the  latter,  near 
Ideality. 

Those  who  pride  themselves  in  beliving  nothing  till  it  is  demon- 
strated, will  do  well  to  read  in  Phrenology  the  existence  and  func- 
tion of  this  faculty,  and  with  it  the  duty,  pleasure,  and  profit  deriv- 
ed from  the  legitimate  exercise  of  this  organ.  This  should  be 
educated,  yet  great  care  should  be  taken  lest  it  degenerate  into  su- 
perstition. Reliance  on  God,  and  resignation  to  his  will,  are  consol- 
ing, joy -imparting  feelings,  calculated  to  purify  the  heart  and  mend 
the  life.  This  organ  is  usually  small  in  the  American  head,  and 
hence  one  cause  of  the  prevalence  of  modern  impiety  and  in- 
fidelity. 

To  €ultivate  this  faculty  bear  in  mind  that  you  are  too  incredu- 
lous. Open  your  mind  to  conviction.  Cultivate  the  spiritual  in 
sentiment,  and  cherish  the  feelings  imparted  by  this  faculty. 

To  diminish  this  faculty,  remember  that  you  have  too  much  of 
it,  and  do  not  act  upon  the  feelings  it  produces. 

VENERATION. 
"Thou,  God,  seest  me." 

WorsJup  of  a  Supreme  Being ;  adoration  of  a  God;  reverence  Jbr 
religion  and  ildngs  sacred;  disposition  to  pray  and  ohserve  religions 

rites  and  ceremonies  ;  devotion. 

r 

Adaptation. — -That  the  sentiment  of  worship  of  God,  is  calcu- 
lated, if  properly  exercised,  to  benefit  mankind  by  promoting  moral 
purity  and  general  enjoyment,  is  self-evident.  Under  the  heads  of 
Locality  and  Destructiveness^the  importance  of  cultivating  the  re- 


236       ANALYSIS,  ADAPTATION  AND  CULTiyATION  OF  YEKERATION. 

ligious  sentiment  is  presented.  The  means  of  exciting  it,  are  an 
exerrcise  of  the  devotional  feeling  hy  those  around,  and  contemplation 
on  religious  subjects.  Family  piety,  is  the  best  kind  of  piety,  yet 
it  is  very  scarce.  Most  pious  parents  hand  over  their  children  to 
the  clergy  and  Sahhath  School  teachers  for  religious  instruction.  As 
w^ell  hand  them  over  to  an  ignoramus  for  instruction  or  to  a  simple- 
ton for  advice ;  for  clergymen  are  awfully  slack  as  regards  the  cul- 
tivation of  true  piety  among  their  people.  Preaching  is  too  much, 
of  a  trade,  and  too  little  of  a  permanent  offspring  of  the  heart,  and 
Sabbath  school  teachers  teach  creeds,  sectarian  dogmas  and  par- 
ticular doctrines,  vs^hich  seldom  reach  the  heart,  more  than  they  ex- 
cite Veneration.  Relying  on  clergymen  and  Sabbath  school  teachers 
to  cultivate  the  religious  sentiment  in  children,  is  relying  on  a 
broken  reed,  and  will  curse  your  children.  Not  that  I  would 
abolish,  or  am  opposed  to,  either,  but  they  see  the  chidren  but  once 
in  the  week,  and  then  but  an  hour,  and  under  circumstances  little 
calculated  to  excite  devotion.  Veneration  requires  habitual  exer- 
cise in  children — should  be  permanently  stimulated,  and  that  by 
every-day  conduct  and  conversation  of  parents.  They  have  every 
opportunity  to  excite  this  sentiment,  and  should  have  the  dispo- 
sition. 

Let  me  be  understood  to  give  emphasis  to  the  remark,  that  the 
cultivation  of  Veneration  should  be  hahitual.  Too  many  rely  on 
some  sudden  operation  of  religious  influence,  and  when  that  occurs 
they  think  the  end  is  obtained.  Far  from  it.  A  meteor  that  bursts 
suddenly  upon  our  sight,  as  suddenly  vanishes.  Jonah's  gourd  that 
came  up  in  a  night,  disappeared  in  a  night.  Throughout  all  nature, 
whatever  sjarings  up  suddenly,  disappears  as  suddenly,  but  what- 
ever matures  slowly,  lasts  j^roportionably  long.  So  also  in  the 
world  of  mind.  The  scholar  ■\vho  shoots  forward  in  study  with 
wonderfal  speed,  leaves  little  trace  behind,  but  the  toiling,  plodding 
student  retains  the  knowledge  acquired.  So  emotions  kindled 
suddenly  vanish  suddenly,  but  those  of  slow  growth,  remain.  This 
constitutional  law  of  mind,  should  be  kept  in  view  in  conducting 
the  religious  education  of  children. 

This  organ  is  small  in  infants,  and  lienee,  less  haste  need  be 
made  to  secure  the  conversion  almost  of  infants,  than  often  is 
made.  If  proper  attention  be  paid  to  the  laws  of  life  and  health, 
there  is  no  great  danger  of  their  dying  before  they  are  old  enough 
to  be  converted. 

If  space  permitted,  some  remarks  on  family  and  social  prayer, 


ADAPTATION    AND    CULTIVATION    OF    BENEVOLENCE.  237 

as  a  means  of  exciting  this  organ  in  children,  would  be  in  place. 
Fonning  in  children  an  attachment  to  family  devotion,  will  exert  a 
most  beneficial  influence  on  them,  first,  in  the  advantages  de- 
rived from  the  feelings  themselves,  and  secondly,  from  the  restraints 
they  afford  on  vice. 

Veneration  is  found  to  be  divided,  the  forepart  exercising  the 
feeling  of  worship  of  God,  and  the  latter,  respect  for  men,  and  at- 
tachment to  the  ancient  and  sacred.  It  is  emphatically  the  con- 
servative faculty,  and  avoids  sudden  changes  and  radicalism. 
Abuses  should  be  reformed,  yet  should  not  be  too  suddenly.  The 
respectful  or  conservative  part  of  Veneration,  is  small  in  most  chil- 
dren, and  indeed  in  the  American  head  ;  being  probably  a  natural 
consequence  of  our  republican  institutions,  or  rather  ?;2oJ-publican 
conduct.  That  our  republic  is  abused  till  it  produces  lawlessness 
and  an  utter  want  of  respect  for  age  and  virtue,  is  a  matter  of 
general  observation.  Our  children  are  provei'bially  saucy,  and  our 
young  people  notoriously  wanting  in  a  deferential,  respectful  feel- 
ing and  manner  towards  age  and  talent.  Let  this  feeling  of  re- 
spect be  assiduously  cultivated,  in  our  youth,  or  lawlessness,  impu- 
dence, and  general  disorder,  will  be  the  result. 

BENEVOLENCE. 

"  It  is  more  blessed  to  give  tlian  to  receive." 
Benignity  ;  humanity  ;  kindness  ;  sympathy  for  those  in  distress  ; 

willingness  to  make  personal  sacrifices  to  make  others  hap^y  ; 

an  accommodating,  neighbourly  spirit ;  generosity.     Probably 

Uvo  organs,  the  lower  portion  giving  active  kindness,  and  the 

^■p])eT  sympathy  and  enlarged  philanthrojjy, 

Adaptation. — Man  is  a  sentient  being,  capable  of  enjoying  and 
suffering,  and  of  promoting  the  happiness  of  his  fellow  men.  If 
mankind  were  incapable  of  experiencing  pain,  or  if  he  were  isola 
ted,  so  that  he  could  not  communicate  with  his  fellow  men  or  re- 
lieve their  sufferings,  this  organ  would  be  out  of  place.  Instead  of 
this,  not  only  is  he  capable  of  enjoying  and  suffering  himself,  but 
lie  can  cause  others  to  enjoy  and  suffer,  and  this  organ  is  adapted 
to  this  capability  of  promoting  the  enjoyment  and  alleviating  the 
sufferings  of  his  fellow  men. 

This  organ  does  not  appear  in  infants,  but  begins  to  be  develop- 
ed at  about  two  years  old,  when  it  augments  very  rapidly,  so  that 
■within  a  year  from  its  first  appearan  e,  it  becomes  one  of  the  lar- 
17  ^ 


238  BENEVOLENCE — HOW    TO   INCREASE    IT. 

gcFt  organs  in  the  head.  The  reason  is  obvious.  Ifit  vrere  devel- 
oped before  two  years  of  age,  it  could  be  of  no  manner  of  service? 
for,  infants  cannot  do  any  good  to  others  ;  but  a  little  before  that 
age  they  begin  to  walk,  and  can  get  little  things  for  those  older; 
so  that  nature  retards  the  development  of  this  organ  till  its  faculty 
can  have  scope  for  exercise.  Its  development  in  infants,  would 
only  exhaust  ihe  energies  of  the  system,  without  producing  anj 
good  results. 

The  importance  of  properly  cultivating  this  organ,  is  too  appa- 
rent to  require  comment,  first  because  of  the  numberless  little  fa- 
vors kind  children  can  confer  on  those  around  them,  by  bringing 
and  doing  things  requested,  which  their  activity  naturally  predis- 
poses them  to  do,  and  secondly,  because  pleasantness  and  good- 
nature, or  thebenign'manifestations  of  v  arm,  gushing  Benevolence, 
as  they  beam  forth  from  every  feature  of  the  face  and  action  of  the 
child,  shine  sweetly  from  th^  eyes  and  flow  every  accent,  not  only 
make  the  child  happy,  but  shed  a  continual  beam  of  pleasure  on 
all  who  behold  this  amiableness  and  unaffected  goodness.  A  kind 
citizen  is  a  blessing  to  all  around  him;  a  hard-hearted,  selfish  man^ 
is  a  CMr.se  to  all  within  the  sphere  of  his  influence. 
'  Various  simple,  yet  efficient  expedients  maybe  adopted  to  excite 
and  increase  this  organ,  among  the  most  efficient  of  which  is,  kind- 
ness to  them.  Let  the  general  tenor  of  your  conduct  towards  any 
child,  however  bad,  be  kind,  and  evince  an  interest  in  their  wel- 
fare, as  well  as  a  disposition  to  gratify  them  whenever  it  is  proper 
to  do  so,  and  you  may  rely  upon  it,  that  child  will  be  kind  in  return 
Benevolence  as  naturally  kindles  Benevolence,  as  fire  kindles  lirej 
and  then  every  renewed  i.ct  of  kindness  adds  fuai  to  the  lire  of  re- 
ciprocal good  feeling. 

Another  means  will  be  found  in  encouraging  liberality  in  them, 
and  taking  pains  that  their  liberality  always  brings  a  re-supp]y. 
Thus  give  John  an  apple,  and  encourage  hin  to  give  half  to 
Charles.  If  he  do  so,  give  one  to  Charles  the  next  day,  and  en- 
couraore  him  to  return  ihe  favor.  If  either  of  them  do  it,  take 
pains  to  show  them  firs':  that  they  lose  nothing,  and  in  return  they 
gain  all  the  pleasure  offered  by  the  gift.  If  they  refuse  to  give, 
show  them  how  little  real  pleasure  there  is  in  selfishness.  Give  them 
also  a  full  supply,  so  that  they  may  have  somewhat  more  than  they 


THE    CULTIVATION    OF    BEJ«IEVoLENCE.  239 

"want.     Show  no  stint,  no  grudging  towards  them,  and  they  will 
ghovv  the  same  generous  spirit  towards  others. 

It  should  be  added  that,  in  the  community  at  large,  there  is  too 
little  charity,  and  especially  too  little  public  spirit  Let  beautiful 
parks  be  erected  for  the  common  good.  Let  extensive  fruit  tiees 
be  planted  by  the  wayside  for  the  poor  and  needy.  Let  there  be 
less  of  that  all-grasping  love  of  riches,  which  amasses  immense 
wealth  in  the  hands  of  the  few,  and  leaves  the  poor  so  very  poor^ 
as  to  be  almost  destitute  of  even  the  necessaries  of  life.  Too  many 
thmgs  are  now  oougnt  and  sold,  wnjch  should  be  public  property. 
Were  it  possible  the  very  air  we  breathe,  would  be  bottled  up  and 
sold  by  stint  to  the  highest  bidder.  Earth,  that  common  inheritance 
or  birthright  of  all  the  children  of  God,  is  now  bought  and  sold,  as 
if  its  title  could  be  invested  in  a  man-made  government.  Every 
horn  being  has  an  original  rights  derived  from  his  being  a  mem- 
ber of  the  human  family,  and  having  those  wants  which  can  be  sup- 
plied only  by  mother  earth,  to  the  icse  (not  ownership)  of  either  his 
proportion,  or  of  what  is  indispensable  to  the  supply  of  his  continu- 
ally returning  wants.  This  putting  a  hundred  thousand  acres  of 
land  in  your  pocket,  in  the  form  of  a  deed,  is  an  outrage  on  the  un- 
alienable rights  of  man,  and  a  curse  to  the  wicked  holder — robber, 
rather,  for  he  thereby  robs  others  of  their  ju  st  rights.  As  well  fence 
off  air  into  parcels,  and  buy  and  deed  it  also,  A  spring  of  earth's 
chrystal  fount  is  not  yours,  because  it  bubbles  up  on  land  which  you 

have  bought  of .    Improvements  on   land  mai/  bebought 

and  sold,  but  not  the  land  itself.  The  "  squatters"  at  the  west,  are 
right.  Their  claim  is  from  God  ;  they  will  succeed.  No  one  lias 
a  right  to  crowd  another  off  land  already  improved ;  but  land  in 
a  state  of  nature,  belongs  to  the  children  of  nature  in  common.  It 
cannot  be  bought  of  the  wild  Indian,  for  it  is  not  his  to  sell — nor  of 
Government,  for  Government  cannot  buy  it  of  God,  nor  rightfully 
keep  it  from  his  creatures.  These  views,  radical  as  they  are,  and 
so  utterly  at  variance  with  the  customs  and  opinions  of  society,  are 
pretty  plainly  confirmed  by  the  disasters  which  have  attended  the 
purchase  of  western  land  for  speculation.  To  buy  for  occwpation, 
is  right ;  to  buy  in  order  to  make  money  by  raising  the  price,  and 
making  the  poor  pay  a  high  price  for  the  natural  privilege  of  living 
on  it,  is  abominable.     Buying  the  privilege  of  living,  is  not  more 


'"240  THE    CULTIVATION   OF    BENEAroLENCE. 

absurd,  in  itself  considered.  This  buying  land  in  order  to  speculate, 
is  a  violation  of  the  laws  of  our  being,  and  this  violation  induces  a 
penalty,  and  that  penalty  has  fallen  severely  on  speculators  in  west- 
ern lands.  How  many  thousands  have  been  ruined  as  to  property 
thereby  !  and  they  ought  to  be. 

I  maintain  that  there  should  be  many  more  things  in  com- 
mon than  there  now  is — that  large  amounts  of  pleasure  grounds 
and  grounds  for  raising  produce  of  all  kinds,  should  be  com- 
mon property,  made,  owned,  and  enjoyed  by  all  who  choose 
to  take  a  part  in  it ;  that  our  poor  should  be  thus  supported — 
that  those  who  have  means  should  say  to  the  poor  mendicant, 
come,  brother,  take  an  acre  of  this  land,  and  raise  potatoes 
or  what  you  like,  for  next  winter,  and  not  get  your  living  in 
this  miserable  way.  Help  the  poor  to  help  themselves.  A  course 
similar  to  this  would  banish  poverty  and  wretchedness,  and 
with  them  most  of  the  crimes  now  involving  the  enormous 
expense  of  our  prisons,  courts,  lawyers,  &c.  Poverty  prompts 
men  to  commit  many  of  these  crimes,  and  a  generous  public 
feeling  in  favor  of  all  mankind,  a  generous  supply  of  the  com- 
mon wants  of  our  nature  at  the  hand  of  the  public,  would  both 
remove  the  cause,  and  kill  the  disposition  to  steal,  lie,  rob, 
murder,  &c.  Kindness  will  subdue  the  vicious  propensities 
of  the  most  hardened  criminal.  The  selfishjiess  of  society, 
causes  much  of  the  viciousness  of  society,  and  then  this  vicious- 
ness  is  laid  at  the  foot  of  oi-iginal  sin. 

Above  all  things,  this  enlarged  kindness  is  the  duty  and 
privilege  of  Christianity.  But  do  professors  live  up  to  this  law 
of  their  Lord  and  Master,  who  "went  about  doi7ig  good.''  They, 
of  all  others,  should  not  go  about  with  their  sordid  speculators, 
riding  in  their  splendid  carriages,  living  in  palaces,  furnished 
after  the  manner  of  princes,  and  then  begging  money  to 
spread  the  gospel  among  the  heathen.  Away  with  your  proud 
Christianity  (?) — your  aristocratical  Christianity,  your  I-am-bet- 
ter-than-thou — because-I-am-rich — Christianity  5  your  moneys 
making  and  money-hoarding  or  miserly  Christianity.  As  well 
talk  about  hot  ice,  or  cold  fire,  or  honest  rascality,  as  talk 
about  rich  Christians,  fashionably  dressed  Christians,  or  Chris- 
tians who  do  not  spend  their  all,  their  time,  property,  energies, 


THE    CULTIVATION    OF    BENEVOLENCE.  241 

and  LIFE,  in  doing  good,  and  in  the  exercise  of  the  sentiments. 
Much  of  what  now  passes  for  rehgion,  is  no  more  the  Chris- 
tianity of  Jesus  Christ  and  his  apostles  than  it  is  the  religion 
of  Satan,  nor  half  as  much;  for,  this,  is  the  religion  of  the- 
propensities  •,  that,  the  religion  of  the  moral  sentiments.  On 
the  day  of  Pentecost,  they  "  had  all  things  in  common,^^  and 
"went  from  house  to  house  breaking  bread  and  giving  alms;" 
but  now,  "  if  you  get  over  into  my  orchard  to  get  a  few  ap- 
ples or  peaches  to  eat,  I'll  set  my  dog  on  you,  or  send  you  to 
prison,  you  hungry  rascal!" — that  is,  you  are  a  rascal,  because 
you  are  hungry.  I  do  maintain,  that  lining  our  highways 
with  fruit-trees,  so  that  the  poor  could  pick,  and  lay  up,  and 
even  sell,  besides  being  shades  and  ornaments  to  the  traveller 
would  empty  our  poor-houses,  jails,  and  prisons.  Man  does 
not  know  how  to  live. 

Phrenology  is  strongly  in  favor t)fpeWic  works,  and  of  asso- 
ciations having  all  things  in  common,  else,  why  its  organs  of 
Benevolence  and  Adhesiveness.  But  we  have  not  time  now 
to  follow  out  these  principles. 

It  should  be  added,  that  the  killing  of  animals,  is  directly 
calculated  to  sear  and  weaken  this  faculty ;  and  should  there- 
fore rarely  take  place.  Were  a  flesh  diet  productive  of  no  other 
evil  consequences  than  lowering  down  and  hardening  Benevo- 
lence, that  alone  should  forever  annihilate  so  barbarous  a 
practice.*  Destructiveness  should  seldom  be  allowed  to  con- 
flict with  Benevolence.  The  cruelties  practised  upon  our  ani- 
mals that  are  slaughtered  for  the  meat  market,  are  sickening, 
and  incredible.  See  the  poor  calves,  sheep,  &c.,  tumbled  to- 
gether into  the  smallest  possible  space  ;  their  limbs  tied;  un- 
fed, bellowing  continually,  and  in  a  most  piteous  tone,  their 
eyes  rolled  up  in  agony,  taken  to  the  slaughter-house,  and 
whipped,  or  rather  pelted  hy  the  hour  with  a  most  torturing  in- 
strument, and  then  strung  up  by  the  hind  legs,  a  vein  opened, 
and  they  dying  by  inches  from  the  gradual  loss  of  blood,  the 
unnatural  suspension,  and  the  cruel  pelting — and  all  to  make 

*  A  young  lady  of  high  iijoral  feelings  and  predominant  Benevolence, 
seeing  a  calf  led  to  the  slaughter,  urged  and  pleaded  with  her  father  to 
purchase  it  and  spare  its  life.  He  did  so.  She  never  allows  herself  to 
eat  anything  that  has  ever  had  life  in  it,  and  this  is  right. 


242  HOW   TO  GITARD   BEXEVOLENCE. 

their  meat  white  and  tender.  A  friend  of  the  author,  who 
lived  near  one  of  those  places  of  torment,  blood,  and  stench, 
had  his  Benevolence,  naturally  very  large,  wrought  up  to  its 
highest  pitch  of  action,  by  the  horrid  groans  and  piteous  ex- 
clamations of  these  dying  animals,  and  was  compelled  to  hear 
the  blows  with  which  they  were  beaten.  At  last  he  went  to  the 
butcher  and  remonstrated.  This  produced  no  effect.  He  went 
again  and  threatened  him,  telling  him  that  if  he  heard  another 
groan  from  dying  animals,  he  would  make  him  groan,  and  in 
so  positive  a  manner  that  the  cruelties  were  abandoned.  To 
kill  animals  outright,  is  horrible,  but  words  are  inadequate  to 
express  the  enormity  of  the  refined  cruelty  now  generally 
practiced  upon  helpless  dumb  beasts  by  these  murderers  of 
the  brute  creation.  Look  at  the  hideous  and  indescribably 
painful  expression  left  on  the  heads  of  calves,  sheep,  hogs, 
&c.,  that  we  see  in  market,  or  see  tumbled  into  a  cart  for  the 
glue  manufacturer. 

Another  barbarous  practice  against  which  Phrenology 
loudly  exclaims,  is  shooting  birds.  This  is,  if  possible,  still 
worse,  especially  when  the  little  warblers  are  of  no  service 
after  being  killed.  To  kill  them  suddenly  by  a  shot,  is  not 
particularly  barbarous,  because  they  suffer  little,  and  only  lose 
the  pleasure  of  living;  but  to  kill  them  from  the  love  of  kill- 
ing, must  harden  the  heart  and  sear  Benevolence  beyond 
measure.  Its  influence  on  the  cruel  perpetrator,  is  the  main 
motive  I  urge.  Another  motive  is,  do  not  kill  birds  of  song; 
for  you  thereby  deprive  your  fellow  men  of  a  great  amount 
of  pleasure  derived  from  listening  to  their  warblings.  And 
then  again,  they  feed  on  worms  and  insects,  and  thereby  pre- 
serve vegetation.  I  doubt  not  but  much  of  that  destruction 
of  wheat,  of  late  so  general  and  fatal  to  the  wheat  crop, 
would  be  prevented  by  an  abundance  and  variety  of  birds. 
In  other  words,  take  heed  to  the  monitions  of  Benevolence, 
and  commit  no  cruelties,  but  scatter  happiness  in  all  your 
path,  and  you  will  be  the  happier,  and  greatly  augment  the 
happiness  of  all  concerned. 

To  cultivate  this  faculty,  be  kind,  neighborly,  obliging,  well 
disposed,  sympathetic,  and  cultivate  good  feeling  towards 
mankind.     Take  hold  of  some  benevolent  project — the  tern- 


ANALYSIS    AND    ADAPTATION    OF    CONSTRUCTIVENESS.  243 

perance  or  some  other  philanthropic  cause,  and  make  and 
improve  everj'"  opening  for  doing  good.  Especially  divide 
with  your  fellow-men.  and  exercise  this  faculty  habitually. 
But  this  organ  is  often  too  large,  or,  at  least,  wrongly  exer- 
cised. Many  have  ruined  themselves  and  injured  their 
families  and  creditors  by  endorsing,  trusting  too  much,  and 
yielding  to  the  persuasions  of  others.  I  cannot  recommend 
the  diminution  of  Benevolence,  only  its  proper  direction.  You 
may  probably  do  more  good  with  your  money  than  by  en- 
dorsing. Govern  Benevolence  by  intellect.  But  giving  money 
is  but  a  small  part  of  this  organ.  Interesting  yourself  in  the 
welfare  of  your  fellow-men — in  these  little  acts  of  sympathy, 
concern,  advice,  and  assistance,  which  it  is  more  properly  the 
office  of  this  faculty  to  prompt. 

CONSTRUCTIVENESS. 

Ingenuity :  skill  and  dexterity  in  the  use  of  tools :  the  mechanical 
taste  and  talent :  sleight  of  hand  in  making  things  and  turn- 
ing off  any  kind  of  work  :  ability  to  tinker,  make,  build,  con- 
struct, raanifacture,  use  tools,  8fc. 

Adaptation.  Man  is  so  constituted  as  to  require  houses,  gar- 
ments, machinery,  agricultural  and  other  implements  and  instru- 
ments, &c.,  &c.,  in  order  even  to  live,  much  more  to  be  happy ; 
and  this  constructing  faculty  adapts  him  to  this  want  or  economy 
■of  his  nature.  In  addition  to  this,  man  is  emphatically  a  tool-mak- 
ing and  a  tool-using  anioial,  as  well  as  a  working  being ;  and  this 
faculty  gives  him  this  working  propensity,  as  well  as  the  skill  to 
execute  most  kinds  of  manual  labor.  Even  the  farmer  and  day-la- 
borer use  this  faculty  in  every  stroke  with  the  hoe,  or  axe,  or  scythe ; 
and  all  mechanics,  artists,  engineers,  builders,  &c.,  employ  in  every 
thing  done  with  the  hands  or  with  machinery ;  and,  other  things 
being  equal,  the  greater  this  faculty,  the  greater  the  success,  and  the 
more  rapid  the  dispatch  of  every  kind  of  work. 

The  utility,  as  well  as  convenience,  of  this  faculty,  is  indeed 
^eat,  not  to  the  mechanic  and  laborer  merely,  but  to  all  as  a  means 
both  of  convenience  and  usefulness ;  so  that  they  can  do  many  a 
little  tinkering  job  for  themselves,  better  than  anybody  else  can  do 
it  for  them  ;  and  a^so  as  a  means  of  amusement  and  healthy  exer- 


244 


MEANS    OF    GOVERNING    APPETITE. 


cise.  "  By  the  sweat  of  thy  brow  shalt  thou  eat  bread  all  the  days 
of  thy  life,"  and  "  Whosoever  will  not  work  neither  shall  he  eat," 
are  written  upon  the  constitution  of  man,  as  well  as  on  the  page  of 
Kevelation ;  and,  in  accordance  with  this  law,  he  is  endowed  with 
CoNSTRucTivENEss,  Or  the  disposition  and  ability  to  work.  Let  all 
children,  therefore,  be  taught  to  labor  ;  the  rich  as  a  means  of  plea- 
sure— the  poor,  of  support.  Accordingly,  this  organ  is  large,  and  the 
faculty  active,  in  nearly  all  children.  Let  it  be  cultivated,  not  only 
by  giving  them  blocks  and  building-materials,  as  mentioned  under 
Size,  but  also  by  encouraging  them  to  make  kites,  windmills,  mill- 
dams,  water-wheels,  bows  and  arrows,  cross-guns,  miniain.ire  sleds, 
boats,  railroads,  steam-engines,  &c. ;  and  by  drawing  birds,  horses, 
houses,  landscapes,  &c.  Instead  of  this,  w  hen  the  bov  would  draw- 
pictures  on  his  slate,  in  place  of  cyphering,  he  is  scolded  or  chas- 
tised. Let  drawing  he  encouraged.  I  would  to-day  give  a  hand- 
some proportion  of  all  I  am  worth  to  be  able  to  draw  accurately,  so 
that  I  could  sketch  and  draw,  exactly  to  suit  me,  such  phrenologi- 
cal heads  and  illustrations,  as  I  often  meet  in  real  life ;  whereag 
now,  I  am  compelled  to  obtain  but  few,  and  then  to  trust  to  artists 
who  do  not  understand  Phrenology.*  Let  children  use  tools,  and 
take  your  knife,  and  be  encouraged  to  whittle,  carve,  make  sleds. 
wagons,  &c.,  &c.,  and  even  have  a  shop  of  their  own,  supplied  with 
tools  with  which  to  tinker.  And  this  is  doubly  important  to  those 
who  are  delicate,  as  a  means  of  strengthening  their  muscles,  and 
drawing  the  blood  and  energies  from  their  heads  to  their  muscles, 
and  equalizing  their  circulation.  (See  "Phrenology  applied  to 
Education  and  Self-Improvement,"  p.  29.) 

The  German  teachers,  in  addition  to  the  cultivation  of  Size,  al- 
ready mentioned,  take  their  pupils  to  a  machine,  and  require  them 
to  notice  minutely  every  part  of  it,  from  the  origin  of  the  power  all 
the  w^ay  to  its  expenditure,  and  to  remember  the  looks,  (Form,)  po- 
sition, (Locality,)  and  office  (Eventuality,)  of  every  part,  and  to 
draw\h&cn.  after  they  get  back;  which  furnishes  a  most  excellent 
excercise  of  nearly  all  the  intellectual  faculties.      I  admire  this 

*  The  importance  of  combining  a  knowledge  of  Phrenology  with  the  arts, 
especially  with  portrait  painting  and  engraving,  is  very  great,  and  too  ap- 
parent to  require  comment.  In  a  few  years  every  artist  must  be  a  Phre- 
nologist, or  be  out  of  employ. 


LABOR  FACILITATES  INTELLECTUAL  CULTURE.  245 

practice,  and  long  to  see  it  introduced  into  all  the  schools  of  Amer- 
ica. 

This  also  gives  that  exercise  to  their  bodies  which  I  have  all 
along  insisted  upon  us  as  so  a//-important  to  the  development  of 
both  their  physical  and  their  intellectual  povrers.  I  advocate  strong- 
ly, I  even  urge  upon  parents  and  teachers,  the  'peripatetic  method  of 
teaching,  namely,  that  of  showing  and  explaining  things  to  chil- 
dren and  youth,  while  their  bodies  are  in  motion.  Who  does  not 
know  that  his  mind  is  far  more  .active  while  his  body  is  in  motion, 
and  his  circulation  increased  by  exercise  1  I  write  my  best  pieces, 
after  having  exercised  ;  and  before  lecturing,  I  walk  or  ride  several 
miles  rapidly,  or  chop,  saw,  or  split  wood,  or  do  something  for  one 
or  two  hours,  to  get  up  the  circulation.  The  words  and  ideas 
then  flow  rapidly,  and  every  one  is  "  like  a  nail  in  a  sure  place." 
And  also  when  I  write,  I  usually  have  a  high  desk,  at  which  I  stand, 
and  a  place  to  walk.  I  walk  out  an  idea,  and  then  write  it  down, 
and  walk  out  another,  and  so  on.  One  reason  why  people  sleep 
in  church  is  because  their  bodies  are  motionless,  which  prevents  the 
circulation  of  the  blood  thi'ough  their  brain,  and  stupor  follows, 
But  let  them  stir  around,  aud  they  feel  v/akeful  and  clear-headed 
again. 

Who  does  not  think  more  clearly,  feel  more  intensely,  and  speak 
more  freely  and  in  point,  when  walking,  or  laboring,  or  at  least 
when  their  bodies  are  active,  than  when  they  have  been  standing 
for  hours  1  And  remember  that  this  principle  applies  with  tenfold 
greater  power  to  children,  than  to  adults.  One  day  of  teaching, 
such  as  I  have  described,  that  is,  having  things  shoivn  to  children 
v/hile  abroad  and  on  foot,  is  worth  a  month's  study  in  school.  Aye  '. 
more,  the  one  deadens  the  brain,  and  thereby  injures  the  intellect, 
while  the  other  powerfully  excites  the  brain,  and  expands  and  in- 
vigorates the  intellect.  I  shall  elsewhere  show  that  the  relation 
between  the  body  and  the  brain  is  most  intimate,  and  especially  be- 
tween the  body  and  the  base  of  the  brain,  in  which  the  perceptive 
organs,  or  the  organs  of  the  memory,  are  located ;  and  therefore? 
in  teaching  children,  and  even  in  cultivating  the  memory,  preserv- 
ing the  health,  and  keeping  the  body  vigorous,  are  two  of  the  first 
and  most  essential  things  to  be  attended  to. 

To  enlarge  this  organ,  use  tools,  tinker  up  things,  turn  yom'  hand 


f  iS  ANALYSIS,  ADAPTATION  AND  CULTIVATION  OF  IDEALITT. 

to  mechanical  operations.   In  short,  exercise  this  faculty  in  making 
things — in  any  and  every  thing  done  to  the  hands. 

To  reduce  its  action,  remember  that  this  faculty  is  too  great,  that 
it  engrosses  too  much  time,  and  if  hope  be  also  large,  renders  you 
somewhat  chimerical  as  to  inventions.  Hence,  do  not  give  away  to 
this  inventive  and  tinkering  faculty,  to  your  injury. 

IDEALITY. 

Good  taste  ;  refinement  of  feeling  and  manners  ;  delicacy  ;  sense 
ofprop)-iety  ;  fancy  ;  love  of 'polite  literature,  belles  lettres,  and 
a  chaste  and  elegant  style  ;  that /acuity  which  perceives  and  ad- 
mires the  beautiful,  the  rich,  the  exquisite,  the  sentimental,  the 
perfect,  and  the  fine  arts  generally  ;  which  gives  impassioned 
extasy  and  rapture  of  feeling,  elegance  and  beauty  of  style,  and 
inspiration  to  poetry  and  oratory.  It  softens  dovm  the  rougher 
features  of  ma7i^s  nature,  and  creates  a  desire  for  improvement 
and  perfection. 

Addptation. — All  nature  is  full  of  beauty  and  perfection.  All 
the  creations  of  Infinite  Wisdom,  besides  being  so  useful,  and  so 
perfectly  adapted  to  the  end  they  sen^e,  are  encircled  in  a  halo  of 
glory  and  loveliness.  "  The  lily  of  the  field,"  not  only  bears  seed, 
each  after  its  kind,  but  there  is  a  beauty,  an  exquisiteness,  a  perfec- 
tion, a  charm  of  construction,  color,  &c.,  which  instinctively  excites 
and  delights  Ideality.  What  pleasure  is  greater  than  that  of  con- 
templating the  beauties  of  creation,  strewed  thick  aroimd  us,  and 
studding  our  path  wherever  we  go  1  Beautiful  lawns,  wandering 
streams,  extended  valleys  skirted  with  hills,  beautiful  birds  decked 
with  golden  plumage,  moving  with  infinite  ease  and  grace,  beauti- 
fiil  animals,  splendid  female  faces  and  forms,  captivating  and  charm- 
ing in  every  accent  and  motion,  refined,  pure  minded,  accomplish- 
ed, and  superbly  elegant  in  all  they  say  and  do ;  youug  men,  hand- 
some in  looks  and  prepossessing  in  address,  beautiful  paintings, 
high  wrought  poetry,  all  charm,  delight,  purify  and  elevate  the  soul, 
making  earth  a  paradise  and  man  happy. 

This  organ  also  refines  the  manners  and  expressions,  and  chastens 
and  purifies  all  the  mental  manifestations,  and  thus  contributee 
greatly  to  virtue.  I  never  saw  a  culprit  with  this  organ  large- 
The  inmates  of  our  prisons,  to^a  man,  have  this  organ  small.     It  pu- 


A!VALYSrS  AIVD  CaLTIVATION  OF  IDEALITY. 


24T 


rifies  the  animal  feelings  from  dross,  converts  gross  animal  passions 
into  virtuous  love  ;  softens  down  the  rougher  characteristics  of  our 
nature,  and  every  way  augments  the  virtue  and  happiness  of  man- 
kind. 

Let  this  organ  be  cultivated  in  children  especially.  Let  them  be 
encouraged  to  observe  and  admire  natural  beauty,  in  preference  to 
the  beauties  of  art.  Few  things  chasten  the  grosser  manifestations 
of  the  passions  or  elevate  the  soul,  more  than  the  study  of  the  works 
of  nature.  Nature,  how  perfect,  how^  beautiful,  how  exquisite 
throughout!  And  yet  her  beauties  are  comparatively  a  sealed 
book  to  most  of  her  children,  because  they  have  no  eyes  to  read,  no 
time  to  contemplate  them. 

To  enlarge  this  organ  in  yourself,  cultivate  an  observation  and 
admiration  of  the  beautiful  and  perfect  in  nature  and  art,  the  for- 
mer especially.  Cultivate  flowers,  and  take  frequent  opportunities 
to  observe  and  admire  them.  As  you  mount  an  eminence,  stop  and 
cast  an  admiring  eye  abroad  upon  the  surrounding  scenery,  or  pluck 
the  pretty  flower  that  grows  beneath  your  feet,  or  let  your  eye  rest 
on  the  gorgeous  rainbow,  or  rise  in  the  morning  to  contemplate 
aurora's  beauties,  or  take  a  walk  when  the  setting  sun  is  casting  his 
last  rays  upon  delighted  earth,  skirting  the  western  sky  with  its 
golden  rays,  and  casting  a  mellow  richness  over  earth  and  its  beau- 
ties, or  cultivate  the  acquaintance  of  those  who  are  refined  and 
agreeable  in  expression  or  conduct,  and  avoid  the  company  of  the 
coarse  and  vulgar ;  admire  beautiful  forms,  both  animal  and  human, 
and  especially  cultivate  the  society  of  virtuous  and  refined  women^ 
for  the  exercise  of  this  faculty  in  them,  will  excite  it  in  all  who  are 
in  their  company ;  and  this  organ  is  usually  much  larger  in  woman 
than  in  man.  Read  books  the  style  of  which  is  finished  and  the 
sentiments  elevated,  (works  of  fiction  are  far  from  being  calculated 
to  cultivate  this  sentiment,  but  often  contain  allusions  most  objec- 
tionable, and  create  a  wild,  erratic,  extravagant  fancy,  rather  than  a 
true,  refined  taste,)  cultivate  personal  neatness  and  elegance  of  man- 
ner and  expression,  and  take  advantage  of  that  inexhaustible  store- 
house of  beauty  with  which  nature  every  where  abounds. 

A  chapter  in  my  own  history.  Brought  up,  as  I  have  already 
remarked,  in  the  back  woods,  and  with  little  to  cultivate  this  facul- 
ty, this  organ  became  deficient  in  my  own  head.     I  was  not  aware 


24-8  CULTITAION  OF  IDEALITY. 

of  this  deficiency,  till  Phrenology  showed  how  thin  my  head  wa-S  in 
this  region.  Immediately,  I  set  about  its  cultivation ;  and  to  effect 
this  end,  when  my  profession  requires  me  to  travel,  I  take  every 
opportunity  to  mount  the  driver's  seat  on  the  stage,  or  walk  the  deck 
of  a  steam-boat,  that  conveys  me  from  place  to  place,  in  order  to 
behold  and  admire  he  ever  varying  scenery  that  presented  itself, 
and  those  beauties  which  every  where  met  and  delighted  the  eye. 
I  often  wander  on  the  hills  or  on  the  shore  of  a  lake  or  bay,  and  em- 
ploy other  similar  means  of  exciting  this  faculty.  To  what  extent 
this  faculty  has  been  improved,  I  leave  to  the  judgment  of  those 
who  heard  and  can  compare  my  style  of  lectm'ing  and  writing  ten 
years  ago  with  my  style  now.*  More  time  to  ferfect  my  produc- 
tions, (and  nothing  do  I  desire  more.)  will  doubtless  show  a  deci- 
ded improvement  in  the  manifestation  of  the  organ  of  Ideality;  yet 
I  am  still  free  to  confess  its  deficiency. 

There  are  doubtless  several  species  of  this  organ,  adapted  to  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  beauty,  but  the  above  analysis  of  this  group  or  clus- 
ter of  organs,  will  enable  the  [reader  to  understand  the  principle, 
which  he  can  apply  as  universally  as  he  pleases  to  the  cultivation  of 
every  kind  of  Ideality. 

*In  one  important  respect,  that  of  writing,  the  comparison  is  unfortu- 
nate, because  then  I  published  but  little  and  took  more  pains.  Every  page 
of  the  Journal  has  been  written  under  circumstances  most  unfavorable — 
either  between  eleven  o'clock  at  night  and  daylight,  after  the  exhausting 
lectures  and  labors  of  the  day,  or  else  in  my  office,  subject  to  continual  in- 
terruptions, and  without  any  time  for  re-writing  and  hardly  for  revision.  If 
any  are  disposed  to  find  fault  with  this  course,  I  reply,  that  unless  /  myself 
continue  the  Journal,  no  other  person  will,  and  I  have  done  the  best  I  pos- 
sibly could.  It  must  either  have  died,  or  been  conducted  as  it  has.  "Un- 
aided and  alone,"  I  have  been  editor,  publisher,  supporter,  and  "  all  hands," 
and  am  likely  to  be,  besides  my  professional  duties  as  a  practical  Phrenolo" 
gist.  Examining  heads  is  my  profession — editing  the  Journal,  is  a  work  of 
supereroiiation — a  burden  additional;  yet,  2i?ieY  ^M,  in  scientific  pro  due- ' 
tions,  far  more  attention  should  be  paid  to  subject  matter  than  to  the  orna- 
ments and  graces  of  style  merely.  The  blending  of  the  two  may  be  advi- 
sable, yet,  if  either  predominates,  it  should  he  intellectual  and  philosophical 
predominating  over  the  ornamental. 


ANALYSIS  AND  CULTIVATION  OP  IMITATION. 

SUBLIMITY. 

Conception  of  the  grand,  awful,  and  endless  ;  sublime  emotions  ex- 
cited by  contemplating  the  wild,  grand,  vast,  romantic,  magni" 
ficent,  towering,  sublime,  and  splendid  in  nature  and  art,  sucli  as 
the  dashing,  roaring,  foaming  cataracts,  towering  mountains, 
flashes  of  lightning,  loud  peals  of  thunder,  the  commotions  of  the 
elements,  the  starry  canopy  of  heaven,  &c. 

Adaptation. — Ideality  is  adapted  to  the  beautiful  lawn  and  the 
cloudless  sky,  Sublimity,  to  the  dark  rolling  clouds  rent  with  light- 
ning and  echoing  with  startling  thunder,  and  the  rocky  mountain 
peak,  hiding  its  head  in  the  clouds  of  heaven,  and  standing  alone 
and  sublimely,  a  monument  of  Almighty  power.  The  above  analy- 
sis of  the  organ  w^ill  show  what  is  calculated  to  excite  and  enlarge  it. 
Travelling  in  a  mountainous  country,  is  particularly  calculated  to 
improve  this  faculty. 

IMITATION. 

Power  of  imitating  and  copying;  of  doing  what  one  sees  done; 
mimicry,  ^x. 

Adaptation. — If  man  had  no  faculty  for  copying,  if  each  mem- 
ber of  the  human  family  were  obliged  to  commence  the  world  de 
novo,  from  the  begimiing,  and  without  adopting  or  patterning  after 
the  improvements  and  inventions  of  others,  society  would  soon  be 
resolved  back  into  its  original  elements :  the  improvements  and  ad- 
vances of  each  generation  and  individual  would  die  v/ith  them- 
selves, and  man  be  utterly  incapable  of  making  any  advances  in 
civilization,  mechanics,  arts,  science,  and  general  happiness.  He 
could  not  even  talk  or  write,  for  even  in  these  so  common,  so  indis- 
pensable arts,  the  enunciation  and  forms  of  letters  and  w^ords,  must 
be  imitated.  Each  must  do  as  all  the  others  do.  But  toith  this 
faculty,  the  inventions  of  every  generation  and  individual,  are  copied 
by  all  the  others,  and  thus,  in  all  machinery,  mechanical,  mining, 
and  other  operations,  in  farming,  building,  the  sciences,  and  all  the 
comforts  and  conveniences  of  life,  improvement  on  improvement 
has  been  accumulated  till  an  immense  amount  of  mind  will  be  found 
concentrated  in  them  all.  Good  writing  and  speaking  require  its 
exercise,  as  also  does  excellence  in  nearly  or  quite  all  the  mechan- 
ical arts,  and  in  fact  in  almost  every  thing  we  say  or  do. 


250  PROPER  DIRECTION  OP  IMITATION. 

Hence,  the  importance  of  cultivating  this  faculty ;  yet  this  should 
be  done  in  conjunction  v/ith  intellect  and  the  moral  sentiments, 
which  will  lead  us  to  copy  only  "what  is  of  real  service,  and  avoid 
copying  the  bad.  This  organ  is  always  large  in  children^  and  is 
one  great  means  of  their  learning  to  do  what  they  see  done,  to 
talk,  &c.,  with  such  astonishing  rapidity  and  faculty.  This  also 
causes  and  accounts  for  their  learning  so  much  more  rapidly  from 
example  than  precept  A  single  bad  example  will  offset  a  thou- 
sand wholesome  precepts.  The  vices  of  bad  children  spread  with 
astonishing  rapidity  throughout  schools  and  neighbor  heeds,  and 
most  children  show  a  ruling  passion  for  doing  and  saying  what  they 
see  done  and  hear  said. 

Let  parents  and  teachers  malce  the  most  of  this  faculty,  and  set 
such  examples  before  their  children  that  they  will  be  improved  by 
copying  them,  and  avoid  saying  and  doing  what  they  may  not  say 
and  do ;  for  copy  them  they  will.  Many  boys  swear  just  as  a  par- 
rot says  "pretty  polly,"  because  they  hear  others  swear.  So  of 
smoking  segars,  and  a  thousand  other  pernicious  habits.  In  shorty, 
you  may  read  the  character  of  the  parent  in  the  conduct  of  the 
child.  If  yoti  see  one  child  scolding  another,  you  may  know  that 
that  child  is  scolded,  and  scolded  just  as  it  scolds.  So  of  all  that 
children  do. 

Hence,  like  parent  like  child.  Let  us  be  ourselves,  what  w-e 
would  have  our  children  be,  and  for  two  reasons.  First,  in  them. 
Imitation  is  always  large.  Much  that  they  learn,  they  learn  from 
seeing  others  do  the  same,  and  much  that  they  do,  they  imitate. 
They  learn  from  exam.ple  a  hundred  fold  more  effectually,  than 
from  precept.  Secondly  :  The  action  of  any  organ  in  us  excites, 
and  enlarges  the  same  organ  in  them,  as  already  seen. 

To  cultivate  Imitation,  set  yourself  about  copying,  drawing,  pat- 
terning after  others,  and  even  imitating  their  walk,  gestures,  man- 
ner of  speaking,  &c.  Especially,  use  it  in  conjunction  with  Con- 
structiveness,  by  making  after  pattern,  and,  indeed,  in  adopting 
any-thing  sanctioned  by  intellect. 

There  are  probably  two  organs  of  Imitation,  the  portion  next  to 
Benevolence  producing  a  disposition  to  mimic,  and  the  lower,  next 
to  Constructiveness,  giving  abihty  to  copy,  take  pattern,  and  imi- 
ate  the  arts  by  o"  '■■  ating  with  Constructiveness. 


ANALYSIS  AND  CULTIVATION  OF  MIRTHFULNESS.  251 

To  restrain  this  faculty,  copy  less.  Be  careful  not  to  fall  into 
the  ways  of  others,  as  much  as  you  are  inclined  to  do.  Above  all, 
avoid  copying  any  bad  habit,  opinion,  or  even  any  thing  not  useful 
Imitate  what  you  please,  so  that  it  be  but  useful.  As  a  general 
thing,  children  should  not  be  restrained  from  copying  or  mimicking 
as  much  as  they  please,  so  that  they  imitate  what  is  good. 

MIRTHFULNESS. 

Wit;  perception  of  tlie  absurd  and  ludicrous;  dispositio'/i  and  ability  t9 
joke^  make  fun,  and  ridicule  ;  humor;  pleasantry  ;  facetiousness  ; 

^  i'/auitive  perception  of,  and  disposition  to  laugh  at^  that  which  is 
improper,  ill-timed,  out  of  •place,  unbecoming,  &c. 

Adaptation. — ^'^  Laugh  and  grovj  fat,^^  implies  that  there  are 
things  to  be  laughed  at,  and  that  it  does  good  to  laugh  at  them. 
Some  things  are  absurd  and  ridiculous  in  their  very  nature,  and 
strike  the  mind  as  preposterous.  The  action  of  any  organ  is  ridicu- 
lous whennot  exerted  upon  its  legitimate  object.  Thus,  Philopro- 
genltiveness  is  adapted  to  children,  and  hence  caressing  them,  is  its 
natural  function,  but  an  old  maid  fondling  a  lap  dog  or  a  cat,  ex- 
cites Mirth  fulness,  because  she  is  not  exercising  this  organ  upon  its 
legitimate  object.  Combativeness  lighting  a  man  of  stravi',  Cau- 
tiousness fearing  an  unloaded  gun,  Destructiveness  venting  itself 
upon  stones  or  sticks  which  may  have  occasioned  pain,  are  'perver- 
sions of  these  respective  faculties,  and  therefore  ridiculous  in  them- 
selves. 

There  are  probably  two  organs  of  Miithfulness,  the  outer  cue, 
towards  Ideality,  creating  the  disposition  to  laugh,  merely,  apd  the 
inner  one  towards  Causality,  aiding  this  organ  in  ascertaining  v»'jiat 
is  true  by  detecting  what  is  absurd  and  ridiculous ;  for,  v;hat  is  ab- 
surd, cannot  of  course  be  true.  This  portion,  in  conjunction  with 
Causality,  detects  errors  by  ridiculing  the  opponent's  positions — a 
favorite  method  of  arguing  adopted  by  many. 

This  organ  is  usually  large  in  children,  and  hence  the  meny 
laugh  bursting  forth  so  often  and  so  heartily  from  them  while  at 
play.  Let  it  be  cultivated.  Let  mothers  often  laugh  and  play 
with  children,  for  few  things  contribute  more  to  either  their  health 
or  enjoyment.     I  have  no  opinion  of  gloomy  melancholy.    It  drags 


252  SELF-GOVEENMEx\T,    ITS    CULTIVATI&X. 

down  the  spirits,  causes  the  animal  and  mental  energies  to  flag,  and 
weakens  the  whole  man.  Let  lively,  cheerful  conversation  be  cul- 
tivated, especially  around  the  family  hearth  and  in  the  social  party, 
and  let  all  give  birth  to  whatever  will  amuse  those  around  us.  And 
if  sound  sense  can  be  combined  with  it,  if  philosophy  and  rich 
ideas  can  be  expressed  in  a  laughable  manner,  all  the  better.  This 
doctrine  of  indulging  fun,  is  at  variance  with  the  pious  but  errone- 
ous notion  of  many  well-meaning  but  misguided  religionists,  who 
think  a  long  face  is  acceptable  to  God,  and  hght  conversation  offen- 
sive. If  this  had  been  the  case,  he  certainly  would  not  have  im- 
planted this  laughing  faculty  in  the  breast  of  man,  and  the  fact  that 
he  has  thus  placed  it,  is  proof  positive  that  it  is  our  duty,  as  it  cer- 
tainly is  our  pleasure,  to  exercise  it  habitually. 

To  cultivate  it  in  yourself,  contemplate  the  ridiculous.  Make 
fun.  Care  less  for  jokes,  and  shake  them  off  by  returning  the  fire. 
You  only  require  to  get  in  the  way  of  making  sport.  It  will  then 
come  spontaneously. 

To  restrain  it,  remember  that  you  laugh  at  others  too  much.  Es- 
pecially, take  off"  all  sarcastic  edges  from  your  jokes.  If  they  sting 
more  than  tickle,  and  give  pain  or  offence,  modify  them,  or  else 
withhold  them  entirely,  for  this  faculty  was  never  given  you  w'ith 
which  to  sting  the  feelings  of  your  fellow^  men. 

Human  Nature,  located  between  Benevolence  and  Comparison, 
gives  the  power  of  discerning  the  characters  of  others,  by  a  kind 
of  intuition  or  instinct,  and  is  always  searching  out  the  motives  of 
men,  sounding  them,  and  passing  judgment  on  their  talents  and 
worth. 

To  cultivate  it,  notice  little  things  in  a  man's  conduct,  expres- 
sions, looks,  &c.,  and  endeavor  always  to  trace  up  all  that  others 
say  or  do  to  the  primitive  motives  v/hich  prompted  them  ;  and 
study  physiognomy,  and  especially  phrenology. 

Agreeableness,  per'suasiveness,  smoothness,  pleasa^itness,  ifc, 
renders  its  possessor  agreeable,  enables  him  to  say  and  do  severe 
things  without  giving  offence ;  obtain  favors,  say  and  do  things 
so  that  they  take,  &c.  It  can  be  cultivated  by  putting  on  the 
conciliating,  smooth,  and  pleasant,  rather  than  the  harsh,  and  by 
wiiming  upon  the  affections  of  others,  and  commending  them  as 
far  as  possible.  It  need  not  be  restrained,  yet  should  never  be  em- 
ployed to  flatter  people,  or  obtain  undue  advantages. 


EDUCATION 


AND 


SELF-IIPROVEIENT. 


VOL.  II. 


MEMORY, 


AND 


INTELLECTUAL     EDUCATIOf^l 


EDUCATION  AND  SELMMPROVEMENT: 

PART    !§E€Or^B. 

PHRENOLOGY  AND  PHYSIOLOGY 

APPLIED    TO    THE 

CULTIYATION  OF  MEMORY; 

THE 

Intellectual  Education  of  Children, 


AND    THE 


STRENGTHENING  AND  EXPANDING 


INTELLECTUAL    POWERS. 


BY   O.   S.  FOWLER, 

PRACTICAL     phrenologist; 

Editor  of  the  American  Phrenological  Journal ;   and  Author  of  Fowler^s  Phre- 
nology, Education  and  Self-  Improvement,  Phrenology  and  Physiology 
applied  to  Memory,  Matrimony,  Hereditary  Descent,  Ama- 
tiveness,  Temperance,  Tight  Lacing,  S^-c.  SfC. 


Intellectual  enjoyment  greatly  surpasses  merely  physical  pleasure. 


Third  Kdition— Enlarged  and  Improve  i< 


NEW   YORK: 

131  Nassau  Street,  in  Clinton  Hall. 

Boston  :  Saxton  &  fierce,  and  Jordan  &  Co.,  Washington  Street, 

Fhii.adeiphia  :  Colon  &  Co.,  Arcade. 

Also  by  J.  A.  Hopkins,  Syracuse,  NY.;   E.  A.  Smith,  Erwinton,  S.  C. ;  M.  J.  Grior, 

Hamilton,  Canada  West,  and  by  Booksellers  generally. 

1844. 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1844, 

By    O.    S.    FOWLER, 

in  the  Cleik's  Office  of  the  District  of  Massachusetta. 


PREFACE  TO  THE  SECOND  EDITION. 


No  subject  has  ever  interested  the  mind  of  the  Author,  more  than 
the  fact  that  the  phrenological  organs  are  capable  of  being  enlarged, 
and  the  means  of  effecting  this  enlargement.  Improvements  in 
agriculture,  the  arts,  machinery,  &c.,  &c.,  are  valuable  in  their 
spheres,  yet  the  means  of  cultivating  and  improving  the  bund  of 
MAN,  is  infinitely  more  important  and  useful — as  much  more  so  as 
Tnini  is  superior  to  matter  ;  and  as  our  susceptibility  of  enjoying  or 
suffering  through  the  medium  of  the  ratellect  and  feelings,  is  greater 
than  merely  physical  pleasures.  Books  have  been  written,  efforts 
have  been  made,  to  educate  the  intellect  and  cultivate  the  feelings  ; 
yet  none  of  them  have  been  founded  upon  the  trite  nature  of  the 
mind.  But,  Phrenology  analyzes  every  element  of  the  intellect,  and 
every  fountain  of  the  soul.  It  places  the  finger  of  science  upon 
every  faculty  of  man,  and  at  the  same  time,  tell  us  how  to  improve 
them  all.  It  tells  us  wherein  goodness  and  perfection  of  intellect 
and  feeling  consist,  at  the  same  tiine  that  it  points  out  to  every  one 
his  DEPARTURES  from  its  standard  of  perfection,  and  the  means  of 
REMEDYING  them.  It  tells  us  the  relative  size  of  each  organ,  and 
thereby  the  relative  power  and  energy  of  each  faculty,  and  this 
shows  us  what  are  too  strong,  and  what  too  feeble.  It  also  shows 
us  how  to  STRENGTHEN  those  that  are  too  feeble,  and  how  to  reduce 
the  action  of  those  that  are  too  powerful.  ■  That  is,  it  tells  us  hoio 
to  improve  the  immortal  mind.  How  to  perfect  the  character.  How 
to  remedy  defects,  and  reduce  excesses  ! 

This  work  presents  the  first  systematic  application  of  Phrenology 
to  a  result  so  desirable,  so  glorious,  by  showing  how  to  increase  the 
size  and  augment  the  poioer,  of  the  intellectual  faculties ;  being  that 
portion  of  the  author's  work  on  "Education  and  Self-Improvement," 
which  relates  to  the  cultivation  of  the  memory,  the  intellectual 
education  of  children,  and  the  strengthening  and  expanding  of  the 
intellect.  It  takes  up  each  intellectual  organ  separately,  shows  its 
precise  and  specific  function,  and  then  how  to  bring  it  into  action,  so 
as  to  enlarge  and  invigorate  it.  As  affording  a  knowledge  of  Phre- 
nology, especially  as  regards  the  nature  awdi  function  of  \he  intellec- 
tual faculties,  it  will  be  found  equal  to  any,  if  not  superior  to  all, 
other  works  on  Phrenology  ;  but,  as  affording  directions  for  cultiva- 
ting and  strengthening  them — a  department  the  most  interestingf 
and  instructive  that  can  be  presented — it  stands  unequalled  and 
alone  ;  and  its  perusal  and  practice  will  repay  the  reader  a  thousand 
fold. 

It  dwells,  with  particular  stress,  upon  the  cultivation  of  the  intel- 
lectual faculties  of  children  and  touth.  Hence,  every  parent 
AND  teacher  should  peruse  it,  and  conduct  the  training  of  the  infant 


4  PREFACE. 

and  juvenile  nnind  upon  the  principles  it  contains.  It  exposes  many 
errors  which  lay  at  the  very  basis  of  our  common  school  system, 
and  points  out  a  far  more  excellent  way  ;  besides  furnishing  hints 
to  the  young  in  regard  to  self-education,  which  if  put  in  practice, 
will  exceed  in  value  all  the  mines  of  Mexico,  and  all  the  gold  of 
Ophir.  This  is  evinced,  not  only  by  the  rapid  sale  of  the  first  edi- 
tion, but  still  more  by  the  many  testimonials  of  those  who  have  read 
that  edition — some  asserting,  that  practising  its  principles  for  a  sin- 
gle month,  have  improved  their  memories  fifty  per  cent ;  and  others, 
one  hundred  per  cent ;  while  others  still,  rale  this  improvement  evea 
higher  yet.  One  gentleman  said  that  its  perusal  eight  years  ago, 
would  have  saved  him  from  physical  and  mental  ruin  ;  whereas 
now,  both  mind  and  body  were  nearly  destroyed.  It  will  work  won- 
ders for  ALL  who  practice  upon  its  directions.  And  they  are  simple 
and  easy  of  trial. 

But,  to  those  who  are  pursuing  a  liberal  education — to  the  young 
men  of  our  high  schools,  academies,  and  colleges,  who  expect  to 
obtain  their  subsistence,  or  to  rise  to  stations  of  honor  or  profit,  by 
the  exercise  of  their  intellectual  faculties,  as  well  as  to  all  public  and 
professional  men, — it  will  be  found  to  exceed  all  computation — not 
because  of  the  ability  of  its  Author,  but  because  of  the  intrinsic 
merit  of  its  subject  matter. 


PREFACE   TO   THE   THIRD   EDITION. 

The  rapid  sale  of  two  large  editions  of  this  work,  calls  for  a  third 
edition.  In  refitting  it  for  the  press,  a  few  improvements  have  been 
made,  and  also  several  copious  additions,  particularly  relating  to 
the  specific  application  of  the  principles  of  this  whole  work  on  Edu- 
cation to  individual  cases  of  both  self-improvement  and  the  mental 
and  moral  culture  of  children,  and  also  that  part  relating  to  mne- 
monics. Various  systems  of  artificial  memory  have  been  commended 
so  highly  in  past  ages,  and  Prof.  Fauvel  Gouraud's  system  is  com- 
manding so  much  attention  at  present,  that  it  becomes  every  work 
on  the  cultivation  of  the  memory,  and  particularly  this  work,  to 
present  at  least  those  fundamental  principles  that  bear  on  this  point. 
These  remarks  were  written  for  the  second  edition,  but  omitted 
because  mnemonics  were  not  then  deemed  worthy  even  of  a  passing 
notice  ;  but  their  recent  revival  in  this  country,  and  with  such  a 
whirlwind  of  popularity,  require  the  remarks  found  at  the  close  of 
this  volume. 

Unquestionably  the  reader  will  appreciate  the  cut  inserted  on  the 
second  page. 


CONTENTS. 


Intellect — its  relative  value  and  function,  and  the  importance  of 

its  cultivation,    .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .7 

Uses  and  value  of  a  retentive  memory,        ....         10 

On  improving  the  intellect  by  enlarging  the  organs,  .  .11 
Value  of  this  principle,  and  means  of  obtaining  this  enlargement,  11 
The  exercise  of  the  faculties,  the  only  means  of  strengthening 

them,  and  of  enlarging  their  organs,         ....         11 
In  order  to  excite  a  faculty,  its  true  function  must  be  known,  and 

its  natural  stimulant  presented,        .....         13 

Analysis  and  adaptation  of  Individuality,         .         .         .         .17 

Teaching  children  from  observation  first,  books  afterwards,  18 

A  fatal  defect  in  modern  education,  .         .         .         .         .19 

Evils  of  sending  young  children  to  school,  .         .         .20 

Observation  must  ^?'ece<:/e  reasoning,         .         .         .         .         .     21 

Means  of  cultivating  Individuality,       .....         22 

Parents  should  educate  their  own  children,      .  .         .         .23 

Analysis,  adaptation,  and  importance  of  Eventuality,  .         .         24 
Means  of  strengthening  Memory  of  Events,    .         .         .         .25 

Children  silling  on  a  bench  and  saying  A,  ...         26 

Telling  children  stories,  .......     27 

The  decrease  of  memory  in  adults  caused  by  its  inaction,     .         28 
The  experience  of  the  author  and  others,         .         .         .         .29 

Improving  Eventuality  by  recollecting  the  events  of  each  day, 

week,  &c.,  at  its  close,        .......     34 

Facilitating  this  by- rendering  the  memory  of  our  own  and 

children's  lives  agreeable, 35 

Showing  children  philosophical  and  other  experiments,    .         .     36 
Analysis  and  adaptation  of  Comparison,       ....         38 

Teaching  children  to  reason  by  comparing  things,  .         .         .     39 
Employing  explanations  and  illustrations,  .         .         .         41 

Answering  the  questions  of  children,      .         .         .         .         .41 

Analysis  and  adaptation  of  Causality,  ....         42 

Means  of  cultivating  this  faculty  are  thinking  and  reasoning,    .     43 
Qiving  children  data,  and  requiring  them  to  think  for  themselves,  44 
Intellectual  superiority  of  children,  relatively  to  adults,    .         .     45 
Cjtuse  of  this  superiority,    .......         46 

1 


CONTENTS. 


Getting  thinking  done  out, 47 

Man's  poverty  of  intellect  explained,   .         .         .         .    .     •        48 
Night  thinking  and  study  highly  injurious,      .         .         .         .49 

Analysis  and  function  of  Language, 50 

Studying  the  dead  languages, .57 

Preventing  the  talking  of  children  injurious,        ...         53 

Means  of  promoting  eloquence ^        .     53 

Teaching  children  grammar  by  talking  grammatically,  .         54 

Talking  baby  talk  to  infants, 55 

Analysis  and  adaptation  of  Form,  .....  57 
When  and  how  to  teach  reading  and  spelling,  .         .         .57 

Analysis  of  Weight,  and  means  of  cultivating  it,  .         .         60 

Analysis  and  adaptation  of  Calculation,  .         .         .         .61 

Reckoning  figures,  casting  accounts,  &c,,  in  the  head,  .         62 

Analysis  and  adaptation  of  Time,  63 

Carrying  the  time  in  the  head  better  than  by  time-pieces,     .         65 

Means  of  cultivating  Time, 66 

Improvement  of  time  by  attending  first  to  what  is  most  important,  67 
Waste  of  time,  .         .         •         •         •         •         •         •         68 

Analysis  and  adaptation  of  Tune,  .....     69 

Natural  music  preferable  to  artificial,  ....         70 

Teaching  children  to  sing  by  ear  first, 71 

Evils  of  the  present  method  of  teaching  music,     ...         72 

Strictures  on  modern  music, 73 

Analysis  and  adaptation  of  Locality,  ....         74 

A  new  method  of  teaching  geography, 75 

Teaching  history  along  with  geography,      ....         77 

Teaching  the  phrenological  developments,       .         .         .         .78 

A  literary  exchange  system,         ......         79 

Teaching  natural  theology  along  with  natural  sciences,  .  .  80 
The  study  of  astronomy — its  moral  influence,  ...  86 
Importance  of  teaching  children  anatomy  and  physiology,         .     89 

Analysis  and  adaptation  of  Order, 90 

Its  utility — means  of  cultivating  it, 91 

Analysis,  adaptation,  and  method  of  cultivating  Size,    .         .         93 
Analysis,  adaptation,  and  means  of  cultivating  Color,        .         .     95 
Combinations  of  organs  requisite  for  particular  occupations,  such 
as  teacher,  lawyer,  clergyman,  physician,  merchant,  mechanic, 
farmer,  painter,  engineer,  editor,  phrenologist,  &c.,       .         .     97 
Application  of  this  whole  subject  to  self-improvement,  and  the 

education  and  government  of  children,        ....     103 
Prof.  Gouraud's  phreno-mnemotechnic  system,,  .         •         .         1^)8 


MEMORY  AND  EDUCATION. 


IMPORTANCE   OF  INTELLECT— MEANS   OF   CULTIVATING  IT. 

Man  is  the  lord  of  creation.  The  noblest  work  of  God 
within  our  knowledge.  The  most  complicated  and  perfect 
in  mechanism.  The  most  beautiful  to  behold.  The  most 
powerful  to  accomplish.  The  most  exalted  in  enjoyment ; 
in  suffering  ;  in  function  ;  and  in  constitution. 

But,  in  what  consists  this  nobleness,  this  superiority  of  his 
nature?  In  his  physical  superiority?  In  his  possessing  a 
greater  number  and  variety  of  bodily  organs,  and  those  more 
perfect  than  is  possessed  by  the  balance  of  creation  7  In  the 
erectness  of  his  form?  In  the  sprightliness  and  power  of  his 
muscular  system?  In  even  the  greater  power  and  more  per- 
fect play  of  his  feelings  and  instincts  ?  In  his  domestic  af- 
fections? His  defending,  acquiring,  self-caring,  aspiring, 
persevering  elements?  In  even  his  moral  and  religious  sus- 
ceptibilities? In  his  capability  to  worship  God?  to  appre- 
ciate and  enjoy  the  spiritual?  to  commune  with  God?  to 
perceive  the  right  and  the  wrong,  and  govern  himself  by 
moral  principle?  In  kindness?  In  disinterested  self-sacrifice 
for  the  good  of  others  ?  In  his  aspiring  after  immortality  ? 
No.  In  neither.  Not  in  all  combined.  But  in  the  possession 
of  Intellect.  Not  that  he  does  7iot  possess  these  other  quali- 
ties. Not  that  they  do  not  add  greatly  to  the  dignity  and 
the  glory  of  his  nature.  But  that  all  these  elements  of  great- 
ness, some  of  which  are  even  God-like,  are  crowned  with 
intellect^  and,  especially,  with  reason — the  noblest  gift  of  God 
to  man.  We  praise  Thee,  O  our  God,  "  for  all  thy  wonder- 
ful works  unto  the  children  of  men,"  but  we  praise  Thee 
most,  we  love  Thee  most,  for  the  gift  of  reason  ;  for  the 
power  of  thought;  for  our  capability  of  perceiving  and  ap- 


8  INTELLECT — ITS    FUNCTION   AND   IMPORTANCE. 

plying  those  sublime  and  glorious  laws  which  govern  nature, 
in  all  her  loveliness;  in  all  her  perfection;  in  all  her  great- 
ness ;  in  all  her  variety. 

It  is  a  fully  established  law  of  Phrenelogy,  a  law  unfolded 
in  the  first  volume  of  this  w^ork,  (p.  148,)  that  to  be  either 
virtuous  or  productive  of  enjoyment,  every  action  of  our 
lives,  every  desire,  every  emotion,  of  our  souls,  every  ele- 
ment, every  function  of  our  entire  nature,  must  be  guided  by 
intellect,  and  governed  by  the  moral  sentiments.  Otherwise, 
there  is  no  virtue,  no  enjoyment.  Otherwise,  all  is  sin.  All 
is  suffering.  The  man  of  impulse,  is  a  man  of  misfortune 
and  sorrow.  Animal  propensity  is  blind,  and  blindly  seeks 
gratification  in  the  teeth  of  virtue  ;  in  the  face  of  enjoyment. 
Intellect  alone  can  direct  her  into  the  paths  of  virtue,  into 
the  haven  of  happiness.  And  this  intellect  can  do.  It  can 
bring  back  wandering,  wayward  animal  propensity.  It  can 
chasten  and  elevate  that  propensity.  It  can  greatly  augment 
both  the  power,  the  eflicacy,  the  successful  gratification  of 
that  propensity.  It  can  double,  for  the  hundredth,  the  thou- 
sandth time,  every  result,  every  enjoyment^ — every  thing — to 
which  man  applies  himself,  be  it  mechanics,  be  it  agriculture, 
be  it  domestic  enjoyment,  be  it  the  accumulation  of  property, 
be  it  self-protection,  be  it  renown,  be  it  what  it  may,  even 
religion  not  excepted.  Indeed,  it  is  here  that  intellect  show- 
ers down  her  richest  blessings.  Brings  forward  her  choicest 
fruits.  Attains  her  highest  achievements.  Moral  sentiment, 
too,  without  intellect,  is  blind  ;  is  bigoted.  Is  a  blind  leader 
of  blind  animal  propensity,  and  as  much  more  sinful  and 
ruinous  than  mere  animal  propensity  is  capable  of  being  of 
of  becoming,  as  the  nature  and  constitution  of  the  moral 
sentiments  excel  those  of  the  propensities.  For  it  is  a  law  of 
things,  that  the  greater  the  gift  or  power,  the  more  wicked, 
the  more  miserable,  its  perversion.  Than  perverted  moral 
sentiment,  nothing  is  more  sinful.  Nothing  more  corrupting 
to  man.  Nothing  more  painful  in  its  consequences.  On  this 
bastard  stock  of  moral  sentiment  with  propensity,  but  without 
intellect,  grew  all  the  heathen  mythology  and  religious  wick- 
edness of  past  ages.  Grow  all  the  abominations  of  paganism  ; 
all  the  sectarianism,  all  the  bigotry,  of  Christendom.  On  this 
tree  of  the  moral  sentiments,  guided  and  governed  by  en* 


GENERAL    DEFICIENCY   OF    INTELLECT.  9 

lightened  intellect,  grow  the  choicest  fruits  it  is  possible  for 
the  nature  of  man  to  yield,  or  for  his  capacities  to  enjoy. 
More  than  any  thing  else,  more  than  all  besides,  man  re- 
quires INTELLECT  to  perccive  and  apply  the  truth  to  matters 
of  science;  to  matters  of  government;  to  matters  of  religious 
belief  and  practice ;  to  all  matters  appertaining  to  health, 
life,  happiness,  immortality. 

Nor  is  there  any  one  thing  in  which  man  is  as  deficient,  as 
he  is  in  this  self-same  matter  of  intellect.  He  knows  (I  use 
this  word  in  its  true  sense)  precious  little,  and  that  little 
appertains  mainly  to  the  gratification  of  the  propensities. 
He  spends  but  little  time,  but  little  money,  but  little  any 
thing,  upon  his  intellect.  Not  a  hundredth  part  of  either. 
Almost  all  his  "desires,  almost  all  his  pursuits,  almost  all  of 
every  thing,  is  expended  upon  the  gratification  of  the  facul- 
ties the  organs  of  which  occupy  the  back  and  lower  portion 
of  his  brain  ;  little  on  science,  on  philosophy,  on  studying 
the  facts  and  the  laws  of  nature.  And  for  the  violation  of 
this  law  of  the  supremacy  of  intellect,  he  is  sorely  punished 
in  the  degradation,  or  the  physical  pain  and  suffering,  or  the 
premature  death,  or  the  prevailing  ignorance  and  superstition, 
or  the  religious  bigotry  and  intolerance,  or  the  erroneous 
opinions  and  consequent  defective  practices,  or  all  combined, 
of  nearly  all  classes  of  society  ;  all  ranks  and  conditions  of 
men.  Nor  can  the  untold  miseries  that  now  scourge  man- 
kind, be  done  away,  nor  even  essentially  diminished,  till 
intellect  mounts'  the  throne  of  the  nature  of  man,  assumes 
the  helm  of  state,  and  guides  and  governs  all  his  desires,  all 
his  conduct,  all  his  opinions. 

Hence  it  is,  that  the  cultivation  of  intellect,  becomes  the 
liighest  object  to  which  the  attention  of  man  can  be  turned  ; 
the  concerns  of  the  soul,  of  eternity,  not  excepted  ;  for  we 
have  just  seen,  that  in  order  properly  to  understand  or  prac- 
tice the  great  interests  of  religion,  we  must  possess  a  vigorous 
intellect,  a  well  disciplined  mind,  and  a  range  and  power  of 
thought  demanded  by  nothing  else  whatever.  Cultivate  in- 
tellect, and  you  banish  ignorance.  Cultivate  intellect,  and 
you  close  the  doors  of  the  grog-shop,  of  the  gambling  saloon,  of 
revelry,  of  lust ;  and  check,  if  you  do  not  almost  annihilate^ 
depravity  in  all  its  forms,  with  all  its  woes.     Cultivate  intel- 

1* 


10  VALUE   AND   USES    OF   A    RETENTIVE    MEMORY. 

lect,  and  you  banish  paganism  with  all  its  crimes,  sectarian- 
ism with  all  its  deformities,  bigotry  with  all  its  intolerance. 
Cultivate  intellect,  and  you  expand  and  elevate  every  ele- 
ment, every  power,  of  the  nature  of  man;  adorn,  and  purify, 
and  sweeten,  every  virtue;  and  crown  every  department  of 
the  nature  and  capabilities  of  man  with  the  very  climax  of 
all  that  God  has  created,  all  that  men  can  be  or  enjoy. 

And  then  again,  how  exceedingly  rich  and  exhaustless 
are  the  treasures  of  knowledge  !  How  delightful  the  study 
of  nature!  ^^  Knou-ledge  is  power. ^''  Man  is  so  constituted 
that,  to  study  the  laws  and  phenomena  of  nature  ;  to  witness 
chemical,  philosophical,  and  other  experiments;  to  explore 
the  bowels  of  the  earth,  and  examine  the  beauties,  the  curi- 
osities and  the  wonders  of  its  surface  ;  to  learn  lessons  of  infi- 
nite power  and  wisdom  as  tauglit  by  astronomy ;  but,  more 
especially,  to  study /if/'w^-  animated  nature:  to  observe  its 
adaptations  and  contrivances — in  short,  to  slwdj  nature moW 
her  beauty,  variety,  and  perfection,  particularly  with  refer- 
ence to  the  wisdom  and  goodness  of  that  great  Being  who 
created  all  things,  constitutes  a  source  of  the  highest  possible 
gratification  of  which  the  humafi  mind  is  susceptible. 

To  descant  upon  the  vahie  or  utility  of  Memory, "^  would 
be  superfluous.  I  appeal  to  you  who  are  rich,  whether  you 
would  not  gladly  give  3^our  «//,  (the  necessaries  of  life  alone 
excepted,)  for  a  clear  and  retentive  memory  of  all  you  have 
,  ever  seen,  or  heard,  or  liiiown.  What  v/onid  not  lawyers 
and  physicians  give,  to  be  able,  without  notes,  to  recall, 
clearly  and  in  order,  evei  y  point  of  their  evidence,  every  lact 
in  their  practice,  every  point  in  the  authors  they  have  read? 

*  By  tlie  term  Memory,  when  used  by  the  writer  in  tliis  general,  unquali- 
fied manner,  is  meant  the  entire  class  of  the  inteilectiia!  faculties.  The 
leading  doctrine  of  riirenology,  that  every  intellectual  faculty  remembers 
wimtever  belongs  to  its  own  class  of  operations: — that  Locality  remem- 
l)ers  places;  Form,  faces;  Eventuality,  events  ;  Causality,  principles  and 
ideas  ;  Language,  words,  &c.,  &.c.,  Phrou^hout  the  whole  of  the  intellec- 
tual facuUics — tiiat,  therefore,  there  are  as  many  different  kinds  of  memory 
as  there  are  intellectual  faculties,  and  that,  as  some  oi'these  faculties  may 
be  powerful  while  others  are  weak,  so  some  kinds  of  memory  may  be 
very  retentive-while  others  are  feeiile,  (a  principle  which  lies  at  the  very 
basis  both  of  memory  itself,  and  of  course  of  its  improvement,)  is  not  lost 
si"ht  of  by  the  Author.  lie  uses  this  term  as  it  is  generally  understood, 
and  used  in  common  nmlnifr 


INTELLECT    CAPABLE    OF    ENLARGEMENT.  11 

Similar  remarks  apply  to  men  of  business,  to  whom  a  reten- 
tive memory  is,  if  possible,  still  more  serviceable.  How  often 
has  the  reader  felt  mortified  in  the  extreme,  and  angry  with 
himself,  because  he  has  forgotten  something  he  intended  to 
say.  or  do  !  How  great  the  consequent  inconvenience,  and 
delay,  and  even  loss,  which  a  good  memory  would  have 
avoided  !  How  much  more  powerful  and  effective  that  spea- 
ker who  can  dispense  with  notes,  yet  say  all  he  wishes ;  and 
by  the  aid  of  a  clear  and  retentive  memory,  bring  to  mind 
thoughts  and  arrangements  previously  prepared  !  In  short,  is 
there  any  occupation  in  life  in  which  nearly  every  kind  of 
memory  is  not  most  useful?  In  many,  it  is  indispensahle.  I 
ask  parents  whether  transmitting  to  your  children  vigorous 
.intellects  and  retentive  memories,  is  not  one  of  the  richest 
legacies  you  can  leave  them  ?  and  whether  a  poor  memory, 
one  that  is  treacherous  to  its  trust,  is  not  a  great  misfortune? 

If  it  be  inquired,  Is  man's  intellect  capable  of  being  im- 
proved ?  Phrenology  answers.  Yes;  and  to  an  extent  far 
exceeding  what  is  generally  supposed.  Indeed,  all  efforts  at 
education  are  based  on  this  supposition;  and  this  fact  has 
been  placed  beyond  all  doubt  in  the  previous  volume.  The 
same  law  of  increased  power  by  exercise,  there  shown  to 
govern  the  entire  brain,  the  entire  man,  applies  here  in  all  its 
ramifications. 

Do  parents,  do  teachers,  do  the  young,  or  the  religious, 
does  one,  do  all,  eageriy  inquire,  then.  By  what  means  can 
intellect  be  so  expanded,  can  memory  be  so  strengthened, 
can  the  intellectual  education  of  children  and  ^^outh  be  so 
conducted,  as  to  give  reason  this  desired  supremacy?  Phre- 
nology answers.  By  improving  the  power  and  activity  of  the 
intellectual  organs.  By  this  means.  By  no  other.  Indeed, 
ALL  improvement,  be  it  intellectual,  be  it  moral,  must  be 
based  in,  must  proceed  upon,  this  law.  Phrenology  demon- 
strates the  fundamental,  immutable  law  of  perfect  reciprocity 
of  relation  between  the  brain  and  the  mind.  This  law  is 
universal.     It  admits  of  no  exceptions. 

No  Phrenologist  will  for  a  moment  question  either  the  va- 
lidity or  the  universality  of  this  principle;  nor  indeed  will 
any  who  believe  even  in  the  doctrine  that  the  brain  is  the 
organ  of  the  mind ;    for,  if  the  brain  be  the  agent  of  the 


12  IMPROVING    MEMORY   BY   INCREASING 

mind,  then  must  the  conditions  of  the  brain  and  of  the  mind, 
and  all  these  conditions,  be  perfectly  reciprocal.  To  ad- 
mit the  brain  to  be  the  agent  of  the  mind,  is  to  admit, 
that  every  change,  every  improvement,  every  deterioration, 
&c.  of  either  mind  or  brain,  produces  a  corresponding  and 
perfectly  sympathetic  change,  improvement,  degeneracy,  &c. 
in  the  other.  And  this  law  tells  parents,  tells  the  young, 
tells  the  whole  world,  and  even  all  the  generations  of  men 
that  may  rise  up  in  all  coming  time,  that  there  is  no  royal 
road  to  knowledge — that  there  is  one^  and  but  one,  way — a 
way  that  is  plain,  easily  accessible,  and  not  only  safe,  but 
sure  to  conduct  to: the  most  glorious  results  imaginable — and 
that  road  is,  improving  the  organs  of  Memory,  that  is,  of  In- 
tellect. Besides  this  way,  there  is  no  other.  Any,  every 
method  proposed  by  the  most  gifted  and  ingenious  of  mor- 
tals, ay,  even  by  angels,  or  by  God  himself,  cannot  possibly 
improve  it  in  any  other  way.  Indeed,  this  method  is  that 
invented  by  (he  Maker  of  man  and  of  the  universe.  Vain, 
then,  perfectly  futile,  and  palpably  injurious  must  be  every 
other  means,  all  other  methods,  of  improving  the  memory,  or 
indeed  any  other  faculty  of  man.  Will  the  reader  allow  me  to 
call  special  attention  to  this  fundamental  principle'?  Cast 
about.  Scrutinize  it  closely.  Is  it  correct  7  May  Ave  rely 
certainly  upon  a  therefore  based  in  it,  and  growing  out  of  it  ? 
Does  it  admit  of  a  single  doubt  or  exception  7 

But,  "By  ichat  means  can  the  physical  organs  of  memory 
be  improved?"  The  answer  to  this  question  is  twofold.  First, 
a  general  improvement  of  the  physical  health,  or  of  the  ani- 
mal tone  and  vigor  of  the  system,  will  improve  the  action  of 
the  brain  as  a  whole,  and  especially  of  the  organs  in  its  base, 
(see  demonstration  of  the  sympathetic  relation  between  the 
body  and  the  base  of  the  brain,  in  Yol.  1,  of  this  work,  page 
94.)  So  that,  as  most  of  the  organs  of  memory  or  intellect 
occupy  the  base  of  the  forehead,  v/hatever  augments  the 
general  health  and  action  of  the  system,  will  of  course  im- 
prove the  memory. 

The  only  remaining  means  of  improving  the  physical  or- 
gans of  memory,  and,  of  course,  of  strengthening  the  mem- 
ory itself,  is  by  the  exercise  of  the  organs  of  memory. 
Brains  caniXot  be  hovght.     By  no  means  whatever  can  any 


THE   EFFICIENCY   OF   THE   INTELLECTUAL    ORGANS,  13 

addition  be  made  to  either  the  vohime,  or  the  activity,  or 
function  of  Eventuahty,  or  Language,  or  Causality,  or  any 
one  of  the  intellectual  organs,  that  is,  organs  of  the  memory, 
but  by  exei'cising  the  faculties  of  memory.  By  this  means, 
the  organs  can  be  improved.  By  this  means,  both  their  vol- 
ume can  be  enlarged,  and  their  facility  of  action  can  be  im- 
proved. Nor  is  there  ariy  possibility  of  improving  it  by  any 
other  means  whatsoever.  Their  exercise  causes  the  blood 
to  flow  to  the  organs  exercised,  in  the  exact  proportion  of 
that  exercise ;  and  this  augmented  circulation,  accompanies 
a  proportional  increase  of  functional  power.  That  same 
physiological  law  which  governs  the  increase  of  size  and 
power  of  function  in  the  arm,  by  exercising  that  arm,  also 
governs  the  increase  of  power  in  the  intellectual  organs  or 
faculties.  As  the  arm  of  the  blacksmith  is  enlarged  and 
strengthened  by  swinging  his  hammer,  that  is,  by  usi?ig  his 
arm,  so  Eventuality,  Form,  Language,  Causality,  and  all  the 
other  intellectual  organs,  can  be  increased  in  size,  and  their 
facility  and  power  of  function  augmented  by  their  exekcise 
— by  that  only — the  improvement  in  the  health  already  men- 
tioned alone  excepted.  1  submit  this  principle  to  the  candid 
thinking  reader.  I  call  upon  parents — I  call  upon  teachers, 
upon  all  men  of  science — to  say,  by  what  other  means  than 
their  exercise  can  the  vigor  of  the  cerebral  organs  be  aug- 
mented ?  All  silent '?  Then  our  two  principles — the  first, 
that  all  improvement  in  the  memory  must  consist  in  aug- 
menting the  physical  function,  and  improving  the  physiolog- 
ical condition  of  the  cerebral  organs  of  memory  ;  and,  the 
second,  that  this  improvement,  with  the  single  exception  spe- 
cified, must  be  effected  by  exercising  the  faculties  and  organs 
of  the  memory  and  intellect- — stand  upon  the  broad,  firm  ba- 
sis of  the  nature  and  constitution  of  man. 

By  what  means,  then,  can  this  cerebral  action  of  the  intel- 
lectual lobe  be  promoted  ?  By  precisely  the  same  means  as 
that  specified  on  page  138,  Vol.  1,  of  this  work,  namely,  by 
setting  the  appropri:ate /oot/  before  them  ;  or  by  throwing  be- 
fore them  their  natural  stimuli.  Thus,  Individuality  springs 
into  powerful  and  spontaneous  action,  whenever  objects  or 
things  are  presented  for  its  inspection.  Causality,  whenever 
laws  m  causes  are  thrown  in  its  way.     Language,  whenever 


14  HOW    TO    BEGIN   INTELLECTUAL    IMPROVEMENT. 

ideas  are  presented  for  communication.  Eventuality,  when- 
ever facts  are  to  be  seen  or  remembered.  So  of  each  of  the 
other  intellectual  faculties.  And  presenting  things  to  the 
inspection  of  Individuality,  laws  to  the  investigation  of  Caus- 
ality, places  to  the  action  of  Locality,  &c..  will  bring  them 
into  action,  and  thus  enlarge  and  improve  them. 

Hence,  then,  in  order  to  educate  or  discipliiie  the  mind,  its 
nature,  primary  powers,  and  laios  of  action  must  be  understood. 
These,  few  parents  or  teachers  even  pretend  Xo  understand; 
and  hence,  millions  of  money  are  annually  expended,  and 
thousands  of  teachers  constantly  employed,  almost  in  vain. 
As  well  attempt  to  navigate  the  ocean  Avithout  the  compass, 
survey  the  land  without  the  needle,  study  astronomy  without 
the  telescope,  or  try  to  do  any  thing  else  without  knowing 
what  requires  to  be  done,  or  how  to  do  it,  as  undertake  to 
educate  the  young,  or  discipline  one's  own  mind,  without ^rs^ 
understanding  the  primary  faculties  of  the  mind,  as  well  as 
their  laws  of  action.  To  be  successful,  education  and  intel- 
lectual culture  MUST  te  adapted  to  the  rtientcd  facidiies,  and 
also  conducted  in  harmony  with  the  laws  of  mind.  These, 
Phrenology  explains  most  beautifully  and  early ;  thereby 
furnishing  the  only  correct  guide  to  parents  and  teachers. 
The  objects  of  this  work,  therefore,  will  be, 

1.  To    ANALYZE    THE    INTELLECTUAL    FACULTIES  ;     aud 

2.  To    SHOW    HOW    TO    ENLARGE   AND    STRENGTHEN    THEEI. 

That  is,  to  show  how  to  improve  every  kind  of  memoj-y  ; 
how  to  conduct  the  intellectual  education  of  children  and 
youth;  ^.n6.\].0'W  Xo  strengthen  and  expand  the  intellect;  as 
well  as  how  to  acquire  knowledge — objects,  both  individually 
and  collectively,  of  the  highest  possible  importance,  especially 
to  parents,  teachers,  the  young,  and  those  who  are  studying 
a  profession. 

And  the  first  thing  to  be  done,  is,  to  obtain  a  knowledge 
of  your  own  or  children's  developments,  especially  of  the  in- 
tellectual organs,  in  order  that  you  may  know  what  faculties 
are  too  weak,  (there  is  very  little  danger  that  any  of  them 
will  ever  become  too  large,)  so  that  you  may  know  to  which 
to  apply  the  stimulus.  This  knowledge  may  be  gained, 
either  by  studying  phrenology  yourself,  or  by  applying  to  a 
skilful  practical  phrenologist;  but  the  knowledge  itself  is 
indispensable. 


CLASSIFICATION   OF   THE   INTELLECTUAL   FACULTIES.  15 

The  orgajis  of  the  intellectual  faculties  occupy  the  forehead. 
The  rule  for  ascertaining  the  amount  of  brain  devoted  to  the 
intellectual  organs,  is  this  : — Erect  a  perpendicular  line  from 
the  most  prominent  part  of  the  zigomatic  arch — the  bone 
which  commences  just  in  front  of  the  ears,  and  runs  towards 
the  eye — and  the  amount  of  brain  forward  of  that  line,  indi- 
cates the  size  of  the  intellectual  lobe.  This  method  of  mea- 
suring the  intellectual  lobe,  is  far  better  than  that  of  measuring 
from  the  ears  forward,  which  is  very  imperfect,  first,  because 
it  measures  a  part  of  the  propensities  ;  and  secondly,  because 
the  organs  are  sometimes  short  and  broad,  and  sometimes 
slim,  or  long  in  proportion  to  their  breadth. 

These  faculties  are  usually  divided  into  two  classes  ;  yet  I 
am  satisfied  that  making  a  third  class  will  still  farther  facilitate 
their  study.  The  first  developed  of  these,  as  well  as  the  most 
important,  are  the  organs  in  the  middle  portion  of  the  fore- 
head, embracing  Individuality,  Eventuality,  and  Comparison, 
which  might  be  called  the  knowing  organs,  being  the  first  if  not 
the  main,  channels  through  which  a  knowledge  of  things,  es- 
pecially of  the  phenomena  and  laws  of  nature,  enters  the  mind. 

Nearly  all  children  will  be  foi.nd  to  have  a  great  fulness,  if 
not  marked  prominence,  commencing  above  the  nose,  and  ex- 
tending upward  through  the  middle  of  the  forehead,  to  its  up- 
per part;  and,  in  accordance  with  this  development,  they 
have  an  insatiable  curiosity  to  see,  see,  see  every  thing ;  to 
know  all  about  whatever  is  passing;  and  to  ask  what  is  this^ 
and  what  is  that;  together  with  a  remarkably  retentive  mem- 
ory of  stories,  facts,  and  what  they  have  seen,  heard,  or  read. 
Besides  being  a  proof  of  the  truth  of  Phrenology,  this  shows 
how  to  educate  children ;  namely,  by  showing  them  things, 
rather  than  books — by  exhibiting  facts^  and  explaiymig  the 
operations  and  phenomena  of  nature. 

Secondly.  The  perceptive  organs,  which  give  a  talent  for 
judging  of  matter,  and  effecting  physical  ends.  Combined 
with  Acquisitiveness,  they  give  a  talent  for  deciding  upon  the 
value  of  property,  land,  live-stock,  goods,  &c.,  and  upon  the 
shortest,  surest  road  to  wealth.  Such  men  as  Astor,  Girard-, 
&c.,  have  a  heavy  brow,  a  great  projection  of  the  eyebrows 
over  the  eyes,  or  a  deep,  sunken  eye,  which  indicate  the  de- 
vvelopment  of  these  faculties.     Combined  with  Constructive- 


16  DIFFERENT   FORMS    OF   FOREHEAD. 

ness,  this  development  gives  a  talent  for  judging  correctly  of 
machines,  inventions  mechanical  works,  architecture,  con- 
tracts, &c.,  (fee,  together  with  a  talent  for  discovering  and 
applying  mechanical  principles  in  new  ways,  or  to  new  ends. 
Great  inventors,  such  as  Whitney,  Fulton,  Winans,  &c., 
have  this  development,  and  so  do  superior  engineers,  contrac- 
tors, &c.  Combined  with  the  mental  temperament,  it  de- 
lights in  the  study  of  the  natural  sciences^  as  distinguished 
from  literature,  (which  is  imparted  by  the  organs  in  the  mid- 
dle  line  of  the  forehead  above  the  nose,  or  those  already  de- 
scribed,) and  constitutes  a  truly  scientific  mind,  and  is  always 
large  in  such  men  as  Cuvier,  Buffon,  Eaton,  Day,  Hitchcock, 
Silliman,  Herschel,  &c. 

The  only  remaining  form  of  forehead  is,  that  in  which  the 
reflective  faculties  predominate.  This  may  be  known  by  a 
high  and  wide  forehead;  one  that  is  perpendicular,  and  has  a 
square  appearance  at  the  upper  part.  This  indicates  a  think- 
ing, reasoning  cast  of  mind,  and  a  desire  to  look  into  the 
causes  of  things;  a  talent  for  adapting  means  to  ends;  for 
contriving  and  creating  resources,  inventing,  and  effecting 
much  with  scanty  means.  What  is  commonly  known  as 
good  judgment,  depends  upon  this  organization.  It  gives 
depth  and  strength  of  intellect,  and  the  higher  kind  of  mind, 
yet  not  brilliancy,  or  what  is  called  smartness,  which  depend 
upon  the  form  of  the  forehead  first  described.  This  class  of 
faculties  is  less  likely  to  be  called  out  than  most  others,  and 
hence,  men  having  strong  minds  and  great  originality  and 
penetration,  often  pass  through  life  like  a  lion  in  a  cage, 
without  an  opportunity  of  showing  their  intellectual  strength. 
Such  are  great  only  on  great  occasions;  yet,  if  placed  in  sit- 
uations calculated  to  call  out  their  powers,  they  will  be  found 
adequate  to  any  emergency,  and  the  natural  leaders  of  those 
whose  perceptive  faculties  prevail.  Reasoning  intellect  over- 
sees and  directs,  while  perceptive  intellect  executes. 

A  hollow,  or  depression,  in  the  centre  of  the  forehead,  in- 
dicates a  defective  memory  of  details  and  smaller  matters; 
while  a  depression  extending  through  the  middle  of  the  fore- 
head from  side  to  side,  indicates  a  treacherous  memory  of  de- 
tails, names,  dates,  incidents,  every-day  occurrences,  &c. 

We  will  now  analyze  the  separate  organs,  and  show  how 
to  excite  each  of  them. 


Analysis  and  hdaptation  of  individuality.  17 

INDIVIDUALITY. 

Observation  of  things :  curiosity  to  see  and  examine  objects :  noticing 
things  in  their  isolated  capacity,  and  as  independent  existences  : 
coiynizance  of  the  identity,  personality,  or  individuality  of  bodies : 

jj  power  and  desire  of  observation. 

Adaptation. — On  looking  at  any  thing,  as  a  book  or  a  pen, 
the  first  impression  made  upon  us  is  that  it  is  a  thing.  It  is 
its  personality ,  its  individuality,  its  thingness  that  first  enters 
the  mind.  Before  we  can  examine  its  uses  or  properties,  we 
must  know  that  it  is  a  something.  Tiie  material  world  is 
parceled  out  into  single  objects  without  number,  each  of  which 
has  a  separate  existence  of  its  own.  Thus,  who  can  count 
the  sands  upon  the  sea-shore,  or  the  leaves  or  twigs  of  the 
forest,  or  the  particles  of  matter  ?  And  each,  in  its  very  nature, 
has  a  separate  existence  of  its  own.  To  this  necessary 
property  of  matter,  therefore,  this  faculty  is  adapted. 

This  is  the  looking  faculty.  Its  one  distinctive  function  is 
to  see  things.  It  asks,  what  is  this,  and  ivhat  is  that.  It 
creates  that  intellectual  curiosity,  as  well  as  that  instinctive 
desire  to  examine  and  discover  things  which  has  resulted  iff 
most  of  the  discoveries  of  modern  science,  improvements  in 
agriculture,  the  arts,  science,  &c.,  and  discovered  Phrenology. 
It  is  that  door  of  entrance  through  which  a  knowledge  of 
things  is  received  ftto  the  mind,  and  takes  cognizance  of  what 
is  called  the  ^^divisibility  of  matter,"  or  that  quality  which 
allows  a  body  to  be  divided  and  sub-divided  ad  infinitum, 
while  each  portion  cut  off  still  remains  a  distinct  thing. 

As  this  faculty  is  the  door  through  which  a  knowledge  of 
external  objects  enters  the  mind,  so  its  (ti'gan  is  one  of  the  first 
developed  in  infants.  The  babe  of  a  few  hours,  or  at  least 
days  old,  begins  to  look  at  surrounding  objects ;  and  to  notice, 
gaze,  and  stare.  Indeed,  this  curiosity  to  see  and  handle  every 
thing,  to  pull  things  apart  so  as  to  see  what  is  inside  of  them, 
&.C.,  seems  to  be  one  of  the  strongest  intellectual  desires  and 
functions  of  childhood  and  youth,  as  well  as  the  great  medium 
of  receiving  information.  This  looking  tendency  of  children 
is  too  strong,  too  unequivocal  to  be  mistaken,  and  the  result 
to  which  it  brings  us,  is  equally  conclusive  and  unavoidable. 
It  says,  and  in  language  too  loud,  too  plain,  to  remain  unheard 
or  be  misconstrued — the  language  of  nature — that  children 

2 


IS     TEACHING  CHILDREN  THINGS  FIKST,  BOOKS  AFTERWARDS, 

should  be  tanght  by  observation  Jirst  and  mainly,  from 
books,  afterwards  and  secondarily.  Is  not  seeing  a  thing^ 
infinitely  better  than  any  description  of  it  that  can  be  given^ 
especially  on  paper?  This  insatiable  curiosity  of  children^ 
and  their  extraordinary  development  of  Individuality,  together 
with  the  incontestible  fact  that  what  they  see  is  far  more 
vividly  and  indelibly  impressed  an  theix  minds  than  what 
they  read^  expose  the  fallacy  of  the  almost  universal  opinion 
that  children  must  learn  to  read  and  spell  first,  as  almost  the 
only  medium  of  acquiring  knowledge.  It  also  shows  that  the 
general  custom  of  consuming  five  or  more  years  of  the  most 
valuable  portion  of  life  in  learning  to  read  and  spell,  is 
unnatural  and  injurious.  The  fact  is  that  educa.tion  is  now 
hegun  at  the  wrong  end,  and  conducted  upon  erroneous 
principles  throughout.  In  educating  children,  should  we  not 
follow  the  order  in  which  their  organs  are  developed  ?  Every 
other  course  is  at  war  with  their  natures,  and  therefore 
preposterous.  They  learn  by  means  of  their  organs,  and 
therefore  they  should  be  taught  nothing  appertaining  to  any 
organ  till  it  is  developed.  But  as  soon  as  any  intellectual 
organ  begins  to  be  developed,  its  cultivation  should  be  com- 
menced.  Individuality  is  one  of  the  first  of  the  intellectual 
organs  developed,  as  well  as  one  of  the  %ost  prominent  in 
childhood  and  youth,  and  therefore  education  should  be  begun 
and  continued  by  showing  them  things,  and  how  to  do  things. 
Shall  we  require  them  to  study  subjects  which  they  have  not 
yet  the  power  to  comprehend  ?  As  well  set  the  blind  X<y 
selecting  colors,  or  the*deaf  to  learning  music. 

This  errol-  of  teaching  children  from  books  instead  of 
observation,  is  almost  fatal  to  the  exercise  of  intellect,  and  of 
course  to  the  development  of  both  the  intellectual  faculties 
and  their  organs.  Reading  is  arbitrary,  and  requires  a  vigorous 
and  protracted  exercise  of  the  intellect  j  whereas  observation 
is  natural,  as  much  so  as  breathing  or  sleeping.  Learning  to 
read  is  irksome  and  therefore  repulsive,  but  observation  is 
delightful  and  attractive,  and  thereby  stimulates  the  mind  to 
a  far  more  vigorous  action  than  books  which  are  disagreeable 
have  the  power  to  do  ;  for,  all  know  with  how  much  greater 
energy  the  mind  grasps  and  masters  what  it  likes  than  what  it 
dislikes.     Learning  to  read  does  not  interest  children,  and 


THE  FATAL  DEFECT  OF  MODERN  EDUCATION.      19 

therefore  does  not  call  their  intellectual  organs  into  action, 
and  therefore  weakens  instead  of  strengthening  or  enlarging 
them ;  while  observation,  having  things  shown  and  explained 
to  them,  delights  them  beyond  measure,  which  calls  their 
intellectual  organs  into  exercise,  and  this  enlarges  them,  and 
facilitates  their  action,  as  well  as  disciplines  and  invigorates 
the  mind. 

In  the  light  of  this  principle,  no  wonder  mankind  are  so 
ignorant  and  every  way  so  unintellectual.  No  wonder  they 
flock  by  thousands  to  see  monkey  shows,  circus-exhibitions, 
and  every  tom-foolery  and  humbug  that  may  be  started,  yet 
take  but  little  interest  in  purely  scientijic  or  intellectual 
matters.  True,  they  flock  in  crowds  to  hear  an  eloquent 
speaker,  yet  it  is  because  he  rouses  t\\Q,\v  feeliiig^s ,  but  how 
few  go  to  hear  close  reasoners,  or  read  sound  philosophical 
productions.  No  wonder  that  mankind  bestow  most  of  their 
time  and  labor  upon  the  gratification  of  their  feelings  and 
passions,  and  that  even  their  religious  belief  and  practice  are 
mainly  a  matter  of  education  or  feeling,  and  little  of  intellect. 

This  lamentable  deficiency  of  intellect  is  certainly  not 
constitutional.  It  is  not  the  fault  of  man's  nature  ;  for,  as 
already  seen,  Phrenology  lays  down  the  doctrine  as  funda- 
mental and  universal,  that  intellect  should  direct  and  govern 
all  our  feelings  ;  and  what  nature  requires  she  provides.  She 
requires  sufficient  intellect  to  guide  the  feehngs  and  moral 
sentiments,  and  accordingly,  nearly  «// children  have  superior 
intellectual  developments — far  better,  in  proportion,  than  adults. 
How  much  oftener  do  we  see  fine  foreheads  on  children  than, 
on  grown  persons  ?  But  why  this  relative  decrease  of  those 
organs  designed  and  adapted  by  nature  to  guide  and  sway 
man  ?  What  causes  this  relative  decrease  of  the  intellectual 
organs  in  adults  ?  That  which  causes  colored  children  to  have 
better  heads  than  colored  adults,  and  colored  people  at  the 
north  than  those  at  the  south  ;  namely,  because  nature  does 
more  for  them  than  education  j!?er/ec/* — because  they  become 
weak  from  mere  inaction  ;  and  this  is  because  their  studies 
are  not  adapted  to  their  faculties — because  books  are  made  to 
precede  and  supersede  observation  and  facts,  and  the  conse- 
quent want  of  interest  in  their  studies.  Want  of  interest  in 
their  studies  is  the  fatal  secret  of  our  intellectual  inferiority. 


20  EVILS  OP  SENDING  YOUNG  CHILDREN  TO  SCHOOL. 

The  inability  of  children  to  comprehend  book-studies,  together 
with  their  utter  want  of  adaptation  to  the  order  in  which  the 
faculties  are  developed  in  children,  is  the  primary,  procuring 
cause  of  all. 

I  know,  indeed,  that  I  am  advocating  a  bold  innovation ; 
and  sapping,  or  rather  undermining  the  very  foundation  of 
modern  education  ;  that  I  am  demolishing,  at  a  single  stroke, 
an  idol  to  which  parents  cling  as  they  do  to  their  children 
themselves,  and  on  whose  altar  millions  are  annually  sacrificed 
in  body,  and  almost  ruined  in  mind — but  I  cannot  help  it ;  for, 
my  data  is  Phrenology ,  and  my  inferences  are  conclusive. 
From  the  universal  fact  that  Individuality  is  the  first  and  most 
prominently  developed  intellectual  organ  of  children,  there  is 
no  appeal ;  and,  from  the  inference  that,  therefore,  this  organ 
should  be  brought  into  habitual  action  in  them  ;  that  to  show 
and  explain  things  to  them  should  even  be  the  leading  object 
of  early  education,  is  direct  and  unequivocal.  That  teaching 
them  to  read  and  spell,  exercises  their  observing  powers  but 
little,  or  at  least  not  to  any  extent  worth  naming,  is  self- 
evident.  It  even  absolutely  ^rei;en/*  observation,  instead  of 
promoting  it.  What  is  there  within  the  walls  of  a  school- 
house  for  children  to  see  ?  Absolutely  nothing  but  an  occa- 
sional prank  of  some  mischievous  scholar,  at  which,  if  they 
see,  they  naturally  laugh,  and  for  this  they  get  chastised  or 
boxed  over  the  ears,  accompanied  with  a  "There,  now,  see 
that  you  keep  your  eyes  on  your  book."  As  well  chastise 
them  for  breathing,  or  for  being  hungry  !  Shut  out  from  the 
view  of  objects  at  school,  and  mostly  confined  within  doors 
while  at  home^  no  wonder  that  they  lose  their  intellectual 
curioshy,  and  find  their  minds  enfeebled.  Their  arms,  or 
feet,  or  any  other  physical  organ,  if  laid  up  in  a  sling,  or  pre- 
vented from  exercise,  would  also  become  enfeebled.  At  three 
years  old,  just  when  they  require  all  the  physical  energies  of 
their  yet  delicate  nature  for  growth,  they  must  be  confined  in 
a  school  house  ;  their  growth  thereby  stinted ;  and  fatal  disease 
often  engendered,  and  all  to  sjjoil  their  intellects.  True, 
parents  mean  it  for  the  best,  but  that  no  more  obviates  the 
evil  consequences,  than  giving  them  arsenic,  with  the  intention 
of  benefitting  them,  would  prevent  its  killing  them. 

But  this  bold,  and  at  first  apparently  revolting  position,  is 


OBSERVATION    MUST    PRECEDE    REASONING.  21 

Still  farther  established  by  the  method  by  which  the  human 
mind  arrives  at  all  correct  conclusions.  Reasoning  alone, 
without  its  being  founded  upon  observation,  cannot  teach  any 
thing.  Would  reason  alone  ever  have  discovered,  or  can  it 
even  perfect  Phrenology  ?     Can  reason  teach  us,  in  the  first  I 

instance,  that  the  function  of  a  muscle  is  motion,  or  of  a  nerve, 
sensation ;  that  the  eye  was  made  to  see  ;  that  heat  can  be 
obtained  from  trees?  that  water  can  quench  thirst,  and  food 
satiate  hunger  ?  that  a  stone  thrown  into  the  air  will  fall  again 
to  the  earth  ?  Observation  must  always  precede  reasoning.  . 
After  we  have  seen  thousands  of  stones  that  were  thrown  into 
the  air- return  to  the  earth;  seen  food  satiate  hunger,  and 
water  quench  thirst,  each,  thousands  of  times,  &c.,  we  may 
then  begin  lo  reason  that  other  stones  thrown  into  the  air  will 
also  -fall  to  the  earth,  that  food  in  other  cases  will  satisfy 
hunger,  and  water  allay  thirst,  &c.  The  inductive  method  of 
studying  nature,  namely,  by  observing  facts,  and  ascending 
through  analogous  facts  up  to  the  laws  that  govern  them,  is 
the  only  way  to  arrive  at  correct  conclusions — the  only  safe 
method  of  studying  any  science  or  operation  of  nature,  Phren- 
ology included,  or  of  ascertaining  any  natural  truth. 

Now,  the  minds  of  children  are  only  the  minds  of  adults  in 
«mbryo.  The  former  are  compelled,  by  an  unbending  law 
of  mind,  to  gain  all  their  knowledge  by  the  same  process  by 
which  the  latter  perfect  theirs — by  observation,  followed  by 
reason.  Then  let  children  be  taught  this  lesson  of  induction 
as  their  j^r^^  lesson,  their  main  lesson  during  childhood.  This 
lesson  never  falsifies ;  books  and  papers  sometimes  do  ;  and 
thereby  bias  and  warp  their  judgment,  implant  errors,  and 
blind  reason. 

I  now  appeal  whether  I  am  not  on  philosophical,  as  well  as 
phrenological  ground — whether  I  am  not  planted  on  a  law  of 
mioid,  and  w:hether  education  should  not  be  made  to  conform 
to  this  law.  Is  not  this  point  self-evident  ?  and  should  not 
education  be  at  once  remodeled  in  harmony  with  it  ?  I  doubt 
whether  fifty  years  will  pass,  if  twenty,  before  this  funda- 
mental change  will  be  effected.  I  even  expect  to  live  to  see 
it,  even  though  the  good  (?)  old  way  is  so  thoroughly  riveted 
dpon  the  affections  of  parents.  But  let  every  reader  ask  him- 
self what  good  his  books  did  him  while  a  child  ?     Let  him 


22  MEANS    OF    CULTIVATING    INDIVIDUALITY. 

look  around,  and  he  will  doubtless  find,  what  we  have  been 
astonished  to  observe,  that  many  men  having  the  strangest 
minds  as  well  as  memories,  and  the  best  business  talents,  do 
not  know  how  to  read  or  write.  Let  him  ask  which  is  prefer- 
able, book-learning,  or  common  sense  ?  a  college  learned 
sapling,  or  a  strong-minded,  common  sense  citizen  who  cannot 
read  ?  and  train  his  children  accordingly. ,  Not  that  reading 
is  not  good,  but  that  common  sense  is  far  better.  Not  that  I 
would  have  reading,  writing,  and  spelling  neglected,  but  I 
would  make  them  seco7idary,  both  as  to  time,  and  as  to  intrinsic 
importance. 

The  course  pointed  out  by  Phrenology,  then,  is  simply  this. 
Even  before  your  child  is  three  months  old,  place  a  variety  of 
objects  before  it ;  take  it  into  rooms  and  places  which  it  has 
not  yet  seen,  and  hold  it  often  to  the  window  to  look  abroad 
upon  nature,  and  see  things  that  may  be  passing,  &c.  At  six 
months,  take  hold  of  the  things  shown  it,  and  call  them  by 
name,  as  plate,  bowl,  knife,  fork,  spoon,  table,  bed,  &e.  At 
one  and  two  years  old,  take  it  out  of  doors  much,  (which  will 
strengthen  its  body  as  well  as  afford  increased  facilities  for 
seeing  things,)  show  it  flowers,  trees,  leaves,  fruit,  animalsy 
&c.,  in  their  ever-varying  genera  and  species ;  and  when  it 
asks  you  "Pa,  ivhai  is  this  ?"  "Ma,  what  is  that  ?"  instead  of 
chiding  it  with  an  "  Oh,  dear,  you  pother  me  to  death  with 
your  everlasting  questions,  do  hush  up,'^  take  pains  to  explain 
all,  and  even  to  excite  curiosity  to  know  more.  Take  your 
children  daily  into  your  fields,  or  gardens,  or  shops,  and  while 
you  are  procuring  them  the  means  of  physical  support  and 
comfort,  store  their  minds  with  useful  knowledge.  Even  if 
they  hinder  you,  rejoice  ;  remembering  that  you  are  developing 
their  immortal  minds — a  matter  of  infinitely  greater  impor- 
tance than  adorning  \\\&\x  persons,  or  leaving  them  rich. 

As  they  become  three  and  four  years  old,  take  them  to  the 
Museum  :  show  them  all  the  fish,  birds,  animals,  &c.  Tell 
them  all  that  is  known  about  the  habits,  actions,  and  condition 
of  each,  (dot* all  in  a  day,  or  in  a  year,)  and  provide  them  with 
books  on  natural  history,  with  explanatory  cuts,  (what,  for 
children  to  read  before  they  have  learned  their  letters?  no, 
but)  so  that,  as  they  clamber  upon  your  lap,  and  fold  their 
filial  arms  around  your  willing  neck,  you  may  show  them 


PARENTS  SHOULD  BE  TEACHERS.  23 

these  pictures,  and  read  what  is  said  of  the  habits,  dispositions, 
modes  of  hfe,  &c.  of  the  animals  represented.  Show  them  the 
minerals,  their  diversity,  colors,  kinds,  &c. ;  and  then  take  them 
into  the  laboratory  of  nature,  and  show  them  the  operations  of 
the  chemical  and  philosophical  world. 

Take  them  again  into  your  garden  ;  show  them  a  pretty- 
flower,  (reader,  did  you  ever  see  a  child  that  was  not  extra- 
ordinarily fond  of  flowers  ?)  show  them  its  parts  and  the  uses 
•of  each  ;  the  calyx  and  its  texture  and  location  as  adapted  to 
ih.e  protection  of  the  flower  ;  the  petals  and  their  oflice  ;  the 
stamens,  and  their  office  ;  the  pistil,  and  all  its  other  parts,  with 
the  uses  and  functions  of  each,  and  your  child  will  be  delighted 
beyond  measure.  The  next  day,  show  it  another  and  different 
flower ;  point  out  their  resemblances  and  differences,  and  you 
not  only  gratify,  or  rather  excite  and  develope  your  child^s  in- 
tellectual curiosity,  but  also  teach  it  to  analyze,  compare,  clas- 
sify, &c. — ^the  first  step  in  reasoning. 

"But  I  do  not  knoiu  enough,"  says  one  parent.  Then  go 
and  learn.  Let  young  ladies  spend  less  time  over  their  toilet, 
music,  love-tales,  parties,  "setting  their  caps,"  &c,,  so  that 
they  can  learn  the  more,  and  be  the  better  qualified  to  culti- 
vate the,  intellects  of  their  children.  Parents  are  solemnly 
bound,  in  duty  to  their  children  and  their  God,  not  to  become 
parents  till  they  are  qualified  to  educate  and  govern  their  chil- 
dren, 

"But  I  have  not  the  time,^^  says  another.  Then  you  should 
not  have  time  to  marry.  Take  time  first  to  do  what  is  most 
important.  But  more  hereafter  on  the  duties  of  parents  to 
educate  their  own  children,  and  also  on  the  qualifications 
requisite  for  this  most  responsible  office.  I  will  first  show 
how  to  educate  children,  and  then,  how  to  find  time  to  do  it. 
And  yet,  strange  inconsistency,  many  young  people  rush  head- 
long into  the  marriage  state,  totally  unqualified  to  train  up 
their  children,  either  intellectually  or  morally.  And  it  is  still 
wore  strange,  that,  with  all  the  interest  ioXi  in  this  subject,  and 
all  the  efforts  made  to  improve  it,  we  have  only  hiade  matters 
worse  ;  because,  the  modern  systems  of  education  are  not 
founded  in  the  nature  of  man  ;  but,  in  nearly  every  feature, 
are  in  direct  violation  of  that  nature,  especially  of  the  natures 
of  children. 


24  MEANS    OF    CULTIVATING    MEMORY. 

Having  thus  laid  the  foundation  of  education  in  observafiortj 
not  books,  I  proceed  to  build  its  j&rst  story,  which  consists 
in  the  cultivation  of 

•*  EVENTUALITY:* 

Desire  to  witness  or  make  experiments  ;  to  find  out  what  is  ;  to  know 
what  HAS  been,  and  to  ascertain  what  will  be  ;  love  of  knowledge  ; 
thirst  for  information  ;  desire  to  hear  and  relate  anecdotes  ;  recol- 
lection of  action,  phenomena,  occurrences,  circumstances,  historical 
facts,  the  news  of  the  day,  events,  &c. 

Adaptation. — Nature  is  one  great  theatre  of  action,  mo- 
tion, and  change.  These  changes  or  operations,  are  almost 
infinite  in  number  and  variety.  Rivers  are  ever  running,  the 
tides  ebbing  and  flowing ;  the  seasons  going  and  returning ; 
vegetation  springing  up,  arriving  at  maturity,  or  returning 
to  decay  ;  and  all  nature,  whether  animate  or  inanimate,  is 
undergoing  one  continual  round  of  changes.  Man,  so  far  from 
being  exempt  from  this  law,  is  a  perfect  illustration  of  it.  In- 
stead of  being  placed  in  the  midst  of  one  monotonous  now, 
one  unchanging  sameness,  his  heart  is  ever  beating,  blood  al- 
ways flowing,  lungs  ever  in  motion,  and  ijis  mind  (at  least  in 
its  waking  state)  experiencing  a  number  and  variety  of  inci- 
dents or  events  never  to  be  told  ;  for,  the  very  recital  of  them, 
would  only  double  their  number.  Innumerable  historical 
events  have  been  continually  transpiring  from  the  first  dawn 
of  human  existence  until  now,  widening  and  varying  with  the 
addition  of  every  successive  being  to  our  race.  To  be  placed 
in  a  one-condition  state,  in  which  no  changes  or  events  occur, 
would  preclude  all  happiness  ;  for,  the  very  experiencing  of 
pleasure  or  pain,  or  even  of  any  mental  exercise,  is  itself  r.ri 
event.  Even  the  sciences  themselves  are  only  an  enumera- 
tion, of  the  operations,  or  the  doings  of  nature.  Or,  in  case 
these  changes  existed,  if  man  had  no  primary  faculty  which 
could  take  cognizance  of  them,  or  remember  them,  nature 
would  be  a  sealed  book  ;  sufl'ering  and  enjoyment  impossible  ; 
experience,  our  main  guide  to  certain  knowledge,  and  the  best 
of  teachers,  unknown ;  and  all  the  memory  of  the  past  and 
even  of  our  own  existence,  obliterated. 

*  In  this  work,  little  attention  will  be  paid  to  the  order  in  which  the- 
intellectual  organs  are  usually  described,  but  they  will  be  taken  up  in 
that  connexion  which  will  best  illustrate  and  enforce  the  author's  ideas 
and  conclusions. 


MEANS    OF    CULTIVATING    EVENTUALITY.  25 

Eventuality,  therefore,  adapts  man  to  his  existence  in  a 
world  of  changes  and  events  ;  lays  up  rich  treasures  of  know- 
ledge ;  recalls  what  we  have  seen,  heard,  read,  or  experienced  ; 
is  the  main  store-house  of  experimental  knowledge  ;  and  aids 
reason  in  teaching  us  what  ivill  be  from  what  has  been.  The 
function  of  no  intellectual  faculty  is  more  important,  and  the 
loss  of  none,  more  injurious.  Its  development  follows  closely 
upon  that  of  Individuality ;  being  one  of  the  earliest  and 
strongest  intellectual  faculties  manifested  in  children.  Without 
this  to  retain  the  knowledge  they  are  hourly  acquiring,  they 
could  not  advance  a  single  step  in  acquiring  that  experimental 
knowledge  of  things,  the  application  of  which  is  indispensable 
in  every  thing  we  say  or  do.  The  constitution  of  the  human 
mind  requires  that  Individuality,  or  a  craving  curiosity  to  see 
every  thing;  should  be  developed  and  exercised  before  reason, 
or  any  other  intellectual  faculty  can  be  brought  into  action  ; 
and,  secondly,  that  Eventuality  or  the  memory  of  things  seen 
and  knowledge  acquired,  should  follow  next ;  and,  that  these 
two  mental  operations  should  constitute  the  main  body  of  all 
our  knowledge,  as  well  as  the  only  correct  basis  of  all  reason- 
ing. Inferences  not  drawn  irom.  facts,  or  not  founded  in  them, 
are  valueless.  Reason  without  facts,  is  like  an  eye  in  total 
darkness,  or  rather,  reasoning  cannot  exist  without  being  based 
on  facts ;  or,  more  properly,  reasoning  is  only  a  general  fact,  a 
law  which  governs  a  given  class  of  nature's  operations.  This 
arguing  and  drawing  inferences  independently  oi  facts  is  not 
reasoning,  it  is  only  guessing,  or  surmising,  or  giving  a  there- 
fore without  a  wherefore,  which  is  no  guide  to  truth,  and 

worse  than  valueless;  for,  like  an  "ignis  fatuus,"  it  only  m,is~ 
leads. 

These  remarks,  though  they  present  the  function  of  Event- 
uality in  its  true  light,  by  no  means  do  j  ustice  to  its  importance, 
which  it  is  impossible  for  words  to  express.  Still,  they  show 
the  necessity  of  its  cultivation  in  children,  and  that  every  other 
faculty,  except  observation,  which  is  its  twin-sister,  must  give 
way  to  its  early  improvement.     I  shall  next  consider 

THE    MEANS    OF    STRENGTHENING   MEMORY    OF    EVENTS. 

This  can  be  effected  only  by  calling  it  into  vigorous  and 
habitual  exercise  ;  and  this  must  be  done,  particularly  in 
children,  by  keeping  before  the  mind  interesting  events  to  be 


26  CULTIVATING    MEMORY    OP    EVENTS. 

remembered.  All  this  can  not  be  done  in  school ;  for,  little 
occurs  there  to  be  remembered  except  their  plays.  A  short 
story  will  best  illustrate  and  enforce  this  point. 

A  teaciier  taking  a  little  girl  upon  his  knee,  asked  her  if  she 
went  to  school,    "Yes,  sir,"  said  she.     "And  what  do  you  do 
in  school  ?"  inquired  he  ;  "I  set  on  a  bench  and  say  e/^,"  was 
her  answer.     Children  from  three  years  old  and  upwards,  are 
sent  to  school  to  set  on  a  bench  and  say  A ;  or,  to  spell  A  B,  ab ; 
or,  B  A,  ba,  K  E  R,  ker,  ba-ker,  &c.,  which  they  do  by  rote, 
just  as  a  parrot  says  "pretty  poUy,"  and  know  just  as  much 
about  it,  and  it  does  them  "nearly  "  as  much  good  ;  whereas, 
confining  them  in-doors,  preventing  their  taking  exercise,  even 
to  their  nestling  or  moving  on  their  seats,  (for  which  they  are 
often  punished,)  and  also  compelling  them  to  breathe  a  vitiated 
atmosphere,  does  them  a  thousand  fold  more  harm  than  saying 
«/^  does  them  good.     Strange  that  parents  and  teachers  have  so 
long  violated  this  leading  principle  of  intellectual  culture,  and 
no  wonder  that  so  many  are  consequently  cursed  with  treach- 
erous memories.     Swing  up  the  arm  or  foot  of  a  child  six  or 
more  hours  daily,  for  years,  and  punish  it  for  moving  it,  and 
see  if  it  does  not  become  as  feeble  as  the  memories  of  most 
persons  now  are ;  and,  for  precisely  the  same  reason — inaction. 
In  addition  to  this,  children  are  required  to  remember  what 
does  not  at  all  interest  them.     Of  what  interest  to  them  is  the 
calling  of  a  certain  shape  by  A ;  of  another,  by  B.,  &c. ;  or  that 
a  b  spell  ab  ?     Just  the  same  that  "pretty  poUy"  is  to  the  par- 
rot, and  for  the  same  reason.     But  only  tell  them  a  story,  or 
just  show  and  explain  passing  things  to  them,  and  they  are 
instantly  electrified  with  interest.     Their  attention  is  riveted, 
and  their  memory  of  the  story,  or  of  the  thing  seen,  is  power- 
fully excited,  and  the  organ  of  Eventuality  exercised,  and 
thereby  enlarged. 

Do  you  ask,  then,  what  course  of  early  education  Phren- 
ology points  out  ?  1  answer  :  Show  them  things,  and  ivhat 
things  do.  Tell  thern  stories,  and  exhibit  to  them  the  opera- 
tions of  nature  first  ;  teach  them  to  read  and  spell  afterward. 
Have  you,  mothers  and  nurses,  never  seen  children  open 
their  eyes  with  the  dawn  of  day,  and  plead  "mother,  tell  me 
a  story," — "please,  mother,  do  tell  me  a  story  ?"  And  have 
you  never  heard  the  impatient  answer,  "Ohush;  I've  told 


THIS    METHOD    TAUGHT    IN    THE    BIBLE.  27 

you  all  the  stories  I  know  ?"  I  know  nothing  that  will  stop 
a  child's  crying,  quicker  than  telling  it  a  story.  I  know  of  no 
mode  equally  delightful  to  them,  and,  I  might  add,  equally 
profitable. 

.There  is  a  vast  amount  ol  common  sense  and  human  nature 
in  the  Bible.  To  say  nothing  of  its  authenticity,  how  perfectly 
does  it  harmonize  with  this  principle,  when  it  directs  the  Jews 
to  "tell  the  Lord's  doings  to  their  children,  and  their  childrens* 
children,  and  they  again  to  theirs,  by  the  way -side,  and  by  the 
fire-side,  when  you  lie  down,  and  when  you  rise  up.'* 
"Write  them  upon  the  doors,"  &c,,  "that  they  may  be  a 
perpetual  token  of  remembrance,"  &c.  In  other  words  :  Tell 
your  children,  your  grand-children,  and  your  great  grand- 
children stories  of  God's  dealings  with  the  children  of 
Israel ;  their  sojourn  in  Egypt ;  their  departure  ;  their  wander- 
ings in  the  desert ;  their  rebellions,  and  all  the  incidents  con- 
nected with  Jewish  history.  The  tenacious  adherence  of  this 
nation  to  their  ancient  customs,  renders  it  highly  probable  that 
this  injunction  is  followed  more  or  less  to  this  day ;  and, 
accordingly,  I  have  invariably  found  Eventuality  surprisingly 
large  in  Jews  ;  larger  than  in  any  other  class.  It  is  probably 
not  too  much  to  add,  that  our  best  oriental  and  historical 
scholars  are  Jews.  From  what  I  have  seen  of  them  in  this 
respect,  I  unhesitatingly  assert,  that  they  far  exceed  any  other 
geople.  But  of  this,  the  reader  can  judge  for  himself.  What 
history  equals  that  of  Josephus  for  accuracy  or  minuteness  of 
detail  ?  And  is  not  the  Bible,  considered  merely  as  a  history^ 
characterized  for  the  same  qualities  ? 

Again  :  the  North  American  Indians  perpetuate  their  histo- 
ries in  the  memories  of  the  rising  race.  The  old  grand-father, 
too  feeble  to  wield  the  tomahawk  or  chase  the  stag,  takes  his 
little  grand-son  upon  his  knee,  and  recounts  to  him,  with  a 
minuteness  and  accuracy  of  which  we  can  form  no  idea,  the 
battles  he  has  fought,  the  enemies  he  has  killed,  and  the  man- 
ner of  killing  them,  his  journeys  and  every  little  circumstance 
connected  therewith,  even  to  the  starting  of  a  deer,  or  the  fly- 
ing of  an  owl;  as  well  as  the  aspect  of  the  country,  the 
mountains  crossed,  and  rivers  forded,  and  their  windings,  &c. 
A  specimen  of  their  astonishing  powers  of  recollecting  and 
narrating,  is  to  be  found  in  the  life  of  Blackhawk,  dictated  by 


S8  CULTIVATION   OF    MEMORY    IN    CHILDREN. 

him  to  an  interpreter  after  his  first  visit  to  this  country,  some 
of  which  was  extracted  into  the  Phrenological  Journal,  Vol.  I, 
No.  2.  That  article  the  writer  prepared  ;  and,  in  looking  over 
the  work  for  selections  to  illustrate  his  developments,  I  was 
surprised  at  the  perspicuity  and  minuteness  of  details  of  his 
story.  Beginning  back  at  the  time  when  his  tribe  inhabited 
Montreal,  he  related,  and  that  at  the  age  of  70,  those  prophetic 
revelations  which  preceded  their  removal,  and  all  the  incidents 
of  their  successive  journeys  as  the  whites  drove  them  back, 
and  still  farther  back  ;  the  particulars  of  his  joining  Tecumseh 
in  fighting  against  Gen.  Harrison  ;  the  details  of  the  war  in 
which  he  was  taken  prisoner  ;  the  injustice  of  the  whites  ;  his 
travels  through  the  United  States ;  whom  he  saw,  and  what 
was  said  on  various  occasions,  &c.,  &c.,  with  a  precision 
of  detail  which  is  rarely  if  ever  found  in  our.  own  race.  I 
hazard  nothing  in  saying,  that  the  Indians  know  more  of  their 
national  history  than  the  Anglo-Saxons  do  of  theirs ;  because, 
the  former  tell  it  to  their  children  in  the  form  of  stories,  while 
the  latter  put  it  in  their  libraries,  and  teach  their  children  to 
"set  on  a  bench  and  say  A."  Let  the  two  but  be  united — 
the  very  course  I  propose  to  pursue — and  the  attainments  of 
our  children  would  doubtless  be  incredible,  far  exceeding  any 
thing  now  known. 

Let  every  reader  ask  himself  whether  he  does  not  remember 
the  incidents  and  stories  of  childhood  with  a  clearness  and 
minuteness  with  which  his  present  memory  bears  no  compari- 
son ?  But  why  this  weakening  of  this  kind  of  memory  ?  Be- 
cause you  sat  "on  a  bench  and  said  A ;"  that  is,  because  your 
early  education  repressed  instead  of  exciting  Eventuality  ;  so 
that  its  inaction  diminished  it,  and  not  because  the  constitution 
of  man  requires  it  to  become  enfeebled  by  age.  You  had 
nothing  to  remember,  and  therefore  remembered  nothing.  And 
if  you  wish  to  improve  your  memory,  go  to  remembering ; 
for,  the  more  you  try  to  remember,  the  more  you  do  remember, " 
and  the  more  you  remember,  the  better  you  are  able  to  remem- 
ber. It  is  a  mistaken  notion,  that  the  more  you  tax  your 
memory,  the  less  you  remember.  The  reverse  is  the  fact, 
fact,  unless  other  things  confuse  you,  and  wear  out  your  brain. 
Ask  our  post-office  clerks,  if  they  do  not  find  their  memories  of 
names,  faces,  changes  ordered,  &c.,  to  improve  instead  of  be- 


THE  author's  experience.  29 

coming  weaker.  Many  a  lesson  of  this  character  have  my 
travels  taught  me.  In  South  Boston,  I  requested  several  omni- 
bus drivers  to  do  errands  in  Boston,  to  bring  over  one  thing  and 
another,  and  noticed  that  they  never  took  a  memorandum  of 
the  errand,  and  never  made  a  mistake.  They  often  do  twenty 
errands  at  a  trip,  and  do  not  put  down  a  single  one  on  paper ; 
yet  seldom  make  a  mistake.  The  second  time  I  went  to  the 
post-office  in  Boston,  the  clerk,  without  looking  over  the  letters, 
told  me  I  had  none.  I  requested  him  to  look.  He  said  it 
was  of  no  use,  still,  to  satisfy  me,  he  looked,  but  found  none  ; 
and,  scores  of  times,  he  told  me  that  there  was,  or  there  was 
not,  any  thing  for  me,  the  moment  he  saw  my  face,  without 
my  being  able  to  detect  a  single  mistake.  If  he  said  yes,  he 
found  something  ;  if  no,  nothing.  Must  it  not  require  a  most 
extraordinary  act  of  memory  to  tell  whether  any  of  the  vast 
number  of  mails  arriving  daily,  brought  a  letter  for  me  or  not, 
or  for  any  of  the  thousands  who  were  constantly  applying, 
whether  strangers,  as  I  was,  or  citizens?  Yet,  doubtless, 
every  reader  of  these  pages,  might  have  had,  perhaps  can  yet 
obtain,  as  good  a  memory  about  some  things,  if  not  every  thing, 
as  this  clerk  has. 

My  own  experience  on  this  point  is,  perhaps,  worth 
relating.  From  the  first,  I  have  practised  giving  writtn 
descriptions  of  character  along  with  charts ;  and,  when  a  com- 
pany was  examined,  or  when  several  examinations  were  made 
in  succession,  being  compelled  to  postpone  the  writing  till  I 
had  more  leisure,  I  charged  my  memory  with  two  things ;  first, 
the  size  of  every  organ  in  each  person  examined ;  and,  secondly, 
with  what  I  said  about  each,  until  I  could  write  them  out, 
which  often  was  not  till  days  afterward,  and  till  hundreds  in 
the  mean  time  had  been  examined.  I  sometimes  took  memo- 
randa at  the  time,  but  would  not  look  at  them  till  I  had 
written  what  I  remembered,  and  have  seldom  had  occasion  to 
add  any  thing.  When  I  did  not  charge  my  mind  with  the 
examination,  it  passed  out  of  it  as  the  person  left  the  room, 
unless  it  was  worthy  of  being  remembered,  or  unless  my  brain 
was  exhausted  by  fatigue.  To  say  that  my  memory,  not 
only  of  examinations,  but  also  of  places,  faces,  and  the  size  of 
organs,  has  doubled  several  times,  is  to  fall  short  of  the  fact. 
It  is  rare  that  a  circumstance,  though  trifling  in  itself,  is  men- 
tioned as  connected  with  my  visit  to  a  certain  place  or  family, 


30  NOTE    DOWN    THINGS    TO    BE    REMEMBERED. 

which  is  not  remembered,  the  only  difficulty  being  in  remem- 
bering names — a  point  to  which,  till  recently,  I  never  attended : 
and  now,  only  shghtly.  In  Boston,  having  occasion  to  order 
an  article  by  packet  from  Philadelphia,  on  taknig  out  my 
pencil  to  write  the  names  of  the  ship  and  captain,  its  leads 
were  out,  and  no  means  of  making  the  momoranda  were  at 
hand.  Applying  this  principle,  I  thought  it  over  and  over  and 
over  again,  till  "The  Robt.  Wain,"  Capt.  Martin,  was  indelibly 
impressed  upon  my  recollection.  In  visiting  families — and  I 
often  have  appointments  every  evening  for  three  weeks  ahead 

I  never  allow  myself  to  note  down  either  name,  date,  street, 

number,  or  hour,  or  the  number  to  be  examined,  and  all  from. 
practising  the  principle  I  am  urging.  Nor  would  the  gold  of 
the  world,  if  such  a  thing  were  possible,  buy  of  me  the  mere 
improvement  in  the  various  kinds  of  memory  effected  by 
applying  this  principle.  Let  the  reader  practise  it,  and  in  five 
years,  he,  too,  will  say  the  same.  Nay,  more.  Doubtless 
every  reader  may  double  the  power  of  any  kin:!,  or  of  all 
kinds,  of  memory  in  six  months,  and  improve  it  fifty  per  cent 
in  one  month.  At  least,  it  is  worth  the  trial — winch  consists 
only  in  the  vigorous  and  habitual  exercise  of  your  mind  upon 
what  you  wish  to  remember — a  simple  remedy,  but  a  glorious 
result. 

Following  out  this  principle,  I  seldom  lecture  from  notes, 
but  from  memory  alone ;  though  never  commit,  in  which,  not 
having  practised,  I  do  not  excel.  My  work  on  Phrenology 
was  composed,  not  from  notes,  but  from  recollecting  the  heads 
and  characters  of  those  described  in  it ;  and  I  could  fill  ten 
more  just  such  volumes  from  the  same  source,  witl  out  depart- 
ing one  iota  from  what  was  said  at  the  examina  :ion,  except 
omitting  unimportant  parts. 

These  remarks  about  myself,  which  might  be  greatly  ex- 
tended, are  not  prompted  by  a  boastful  spirit ;  for,  I  claim  no 
great  credit  for  doing  what  my  business  cotnpels  me  to  do  ; 
but,  by  a  desire  to  present  the  reader  with  a  scene  from  real 
life  as  a  sample  of  the  means  of  exercising,  and  thereby  im- 
proving, the  powers  of  memory,  especially  of  Eventuality,  as 
well  as  to  illustrate  the  great  law  on  which  the  education  of 
the  opening  mind  should  be  conducted.  I  will  just  add,  that 
the  study  of  Phrenology  far  exceeds  all  the  mental  exercises  I 


IN  THE  HEAD,  NOT  IN  THE  POCKET,  31 

ever  experienced  or  read  of,  for  disciplining  the  memory,  and 
improving  the  mind.  Its  study  is,  therefore,  cordially  recom- 
mended not  only  on  account  of  the  glorious  truths  and  rich 
mines  of  thought  it  opens,  but  merely  as  a  means  of  strength- 
ening the  memory  and  improving  the  mind.  But  more  of 
this  after  I  have  analyzed  the  other  intellectual  faculties. 

Were  other  illustrations  of  the  extent  to  which  memory 
may  be  improved  by  exercising  it,  necessary,  I  might  state  cases 
related  to  me  in  my  practice.  Mr.  White,  dentist,  Tenth 
street,  near  George,  Philadelphia,  informs  me  that  his  wife's 
uncle,  who  resides  near  Reading,  Pa.,  was  unable  to  readj 
or  write,  or  keep  books,  and  yet,  that  he  usually  did  business 
to  the  amount  of  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars,  annually, 
without  ever  having  been  known  to  make  a  mistake  as  to  the 
amount  due  from  him  or  to  him,  till  after  he  became  intem- 
perate. 

After  giving  this  lecture  in  Clinton  Hall,  in  February  last, 
a  gentleman  stated  to  me  that  he  knew  an  extensive  drover 
in  the  New  York  market,  who  could  not  read,  write,  or  keep 
books  ;  yet,  who  would  sell  out  a  drove  of  hundreds  of  cattle, 
one  to  one  man,  another  to  another,  a  half  to  a  third,  and  a 
quarter  to  another,  and  yet,  keep  every  one  in  his  head,  their 
weight  and  price,  and  amount  due  from  each  ;  and,  said  he, 
"  I  never  knew  a  single  mistake  ;  and,  what  is  more,  he  will 
do  the  same  of  droves  sold  years  ago."     He  stated  it  as  his  full 
conviction,  that  he  never  forgot  a  single  hoof  he  ever  sold,  or 
its  weight,  or  price,  or  purchaser.     If  the  reader  thinks  that 
this  draws  too  largely  upon  his  Marvellousness,  I  reply,  wait 
a  little  •,  for,  you  may  yet  see  collateral  evidence  of  its  truth.  I 
give  it  as  my  full  and  deliberate  opinion,  that  the  mind  of  man 
is  so  constituted  as  to  be  able,  if  the  organs  be  fully  developed 
and  mind  properly  disciplined,  and  if  the  body  be  kept  in  the 
right  state,  to  retain  evert  thing  it  ever  received.     Unques- 
tionably, our  memories  are  originally  constituted  to  be  fact 
tight — to  let  no  event  of  our  lives,  nothing  ever  seen,  heard, 
or  read,  escape  us,  but  to  recall  every  thing  committed  to  its 
trust.     Look  at  the  astonishingly  retentive  memories  of  chil- 
dren.    And  yet  their  brains  are  still  soft  and  immature.  What, 
then  might  the  memory  of  adults  become  ?     As  much  strong- 
er, more  minute,  and  tenacious,  as  their  brains  are  capable  of 


32  EXPERIENCE    OF    m'gRUIGAN. 

becoming  more  solid  and  vigorous.  But  modern  education 
weakens,  instead  of  improving  the  memory  ;  first,  by  relaxing, 
weakening,  and  almost  destroying  the  tone  and  power  of  the 
body,  and  thereby  the  vigor  of  the  organs  in  the  base  of  the 
brain,  including  the  perceptive  or  knowing  organs,*  and, 
secondly,  by  giving  them,  especially  Eventuality,  little  stimu- 
lus, little  food,  so  that  it  becomes  enfeebled  by  sheer  starvation 
and  inaction.  It  has  little  to  do,  and  therefore  does  not  do 
that  little  ;  carrying  out  the  principle  that  "  From  him  that 
hath  not,  shall  be  taken  away  even  that  he  hathP 

A  similar  fact,  but  one  still  more  in  point,  occurs  in  the  case 
of  Mr.  McGruigan,  of  Milton,  Pa.  In  1836,  I  examined  his 
head,  and  found  all  the  intellectual  organs  amply  (ieveloped. 
I  well  remember  the  bold  prominences  of  Casuality,  as  well  as 
the  perpendicular  ridge,  somewhat  resembling  a  part  of  a  pipe 
stem,  extending  upwards  through  the  centre  of  the  forehead, 
which  indicates  the  recent  enlargement  of  this  organ.  In  my 
visit  to  Chambersburg,  Pa.,  in  1S39,  he  waited  on  me  to  re- 
quest an  hour's  interview.  He  then  expressed  himself  in  the 
strongest  terms  as  to  the  extent  to  which  memory  was  capable 
of  being  improved,  expressing  the  strongest  desire  to  be,  what 
his  age  and  circumstances  prevented  his  becoming,  a  public 
lecturer,  simply  that  he  might  enforce  upon  young  men  the 
importance  of  memory,  and  the  means  of  cultivating  it. 

He  said  that  at  twenty-five,  his  memory  was  most  misera 
ble.  If  he  went  from  his  house  to  his  shop  for  any  thing,  he 
usually  forgot  what  he  went  for.  If  he  went  to  town,  he  for- 
got most  of  his  errands.  He  could  not  recollect  any  thing  he 
read  or  heard,  neither  names,  nor  words,  nor  dates,  nor  facts. 
At  length  he  resolved  no  longer  to  submit  to  this  forgetfulness, 
but  to  discipline  his  memory,  iii  doing  which  he  adopted  the 
following  method.  When  he  wanted  any  thing  from  his 
house,  he  would  think  over  and  over  in  his  mind  what  it  was 
that  he  wanted,  thus  exercising  his  Eventuality  upon  it,  and 
thereby  remembered  it.  He  would  read  a  passage  and  re-read 
it,  and  then  think  it  over  and  over,  or,  in  phrenological  lan- 
guage, would  exercise  his  Eventuality  upon  it,  strongly  im- 
pressing it  upon  this  faculty.     He  would  then  lay  by  his  book, 

*  The  proof  and  explanation  of  the  relative  or  reciprocal  influences 
between  the  body  and  the  base  of  the  brain,  will  be  given  hereafter. 


THE    EXTENT    OF    HIS    KNOWLEDGE.  33 

and  still  revolve  it  in  his  mind,  and  then  read  another  passage, 
and  go  through  the  same  process  in  reference  to  both  together, 
and  so  on  with  the  entire  book  ;  thus  constantly  exercising  his 
Eventuality.  After  a  little,  he  could  keep  the  history  of  two 
books,andthenof  three,  and  four,  each  clearly  before  his  mind 
at  once,  and  carry  them  along  in  his  memory  as  he  reads  them. 

But  he  found  that  he  forgot  names.  He  pursued  the  same 
course  in  reference  to  this  kind  of  memory,  and  thus  improved 
it  also.  But  he  observed  that  he  forgot  where  on  the  page  he 
left  off,  and  was  obliged  to  turn  down  a  leaf.  This  would  not ' 
do.  He  each  time  impressed  upon  his  Locality  where  he  left 
off,  and  that  in  each  book,  and  shortly  found  this  kind  of 
memory  likewise  improved.  He  also  exercised  his  Causality 
in  philosophizing  upon  what  he  read.  Now,  if  Phrenology  be 
true,  his  organs  of  Eventuality,  Locality,  Language,  &c.,  must 
once  have  been  small,  but  now  they  are  all  large,  showing 
their  increase  by  exercise,  and  he  informed  me  that  now,  at 
sixty  years  of  age,  his  mind  is  more  vigorous,  and  his  memory 
more  retentive,  than  ever  before — that  it  still  continues  to  im- 
prove, though  at  his  age,  all  kinds  cf  memory  are  usually  fee- 
ble and  declining. 

Let  it  be  observed,  that  he  adopted  the  very  method  to  in- 
crease his  organs  pointed  out  by  Phrenology,  namely,  the 
vigo7'ous  exercise  of  the  very  powers  he  wished  to  improve. 
He  is  a-cknowledged  to  have  the  best  memory,  and  to  be  the 
best  informed  man  in  central  Pennsylvania.  Lawyers,  doc- 
tors, and  the  literati  from  all  that  section,  go  to  him  to  obtain 
information  on  doubtful  points,  and  deem  it  a  great  privilege 
to  hear  him  discourse,  and  to  gather  that  information  which  his 
extensive  reading  and  perfectly  retentive  memory  enables 
him  to  impart.  You  who  have  poor  memories,  go  and  do 
likewise ;  for,  your  memories,  equally  with  his,  are  susceptible 
of  improvement,  and  probably  to  as  great  a  degree,  provided 
your  constitutions  are  unimpaired,  health  good,  and  regimen 
proper. 

This  case  furnishes  an  additional  fact  to  prove  that  the  or- 
gans are  capable  of  being  increased ;  for,  if  Phrenology  be 
true.  Eventuality  must  have  been  small  at  twenty-five  ;  but 
it  has  now  become  large,  from  its  exercise. 

3 


34      IMPROVING    THE    MEMORY   BY   REVIEWING   THE    PAST. 

Elihu  Burritt,  the  learned  blacksmith,  is  another  example 
of  what  man's  mind  is  capable  of  accomplishing.  [See  Jour- 
nal, Vol.  Ill,  p.  27.] 

Parentage  unquestionably  contributes  its  quota  to  this  result, 
but  education  must  perfect  it.  Nearly  all  children  have  pro- 
digious Eventuality,  and  all  adults  might  have  it,  if  they 
would  but  tax  their  memories.  If  Mr.  Burritt's  case  does  not 
prove  that  all  can  be  Burritt's,  Mr.  McGruigan's  goes  far  to 
favor  that  all  may  be  McGruigans.  Reader,  only  try  the  ex- 
periment as  directed,  and  I  will  stand  sponsor  for  any /aeVwre 
except  your  failure  to  persevere  in  trying;  it — you  giving 
credit  in  case  of  a  successful  issue. 

I  might  sustain  and  enforce  the  point  I  am  now  urging  by 
almost  any  number  and  variety  of  similar  facts,  and  afford 
additional  encouragements  to  those  who  are  disposed  to  try  it, 
but  if  what  has  already  been  said,  is  not  abundantly  sufficient, 
both  to  prove  our  position,  and  to  encourage,  especially  the 
young,  to  adopt  the  simple  and  easy  course  pointed  out,  addi- 
tional labor  would  be  in  vain.  Still,  that  he  that  runs  may 
read,  and  that  no  stone  may  be  left  unturned  in  order  to  ele- 
vate the  intellectual  character  and  standing  of  man,  I  will  add 
a  few  directions,  as  samples  of  what  is  to  be  done,  and  how 
to  do  it. 

When  you  retire  at  night,  devote  fifteen  minutes  to  a  review 
of  the  events,  sayings,  and  transactions  of  each  day.  Thus  : 
I  rose  (Eventuality)  this  morning  at  six  o'clock,  (Time,)  went 
to  such  places,  (Eeventuality  and  Locality,)  and  did  such  and 
such  things  (Eventuality)  before  breakfast,  (Time,)  which  I 
a*e  at  seven  o'clock,  (Time,)  said  and  heard  such  and  such 
things  at  breafast,  (here  recall  the  subject-matter  of  conversa- 
tion,) went  about  such  a  business,  (Eventuality,)  saw  Mr. 

(Form,)  who  said  such  and  such  things,  (Eventuality  and  Lan- 
guage.) This  angered  me,  and  I  said  thus  and  so  in  reply, 
(but  I  ought  not  to  have  lost  my  temper,  and  will  avoid  it  in 
future,)  and  so  on  to  the  end  of  the  day.  Every  Saturday 
evening,  extend  these  reviews  of  the  past  through  the  week 
and  then  often  recall  the  events  of  childhood  and  youth.  This 
course,  besides  disciplining  your  memoj-ies,  teaches  you  one  of 
the  very  best  lessons  you  can  possibly  learn.  It  will  enable 
you  to  see  your  past  errors,  and  to  avoid  them  for  the  future 


RENDERING   REMEMBRANCE    PLEASURABLE.  35 

—will  give  you  a  just  estimate  of  your  doings,  sayings,  &c., 
and,  though  it  may  cause  you  to  drop  a  tear  of  penitence  over 
the  wrong  in  feeling,  conduct,  expression,  &c.,  yet  it  will  be 
the  most  effective  instrument  of  reform  and  self-control  you 
can  employ ;  because,  the  pain  felt  in  contemplating  the  wrong, 
and  the  pleasure  connected  with  a  review  of  the  good  and  the 
virtuous,  will  instinctively  lead  you  to  avoid  the  former  and 
practice  the  latter ;  and  for  precisely  the  same  reason  that  a 
burnt  child  keeps  out  of  the  fire,  namely,  because  it  pained 
him,  or  that  a  happy  man  seeks  again  and  again  the  cause  of 
that  happiness.  Does  not  this  course  commend  itself  to  the 
good  sense  of  the  reader,  at  least  enough  to  secure  a  trial  ? 

This  same  course  should  be  pursued  by  parents  and  teachers 
in  regard  to  children.  Ask  them  what  they  have  seen  to-day, 
and  when  they  have  told  you  one  or  more  things,  ask  them 
what  else,  and  then  what  else,  and  get  them  to  tell  over  all 
the  particulars  of  the  doings  of  the  day,  which  will  cultivate 
their  Language  as  well  as  Eventuality.  Then  induce  them 
to  tell  over  what  they  saw  at  such  and  such  times  that  you 
may  name  ;  to  tell  you  the  story  you  told  them  about  Franklin, 
or  Washington,  or  the  Revolution,  &c.,  which  may  have  before 
been  told  them.  Let  the  elder  children  tell  stories  to  the 
younger,  and  let  the  aged  and  doting  grand-father  tell  them 
the  habits  and  customs  of  men  when  he  was  a  boy,  and  recount 
to  them  the  scenes  of  his  youth,  &c. 

Closely  connected  with  this  subject,  is  one  of  great  import- 
ance, namely,  having  the  recollections  of  childhood  and  youth 
all  pleasurable,  Man  not  only  recalls  the  past,  but  he  enjoys 
or  suffers  from  these  recollections.  A  single  dark  spot,  a 
single  act  of  our  lives  that  leaves  a  moral  stain  upon  the  disk 
of  memory,  is  ever  afterwards  capable  of  piercing  us  with  the 
keenest  of  pangs,  while  the  recollection  of  what  is  pleasurable, 
throws  a  bright  beam  of  happiness  upon  us  every  time  it  is 
recalled,  equal  to  that  experienced  in  the  event  itself,  which 
thus  doubles  the  pleasure  connected  with  the  event  a  thousand 
fold.  Hence,  it  is  immensely  important  that  all  our  recollec- 
tions should  be  pleasurable — that  childhood  and  youth  should 
be  made,  and  should  render  themselves  as  happy  as  possible  ;; 
which  will  greatly  facilitate  and  induce  that  exercise,  and 
consequent  improvement,  of  the  memory  I  am  urging. 


36  SHOWING    CHILDREN    EXPERIMENTS. 

I  now  put  it  to  the  common  sense  of  every  reflecting  mind 
whether  the  course  thus  far  pointed  out,  does  not  commend 
itself  to  every  reflecting  mind  as  infinitely  superior  to  the  pres- 
ent method  of  educating  children?  whether  it  does  not  account 
for  the  miserably  poor  memories  of  most  adults,  by  attributing 
it  to  their  not  being  exercised  ?  whether  this  not  exercising 
the  memory  is  not  caused  by  children's  want  of  interest  in  the 
common  studies  of  the  schools  ?  and  whether  this  course  is  not 
IQ  perfect  harmony  with  the  nature,  laws,  and  action  of  mind 
particularly  in  children  ?     Jf  so,  let  it  be  adopted. 

Another  important  suggestion,  growing  out  of  this  analysis 
of  Eventuality  is,  showing  children  experiments,  chemical, 
philosophical,  &c.  &c.      "  What  !^'   exclaims  an  astounded 
reader,  "  teach  children  chemistry,  natural  philosophy,  natural 
history,  &c.,  and  that  before  they  are  taught  to  read?     I 
thought  you  were  a  crazy  simpleton  before,  but  now  I  know 
you  are."     Wait,  reader,   till   we  see  whether  this  craziness 
and  utter  folly  do  not  appertain  to  the  present  course  of  early 
education,  instead  of    to   this  phrenological  course.     After 
showing  the  child  things,  flowers,  animals,  the  contents  of  mu- 
seums, &c.,  as  pointed  out  under  the  head  of  Individuality,  and 
telling  them  stories,  and  exciting  their  Eventuality,  as  just 
described,  show  them  the  changes  and  phenomena  of  matter. 
Show  them  the  whole  process  of  vegetation,  from  planting  the 
seed  in  the  ground,  up  through  all  of  its  changes  of  swelling, 
sprouting,  taking  root,  shooting  forth  out  of  the  ground,  be- 
coming a  thriving  plant  or  vegetable,  budding,  blossoming"! 
shedding  its  blossoms,  and  producing  seed  hke  that  from  which 
it  sprung.     And  what  if,  in  thus  examining  these  most  inter- 
esting changes,  they  do  pull  up  now  and  then  a  blade  of  corn, 
or  kernel  of  wheat,  or  a  valuable  plant,  will  not  the  pleasure 
and  instruction  thereby  afforded  them,  repay  the  loss  a  thou- 
sand fold?     Show  them  how  acorns  produce  oaks;  peach  or 
cherry  stones  peach  or  cherry   trees,  which   again  produce 
peaches  or  cherries,  and  so  of  other  trees  and  things.     Then 
put  a  spoonful  of  vinegar  into  a  glass  of  water,  and  stir  in 
ashes  or  pearlash,  or  any  other  alkali,  and  watch  their  surprise 
and  delight  at    seeing   it  foam    and  froth,  perhaps  run  over. 
Then  explain  to  them  the  manner  in  which  pearlash  is  made 
by  draining  water  through  lye,  boiling  down  the  lye  till  it  be- 


SHOWING    CHILDREN    EXPERIMENTS.  37 

comes  thick  arivl  hard,  then  melting  it,  and  at  last  refining  it ; 
and  then  show  them  how  it  is  that  taking  this  alkali  in  the 
form  of  pearlash,  or  even  by  drinking  water  into  which  ashes 
have  been  put,  is  calculated  to  cleanse  a  sour  stomach  by  the 
acid  and  alkali  combining  and  neutralizing  each  other. 

Then  show  them  how  a  sour  stomach  is  produced.  After 
explaining  the  position,  looks,  and  office  of  the  stomach,*  tell 
them  that  eating  too  much,  or  more  than  the  stomach  can  di- 
gest, makes  this  food  lie  in  it  so  long  that  it  begins  to  ferment 
or  sour,  like  cider  or  beer,  which  disorders  the  blood,  and 
causes  sickness  unless  removed ;  that  this  souring  creates  a 
gas,  which  may  often  be  seen  blubbering  up  and  the  bubbles 
breaking ;  that,  in  distilling  grain  into  alcoholic  drinks,  the 
grain  is  first  fermented,  and  this  gas  converted  into  alcohol ; 
that  it  is  this  same  gas  which  sometimes  bursts  a  barrel  of  new 
cider  or  bottle  of  beer  that  is  working,  and  makes  the  cork  fly 
out  with  a  noise  or  explosion  similar  to  the  report  of  a  gun, 
and  which  causes  the  frothing  of  new  beer,  cider,  cham- 
pagne, &c. 

Then  take  a  bladder,  partly  filled  with  air ;  let  your  child 
hold  it  near  the  fire  and  see  it  swell,  and  carry  it  back  and  see 
it  shrink,  carry  it  up  and  see  it  swell,  etc.,  a  few  times,  and  he 
will  be  delighted  to  observe  that  heating  it  makes  it  swell  up, 
and  that  cold  shrinks  it.  Then  let  him  take  a  vial  or  bottle, 
and  fill  it  so  that  another  drop  will  make  it  run  over,  and  set 
it  down  before  the  fire  ;  and,  as  it  becomes  hot,  it  runs  over  ; 
as  it  becomes  cool,  it  settles  down.  Then,  that  this  expanding 
of  the  water  is  what  makes  water  boil  over  a  hot  fire  ;  the 
bottom  which  is  hottest,  expands,  and  this  causes  it  to  rise. 
A  few  similar  experiments  will  teach  your  child  one  great 
truth  ;  the  law  of  nature  that  heat  expands,  and  cold  contracts, 
all  bodies ;  that,  therefore,  a  clock  or  watch  goes  slower  in 
warm  weather  than  in  cold,  because  the  pendulum  is  longer  ; 
that  a  red-hot  tire,  put  on  to  a  wagon-wheel,  may%e  compara- 
tively loose  ;  but  as  it  cools,  it  becomes  very  tight,  so  as  to  make 

*  Few  children," even  of  twelve  years  old,  know  that  they  have  a 
stomach.  They  know  that  fowls  have  gizzards,  and  cattle,  hogs,  &c., 
paunches,  (which 'some  people  relish,)  because  they  have  seen  them 
butchered  ;  yet,  do  not  know  that  they  also  have  a  digesting  apparatus 
for  disposing  of  the  food  daily  consumed. 


38  COMPARISON    AND    ITS    ADAPTATION. 

the  wheel  strong,  &c.  And  remember,  that  when  you  have 
taught  them  this  law  of  nature,  you  have  taught  them  a  lesson 
they  will  never  forget ;  a  lesson  they  will  have  occasion  almost 
daily  to  use,  a  principle  with  which  they  will  instinctively 
associate  every  like  fact  they  ever  learn,  which,  without  this 
association,  would  soon  be  forgotten  ;  a  lesson  in  reasoning, 
or  the  first  complete,  and  the  most  important,  intellectual  pro- 
cess, namely,  that  of  inductive  reasoning,  or  reasoning  from 
facts  up  to  the  laws  that  govern  them. 

But,  before  completing  my  remark  on  this  head,  I  must 
analyze  other  organs  in  order  to  show  how  to  train  them  all 
to  combined  action,  and  proceed  with 
COMPARISON : 

Or,  discovering  the  unknown  from  its  resemblance  to  the  known ; 
reasoning  from  parallel  cases,  or  from  a  collection  of  similar  facts  up 
•\o  the  laws  or  first  principles  that  govern  them  ;  detecting  error  from 
its  opposition  to  facts,  or  from  its  incongruity  with  truth  ;  ability 
and  disposition  to  classify  phenomena  and  thmgs ;  perceiving  and 
applying  the  principles  of  Analogy,  or  the  resemblance  of  things  ; 
ability  to  geneialize,  compare,  discriminate,  &c. ;  critical  acumen ; 
inductive  reasoning  ;  power  of  explaining  and  illustrating ;  disposition 
to  use  comparisons,  suppose  similar  cases,  employ  similes,  metaphors, 
figures  of  speech,  &c. 

Adaptation, — The  principles  of  resemblance  and  analogy, 
run  throughout  the  whole  range  of  creation.  All  human  be- 
ings closely  resemble  each  other.  All  have  a  nose,  mouthy 
brain,  heart,  eyes,  bones,  muscles,  hands,  feet,  &c.,  and  in 
nearly  the  same  relative  position.  The  resemblance  of  every 
animal  to  every  other  animal  of  its  own  species,  and  indeed  to 
all  other  animals,  man  included,  is  very  striking :  and  so  of 
the  rest  of  creation.  This  resemblance  of  things  teaches  us 
a  vast  proportion  of  all  we  know.  Thus,  seated  around  a 
winter's  fire,  eating  an  apple,  we  feel  as  sure  that  it  grew  on 
an  apple-tree  instead  of  in  the  ground,  or  in  an  animal  like  an 
egg,  as  that  we  are  eating  it,  and  yet  we  did  not  see  it  growing 
there.  If  fiie  be  brought  in  contact  with  flesh,  we  know  be- 
'forehand  that  it  will  burn,  and  cause  pain  instead  of  pleasure, 
and  pain  of  a  certain  kind.  But  how  do  we  know  this }  Be 
cause  this  fire  and  flesh  are  similar  to  all  other  fire  and  flesh, 
and  Comparison  tells  Eventuality  that  the  eflect  of  bringing 
the  two  in  contact,  will  be  like  the  effect  experienced  a  thou 
sand  times  before  by  applying  fire  to  the  flesh.     On  seeing  a 


ANALYSIS    OF    COMPARISON.  39 

Stranger,  of  whose  habits  we  know  nothing,  we  infer  from  his 
similarity  to  other  human  beings ;  that  he  requires  food,  sleep, 
and  breath,  and  that  he  cannot  eat  iron  or  arsenic ;  that  he  has 
lungs,  a  heart,  stomach,  &c.,  and  that  they  are  in  a  certain  part 
of  his  body,  &c.  How  do  we  know  without  trying  it,  that  a 
certain  tree,  cut  up  and  put  on  a  fire,  will  burn,  throw  out 
heat,  and  produce  ashes  and  smoke  ;  that  a  given  stone  thrown 
mto  the  air,  will  fall  to  the  earth ;  that  water  will  run  down 
the  inclined  plane  ;  that  cutting  off  a  sheep's  head  will  kill  it; 
that  ice  is  cold  and  fire  hot  ;  that  animals  will  bring  forth, 
each  after  its  kind ;  that  food  will  nourish,  earthenware  break, 
and  a  sharp  edge  cut  ;  that  fish  grow  in  the  water,  and  that  a 
bird  cannot  live  long  immersed  in  that  element  ?  The  faculty 
of  Comparison  teaches  us  not  only  these,  but  thousands  of 
other  things  of  every  day  occurrence  about  which  we  know 
nothing  except  from  their  resemblance  to  other  things  which 
we  have  known  to  be  what  we  infer  of  these.  This  is  doubt- 
less one  of  the  most  valuable,  if  not  decidedly  the  most  valua- 
ble, of  the  Intellectual  Faculties.  These  illustrations  show 
how  vast  an  amount  of  knowledge  is  communicated  by  it ;  and, 
consequently,  how  important  its  proper  cultivation. 

It  should  be  added,  that,  there  arte  doubtless  two  faculties  of 
Comparison  :  that  the  lower  acts  with  the  perceptive  faculties, 
comparing  physical  things,  and  thereby  teaches  us  physical 
lessons ;  and  that  the  upper  acts  with  the  moral  faculties, 
comparing  ideas,  analyzing,  discriminating,  criticising,  and 
aided  by  Causality,  giving  logical  acumen.  There  are,  also, 
in  all  probability,  two  organs  of  Eventuality  ;  the  inside  one 
for  remembering  the  scenes  and  associations  of  childhood  and 
youth  ;  the  outside  organ  for  recollecting  business  transactions, 
and  the  occurrences  of  the  day,  week,  year,  and  latter  part  of 
life ;  and,  two  of  Individuality :  the  inner  for  recollecting 
things  lately  seen ;  the  outer,  for  noticing  and  remembering 
things  seen  in  childhood  ;  but  the  last  two  are  quite  doubtful. 

Having  shown  that  this  faculty  lies  at  the  very  basis  of 
much,  of  our  knowledge,  it  should  be  added,  that  it  is  one  of 
the  first  intellectual  organs  developed  in  children,  following 
closely  after  that  of  Individuality  and  Eventuality,  and  is  in- 
dispensable in  order  to  complete  almost  every  mental  opera- 
tion.    To  children  it  is  still  more  important.     Without  it,  they 


40  TEACHING    CHILBREN   BY    COMPARISONS. 

would  learn  very  little,  and  that  very  slowly ;  but,  by  its  aid, 
they  soon  learn  to  generalize  and  compare,  instinctively  infer- 
ring, when  they  see  what  one  thing  will  do,  that  another  thing 
just  like  it,  will  do  the  same.  Page  37  contains  a  principle 
which  apphes  here  with  great  force  ;  namely,  the  inductive 
method  of  reasoning  ;  that  is,  of  inferring  from  a  multitude  of 
similar  facts  that  all  like  facts  are  governed  by  the  same  law, 
and  may,  therefore,  be  safely  relied  upon.  This  is  the  best, 
and  almost  the  only,  way  of  arriving  at  conclusions  which  are 
certain.  This  method  of  reasoning  is  natural  and  simple 
and  adapted  to  the  mind  of  man,  and  particularly  so  to  the 
intellects  of  children.  Through  this  channel,  therefore,  instruc- 
tion should  be  poured  into  their  inquiring  minds.  Every 
teacher,  every  one  at  all  conversant  with  the  minds  of  children, 
will  bear  witness  how  readily  they  comprehend  a  comparison, 
and.  how  forcibly  an  illustration  strikes  them.  Then  culti- 
vate this  faculty,  and  teach  them  to  draw  correct  inferences 
from  this  source.  In  short,  teach  them  the  inductive  method 
of  reasoning  ixom.  facts  up  to  their  principles.  After  showing 
them  that  heat  expands  the  air  in  the  bladder,  the  water  in 
the  bottle,  and  a  few  like  experiments,  as  mentioned  under 
the  head  of  Eventuality,  page  37,  their  Comparison  will  draw 
the  inference,  that  heat  will  enlarge  and  cold  diminish  all  bo- 
dies. They  are  now  taught  (yue  principle,  one  law  of  nature, 
one  general  fact,  which,  they  will  ever  after  apply,  and  you 
should  aid  them  in  applying  it,  to  a  great  number  and  variety 
of  the  operations  of  nature  and  art.  Tell  thpm  that  water  is 
expanded  by  heat  into  steam,  which  rushes  out  of  the  tea- 
kettle when  the  water  boils  ;  that  it  is  this  principle  of  expan- 
sion which  imparts  the  power  to  the  wheels  of  the  steam-boat, 
and  thereby  drives  it  through  the  water  against  wind  and  cur- 
rent, and  carries  all  machinery  propelled  by  steam ;  that  heat- 
ing the  air  in  the  stove  rarefies  or  enlarges  it,  and  this  produces 
the  draught ;  that  this  same  principle  makes  the  wind  blow, 
and  so  of  its  other  applications. 

Then  take  another  class  of  facts,  and  bring  out  its  principle; 
then  another,  and  another,  and  another  still,  keeping  their  ex- 
panding and  delighted  minds  full  of  subject  matter  for  obser- 
vation and  contemplation  ;  and  always  afterward,  whenever 
they  see  a  fact  coming  under  any  of  these  principles,  they  will 


ANSWERING   THE    QUESTIONS    OF    CHILDREN.  41 

remember  it ;  and,  when  they  wish  to  attain  an  end,  they  will 
operate  by  means  of  these  facts. 

This  is  the  organ  through  which  explanations  mainly  enter 
the  mind ;  and  hence,  great  pains  should  be  taken  to  explain 
every  thing,  not  to  get  rid  of  your  children,  but  to  instruct 
them.  They  ask  a  great  many  questions,  which  are  either 
what-ivhat  questions,  or  why-why  questions,  and  every  oppor- 
tunity of  conveying  instruction  thereby  afforded,  should  be 
embraced.  I  well  remember  once  asking  my  father,  who  was 
husking  corn,  why  a  certain  ear,  the  rows  on  which  were  ir- 
regular, looked  so  differently  from  all  the  rest  ?  "  Because  it 
is  not  rowed"  was  his  answer.  Over  this  answer  I  thought, 
and  thought,  and  wondered  what  he  could  mean,  and  finally 
concluded  that,  as  he  went  through  the  cornfields  to  hoe  the 
corn,  so  he  probably  went  through  to  row  it,  but  skipped  this 
ear.  Now  see  how  excellent  an  opportunity  this  question 
afibrded  for  teaching  me  the  important  lesson  that  nature 
showed  economy  in  every  thing — that  the  cobs  being  round 
allowed  more  corn  to  grow  in  a  given  space  than  if  in  any 
other  shape ;  that  the  kernels  were  all  placed  in  rows  so  that 
all  the  space  might  be  filled  up  ;  for,  if  they  were  not  in  rows, 
some  kernels  would  be  too  much  crowded,  and  in  other  places 
there  would  be  nothing ;  and,  that  the  human  body  was  so 
contrived  as  to  bring  the  greatest  possible  number  and  amount 
of  organs  and  functions  into  the  smallest  possible  space;  and 
so  of  all  the  other  operations  of  nature.  Every  day  and  hour, 
the  continual  string  of  questions  asked  by  children,  affords  op- 
portunities to  explain  some  important  truth,  or  teach  some 
valuable  lesson ;  and  yet,  strange  inconsistency !  many  parents 
become  angry  at  their  children  for  asking  so  many  questions, 
or  else  turn  them  off  with  those  answers  that  are  not  satisfac- 
tory. 

An  unusually  inquisitive,  that  is,  uncommonly  smart  child, 
once  asked  her  grandmother,  "  what  are  bricks  made  ou  t 
of?"  and  was  told  "  of  sand  and  clay."  "  Then  what  makes 
them  red?"  asked  the  child;  "0  do  hold  your  tongue.  Don't 
ask  so  many  questions,  and  no  one  will  know  you  are  a 
fool.  Little  girls  should  be  seen,  not  heard,"  was  the  reply. 
The  grandmother  could  not  tell  why,  and  therefore  became 
angry  at  the  child  for  asking.     This  questioning  is  as  impor- 


42  ANALYSIS   OF    CAUSALITY. 

tant  to  the  intellectual  growth  of  children,  as  the  root  is  to  a 
tree  or  plant ;  and  yet,  wonderful  to  tell,  in  our  present  system 
of  education,  no  provision  is  made  for  answering  these  ques- 
tions. What  questions  can  or  do  children  ask  at  school  ?  Al- 
most none.  Now  I  appeal  whether  answering  these  questions 
does  not  do  them  far  more  good  than  learning  to  read?  Does 
it  not  exercise,  and  thereby  improve,  their  intellects  far  more? 
for,  let  it  never  be  forgotten,  that  in  order  to  enlarge  the  in- 
tellectual organs,  they  must  he  exercised  ;  and,  what  interests, 
excites,  and  thereby  enlarges  them  ;  but  what  does  not  inter- 
est, does  not  excite,  or  enlarge,  or  benefit  them.  Looking  at 
the  present  method  of  education  through  the  optics  of  Phre- 
nology, or  through  the  principles  already  pointed  out,  which  is 
the  only  correct  light  in  which  it  can  be  viewed,  I  really  do 
not  see  how  it  is  possible  to  devise  a  more  effectual  method  of 
deadening  the  action  of  the  brain,  or  weakening,  instead  of 
strengthening,  the  faculties  of  the  mind ;  for,  surely,  no  course 
would  be  less  interesting,  aye,  more,  none  could  scarcely  be 
more  disagreeable  to  them,  and  therefore,  (not  less  beneficial, 
which  would  imply  some  good,  but)  more  injurious  ;  for,  be 
yond  all  question,  the  present  course  is  decidedly  detrimental. 
With  my  present  knowledge  of  the  subject,  I  boldly  avow  my 
preference  to  remain  untaught,  than  to  be  sent  to  our  present 
common  schools.  They  are  injuries  instead  of  blessings,  and 
Phrenology  will  soon  sweep  them  into  oblivion,  or  else  effec- 
tually remodel  them.     See  if  it  does  not ;  and  that  speedily, 

I  have  other  remarks  belonging  more  appropriately  to  Com- 
parison than  to  any  other  faculty  ;  yet,  as  educution,  to  be 
successful,  must  combine  the  exercise  of  all  the  intellectual 
faculties,  I  can  present  them  much  better  after  I  have  analyzed 

CAUSALITY. 

The  power  of  perceiving  and  employing  the  principles  of  causation  : 
ability  to  discover  and  apply  first  principles,  and  trace  out  the  rela- 
tions existing  between  causes  and  effects  :  desire   to  know  the  why 

\  and  wherefore  of  things  :  ability  to  reason,  or  draw  conclusions  from 
given  premises  :  to  plan,  invent,  contrive,  adapt  means  to  ends,  take 
the  advantage  of  circumstances,  create  resources,  apply  power  most 
advantageously,  and  make  the  head  save  the  hands  :  to  predict  the  re- 

;  suits  of  given  measures,  and  tell  what  will  be  from  what  has  been  : 
sagacity :  the  leading  element  of  common  sense  :  the  therefore  and 
wherefore  faculty. 

Adaptation. — Every  effect  must  have  its  cause,  and  every 

cause  produces  its  effect.  Like  causes  also  produce  like  effects, 


'  ADAPTATION    AND    CULTIVATION   OF    CAUSALITY.  4S 

and  all  the  operations  of  nature  are  governed  by  lafbs  of  cause 
and  effect.  It  is  as  natural  for  man  to  ask  "  why,"  as  to 
breathe  or  eat.  Why  this  desire  to  know  why  ?  What  causes 
this  disposition  to  investigate  causes  ?  Whence  our  idea  of 
causation,  and  our  disposition  to  employ  certain  meansin  order 
to  attain  given  ends  ?  Laws  of  causation  govern  the  phenome- 
na of  nature  ;  and,  this  laculty  in  man  adapts  him  to  them. 
Without  them  in  nature,  all  would  be  chance  and  hap-hazard. 
Man  could  accomplish  nothing,  could  rely  upon  nothing. 
Without  this  faculty  in  man,  though  the  operations  of  nature 
would  go  regularly  forward,  and  effects  succeed  causes,  yet  to 
man  they  would  be  a  sealed  book,  a  dead  letter,  and  as  though 
they  were  not.  But,  with  this  arrangement  of  nature  on  the 
one  hand,  and  this  faculty  in  man  adapted  to  it  on  the  otherj 
man  can  accomplish  innumerable  ends  otherwise  unattainable, 
procure  innumerable  comforts  otherwise  beyond  his  reach,  and 
even  force  the  elements  into  his  service.  Still  more,  he  can 
penetrate  the  otherwise  hidden  operations  of  nature,  ascertain 
their  fountain  head  and  procuring  causes  ;  and,  aided  by  the 
moral  faculties,  can  comprehend  those  moral  causes  which 
govern  m,oral  actions,  or  the  department  of  Tuind,  and  apply 
them  to  the  production  of  happiness. 

This  train  of  remark,  while  it  expounds  the  office  of  this 
faculty,  also  exhibits  its  value,  and  at  the  same  time  shows 
how  immensely  important  are  its  proper  cultivation  and  ha- 
bitual exercise  in  childhood  and  youth. 

Our  next  inquiry  asks  how — by  what  means — so  important 
a  faculty  can  be  cultivated  and  improved?  I  have  already 
shown  that  to  improve  any  faculty,  its  proper  stim^ulusTHUsi  be 
presented ;  and,  to  do  this,  its  nature  and  adaptation  must 
be  ascertained,  and  that  placed  before  it  to  which  it  is  adapted. 
The  causes  and  laws  of  things  being  adapted  to  this  faculty^ 
they  must  be  placed  before  the  child's  mind.  This,  their  ques- 
tions from  three  years  old  and  upward,  enable  us  to  do  with 
great  facility  and  effect.  "  Ma,  what  makes  this  ?  Pa,  what 
is  that /or.?"  and  like  questions  are  pouring  from  their  mouths 
a  continual  stream,  enabling  parents  and  teachers  to  pour  a& 
continual  a  stream  into  their  minds.  Let  children  be  much 
with  their  parents,  and  be  allowed  and  encouraged  freeely  to 
ask  all  the  questions  that  occur  to  them ;  and  let  parents,  in 


44         TEACHING    CHILDREN    TO    THINK    FOR    THEMSELVES. 

giving  these  answers,  give  the  true  cause  or  none.  Many- 
parents — sometimes  because  they  do  not  know  how  to  answer 
their  questions,  and  sometimes  to  quiz  them,  but  more  often 
because  the  minds  of  the  parents  themselves  are  biased  by 
wrong  principles — -teach  their  children  to  believe  instead  of  to 
think ;  or  to  think  erroneously  by  teaching  them  to  think  from 
incorrect  data,  which  warps  their  Causality  from  the  very 
first.  Children  should  be  taught  to  do  their  own  thinking,  and 
to  answer  their  own  questions.  They  asked  a  question  yes- 
terday, to  which  a  correct  answer  was  given ;  to-day,  they  ask 
another,  and  receive  a  correct  answer,  and  to-morrow,  ask  a 
third,  the  answer  to  which,  or  the  principle  involved,  was  ex- 
plained yesterday.  Recall  these  answers,  and  tell  them  to  put 
this  and  that  together,  and  judge  for  themselves  as  to  the  re- 
sults about  which  they  inquire.  In  other  words,  give  them 
the  data,  and  then  let  them  think,  judge,  and  act  for  them- 
selves. 

Little  fear  need  be  entertained  about  their  coming  to  incor- 
rect conclusions  ;  for.  Causality,  and  all  the  other  intellectual 
faculties,  act  by  intuition,  and,  unbiassed,  will  always  come 
to  the  right  conclusion.  That  same  intuition,  or  instinct,  or 
what  you  please,  which  makes  the  child  breathe,  and  nurse, 
and  sleep,  also  governs  the  action  of  all  its  faculties,  the  intel- 
lectual included.  It  teaches  Individuality  to  observe,  and  ob- 
serve correctly  ;  Eventuality,  to  remember  action  ;  Form,  to 
know  whether  a  thing  is  round,  square,  conical,  &c.,  and  to 
recollect  the  shape  of  things ;  Size,  to  tell  them  correctly  the 
bulk  of  things,  their  distance,  &c. ;  Weight,  to  resist  and  coun- 
teract the  laws  of  gravity ;  Comparison,  to  generalize ;  and 
Causality,  to  reason  and  adapt  means  to  ends.  All  that  Caus- 
ality requires,  in  order  to  come  to  correct  conclusions,  is  to 
have  the  right  data  placed  before  it.  Far  too  many  parents 
do  the  thinking  for  their  children  when  they  are  young,  and 
this  makes  them  get  it  done  out,  when  they  are  older.  This 
explains  that  relative  decrease  of  Causality  already  shown  to 
exist  in  Children.  Has  the  reader  never  observed  the  fine, 
noble  foreheads  of  children,  their  height,  their  expanse,  and 
those  marked  protuberances  at  the  sides  of  their  upper  parts 
which  characterize  the  intellectual  developments  of  children  ? 
Cast  your  eye  over  the  foreheads  of  a  hundred  children,  and 


INTELLECTUAL  SUPERIORITY   OF    CHILDREN.  45 

then  of  a  hundred  adults,  and  if  you  do  not  see  a  marked 
superiority  of  the  former  over  the  latter  in  proportion,  then 
you  do  not  see  what  I  am  daily  pained  to  observe — pained, 
not  because  children  have  such  fine  heads,  but  because  adults 
have  so  poor  ones.  I  do  not  hesitate  to  maintain  the  opinion 
that  the  difference  is  from  one-fourth  to  one-half  in  favor  of 
children,  and  against  adults  ;  whereas,  the  difference  should 
be  in  favor  of  adults  ;  because  the  law  of  our  nature,  as  ex- 
plained on  pp.  31—33,  of  Phrenology  applied  to  Education  and 
Self-Improvement,  shows  that  the  mental  temperament  and 
faculties  are  destined  to  increase  in  a  far  greater  ratio  than  the 
physical  ^ovjexs,  or  organs  of  the  feelings. 

The  intellectual  capacities  of  children  are  also  far  superiorp 
in  proportion,  to  those  of  adults.  Observe  their  remarks.  Are 
they  not  often  full  of  pith,  and  meaning,  and  idea  ?  Do  they 
not  often  expose  the  absurdity  of  the  dogmas  that  are  taught 
them?  Do  they  not  evince  a  sagacity,  a  penetration, 
a  quickness,  an  intuitive  comprehension  of  things,  not  found  in 
them  when  grown  up  ?  And  do  they  not  possess  a  power  of 
contrivance  altogether  astonishing?  I  was  never  more  sur- 
prised than  on  seeing  a  little  girl,  not  yet  eighteen  months  old, 
praise  her  aunt  in  order  to  obtain  from  her  sugar  and  other 
favors.  When  she  said  "  pretty  aunt  Charlotte,'^  or  "  aunt 
Charlotte,  your  dress  is  pretty,"  aunt  Charlotte  knew  that  she 
was  coaxing  her,  and  working  around  upon  her  blind  side  in 
order  to  get  a  favor.  When  a  little  over  two  years  old,  as  the 
family,  in  connexion  with  her  uncle,  were  eating  almonds  and 
raisons  in  the  evening,  she  awoke,  and  knowing  that  it  was 
useless  to  ask  father,  or  mother,  or  aunt  for  them,  went  to  her 
uncle,  whom  she  did  not  like  any  too  well,  and  laying  her 
head  back  aftectionately  upon  his  lap,  said,  in  a  very  coaxing 
tone  and  manner,  "pretty  uncle  Lorenzo.  Uncle  I^orenzo  is 
good."  The  next  morning  her  mother  asked  her  "  what  made 
uncle  L.  pretty  ?"  "  Because  almonds  and  raisins  is  pretty," 
was  her  artless  reply.  To  administer  praise  as  a  means  of 
obtaining  favors,  without  ever  having  been  taught  to  do  so, 
and  that  at  eighteen  months  old,  certainly  required  an  exer- 
cise of  Causality,  in  laying  a  deep,  appropriate  plan  to  bring 
about  a  result,  to  a  degree  rarely  attributed  to  children. 
This  is  not  probably  an  extraordinary  exercise  of  Intellect  in 
a  child  of  that  age.     Doubtless  the  generality  of  children  ex- 


46  CAUSE    OF    THIS    SUPERIORITT. 

hibit  nearly  as  much.  I  maintain  not  only  that,  as  already  ex- 
pressed, the  intellectual  organs  of  children  are  far  better  de- 
veloped, in  proportion,  than  those  of  adults,  but  also  that  their 
ideas,  their  powers  of  intellect,  of  penetration,  sagacity,  com- 
prehension, inquisitiveness,  intellectual  curiosity,  and  the 
adaptation  of  means  to  ends,  are  also  proportionally  far  supe- 
rior to  those  of  adults.  For  the  correctness  of  these  opinions, 
I  appeal  to  the  observationoi  all  who  are  conversant  with  the 
intellectual  developments  or  manifestations  of  children  under 
eight  years  old. 

How  is  this  ?     What  causes  it  ?     Is  it  natural?    "God  for- 
bid !"     It  is  wmiatural.     It  is  because  the  intellects  of  chil- 
dren, and  especially  their  reasoning  powers,  are  shut  up  in  a 
school  house,  are  pinned  fast  to  a  bench,  are  deadened  over  A 
and  baker,  are  stifled  by  the  inability  or  refusal  of  parents  to 
answer  their  inquiring  minds,  and  to  feed  and  fill  their  opening 
intellects.     Their  brains  wither  and  shrivel  up,  and  their  blood 
stagnates  over  those  studies  upon  which  they  are  placed,  or 
else  a  fatal  dislike  of  books  is  engendered  by  the  dislike  or  pun- 
ishment of  the  teacher,  by  parents  whipping  them  to  school 
and  from  play,  and  by  the  almost  total  inadaptation  of  the 
present  system  of  common  school  education   to  the  opening 
minds  of  children.     If  Phrenology  be  true,  and  if,  as  such,  it 
reveals  the  true  principles  of  conducting  the  intellectual  edu- 
cation of  children,  I  hazard  nothing  in  pronouncing  this  sys- 
tem directly  at  variance,  in  almost  every  particular,  with  both 
the  laws  of  mind  in  general,  and  the  developments  of  the  minds 
of  children  in  particular.    Phrenology  shows  conclusively  that 
the  organs  should  be  cultivated  and  exercised  in  the  order  of 
their  development  ;  that  the  organs  first  developed  are  Indi- 
viduality, Eventuality,  and  Comparison  ;  that  Causality,  Form, 
and  Locality  follow  next ;  and  that  i\v^  other  organs  over  the 
eyes  are  much  later  in  maturing  :  and  that  teaching  children 
to  read,  spell,  and  write  first,  is  not  calculated  to  excite,  feed, 
or  develope  their  intellectual  faculties  ;  and  that  the  confine- 
ment consequent  upon  sending  children,  especially  those  that 
are  young  or  delicate  to  school,  is  most  injurious  ;  that  there- 
fore, the  present  system  of  early  education  is  a  curse,  not  a 
blessing,  deadens  instead  of  developing  the  intellects  of  chil- 
dren, and  is  one  of  the  main  causes  of  that  want  of  intellect 


INTELLECTUAL  CULTURE,  A  MEANS  OF  REFORM.     47 

which  characterizes  the  mass  of  mankind  ;  and  that  the  method 
thus  far  pointed  out,  of  teaching  children  things  first,  telhng 
them  stories,  showing  them  the  operations  of  nature,  trying 
philosophical,  and  other  experiments,  &c. ;  teaching  them  na- 
tural history,  and  answering  all  their  questions,  as  well  as  lead- 
ing them  up  from  facts  to  their  laws,  and  teaching  them  to  do 
their  own  thinking,  harmonizes  with  the  nature  of  mind  in  gen- 
eral, and  of  the  infantile  mind  in  particular;  that  it  interests, 
and  thereby  excites,  improves,  and  invigorates  that  mind,  and 
is  directly  calculated  to  develop  it  in  all  the  power  and  glory 
of  its  primitive  creation. 

I  know  this  is  strong  language,  but  1  know  it  to  be  TRUE — 
I  know  it  is  nature  as  well  as  Phrenology,  and  that  it  will  pre- 
vail. And  the  object  of  this  work  is  to  promulgate  this  as  the 
first  step  in  effecting  this  much  needed  reform — a  reform  lying 
at  the  very  basis  and  foundation  of  a// reform;  for  reform,  to 
be  successful,  must  be  based  on  intellect,  and  this  requires  the 
early  cultivation  of  that  intellect,  the  natural  governor  of  man. 
Still  more.  These  results  are  based  on  common  sense :  and,  if 
they  do  not  strike  every  reader  as  substantially  correct,  at  least 
in  the  main,  then  his  common  sense  is  not  my  common  sense, 
nor  the  common  sense  of  Phrenology.  Let  each  inference  of 
the  series  just  given,  be  pondered  and  cavassed,  and  compared 
with  what  is  known  to  be  true  of  the  opening  minds  of  child- 
ren, and  rejected  or  adopted  accordingly.  These  doctrines 
must  encounter  a  mass  of  prejudice,  but  they  will  conquer ; 
and  to  oppose  them  is  to  be  beaten. 

Owing  to  causes  already  pointed  out.  Causality  is  one  of  the 
smallest  of  the  intellectual  organs.  Hence  it  is  that  the  great 
mass  of  mankind  get  their  thinking  done  by  proxy — that  reli- 
gious leaders  do  most  of  the  religious  thinking  of  mankind  • 
political  leaders,  most  of  their  political  thinking,  &c.,  and  that 
mankind  generally  adhere  to  the  rehgion  and  opinions  of  their 
parents  ;  that  cunning,  designing  men  exert  so  much  influence 
over  mankind,  converting   them  into  mere  tools  and  dupes  to 

carry  foward  their  selfish,  foolish,  or  villainous  projects that 

riches  are  more  highly  esteemed  than  talents — that  men  who  live 
on  the  Approbativeness,  or  Combativeness,  or  Alimentiveness, 
or  curiosity,  or  almost  any  o\h<dx  feeling  oi  mankind,  succeed 
to  a  charm,  while  those  who  live  by  their  intellects,  usually 


48        POVERTY  OF  INTELLECT  EXPLAINED. 

Starve — why  reforms  make  so  slow  progress,  and  effect  so  little 
— why  the  conversation  of  young  people,  especially  of  fash- 
ionable ladies,  is  soft  and  nonsensical — why  the  few  are  ena- 
bled to  control  the  many — why  so  little  time  is  devoted  to  in- 
tellectual culture,  and  so  much  to  the  gratification  of  the  pas- 
sions ;  why  so  little  is  yet  known  of  nature,  her  laws  and 
doings ;  why,  in  short,  the  intellectual  lobe  of  men  is  so  small, 
and  the  propensities  so  large. 

But  how  can  this  organ  be  cultivated  by  adults,  especially 
by  young  people  ?  Simply  by  thinking,  musing,  meditating, 
contemplating,  and  inquiring  at  the  shrine  of  nature  into  the 
laws  and  principles  that  govern  things. 

•  "  But  I've  nothing  to  think  a6o«^,"  says  one.  Poor  soul, 
you  are  to  be  pitied.  A  world  of  wonders  even  within  your 
self,  and  yet,  barren  heath,  you've  nothing  to  think  about !  A 
world  of  wonders  above  your  head  and  beneath  your  feet, 
and  yet,  poor  thought-ridden  mortal,  you've  nothing  to  think 
about !  All  nature  around  you  teeming  with  events,  every 
one  of  which  has  its  cause,  and  most  of  them  a  cause  within 
your  reach,  and  yet,  thought-starved  mortal,  you've  nothing 
to  think  about !  Poor  thing,  you  should  have  a  name  and  a 
place  among  other  idiots. 

To  all  yoww^  persons,  then,  I  say,  think.  Wherever  you 
are,  whatever  you  are  doing,  if  you  see  anything  you  do  not 
comprehend,  whether  in  nature  or  art,  ferret  out  its  cause,  and 
then  think  about  it :  do  not  be  ashamed  to  expose  your  igno- 
rance in  order  to  gain  knowledge.  Take  a  walk  every  day, 
two  or  three  times  a  day  to  think,  muse,  meditate,  contem- 
plate. 

"Oh,  but  I'm  too  busy  for  that,"  says  one.  Then  you  ought 
to  be  too  busy  to  eat  and  sleep ;  for  the  mind  requires  food 
and  exercise  as  much  as  the  body.  "  But  I  have  not  sufficient 
time  even  to  eat  and  sleep,"  is  the  reply.  Then  no  matter, 
but  you  must  find  time  to  die  the  sooner  for  not  thinking  ;  for, 
intellectual  culture  is  directly  calculated  to  prolong  life,  and  is 
also  a  means  of  rendering  it  much  more  happy,  and  of  eflecting 
much  more  in  the  same  time.  Even  as  a  means  of  accom- 
plishing mere  luorldly  ends,  you  will  be  a  gainer  by  cultiva- 
ting your  intellects :  for,  its  increased  power  will  enable  you 
to  save  more  time  by  taking  a  shorter  and  surer  road  to  your 


T^IGHT    THINKING    AND    STUDY    HIGHLY    INJURIOUS.  49 

ends,  than  you  lose  in  its  culture.  Besides:  there  is  scarcely 
an  occupation  in  life,  which  does  not  furnish  more  or  less  op- 
portunities for  thought ;  for,  while  the  hands  are  employed  in 
labor,  the  mind  also  can  be  employed  in  meditation.  Of  all 
occupations  suitable  for  intellectual  culture,  farming  is  the 
most  favorable.  Labor  is  promotive  of  mental  action,  while 
mornings,  evenings,*  rainy  days,  &c.,  increase  the  facilities  for 
study. 

The  study  of  Phrenology  is  also  highly  promotive  of  intel- 
lectual culture ;  because,  first,  it  deeply  interests,  and  thereby 
excites  the  mind  to  new  and  vigorous  action  ;  and,  secondly, 
it  opens  a  far  richer  mine  of  thought,  and  field  of  intellectual 
research,  than  all  other  studies  united,  for  it  unfolds  man. 

I  will  just  add  that  night  thinking  is  highly  injurious.  While 
the  natural  sun  pours  its  benign  rays  upon  the  delighted  world, 
let  your  thoughts  be  also  poured  out  upon  the  fields  of  nature, 
to  be  gathered  in,  expanded  and  instructed,  as  he  descends  be- 
neath the  western  sky.  Rise  with  the  sun,  or  rather,  with  the 
break  of  day,  nerve  your  mind  gradually  to  action,  as  the 
skilful  hunter  strains  his  unstrung  bow  by  degrees  and  be 
ready  to  commence  your  day  of  intellectual  labor  with  the 
rising  of  the  sun  ;  and,  by  the  time  he  disappears  in  the  west, 
you  should  have  exhausted  your  cerebral  energy  for  the  day, 
and  be  sinking  with  him  into  the  refreshing  slumbeis  of  night, 
to  re-awaken  and  rise  again  with  him  the  next  day. 

I  will  just  observe  in  passing,  that  if  you  have  anything  to 
do  more  important  than  cultivating  your  intellects,  do,  in  all 
conscience  do  it.  If  you  cannot  spare  time  from  the  fashion- 
able world,  or  the  working  world,  or  the  ^o/z7/ca/ world,  or  the 
money -making  world,  or  the  a?7^6^7^ow5  world,  then  do  go  on  ; 
for,  your  business  is  -ndeed  of  the  utmost  importance.  All 
these  things  must  of  course  be  done  up  first,  and  intellect  be 

*  The  allusion  here  made  to  farmer's  studying  evenings,  is  adap- 
ted, not  to  the  nature  of  man,  but  to  that  false  custom  of  setting  up 
late  atni^ht  so  general — a  practice  as  reprehensible  and  injurious  as  it 
is  universal.  The  good  old  Yankee  habit  of  retiring  at  farthest  by  nine 
o'clock,  is  well  worthy  its  high  origin.  All  children  should  be  taught 
to  retire  with  the  setting  of  the  sun,  and  all  adults  should  practice  it, 
and  lectures,  meetings,  &c.,  should  be  held  in  the  day-time.  But  more 
of  this  in  another  place. 

4 


50  ANALYSIS    AND    ADAPTATION    OB    LANGUAGE. 

thrust  away  back  behind  them  all ;  because,  if  a  man  be  rich, 
he  gets  along  vrell  enough  without  intellect ;  if  poor,  he  has 
no  time  or  means  to  use  it ;  if  he  have  on  a  fashionable  coat, 
or  can  make  a  dandified  bow,  intellect  would  spoil  both ;  if 
she  be  a  young  woman,  she  must  first  get  married,  and  study 
how  to  attract  the  admiration  of  gentlemen,  instead  of  throw- 
ing away  her  time  in  thniking ;  but  if  married,  she  must 
take  care  of  her  family  and  children  ;  and  so  it  goes  tbe  world 
over.  Hence,  intellect  is  considered  of  very  little  account  any 
how,  and  not  worth  the  time  or  pains  of  rearing,  except  to  a 
few  in  an  age. 

LANGUAGE : 

The  COMMUNICATING  faculty :  power  of  expressing  one's  ideas  by  words, 
whether  spoken  or  written :  ability  to  learn  spoken  languages,  and  to 
use  such  words  as  will  exactly  express  one's  ideas:  memory  of  words: 
versatility  of  expression  :  talkativeness:  volubility:  garrulity. 

Adaptation.  Man  is  a  communicative  being.  He  has 
thoughts  and  feelings  which  he  wishes  to  express,  and  which 
his  fellow  men  are  benefitted  by  hearing.  This  faculty  is 
adapted  to  the  exchange  and  inter-communication  of  ideas  be- 
tween man  and  man,  and  therefore  highly  promotive  of  human 
happiness  andim  provement.  Besides  being  one  of  the  most 
powerful  stimulators  imaginable  of  nearly  every  one  of  the 
other  faculties,  it  is  certainly  an  instrument  of  intellectual  im- 
provement, and  of  moral  and  social  enjoyment  unsurpassed  by 
any  other  facult  y. 

Let  every  human  being  be  tongue-tied,  let  every  word  ever 
used,  be  blotted  from  existence,  and  writing,  printmg,  and  read- 
ing totally  abolishei,  and  what  an  intellectual,  moral,  social, 
and  business  stagnation  would  follow  !  Nothing  could  be  sent 
for ;  the  American  Phrenological  Journal  must  stop  ;  scarcely 
a  want  would  be  expressed  or  supplied  ;  and  man's  condition 
m  every  way  would  be  most  wretched.  But,  thanks  to  the 
great  and  good  Authoi  of  our  being,  man  can  talk,  write,  speak, 
chain  and  be  chained,  to  the  mighty  car  of  eloquence,  and 
drink  in  the  thoughts  and  feelings  of  others,  in  all  their  endless 
number  and  variety. 

The  value  and  uses  of  this  faculty  being  great,  its  proper 
cultivation  is  equally  important.  How,  then,  can  it  be  culti- 
vated?    Do  I  not  hear  a  word-bereft  stammerer  say,  '^Oh,  I 


STUDYING   THE    DEAD   LAl^fGUAGES.  51 

'would  give  all  I  have  to  be  able  to  express  what  I  think  and 
feel !  to  have  the  power  of  transplanting  my  ideas  and  infusing 
my  thoughts  into  the  minds  of  my  fellow-men  ?  to  b'^  elo- 
quent, to  be  fascinating  in  conversation;  in  short,  to  have  large 
Language  ?     I  have  tried  my  best,  I  have  studied  Greek  and 
Latin— have  translated  Homer,  Virgil,  Demosthenes,  Cicero, 
and  Horace;  have  learned  Hebrew  and  Arabic,  French  and 
Spanish,  and  yet,  I  cannot  speak  in  public,  or  even  express  my 
ideas  freely  in  conversation."     Then  I  pity  you  ;  for,  you  have 
been  walking  a  treadmill  all  your  life  to  get  forward,  but  have 
gone  backward  faster  than  forward.     I  can  put  you  upon  the 
track  of  cultivating  your  Language  in  short  order.   Go  to  talk- 
ing.    That  is  what  you  have  to    do.     Just  talk,  t  ilk,  talk. 
This  will  exercise  the  organ  of  language,  and  increase  your 
■power  of  expression,  whereas,  studying  the  dead  languages 
from  books,  will  do  you  more  harm  than  good.     "It  ivill? 
Why  you  astonish  me ;  I  thought  this  was  the  way  to  cultivate 
Language  !"  This  is  just  where  the  learned  have  always  erred. 
The  one,  -distinctive  office  of  Language  is,  to  employ  loords  to 
communinate  ideas,  especially  orally  ;  and  the  one  and  07ily 
method  of  materially  improving  it,  is  to  communieaie,  especi- 
ally to  talk.      This  point  is  clear  and  certain,  and  though  at 
war  with  the  whole  learned  world,  it  is  right.     To  set  a  child 
"on  a  bench  to  say  A,"  and  to  send  a  youth  to  the  academy 
and  college  to  learn  languages,  in  order  to  make  him  a  fluent 
speaker,  is  sending  him  to  'he  equator  for  ice,  or  to  the  poles 
for  flowers.     By  preventing  his  talking,  it  rusts  his  organ  ©f 
language,  making  him  worse  instead  of  better.     But  the  most 
serious  point  of  this  serious  evil  is,  the  injury  it  does  to  his 
health,  which  directly  impairs  the  tone  and  power  of  this  or- 
gan, and  thereby  weakens  the  faculty.   The  law  that  produces 
this  result,  v/ill  be  explained  elsewhere.    Sufficient  for  the  pre- 
sent to  say,  that  this  organ,  being  close  to  the  body,  partakes 
intimately  of  the  state  of  the  body,  being  weakened  or  strength- 
ened as  th€  physical  powers  are  increased  or  impaired.     Most 
college  graduates  break  down  their  health,  and  weaken,  instead 
of  increasing,  their  speaking  and  talking  talents.  Has  the  reader 
never  observed  that  he  could  converse,  write,  and  speak  with 
mfiniiely  greater  ease  when    // ell,  than  when  unwell?     This 


52  PREVENTING    CHILDREN'S    TALKING    INJURIOUS. 

principle  explains  the  cause  ;  and  teaches  yon  this  valuable 
lesson,  that,  in  cultivating  both  ^^-our  own  and  your  child's  lan- 
guage, health  should  be  preserved  j^r^^  of  all.  Confining  chil- 
dren in  school,  prevents  exercise  and  physical  development, 
and  this  diminishes  the  power  and  versatility  of  Language. 

Ml  children  are  incessant  talkers.  Whether  or  not  they 
have  ideas  to  communicate,  is  quite  immaterial.  Their  tongues 
are  always  running.  Their  prattle  is  incessant.  Not  so  with 
adults,  especially  with  Yankees.  Now  why  this  falling  off  of 
Language  ?  "Stop  that  whispering  yonder,  or  I'll  box  your 
ears  for  you,"  says  a  school-master  to  a  child  with  large  Lan- 
guage. And  if,  prompted  by  the  instinctive  workings  of  this 
faculty,  another  is  caught  whispering,  he  is  surely  punished. 
Better  punish  him  for  breathing  or  getting  hungry;  for,  each 
of  the  three  is  equally  natural  and  useful ;  and  to  punish  for 
either,  is  cruel  and  unjust.  In  giving  them  Language  and  a 
tongue,  the  Author  of  their  being  gave  them  the  desire  and 
the  right  to  use  them  in  talking  :  nay,  he  even  made  talking 
their  duty  as  well  as  privilege.  Who,  then,  ait  thou,  teacher 
or  parent,  that  dares  suppress  this  right  derived  from  heaven, 
or  punisii  its  exercise  ?  God  and  the  child  will  hold  you  guilty 
for  doing  it ;  the  former,  for  nullifying  his  works,  and  the  lat- 
ter, for  weakening  so  pleasurable  and  useful  a  faculty. 

"Then  what  .shall  we  do?  for  we  cannot  have  the  whole 
school  jabbering  away  so  that  we  can't  hear  ourselves  think," 
say  the  teachers.  Then  send  your  children  home.  "But," 
says  a  parent,  "how  in  the  world  can  I  get  along  with  all  my 
children  pothering  me,  and  deafening  me  with  their  eternal 
clatter  ?  I  must  send  them  to  school  in  order  to  get  rid  of 
them ;  and,  whenthere,  they  must  keep  still,  or  I'll  whip  them." 
Good  lady,  if  your  children  are  so  very  much  in  your  way^ 
you  had  better  not  have  any.  But  since  you  have  them,  con- 
sult their  goo'J,  and  especially  their  intellectual  advancement, 
not  your  own  comfort.  Phrenology  says,  let  children  talk  all 
they  please  ;  and  who  art  thou  to  "muzzle  the  mouth  of  the 
ox  that  treadeth  out  the  corn  ?" 

Besides,  all  will  concede  that  expressing  our  ideas,  increases' 
their  flow,  and  quickens  the  action  of  the  mind.  This  truth 
's  too  self-evident  to  require  either  proof  or  illustration.     Pre- 


PREVENTING    CHILDREN'S    TALKING    INJURIOUS.  53 

( 

venting  your  children  from  talking  or  whispering,  is  prevent- 
ing them  from  exercising,  and  thereby  from  enlarging,  their 
intellects.  "But  must  I  be  forever  harrassed  by  their  incessant 
clamoring  and  hallooing  ?  Have  I  not  a  perfect  right  to  keep 
them  still  ?"  Just  such  a  right  as  you  iiave  to  stop  their  breath- 
ing or  eating,  or  to  cut  off  their  heads,  or  as  the  Hindoo  mother 
has  to  drown  her  children.  You  certainly  have  no  right  to 
■cramp,  or  in  any  way  embarrass  the  development  of  their  in- 
tellects. I  grant  that  there  are  times  and  seasons  when  their 
garrulity  should  be  suppressed,  (not  restrained,)  by  their  own 
sense  of  propriety,  or  because  they  interrupt  parents  or  supe- 
riors. Yet  they  should  not  be  compelled  as  now  to  remain 
silent  for  hours  together.  In  treating  of  the  government  of 
children,  I  shall  show  how  this  prattle,  when  improper  or  ob- 
trusive, may  be  prevented  without  punishing  or  even  com- 
manding them. 

The  best  possible  method  of  making  a  child  an  eloquent 
speaker,  is  to  allow  him  the  full,  unrestrained  use  of  his  tongue 
during  childhood  and  youth ;  but,  send  him  to  school,  and  let 
him  be  kept  from  saying  a  word  there  for  the  seven  hours  of 
the  fourteen  he  is  awake,  and  kept  very  siill  at  home  the  rest 
of  the  time,  and  then  send  him  to  college  to  break  his  consti- 
tution in  thumbing  lexicons,  allowing  him  little  chance  to  speak, 
exceptlpassages  committed  to  memory  from  some  bombastic 
author ;  and  when  he  graduates,  have  him  always  speak  from 
notes,  (excuse  the  self-contradiction  of  speaking  a  written  dis- 
course,) and  if  he  does  not  make  as  dull  and  prosy  a  speaker  (?) 
as  the  generality  of  our  college  graduates  are,  and  be  as  for- 
mal and  artificial  in  tone  and  gesture  as  though  his  mind  and 
body  were  lashed  up  in  a  straight  jacket,  then  water  will  not 
run  down  hill.  Compare  our  Methodist  clergymen  with  our 
Presbyterian,  and  tell  me  which  class  is  the  most  eloquent  ? 
Those  who  mount  the  pulpit  and  go  to  speaking  yro/?2  the  first. 
Scarcely  a  spark  of  true  eloquence  escapes  college-learned  cler- 
gymen, except  what  congeals  on  the  pen.  Seldom  do  written 
discourses  come  from  the  heart  or  reach  the  heart.  Eloquence 
can  never  be  written — can  never  be  dug  up  among  Latin  rub- 
bish or  Grecian  mythology.  No  !  it  must  he  felt  and  spoken. 
Nor  does  it  consist  in  z^^orc?*  merely,  nor  in  the  ideas,  but  main 
y  in  the  thrilling,  melting  tones  of  the  voice. 


§4  MEANS  OT   PROMOTING    ELOQUENCE^ 

How  glorious  a  gift  is  that  of  eloquence  !  See  it  in  Bemos- 
theiiese,  when  he  made  his  listeners  seize  their  arms  and. 
ery  out,  "  Let  us  march  against  Philip;  Let  us  conquer  or 
die/' — in  Patrick  Henry,  when  he  roused  and  electrified  Con- 
gress, and  prepared  the  way  for  drafting  the  Declaration  of 
Independence ;  and  in  a  few  others  who,  by  this  power,  ex- 
erted an  almost  unliTuited  influence  over  the  minds  of  their 
fellow  men.  To  say  that  there  is  a  thousand  times  more  natu- 
ral eloquence  in  man  than  is  brought  out  by  culture,  or  by  the 
modern  method  of  education,  or  rather,  to  say  that  most  of  our 
natm'al  eloquence  is  buried  in  our  school-houses,  academies^, 
and  seats  of  learning,  is  to  utter  a  palpable  but  lamentable 
truth.  Ye  Avho  hesitate  for  words,  who  have  ideas  but  do  not 
know  how  to  let  others  have  them,  who  lose  much  of  the  force 
and  beauty  of  your  ideas  or  the  power  of  your  feelings  in  vain, 
attempts  to  communicate  them,  who  hesitate  for  words  and. 
want  to  say  something  but  cannot,  may  thank  your  "  setting 
on  a  bench  and  saying  A." — your  being  boxed,  or  ferruled,  or 
disgraced  for  whispering  in  school,  and  kept  still  at  home  for 
it.  In  other  words,  thank  those  who  prevented,  when  they 
should,  have  encouraged,  your  talking  disposition..  Prom  such 
thankless  thanks,  "  good  Lord  deliver  us." 

If  you  wish  to  regain  this  lost  sheep,  go*  to  talking.  Drive 
out  your  ideas  somehow,  anyhow ;  but,  at  all  events,  give  them 
breath.  Join  debating  societies  and  speaking  clubs,  and  make 
talk  with  every  one  you  meet^  Commit  to  memory  and  re- 
peat, in  short,  communicate  and  use  words  as  much  and  as 
well  as  possible.  This  will  call  ihhi  faculty  into  action,  and 
improve  it,  as  well  as  enlarge  the  organ.  It  is  worth  your 
triaL  Especially  if  you  wish  to  become  a /)i^6/ec  speaker, 
speak'm.  public,  and  take  down  your  notes  in  your  brain,  em- 
ploying the  principle  already  presented. 

Much  pains  are  taken  to  teach  children  good  grammar. 
This  may  be  obviated.  Your  rales  of  parsing,  &c.,  are  of  lit- 
tle service.  I  will  point  out  a  far  more  excellent  way.  Let 
parents  only  speak  properly,  and  always  use  good  language,, 
and  their  children  will  do  the  same.  To  speak  and  write  ^ro- 
perly,  is  as  natural  as  to  speak  at  all ;  and  this  is  as  natural 
as  seeing  or  breathing  ;  because  each  is  the  intuitive  exercise 
of  its  appropriate  faculty.     The  error  commences  in  the  cradle. 


TALKING    GRAMMATICALLY    TO    CHILDREN.  55 

Parents,  especially  mothers,  usually  talk  baby  talk  to  their 
children,  which  consists  in  saying  silly  things  ungrammatically. 
If  infants  do  need  milk  to  nourish  their  bodies,  they  certainly 
do  not  need,  silliness  to  feed  their  minds.  Talk  ideas  to  them 
or  say  nothing;  and  speak  grammatically,  and  also  use  good 
language,  and  your  children  will  do  the  same. 

A  word  more  in  regard  to  this  baby  nonsense.  Like  excites 
like.  This  is  as  true  of  infants,  comparatively,  as  of  adults. 
Children  over  two  years  old,  understand,  or  are  capable  of  un- 
derstanding, most  that  is  said  to  them.  If  ideas  be  spoken, 
their  ideas  are  excited,  and  intellect  developed  ;  and,  if  good 
language  be  used,  they  will  not  only  hnitate  the  same,  but 
even  feel  their  sentiment  of  the  beautiful  excited,  and  good 
taste  thereby  cultivated,  besides  having  matter  for  reflection. 
"  A  word  to  the  wise,"  &c.  The  conversation  of  parents  to 
their  children,  and  of  adults  before  children,  might  and  should 
furnish  an  intellectual /e«5/  to  their  opening  minds — should  be 
grammatically  expressed,  andclothedin  good  language.  Then 
will  children,  too,  speak  correctly,  and  charm  you  with  the 
beauty  and  power  of  their  words,  as  well  as  grow  up  with 
superior  and  fascinating  conversational  powers,  if  not  become 
natural  orators  ;  and  man's  enjoyment  derived  from  talking 
and  listening,  be  augmented  twenty-fold. 

Parents,  wiU  you  not  be  persuaded  to  banish  your  baby 
fe'l^alderdash,  and  your  grovelling  associations,  and  elevate  and 
instruct  your  children  by  conversation,  as  well  as  by  exam- 
ple ? 

.  In  what  has  been  said  relative  to  learning  the  dead  lan- 
guages, the  reader  is  not  to  infer  that  I  consider  a  knowledge 
of  them  useless  or  valueless,  or  am  hostile  to  their  being 
taught  and  learned.  I  approve  of  them  highly  ;  but  I  repu- 
diate the  modern  Tuethod  of  teaching  them  ;  for,  it  is  unphre- 
nological.  The  method  of  teaching  and  learning  them  pointed 
out  by  Phrenology  is,  talking  them.  Books  may  be  used  as 
auxiliaries,  merely,  but  not  as  the  main  method.  Besides 
their  spending  several  years  of  the  best  portion  of  their  lives 
in  acquiring  Greek,  Latin,  and  Hebrew,  they  usually  forget 
all  they  ever  knew  about  them,  soon  after  leaving  college.  If 
they  would  have  a  school  for  teaching  Greek,  or  Latin,  or 
Hebrew,  in  which  all  the  conversation   was  in   the  language 


56  TEACHING    CHILDREN   GRAMMAR. 

they  were  learning,  besides  acquiring  a  thorough  knowledge 
in  one-tenth  the  usual  time,  they  would  then  retain  this 
knowledge,  and  be  able  to  turn  it  to  some  practical  account. 
The  modern  method  of  teaching  French,  by  taking  the  pupil 
into  a  school  and  family  where  no  other  language  is  spoken, 
except  in  explanation  of  what  they  are  learning,  is  the  only 
true  one.  But  the  best  time  to  learn  the  languages,  is  in  child- 
hood, the  nurse,  or  parent,  or  teacher,  talking  these  languages 
to  them. 

The  miportance  of  speaking  correctly,  in  common  conver- 
sation^ and  also  of  selecting  just  those  words  which  con- 
vey your  feelings  and  precise  meaning,  is  great,  yet  little  re- 
alized. Chesterfield  has  well  remarked  that  good  conversa- 
tional powers  are  a  perpetual  letter  of  recommendation.  They 
delight  and  gratify  all  who  listen,  besides  storing  their  minds 
with  useful  knowledge  and  valuable  suggestions.  The  ideas 
of  nine-tenths  of  mankind  loose  more  than  two-thirds  of  their 
beauty  and  power  in  consequence  of  their  not  taking  pains  to 
speak  with  beauty  and  force,  but  expressing  themselves  care- 
lessly. Speak  so  that  every  word  shall  charm  and  impress, 
and  this  style  will  soon  become  habitual.  Still,  do  not  be  af- 
fected, nor  use /ar-/e^cAeo^  expressions. 

Committing  to  memory  comes  under  this  organ,  and  is  a 
valuable  quality.  The  extent  to  which  this  power  can  be  car- 
ried, is  astonishing.  A  clergyman  in  England,  delivered  a 
lengthy  address  from  manuscript,  which  he  refused  to  let  be 
published.  One  of  his  listeners,  however,  wrote  it  out  from 
memory,  and  on  comparing  the  two,  there  were  only  four- 
teen words  that  were  not  the  same  in  both,  and  these  were 
analogous. 

Every  body  knows  Attree  of  the  Herald.  As  a  reporter,  he 
has  few  equals,  and  yet  does  not  write  short  hand.  Still,  he 
gives  his  reports  almost  verbatim.  His  organ  of  Language  is 
very  large,  and  he  commits  or  writes  a  speech  from  memory 
with  astonishing  facility.  In  a  recent  conversation  with  him, 
he  remarked  that,  unless  he  kept  it  in  habitual  exercise,  this 
faculty  became  rusty.  Though  he  doubtless  owes  much  to 
nature,  yet  he  unquestionably  owes  more  to  cultivation.  This 
power  of  committing  to  memory,  is  extraordinary  in  most 
children,  and  should  always   be   kept  vigorous    by  exercise. 


WHEN    AND    HOW    TO    TEACH    READING.  57 

They  love  to  learn  by  rote,  and  they^'should  be  indulged  in  it. 
This  exercise  can  and  should  be  commenced  long  before  they 
are  old  enough  to  learn  to  read,  and  continued  through  life. 
Printers  in  particufar  require  it. 

F0RM3 

Cognizance  and  recollection  of  tiie  shape  of  objects,"  and  of  the  faces  or 
countenances  of  persons,  of  the  form  and  looks  of  things,  of  family  re- 
semblances, &:c. :  good  eye-sight. 

Adaptation.  Every  physical  thing,  all  the  pieces  or  items 
of  matter  which  constitute  our  world,  have  some  ybrm  or 
shape.  No  physical  thing  can  exist  without  having  some 
shape  or  configuration.  By  means  of  it,  we  are  able  to  desig- 
nate and  remember  one  person  or  thing  from  another.  Infinite 
wisdom  has  wisely  given  the  quality  of  shape  to  all  bodies, 
and,  at  the  same  time,  imparted  to  man  the  faculty  of  Form, 
to  enable  him  to  perceive,  and  make  a  useful  application  of, 
this  elementary  property  of  matter.  Without  this  element  in 
nature,  man  could  not  recognize  his  fellow-man,  or  any  thing 
in  nature  ;  but,  with  it  fully  developed,  he  recollects  persons 
and  things  seen  years  ago,  and  distinguishes  the  animal,  vege- 
table, or  mineral  kingdoms,  by  their  shape. 

This  is  one  of  the  principle  faculties  employed  in  reading 
and  spelling  ;  though  Language  renders  important  assistance  ; 
Form,  by  recollecting  the  shape  of  letters  and  words,  and 
Language,  by  committing  to  memory.  This  leads  me  to  speak 
of  two  important  errors  in  the  present  method  of  teaching 
reading  and  spelling  :  first,  of  teaching  children  the  shape  of 
letters  instead  of  words,  the  other ;  of  teaching  them  to  spell  by 
rote — by  the  toay  it  sounds,  instead  of  by  the  looks  of  the 
word. 

From  what  has  before  been  said  against  teaching  young 
children  to  read,  let  it  not  be  imagined  that  I  am  opposed  to 
their  being  taught  these  branches  at  all.  Learning  to  read  so 
as  to  understand  the  sense,  requires  much  maturity  and 
strength  of  mind ;  and  teaching  children  to  read  mechanically 
by  rote  merely,  just  as  a  parrot  says  "pretty  polly,"  is  a  ^^osi- 
tiveijijury  .  because  it  compells  them  to  call  the  words  but 
skip  the  sense,  and  this  causes  them  to  fall  into  that  monoto- 
nous sameness  of  tone  which  characterizes  most  readers,  adults 


58  TEACHING    CHILDREN    TO    READ    IN    A    MONTH. 

as  well  as  children,  and  is  easily  detected  in  most  speakers, 
especially  clergymen.  It  should  therefore  be  postponed  till 
they  are  capable  of  appreciating  the  full  force  of  what  they 
read.  Still,  after  the  way  has  been  prepared  by  reading  in- 
teresting stories  to  them,  and  kindling  in  them  a  desire  to  read, 
so  as  to  read  these  stories  themselves ;  and  after  they  are  capa- 
ble of  comprehending  the  sense,  they  should  by  all  means  be 
taught  to  read.  Few  if  any  children  are  capable  of  this  be- 
fore they  are  six  or  eight  years  old ;  and  when  they  begin  to 
tease  you  to  teach  them  how  to  read,  because  they  wish  to 
enjoy  reading,  almost  all  children  could  be  taught  to  read  in 
one  month,  and  to  read  better  than  they  would  have  read  if 
they  had  begun  at  three  years  old.  The  reason  is  obvious.  By 
beginning  to  read  before  they  are  capable  of  understanding 
the  sense,  they  not  only  take  no  interest  in  the  matter,  and 
therefore  learn  slowly,  but  often  conceive  a  dislike  to  reading  ; 
and  hence  read  only  when  compelled  to.  But  wait  till  they 
are  eager  to  learn,  and  they  will  take  the  deepest  interest  in 
the  matter,  and  form  a  taste  for  it,  which  is  of  immense  ad- 
vantage. Scarceley  one  child  in  fifty  but  hates  study  ;  and  the 
reason  is  here  disclosed — they  learn  to  read  before  they  are 
able  to  understand  what  they  read ;  and  therefore  conceive  a 
dislike  to  books  which  lasts  through  life.  The  mother  of  Wesley 
would  not  let  her  son  learn  a  letter  till  the  day  he  was  five 
years  old,  and  that  day  taught  him  every  letter  of  the  alphabet ; 
and,  the  next  day,  she  taught  him  to  read  the  first  verse  in  the 
Bible.     (Sea  Southye's  ]jife  of  Wesley.) 

I  have  always  brought  out  this  point  at  my  lecture  on  the 
intellectual  organs,  and  have  afterward  been  waitpd  upon  by 
hundreds  who  have  stated  facts,  showing  that  children  from 
six  to  eight  years  old,  could  be  taught  to  read  well  in  one 
month.  In  1837,  I  gave  this  lecture  in  New  Haven,  and  in 
going  to  New-  York  the  next  day,  a  gentleman,  one  of  the 
theological  students,  stated  as  an  illustration  of  this  point,  that 
a  friend  of  his  forbade  his  boy  learning  a  letter  or  opening  a 
book  till  he  was  six  years  old;  that,  by  this  time,  the  boy's 
desire  to  read  had  kindled  almost  into  a  passion ;  and  that,  in 
one  month,  he  learned  to  read  fluently  in  the  Bible,  and  had 
ever  since  been  devoted  to  books.     Hundreds  of  similar  facts 


SPELLING    BY    THE    EYE.  59 

have  been  told  me  ;  and  if  any  parent  will  pursue  a  similar 
course,  I  stand  sponsor  for  the  result. 

~"But'l  will  point  out  a  method  of  teaching  children  to  ready 
shorter  and  better  than  the  present,  and  one  which  will  obviate 
two-thirds  of  the  difficulty  connected  with  reading.  It  is  this. 
Teach  your  child  words  instead  of  letters.  Thus  :  it  is  just  as 
easy  for  your  child  to  learn  bird,  as  to  learn  b,  or  i,  or  r,  or  d ;, 
and  this  method  saves  him  that  immense  difficulty  of  compound- 
ing the  elementary  sounds.  And  it  must  come  to  this  after  all 
I  appeal  toevery  good  proof-reader  in  Christendom,  whether  he 
does  not  detect  typographical  errors  by  the  looks  of  the  word, 
not  by  spelling  it  over,  or  by  remembering  its  gingle.  The 
word  looks  wrong.  It  strikes  his  eye  as  incorrect.  In  other 
words,  Form  is  the  proper  organ  for  spelling  and  reading;  and 
therefore  children  should  be  taught  to  read  and  spell  by  the 
looks  of  words,  not  by  rote.  And  this  cultivates  the  organ  of 
Form,  or  the  natural  organ  for  reading  and  spelling.  Lan- 
guage may  render  important  assistance  by  spelling  by  rote^ 
yet  Form  should  be  the  principal.^ 

To  cultivate  this  faculty,  bear  in  mind  the  countenances  of 
those  you  see,  so  that  you  may  know  them  again.  Formerly^ 
(the  circus  performers  and  exhibitors  of  live  animals,  ofteri 
allowed  those  who  visited  them  in  the  forenoon,  to  pass  in 
free  in  the  afternoon  or  evening.  If  they  gave  tickets,  they 
would  be  transferred,  so  that  others  would  go  in.  Hence,  the 
door-keeper  was  compelled  to  recollect  them.  To  do  this,  he 
was  obliged  to  look  sharply,  not  at  their  dress,  which  might 
be  changed,  but  at  their  faces.  I  have  seen  scores  of  trials,, 
and  every  device  contrived,  to  cheat  the  door-keeper,  butnever 
saw  a  failure.  I  regarded  this  as  almost  supernatural,  but  now 
see  that  their  vigorous  exercise  of  Form,  enabled  them  to  carry 
faces  in  their  eye.  This  is  practiced  very  successfully  on  our 
southern  and  western  travelling  routes.  The  collectors  on  the 
steamboats,  rail-roads,  &c.,  are  obliged  to  remember  who  has 

*  Lyman  Cobb's  new  spelling-book  contains  one  important  improve- 
ment over  all  others,  namely  :  that  of  placing  all  those  woids  which  are 
spelled jdifFerenrly,  but  pronaaasaJ  aUk.8,  indifferent  columns — those 
words  ending  in^xiON,  in  one  column,  those  ending  in  sion,  in  another,, 
&c.     The  plan  is  most  excellent ;  better  than  any  other  now  in  use. 


@0  MEANS    OF    CULTIVATING   WEIGHT. 

paid,  and  who  not,  and  where  they  came  on  board.  I  ask 
whether  their  power  in  this  respect  is  not  often  remarkable — 
all  from  its  exercise.  In  England,  there  is  a  class  of  persons 
connected  wtih  prisons,  whose  business  it  is  to  detect  old  con- 
victs. They  closely  scrutinize  every  one  who  is  brought  in, 
looking  at  every  peculiarity  in  the  form  of  the  nose  or  its 
insertion,  at  the  mouth,  eyes,  forehead,  shape  of  the  body,  &c.. 
and  rarely  allow  any  one  who  has  been  in  before,  to  pass  un- 
detected. 

This  affords  a  hint  to  ail  who  would  cultivate  this  faculty. 
Look  every  one  full  in  the  face :  notice,  and  irnpress  on  your 
mind,  the  cast  or  expression  of  countenance,  the  general  con- 
tour of  body,  and  continue  looking  till  you  have  rivited  it 
upon  this  faculty,  and  this  will  increase  its  power. 

WEIGHT  : 

Intuitive  perception  and  application  of  the  principles  of  gravity  :  ability 
to  balance  one's  self — to  ride  a  fractious  horse,  hold  the  hand  steadily, 
throvsr  a  ball,  stone,  or  arrow,  straight:  shoot  well,  walk  the  edge  of  a 
plank,  climb  aloft  without  falling,  preserve  and  regain  the  centre  of 
gravity,  keep  the  balance,  &c. 

Adaptation. — Without  the  arrangement,  in  nature,  oi grav- 
ity, or  of  attraction  and  cohesion,  not  only  would  all  bodies 
be  as  likely  to  rise  as  fall,  and  be  incapable  of  being  kept  in 
any  particular  position,  but  even  the  particles  composing  every 
body,  would  be  dissolved,  and  scattered  any  where  and  every 
where  throughout  space.  No  house  could  be  built ;  for,  what 
would  keep  its  materials  together  ?  What  keeps  the  ocean  in 
its  bed,  or  the  rivers  from  running  up  the  mountain,  or  from 
being  scattered  over  hill  and  dale,  and  destroying  every  thing  ? 
The  rain  would  ascend  diS  quickly  and  as  often  as  descend,  and 
our  world  be  utterly  uninhabitable. 

The  same  Wisdom  which  instituted  this  indispensable  ar- 
rangement in  nature,  also  created  the  faculty  of  Weight  in 
man  to  be  its  counterpart,  and  to  perceive  and  apply  its  laws; 
else,  we  should  have  fallen  and  rolled  where  gravity  carried 
us,  and  been  incapable  of  doing  the  first  thing  to  counteract 
its  sway.  But  thanks  to  the  Author  of  our  being,  we  can  not 
only  resist  its  action,  in  part,  but  even  convert  it  to  our  service. 
Without  it,  we  could  not  walk  or  sit ;  with  it,  we  can  stand 
against  wind  and  tide,  manage  machinery,  and  effect  benefi- 
cial ends  innumerable. 


MEANS    OF    CULTIVATING    WEIGHT.   CONTINUED.  61 

Its  cultivation  is  highly  important,  yet  httle  attended  to. 
Who  ever  thinks  of  inculcating  its  exercise  in  children,  or  prac- 
tising it  themselves,  unless  by  chance  ?  And  yet  it  should  be 
commenced  in  infancy.  Instead  of  holding  or  bracing  up  a 
child,  so  that  it  cannot  roll  over  or  fall,  let  it  hold  itself  up,  or 
else  roll  into  some  uncomfortable  position,  so  as  to  teach  it  to 
steady  itself,  and  sit  up,  creep,  &c.,  early.  As  soon  as  it  can 
stand  or  walk,  encourage  it,  and  as  early  as  possible,  take  it 
on  your  hand,  in  a  setting  or  standing  posture,  and,  partly 
holding  it  and  partly  not,  carry  it  around  tlie  room  on  your  ex- 
tended hand,  and  change  its  position  more  and  still  more 
quickly,  so  as  to  teach  it  to  keejj  itself  from  falling. 

But  most  mothers  take  the  opposite  course,  which  is  highly 
injurious.  They  forhid  their  children's  climbing  up  on  chairs^ 
by  the  window,  on  fences,  trees,  &.C.,  because  "you'll  fall,''' 
and  are  continually  ringing  in  their  ears,  "take  care  !  take  care 
I  tell  you  !  you'll  fall !  you'll  fall!  /"  This  always  reminds 
me  of  a  fidgety  old  grand-mother,  who  charged  her  grand-son 
never  to  go  near  the  water  till  he  had  learned  to  swim,  lest  he 
should  get  drowned.  This  is  just  like  those  mothers  who  for- 
bid their  children's  climbing  lest  they  fall.  The  very  way  to 
prevent  their  falling,  is  to  encourage  their  climbing.  This  ex- 
ercises, and  thereby  enlarges  their  organ  of  Weight ;  which^ 
when  large,  renders  them  more  safe  aloft  than  those  who  have 
it  small  are  on  the  floor.  Cultivating  this  faculty,  in  these 
and  other  ways,  will  prevent  their  getting  many  an  extra  bump, 
which  injures  their  brain,  and  induces  its  disease,  just  because 
the  parent  jorewew^ec?  its  exercise  by  forbidding  its  climbing, 
throwing  stones,  &c.  And  then,  too,  it  is  useful  in  so  many 
thousand  ways  through  life,  that  its  due  exercise  should  form 
a  part  of  early  education,  as  much  as  talking,  and  for  the  same 
reason,  namely,  that  both  are  functions  of  our  nature. 

CALCULATION: 

Ability  to  reckon  figures  inthe  head:  memory  of  numbers :  intuitive,  per- 
ception of  the  relations  of  numbers  or  figures:  mental  arithmetic:  nu- 
mericial  computation:  adding,  subtracting,  dividing,   and  multiplying 

MENTALLY. 

Adaptation.  Every  thing  and  collection  of  things  iri  na- 
ture, has  a  number.  We  cannot  help  regarding  things  as  one^ 
two»  three,  four,  &c.,  that  is,  counting.  Let  all  idea  of  number 


188  ANALYSIS    AND    CULTIVATION    OF    CALCTJLATION. 

be  effaced,  and  no  business  could  be  transacted ;  millions  of 
•dollars  would  be  as  one,  and  one  as  millions  ;  or  rather,  man 
would  be  incapable  of  comprehending  or  distinguishing  either 
one  or  many,  and  all  pecuniary  transactions  must  cease.  Im- 
portant advantages  grow  out  of  this  arrangement  in  nature 
and  faculty  in  man.  It  should  therefore  be  cultivated,  but  not 
as  it  generally  is,  by  waiting  till  a  child  is  old  enough  to  "  ci- 
pher," and  then  giving  him  a  slate,  pencil  and  arithmetic,  and 
requiring  him  to  learn  a  rule,  and  then  to  work  out  the  sum  on 
the  slate.  All  children  /owe  to  count.  Encourage  and  aid  them 
in  this.  At  two  years  old,  teach  them  to  count  your  fingers, 
and  other  things,  and  then  to  perform  other  numerical  opera- 
tions mentally.  I  verily  believe  that  if  every  arithmetic  in 
Christendom  were  destroyed  and  no  more  printed,  the  rising 
generation  would  learn  to  cast  accounts  better  than  they  now 
do.  I  grant  that,  properly  used,  arithmetic  rnight  be  useful, 
but  they  are  noiv  made  to  supersede  the  natural  method  of 
reckoning  things,  that  is,  in  the  head.  Nature  is  always 
better  than  art.  Though  the  latter  may  aid  the  form.er ;  yet, 
when  art  usurps  the  prerogative  of  nature,  it  only  spoils  her 
operations.  This  teaching  children  ciphering,  and  that  by 
rule,  and  thereby  leaving  mental  arithmetic  almost  unculti- 
vated, accounts  for  our  being  obliged  to  employ  figures; 
whereas,  in  nearly  all  business  transactions,  the  head  alone 
should  be  used. 

Those  who  would  cultivate  this  faculty,  should  rely  upon 
their  heads,  both  for  casting  accounts,  and  for  remembering 
them,  and  should  embrace  every  opportunity  when  riding  or 
walking,  to  exercise  it.  Thus :  in  riding  on  a  rail-road,  ob- 
serve by  the  minute  or  second  hand  of  your  watch,  how  many 
seconds  you  are  in  going  a  mile,  then  reckon  the  number  of 
miles  per  hour,  then  per  day,  per  year,  &c.  Then  count  the 
rails  of  a  fence  and  its  crooks  in  a  mile,  and  then  multiply  the 
number  of  rails  in  a  crook  with  the  number  of  crooks  in  a 
mile,  and  so  wherever  you  go,  you  can  be  making  similar 
calculations. 

If  calculating  dollars  and  cents  be  more  agreeable  to  you, 
because  it  combines  JLcquisitiveness  with  Calculation,  (hen 
reckon  the  prices  of  such  things  as  you  may  have  occasion  to 


ANALYSIS    AND    ADAPTATION    OF    TIME.  63 

buy,  sell,  make,  handle,  &c.  Reckon  what  so  many  yards  of 
cloth  will  come  to  at  so  much  per  yard,  varying  the  price  and 
number  of  yards  at  pleasure,  and  so  of  the  prices  of  any 
thing ;  and  when  you  go  to  the  store  to  buy,  keep  this  faculty 
busy  to  see  if  the  clerk  has  reckoned  it  right.  And  let  clerks 
in  stores  reckon  in  their  heads  ;  for,  this  will  enable  them  to 
do  it  more  rapidly  and  accurately.  Arithmetic,  and  slate  and 
pencil,  may  be  employed  occasionally,  merely  as  an  assistant, 
but  mental  arithmetic  should  be  the  main  thing  they  rely 
upon  for  casting  and  keeping  aocounts.  I  know  a  jobber  who 
has  done  business  to  the  amount  of  hundreds  of  dollars  per 
week,  but  who  can  neither  read,  write,  nor  cipher,  but  who 
keeps  all  the  transactions  of  each  week  in  his  head  till  Satur- 
day night,  when  he  will  tell  them  to  his  wife  to  put  them 
down.  He  remarked  that,  when  a  young  man,  he  worked 
out  for  different  men,  and  took  up  his  wages  along  as  he 
wanted  them,  but  never  put  anything  down,  and  yet,  at 
the  end  of  the  year,  usually  found  himself  more  correct  than 
those  for  whom  he  labored,  (See  p.  31).  He  added  that  he 
never  had  the  least  confusion  as  to  his  business,  till  his  son-in- 
law  began  to  keep  books  for  him.  According  to  my  view  of 
this  subject,  Colborn's  arithmetic  and  its  improvements  by 
other  authors,  are  far  more  consonant  with  the  phrenological 
method  of  teaching  arithmetic  than  any  other  I  have  seen. 

You  should  also  charge  your  memory  with  numbers.  Thus: 
Eighty  million  pounds  of  coffee  are  consumed  annually  in  the 
United  States,  and  twenty-five  millions  in  Great  Britain ;  and 
so  of  other  statistics.  You  would  then  seldom  be  at  a  loss  for 
statistical  information — the  most  difficult  matter  to  be  recol- 
lected. Applying  this  principle  to  dates,  you  would  be  able 
to  recollect  the  date  of  things  recorded  in  history,  that  is,  the 
number  of  the  year ;  though  recollecting  the  time  from  one 
event  to  another,  comes  under 

TIME  : 

Cognizance  and  recollection  of  when,  of  succession  and  the  lapse  of  time, 
ol  DURATION,  dates,  &c. ;  disposition  and  ability  to  keep  the  beat  in 
music,  dancing,  &c. :  and  to  tell  the  time  of  the  day,  when  things  oc- 
curred, &c. 

Adaptation.     Instead  of  being  planted  down  in  the  midst 

of  one  unchanging  now,  man  is  placed  in  a  world  of  succes- 


64  ANALYSIS    AND    ADAPTATION    OF    TIME. 

sion.     One  event  happens   befgee  or  after  another.     His 
life  is  composed  of  a  continuity  of  times — of  a  continual 
variation  of  periods.     From   infancy  to  old  age,  up  through 
childhood,  youth,  middle  age,  old  age,  and  death,  every  day, 
hour,  second,  and  item  of  existence,  follows  its  predecessor,  or 
precedes  its  successor  in  point  of  time.     We  look  back  upon 
the  past,  and  cast  the  eye  of  hope  or  dread  forward  into  the 
future.  We  make  appointments  to  do  certain  things  at  certain 
times  to  come,  and  all  are  able  to  discern  the  arrival  of  those 
times.    This  faculty  adapts  man  to  this  arrangement  of  succes- 
sion.    But  for  this  arrangement  in  the  nature  of  things,  all 
doings  or  exercises  of  mind  relating  to  the  past  or  future,  would 
be  annihilated,  all  conception  of  any  other  period  than  the 
present — than   one  monotonous  now,"*  obliterated,  and  with 
it,  all  the  arrangements  relating  to  eras,  ages,  years,  the  sea- 
sons, months,  days,  hours,  seconds,  the  relations  of  infancy, 
childhood,  youth,  middle  age,  old  age,  death,  the  past,  and  the 
future,  &c.,  extinct  to  man  ;  which  would  effectually  break  up 
the  present  order  of  things.     With  this  arrangement  in  nature, 
but  without  this  faculty  in  man,  though  they  would  exist  and 
succeed  each  other,  that  existence  and   succession,   and  their 
application  to  appointments  and  to  every  thing  connected  with 
the  past  and  future,  would  be  as  utterly  inconceivable  to  man, 
as  the  beautifully  blended  colors  of  the  rainbow  are  to  the 
blind,  or  as  music  is  to  the  deaf.     But  with  this  arrangement 
of  time  in  the  nature  of  things,  and  this  faculty  in  man  adapted 
to  it,  man  can  hold  converse   with  what  has  been,  and  what 
will  be  for  thousands  of  years  each  way — can  divide  and  sub- 
divide the  future  and  the  past  to  his  liking,  and  have  a  time 
for  every  thing,  and  every  thing  in  its  time. 

*  The  only  rational  idea  man  can  form  of  eternity  is,  one  continuous 
now,  or  the  utter  abolition  of  time,  and  substitution  of  one  continuous 
NOW.  To  talk  about  eternity  continuing  through  myriads  of  successive 
ages,  is  utter  folly ;  for,  a  succession  must  have  both  a  beginning'and  an 
end.  The  idea  of  periods  of  time,  can  no  more  be  connected  with 
eternity,  that  an  end  can  be  connected  with  the  circle.  Thus,  Phreno- 
logy will  help  religionists  out  of  many  an  otherwise  inexplicable  diffi- 
culty. Mind,  unconnected  with  matter,  knows  nothing  about  space, 
bulk,  ponderosity,  colors,  etc.,  which j^are^ terms  belonging  to  matter. 


KEEPING    THE    TIME    IN    THE    HEAD.  65 

This  arrangement  is  highly  calculated  to  promote  health, 
and  eminently  useful  in  the  despatch  of  business.  Nearly  all 
the  operations  of  life  require  its  assistance,  and  are  facilitated 
bv  its  full  development.  Hence,  its  cultivation  becomes  an 
item  in  education  of  very  considerable  importance ;  and  yet, 
that  cultivation  is  scarcely  once  thought  of  from  the  cradle  to 
the  grave ;  and  hence  too,  it  is  usually  one  of  the  smallest 
organs  in  the  human  head.  This  need  not,  and  should  not 
be  ;  it  should  be  cultivated  from  infancy  to  old  age. 

The  only  means  of  cultivating  it  is,  to  exercise  it,  and  this 
can  be  done,  not  by  carrying  a  watch  in  your  pocket,  and  often 
reading  the  time  of  day  from  its  dial,  or  from  a  clock  before 
vou,  but  from  keeping  the  time  of  day  in  your  head,  and  re- 
taining in  your  memory  the  loheji  things  took  place,  or  the 
wder  of  their  occurrence,  hoiv  long  certain  events  occurred 
before  or  after  others ;  the  day  of  the  week,  month,  and  year 
of  their  occurrence,  &c.  I  verily  believe  thatif  every  time-piece 
in  Christendom  were  destroyed,  and  no  others  made,  mankind 
would  be  better  off  than  they  now  are  ;  for  then,  they  would 
be  compelled  to  exercise  this  organ  vigorously,  which  would 
so  strengthen  it  as  to  enable  it  to  do  all  that  time-pieces  now 
do,  with  equal  accuracy,  and  a  thousand  other  things  which 
time-pieces  can  never  do  ;  whereas  now,  the  time  being  kept 
in  their  pockets,  this  organ  has  nothing  to  do,  and  therefore 
does  nothing,  becoming  small  from  mere  inaction,  and  the 
pleasures  flowing  from  its  exercise  thereby  abridged.  Men 
would  be  more  punctual  than  they  now  are.  Their  time- 
pieces would  vary  less,  never  run  down,  and  admonish  them 
that  a  certain  time  has  come  ;  whereas  now,  nature's  time- 
keeper being  laid  by,  we  often  forget  to  look  at  that  of  art, 
and  so  the  time  appointed  passes  unobserved. 

I  have  always  strenuously  advocated  the  superiority  of  na- 
ture over  art.  The  latter  may  often  be  employed  to  aid  the 
former,  but  never  to  precede  or  supersede  her.  Time-pieces 
may  aid  Time  just  as  arithmetic  may  aid  Calculation — books, 
Language — notes.  Tune — geography.  Locality — logic,  the 
reasoning  Faculties,  &c. ;  but  they  should  never  supercede  it. 
It  should  be  the  boss  workman,  they,  its  assistants  merely, 
and  rarely  employed.     If  the  works  of  man  can  excel  those 

5 


66  THE    CULTIVATION    OF    TIME. 

of  his  Maker,  if  art  can  do  better  than  nature,  then  are  time 
pieces  better  than  keeping  the  time  in  the  head.  The  thought 
is  preposterous,  and  this  relying  upon  time-pieces  to  the  neglect 
of  that  time-keeper  placed  by  the  God  of  nature  in  the  head  of 
man,  must  eventuate  in  evil.  To  avoid  this  evil,  exercise  this 
faculty  by  keeping  the  time  within  yourself. 

The  extent  to  which  the  exercise  of  this  faculty  is  capable 
of  augmenting  its  power,  is  astonishing — far  greater  than 
most  persons  would  imagine.  The  experienced  nurse  will 
throw  herself  upon  her  couch — first  charging  this  faculty  to 
awaken  her  in  just  two  hours,  or  half  an  liour — as  the  Doctor 
may  have  ordered — and  this  watching  sentinel  counts  oflf  the 
minutes  and  hours  while  the  other  faculties  sleep,  till  the  time 
arrives,  when  it  sounds  the  alarm,  and  summonses  the  other 
faculties  to  the  post  of  action.  Many  of  our  elderly  farmers, 
who  were  not  blessed  (?)  with  a  time-piece  when  boys,  can 
sleep  soundly  till  the  time  previously  appointed  for  rising  ar- 
rives, and  invariably  awaken  within  a  few  minutes  of  the  time 
they  appoint.  Many  elderly  persons  are  in  the  habit  of  waking 
and  rising  at  a  given  hour,  and,  whether  or  not  they  may  have 
been  previously  broken  of  their  rest,  awaken  at  the  usuaV 
time.  Every  one  might  and  should  habituate  himself  to  this 
and  similar  practices.  They  will  soon  become  second  nature, 
and  be  of  incalculable  value  through  life.  Magnetized  patients, 
when  required  by  the  magnetizer  to  awaken  in  any  specified 
number  of  minutes,  do  so,  almost  to  a  second,  and  with  an 
accuracy  incomparably  greater  than  that  possessed  by  most 
persons  in  their  natural  state. 

In  order  to  cultivate  this  faculty,  think  often  during  the  day, 
what  time  it  is,  and  compare  your  judgment  with  a  time- 
piece ;  keep  steps  in  walking,  marching,  dancing,  &c.,  and  the 
beat  in  music ;  in  reading  history,  impress  the  era,  and  the 
order  of  events,  strongly  upon  your  mind,  and  compare  eras, 
that  is,  the  destruction  of  Carthage  with  the  reign  of  Julius 
Csesar,  and  also  with  the  founding  of  Rome,  the  reign  of 
Cyrus,  the  Pelopenician  wars,  &c.  Give  yourself  so  many 
minutes  or  hours  to  do  certain  things,  and  observe  the  time 
taken  in  doing  them,  which,  besides  improving  this  faculty, 
will  greatly  aid  you  in  laying  out  your  time.    Be  punctual  at 


ATTEND    FIRST    TO    WHAT    IS    MOST    IMPORTANT.  67 

your  meals,  appointments,  and  every  set  time  for  doing  things, 
and  fix  a  time  for  doing  things  whenever  it  is  practicable ;  and 
above  all  things,  employ  all  your  time. 

This  leads  me  to  speak  of  an  almost  fatal  error  or  omission ; 
namely,  that  of  allowing  many  a  minute  and  hour  to  pass 
without  doing  much  of  any  thing  in  particular.  True,  persons 
breathe,  and  perhaps  move,  or  talk,  but  effect  nothing  of  im- 
portance. They  regard  the  loss  of  a  half-hour  at  breakfast, 
an  hour  at  dinner,  and  many  minutes  and  scraps  of  time  during 
the  day,  and  perhaps  the  morning  or  evening  or  both,  as  of 
little  account,  and  thus  soon  squander  weeks  and  years,  which, 
rightly  employed,  might  have  contributed  largely,  not  only  to 
their  present,  but  also  to  their  future  enjoyment.  I  knov/  of 
no  lesson  that  can  be  instilled  into  the  forming  minds  of  child- 
ren more  important  than  teaching  them  ioffllup  every  minute, 
every  second  of  time  with  something  useful  to  themselves  or 
others.  Who  ever  saw  a  great  or  a  good  man  not  full  of 
business,  too  full  to  find  any  leisure  time  to  waste } 

Another  immense  consumption  of  time  occurs  in  not  doing 
the  most  important  things  first,  and  throwing  minor  matters 
into  the  background.  A  vast  amount  of  time  is  consumed  in 
being  fashionable,  in  altering  dresses,  bonnets,  &c.,  in  pre- 
paring for  parties;  in  making  a  display ;  in  idle,  foolish  conver- 
sation that  does  no  one  any  good ;  in  making  things  of  little 
comparative  value,  too  numerous  to  mention ;  in  preparing 
and  drinking  tea,  coifee,  chocolate,  wines,  spirituous  liquors, 
&c.  &c.,  mainly  for  looks,  the  extra  time  spent  upon  them, 
being  a  Avaste  of  that  precious  gift — existence :  and  so  of 
thousands  of  things  of  which  these  will  serve  as  samples. 

The  fact  is,  that  man's  standard  by  which  he  values  things, 
is  utterly  erroneous,  and  this  error  is  fatal  to  his  happiness.  Let 
him  but  consult  his  nature,  as  developed  by  Phrenology  ;  let 
him  see  what  faculties  he  has,  their  relative  size  when  large,* 
and  the  conditions  of  their  action,  their  wants,  and  natural 
functions,  and  he  will  have  the  true  data  for  the  division  of 

*  Large  Cautiousness  occupies  several  times  more  brain  than  large 
Size,  and  large  Causality  or  Adhesiveness,  than  large  Color,  or  Weight, 
etc.;  and  the  larger  any  faculty  is  in  this  sense,  the  more  happiness  or 
suffering  will  its  action  impart. 


68  ATTEND    FIRST   TO   WHAT    IS    MOST    IMPORTANT. 

his  time.     Two  or  three  faculties  combined,  now  usually  en- 
gross most  of  the  time   of  man,  besides  enslaving  the  othei 
faculties.     Let  all  the  time  spent  in  every  thing  appertaining 
to  raising  and  preparing  food  and  eating  it,  and  in  drinking;. 
(Alimentiveness)  to  fluttering  in  the  sunshine  of  fashionable 
life,  [Approbativeness    and   Self-Esteem,]    to    love,    [Ama 
tiveness  and  Adhesiveness,]  and  to  acquiring  property,  [Ac- 
quisitiveness,] be  separated  from  the  time  spent  in  other  things., 
and  the  balance  would  be  small  indeed.     Is  it  right,  is  it  wise 
to  allow  these  fev/  animal  feelings  to  rule  the  entire  man  ? 
Was  man  made  merely,  or  even  mainly,  to  eat,  show  off,  be 
sensual,  and  amass  wealth?     "No!"  exclaims  Phrenology;- 
"  for,  man  has  other  and  larger  organs  to  be  fed  and  exercised. 
Our  journeymen  and  laborers  who  are  out  of  employ,  do  not 
seem  to  know  that  they  can  spend  their  time  more  pleasurably 
and  profitably  in  intellectual  and  moral  culture,  than  merely 
in  getting  something  to  live  upon.     Indeed,  men  generally  do 
not  act  as  though  there  were  any  thing  else  to  do  or  live  for,, 
or  any  other  source  of  enjoyment  but  making  ?noney,  and 
gratifying  their  ambition,  ill-will,  love,  appetite,  and  other 
merely  animal  feelings.     They  have  overlooked  the  great 
truth  that  their  moral  and  intellectual  id.cx\\X\QS,  should  en- 
gross more  of  their  time.     Attention  devoted  'to  them,  is  the 
most  important,  the  most  momentous  business  of  life.     Let 
time  be  spent  on  them  first,  and  then  let  surplus  time  go  to 
the  lower  feelings. 

A  vast  amount  of  time  is  also  consumed  by  one  person, 
trespassing  upon  the  time  of  others.  Time  is  life  ;  and  as  one 
man  has  no  right  to  take  the  life  of  another,  so  he  has  none- 
to  consume  his  time.  Hence,  whenever  with  our  fellow-men^ 
we  should  either  let  them  entirely  alone,  or  else  do  our  best  to 
benefit  them,  and  be  very  careful  how  we  encroach  upon  the 
time  of  others.  Nor  should  we  allow  our  time  to  be  en- 
croached upon  by  others,  because  silly  fashion  has  made  it  a 
rule  to  drop  whatever  we  are  doing,  and  attend  to  company. 
I,  for  one,  despise  and  disregard  this  requhement ;  not  giving 
any  of  my  time  to  others  for  politeness  sake,  and  considering 
my  short  stay  on  earth  too  valuable  to  myself,  too  important  to 
my  fellow-men,  to  be  squandered  in  dancing  attendance  at  the 
shrine  of  fashion. 


ANALYSIS    AND    ADAPTATION    OF    TUNE.  69 

These  remarks  upon  the  value  and  improvement  of  time, 
liave  struck  a  deep  and  rich  vein,  which,  at  other  times,  and  in 
other  connexions,  I  intend  to  follow  out  more  fully  ;  for,  it  is 
a  subject  that  lays  near  my  heart,  and  one  over  which  I  have 
mourned  and  pondered  for  years.  The  utter  folly  of  man  in 
this  prodigality  of  time, — aye,  its  worse  than  folly,  its  con- 
summate wickedness,  its  climax  of  crime,  and  the  evils  cluster- 
ing around  this  misimprovement  of  his  earthly  existence — 
lias  opened  a  deep  vein  of  grief  in  me,  and  kept  it  open — kept 
a  continual  stream  of  sorrow,  pouring  forth  wherever  I  turn 
my  eyes,  and  whatever  I  see  my  fellow-men  doing — a  stream 
which  I  cannot  describe,  and  to  obviate  the  cause  of  which,  I 
am  determined  to  do  all  within  my  power.  Hence  it  is,  that, 
in  the  name  of  all  that  is  sacred  in  our  nature,  I  urge  upon 
parents  and  teachers  the  importance  oi  cultivating  the.  faculty 
of  time  in  children.  I  shall  hereafter  show,  somewhat  in 
detail,  how  time  may  be  spent  to  better  advantage  that  it  now 
is — that  is,  how  to  reap  from  it  a  far  richer  and  more  abundant 
harvest  of  pleasure  than  man  now  enjoys.  This  can  be  done, 
and  Phrenology  shows  the  world  hotv  to  do  it.  I  can  hardly 
forbear  entering  upon  this  subject  here,  but  my  limits  forbid. 
In  the  journal  department,  in  the  series  of  articles  entitled 
^'  Existing  evils  and  their  remedy,"  I  shall  soon  reach  and  ex- 
ipound  a  kindred  point,  and  in  this  work,  shall  again  broach  it, 
when  I  come  to  show  mothers  how  to  get  time  to  become  the 
educators  of  their  children. 

TUNR 

The  BTOSicAi-  feeling  and  faculty:  abilitv  to  learn  tisnes  by  rote,  and  tode  • 
tect  harmony  and  discord  by  the  ear:  ability  and  disposition  to  sing 
and  play  on  musical  instruments  :  love  of  melody  and  musical  harmony; 

Adaptation. — ^Man  is  a  musical  animal,  and  constituted  so 
as  to  receive  a  great  amount  of  real  pleasure  in  singing  and 
listening  to  music  5  and  this  faculty  is  the  means  and  medium 
of  that  pleasure.  It  is  adapted  to  rnusical  sounds  and  to 
concord  in  music,  and  the  musical  octave  is  also  adapted  to  it. 
Without  it,  or  in  its  absence,  one  note  in  music  could  not  be  dis- 
tinguished from  another,  and  that  soul-stirring  delight  ex- 
perienced in  its  exercise,  would  be  unknown.  With  it,  the 
merry,  friendly,  mournful,  devotional,  martial,  and  almost 


70  NATURAL    MUSIC    PREFERABLE    TO    ARTIFICIAL. 

every  other  human  sentiment  and  passion,  can  be  combinedj, 
and  stirred  up  to  a  degree  of  intensity  scarcely  possible  without 
it.  It  may  also  be  employed  as  a  means  of  refining  and 
elevating  the  feelings,  and  exciting  the  thrilling,  touching^ 
melting,  exquisite,  beautiful,  &c. 

Music  is  music,  the  world  over,  and  concord  and  discord 
affect  the  ears  of  the  savage  and  the  civilized  in  the  same 
manner.  What  is  music  to  the  refined  Anglo-Saxon,  is  equally 
so  to  the  red  man  of  the  forest,  and  the  sons  and  daughters  of 
China  and  Siberia,  and  their  octave  is  our  octave.  The  musi- 
cal feeling  is  planted  in  nearly  every  human  soul,  being  as 
much  a  constituent  portion  of  man,  as  lungs,  or  brain,  or  a 
mouth,  and  is  designed  and  calculated  greatly  to  augment  hu- 
man happiness  and  improvement.  It  should,  therefore,  be 
universally  cultivated,  especially  in  the  young.  It  is  generally 
cultivated,  but  not  rightly,  or  in  harmony  with  its  nattcrai 
function. 

Its  one,  distinctive  funetion  is  to  learn  to  sing  by  ear.  It 
scorns  the  trammels  of  notes,  gamuts,  and  fa,  sol,  la,  but  gives 
a  spontaneous  expression  to  this  musical  feeling  by  appropriate 
soimds,  or  else  learns  tunes  by  rote,  that  is,  from  hearing  them 
sung  or  played.  True,  it  calls  notes  and  instruments,  and  the 
science  of  music,  to  its  aid,  but  only  as  attendants  and  servants', 
whereas,  the  modern  method  of  teaching  music  has  rendered 
them  primaries  and  principals,  to  the  almost  entire  exclusion 
of  singing  by  ear.  And  then,  too,  our  concerts,  oratorios,  thea- 
tre, church,  and  parlor  music,  &c.,  is  nearly  all  purely  artificial 
scarcely  a  vestage  of  natural  music  remaining.  True^ 
great  science  and  wonderful  skill  and  art  are  displayed,  but 
artificial  music  does  not  come  from  the  heart,  nor  reach  the 
heart.  It  may  make  us  wonder  at  the  skill  of  the  performer, 
but  does  not  stir  up  the  fountain  oi feeling,  nor  make  us  happy. 
I  verily  believe  that  burning  every  note  of  music  ever  printed, 
and  preventing  any  more  from  being  printed,  would  augment 
man's  pleasure  derived  from  music,  besides  facilitating  its  ac- 
quisition. When  art  can  excel  nature,  when  man  can  outdo 
his  Maker,  then,  but  not  till  then,  may  we  be  benefitted  by 
learning  and  practicing  music  scientifically,  or  from  books- 
first.     Our  colored  population,  especially  at  the  south,  ofteE 


TEACHING    TO    SING    BT   THE    EAR.  71 

make  hills  and  dales  echo  with  their  peals  of  song,  yet  they 
never  learn  to  sing  scientifically,  nor  from  notes,  but  by  means 
of  the  instinctive  exercise  of  this  faculty.  And  yet,  many  music 
teachers  actually  ybri/o?  their  pupils  singing  by  rote  ;  but  they 
may  as  well  pull  out  their  teeth  and  sew  up  their  mouths,  in 
order  to  help  them  eat,  or  set  them  to  studying  the  dead  lan- 
guages in  order  to  make  them  good  speakers.  [See  remarks 
on  Language,  p.  5.]  Teach  them  to  sing  by  ear  first,  and 
then,  if  you  see  fit  to  aid  them  by  teaching  the  science  and 
"rules"  of  music,  and  to  read  tunes  by  note,  they  may  be  im- 
proved and  perfected  thereby,  but  teaching  them  the  latter^r^^, 
is  like  standing  a  pyramid  on  its  apex. 

And  then,  too,  learning  to  sing  the  natural  way,  is  as  much 
more  easy  than  by  rule,  as  walking  on  the  feet  is  more  easy 
than  on  the  hands,  because  the  former  is  natural,  and  the  lat- 
ter, unnatural.  I  cordially  approve  a  practice  quite  common 
in  New  England,  of  frequently  relieving  the  tedium  of  the 
school-room  by  singing  a  tune  in  which  all  the  scholars  take 
part,  and  thereby  cultivate  this  faculty  early,  and  in  the  natural 
way.  Let  all  young  children  sing  themselves,  and  let  all,  es- 
pecially the  young,  instead  of  waiting  till  they  have  taken  les- 
sons in  music,  or  for  a  formal  set-to  at  the  piano  or  accordian, 
strike  up  the  cheerful  lays  when  about  the  house,  or  garden, 
or  field,  and  promote  their  own  happiness,  as  well  as  that  of 
those  about  them,  by  giving  frequent  and  unrestrained  expres- 
sion of  those  lively  buoyant,  cheerful,  happy  feelings  so  com- 
mon to  youth.  Let  boys  whistle,  and  let  laborers  make  the 
fields  ring  and  the  forests  echo  with  their  merry,  thrilling 
notes  of  music,  and  let  our  young  ladies,  (except  those  who 
are  corseted  too  tight  to  inspire  breath  enough  to  sing  well,)  as 
they  skip  and  fly  from  room  to  room,  strike  up  some  lively 
song  or  pleasing  chorus. 

It  should  be  added  that  singing  is  highly  promotive  of  health ; 
for  it  exercises,  and  thereby  strengthens  and  invigorates,  the 
lungs,  by  increasing  the  amount  of  air  inhaled,  and  aids  diges- 
tion, besides  affording  much  exercise  of  parts  too  liable  to  re- 
main dormant — three  of  the  main  functions  of  animal  life,  as 
well  as  conditions  of  health.  It  also  throws  a  ceeerful,  serene 
influence  over  the  mind  and  feelings,  and  infuses  new  life  into 


72      EVILS    OP    THE    PRESENT    SYSTEM    OP    TEACHING   MUSIC. 

the  whole  man,  physical  and  intellectual.  Plaintive  tunes,  and 
minor  modes,  should  seldom  be  sung,  especially  to  children, 
for  they  depress  the  feelings,  diminish  the  circulation,  and 
overcast  the  mind  with  gloom  and  sadness,  yet  sacred  music  is 
highly  beneficial ;  for,  it  imparts  a  calmness  and  serenity  to  be 
obtained  no  where  else. 

The  combinations  of  Tune,  are  inimitably  beautiful,  and,, 
by  means  of  them,  nearly  every  feeling  and  sentiment  maybe 
enjoyed  and  expressed  sweetly  and  delightfully.  Thus :  com- 
bined with  Language  and  the  social  feelings,  it  expresses  af- 
fection and  love :  with  Combativeness  and  Destructiveness,  it 
revels  in  the  martial  sounds  of  the  fife,  the  bugle,  and  the 
drum :  with  Constructiveness,  it  wiles  away  the  tedious  hours 
of  labor  by  sang:  with  Veneration,  its  signs  songs  of  Zion,  and 
elevates  and  purifies  the  soul  by  kindling  and  expressing  the 
sentiments  of  devotion,  of  gratitude,  of  praise,  &c. :  with  Pa- 
rental Love,  it  sings  cradle  ditties  :  with  Mirthfulness,  it  sings 
the  comic  song :  and,  with  unbridled  Amativeness  added,  it 
joins  in  boisterous  revelry  and  mirth,  &c.  Hence,  it  can  be 
rendered  subservient  to  the  best  of  ends,  or  to  the  worst — can 
be  employed  to  elevate  and  purify,  or  degrade  and  debase,  its 
possessor  ;  so  that  its  combinations  with  the  higher  sentiments 
should  be  cultivated ;  but  not  in  accordance  with  the  modern 
musical  tastes  and  fashions,  which  are  mostly  wrong.  A  few 
of  their  errors  are  too  glaring  to  be  allowed  to  pass  unexposed 
and  unreproved. 

1.  Though  the  musical  taste  and  talent  are  strong  and  active 
in  infancy  and  childhood,  yet  the  artificial  singing  of  adults, 
does  not  call  it  into  vigorous  exercise,  and  therefore,  it  becomes 
small.  After  its  size  has  been  thus  reduced,  girls  and  young 
ladies  are  set  down  to  the  piano  as  a  task,  and  compelled  to 
practice  hour  after  hour/rom  notes,  without  any  aid  or  relish 
from  love  of  music,  till  they  become  tired  and  disgusted.  And 
then,  they  must  be  laced  so  tightly  that  they  cannot  perform 
with  ease,  and  are  injured  instead  of  being  benefited,  and  the 
whole  of  their  singing  rendered  stale  and  artificial.  Still,  they 
must  learn  music  in  order  to  get  husbands  ;  to  be  laid  aside 
when  that  one  end  of  female  education  is  attained.  Now,  if 
this  singing  hy  rote,  and  singing  when  about  the  house,  while 


STRICTURES    ON    MODERN    MUSIC.  73 

the  hands  are  employed  in  labor,  were  cultivated  from  childhood, 
it  would  be  continued  through  life,  pouring  an  almost  contin- 
ual stream  of  pleasure  into  the  soul  of  its  possessor. 

2.  The  words  usually  set  to  fashionable  music,  meet  my  un- 
qualified censure;  for,  three-fourths  if  not  nine-tenths  of  them 
are  love  sick  ditties,  or  the  pinings  of  unrequited  love.  I  can 
not  see  how  half  of  them  can  be  sung  by  a  modest  woman  with- 
out crimsoning  her  cheek  with  the  blush  of  shame.  And  then, 
to  give  music  its  full  power,  the  performer  must  feel  both  the 
words  and  the  song.  It  is  passing  strange  how  fashion  can  so 
"strain at  a  gnat,  and  swallow  a  camel,"  but  no  more  strange 
than  true.  However,  those  ladies  who  think  otherwise,  have 
the  same  liberty  to  sing  these  love-sick  verses  that  I  have  to 
think  what  I  please  about  those  who  do  it. 

3.  But  the  principal  fault  of  modern  singing,  is  that  it  is  tm~ 
natural,  strained,  and  artificial.  This  is  a  natural  conse- 
quence, however,  of  the  method  by  which  it  is  taught,  and 
can  be  obviated  only  by  teaching  children  to  sing,  and  that  hy 
rote.  Listen  to  the  music  of  the  concert,  the  parlor,  the  thea- 
tre, the  martial  field,  and  even  the  sanctuary,  and  how  little 
emotion  does  it  stir  up,  compared  with  what  might  be  done. 
Sacred  music,  properly  conducted,  would  fill  all  our  churches, 
and  induce  many  to  attend  religious  meetings,  whom  this  arti 
ficial  singing  will  not  call  out. 

I  doubt  the  utility  of  having  the  singing  in  our  churches  per- 
formed by  a  chosen  few,  called  "the  choir."  Rather  let  it  be 
done  by  the  whole  congregation.  Pursue  the  plan  already 
pointed  out,  and  all  will  be  as  competent  to  sing  in  a  church  as 
any  now  are ;  for,  all  have  the  organ,  and,  by  beginning  young, 
all  might  learn  to  sing.  This  organ  averages  several  degrees 
larger  in  children  than  in  adults :  the  cause  of  this  has  already 
been  attributed  to  artificial  music  having  been  so  generally 
substituted  for  that  which  is  natural. 

A  good  voice  is  also  indispensable  to  a  good  singer,  and  a 
strong  constitution  is  equally  indispensable  to  a  good  voice;  so 
that  a  good  voice  for  siging — one  that  is  clear  and  strong,  is  a 
sign  of  good  health,  while  a  feeble  voice,  formed  at  the  top  of 
the  throat,  and  not  shrill,  clear,  and,  full,  evinces  a  weak,  frail 
organization.     I  have  noticed,  also,  that  in  addition  to  a  strong 


74  ANALYSIS    AND    ADAPTATION    OP    LOCALITY. 

constitution,  good  singers  usually  have  the  sanguine-nervous, 
or  vital-mental,  temperament;  which  gives  remarkable  inten- 
sity and  power  of  feeling,  and  this  intensity  of  feelmg  is  the 
most  essential  element  in  good  singing. 

Time  and  Tune  naturally  act  together,  and  mutually  aid 
each  other.  Hence,  it  is  as  natural  for  children  to  keep  correct 
time  in  singing,  as  to  sing  at  all.  There  are  probably  two 
organs  of  Tune,  the  lower  one  for  catching  tunes  and  singing ; 
the  upper,  for  appreciating  the  higher  qualities  of  music,  such 
as  its  harmony,  and  the  lofty,  thrilhng,  and  exquisite  in  song. 

Instrumental  music  is  very  good,  and  playing  on  wind 
instruments  is  calculated  to  strengthen  the  lungs,  (unless  carried 
to  excess,)  yet,  after  all,  no  instrument  ever  made  by  man,  can 
equal  the  human  voice,  either  for  melody,  or  expression,  or 
sweetness  of  tone.     Let  no  person  neglect  to  sing  daily. 

After  making  remarks  analogous  to  these  at  Chelmsford, 
Mass,  the  Presbyterian  clergyman  of  that  place  remarked,  that 
they  were  in  striking  harmony  with  the  system  of  Pestalozzi, 
and  added  that  a  singing  master  then  in  C,  was  conducting  a 
school  upon  this  principle.  About  that  system  I  know  little 
or  nothing,  not  as  much  as  I  wish  ;  but,  if  it  be  analogous  to 
this,  it  must  certainly  be  correct,  because  founded  in  the  nature 
of  mind. 

LOCALITY. 

Local  memory ;  recollection  of  the  place  where  we  have 
seen  persons  or  things  ;  the  geographical  faculty  ;  memory 
of  roads,  scenery,  the  looks  of  places,  where  on  the  page 
certain  facts  or  accounts  were  seen,  S^c  ;  desire  to  travel 
and  see  places,  and  ability  to  find  them;  Me  where 
WHERE  faculty. 

Adaptation. — Every  physical  thing  must  be  in  some  place, 
and  one  thing  cannot  be  where  another  is.  Space  exists,  and 
constitutes  a  necessary  property  of  matter  ;  and  thus  far,  man 
has  been  unable  to  find  its  limits.  Around  us,  above  us,  every 
way,  it  is  to  us  boundless.  The  extent  to  which  man  has 
carried  his  observations,  though  millions  on  millions  of  miles, 
is  probably  but  a  small  moiety  of  those  endless  fields  of  space 
which  have  been  stretched  out  by  the  hand  of  the  Almighty. 
But  for  this  element  of  things,  our  houses  and  every  thing 
else,  could  have  no  place  to  be,  could  be  no-where,  that  is, 


ANALYSIS    AND   ADAPTATION    OF    LOCALlTr,    CONTINUED.       75 

could  not  be  at  all ;  and  without  this  faculty  in  man  adapted 
to  this  element  of  matter,  though  his  house  and  other  things 
might  have  a  "local  habitation,"  yet  he  would  be  unable  to 
find  them,  and  would  be  perfectly  lost  every  time  he  left  one 
place  or  thing  to  find  another.  This  faculty  enables  its 
possessor  to  retrace  his  steps  through  a  winding  roadfwith 
many  cross  roads,  or  through  the  forest ;  to  call  to  mind  the 
looks  of  places  and  position  of  things  ;  to  find  places  once  seen ; 
and  to  keep  the  points  of  the  compass  correctly  in  his  head,  &c. 
Those  in  whom  it  is  small,  soon  lose  themselves  in  a  city  or 
the  woods,  and  findplaces  or  learn  geography  either  practically, 
or  from  maps,  with  dilEficulty. 

The  valuable  ends  attained  by  the  full  development  of  this 
faculty,  are  very  great ;  and  the  importance  of  cultivating  it,  is 
of  course  equally  so.  The  present  system  of  teaching  geography^ 
is  probably  less  faulty  than  that  of  teaching  any  other  science, 
yet  it  might  be  improved, 

1.  By  being  begun  earlier,  and  rendered  more  practical. 
Thus ;  when  your  child  is  two  years  old,  it  will  know  the 
house  in  which  it  has  lived  from  other  houses,  and  should  have 
its  attention  called  to  this  point.  Beginning  with  the  rooms 
in  your  house,  teach  it  which  way  is  east,  west,  north,  and 
south,  above,  below,  right,  left,  &c.,  and  often  ask  it  in  which 
room  the  bureau,  or  sofa,  or^clock,  or  stove,  &c.  is,  and  then, 
in  what  part  of  the  room.  Then,  if  you  live  in  the  country, 
or  have  a  garden  or  fields,  teach  it  their  geography,  and 
frequently  ask  it  where  certain  trees,  or  fields,  or  stones,  &c.  &c. 
are ;  where  the  woods, wheat-field,  corn-field,  meadow,  &c.  are ; 
where  such  and  such  neighbors  live,  and  a  thousand  similar 
questions.  If  you  live  in  the  city,  pursue  a  similar  course  in 
regard  to  houses,  &c.,  and  when  you  walk  out,  ask  in  what 
direction  home  is,  or  any  curious  thing  it  may  have  seen. 

In  presenting  this  subject,  I  cannot  probably  do  better  tKlin 
to  draw  my  illustrations  from  the  course  pursued  by  myself  in 
reference  to  my  own  daughter.  After  moving  from  210 
Chestnut  St.,  Philadelphia,  when  she  was  just  two  years  old, 
I  observed  that  when  she  passed  it,  she  stopped,  saying,  "I  used 
to  live  there."  Taking  her  upon  my  horse,  (which,  in  spite  of 
its  being  unusual,  I  did  for  her  health,  as  well  as  my  own,)  as 


76  A    NEW    METHOD    OF    TEACHIN^l    GEOGRAPHY. 

I  rode  up  or  down  the  street,  I  ask  her  which  way  home  or 
mother  was  ;  and  then  turning  a  corner,  I  asked  "  which 
way  now?^'  I  one  day  called  her  attention  to  a  place  some- 
what unusual  in  looks,  and  stopped  my  horse,  requesting  her 
to  look  at  it,  so  as  to  remember  it  next  time.  A  little  further 
on,  we  saw  a  parrot,  which  delighted  her  exceedingly.  The 
next  day,  as  we  came  to  the  place  just  mentioned,  she  exclaim- 
ed with  joy,  "Oh  pa,  we  are  coming  to  the  parrot  soon."  I 
asked  her  which  z^^ay  the  parrot  was,  andthustook  every  oppor- 
tunity of  exercising  her  Locality  as  well  as  Individuality, 
Eventuality,  Language,  and  ('ausality. 

After  pursuing  this  course  for  a  time,  you  can  extend  your 
explanations  to  the  geography  of  the  earth,  hut,  in  so  doing, 
bear  one  thing  in  mind — namely,  to  teach  them  the  natural 
divisions  of  the  earth,  such  as  its  divisions  into  mountainsj 
rivers,  oceans,  valleys,  &c.  first,  before  you  begin  to  explain 
the  artificial  divisions  of  the  land  into  different  countries  or 
states.  Thus,  in  teaching  them  the  great  natural  landmarks 
of  the  earth,  suppose  you  begin  with  the  mountains ;  and, 
commencing,  at  the  southern  extremity  of  South  America, 
show  them  a  map,  or  some  representation  of  the  Andes,  and 
their  passage  north  and  east  through  the  isthmus  of  Darien, 
and  forming  the  rocky  mountains,  which  extend  to  Behring^s 
straits,  cross  into  North-eastern  Asia,  forming  Skamschatska 
and  extending  on  to  the  Himaleh  mountains,  and  then 
branching  off,  one  branch  forming  the  Polynesian  Islands, 
and  the  other  running  east  and  forming  Mount  Ararat,  the 
Alps,  Pyrenees,  rocky  cliffs  of  Gibraltar,  and  the  mountains  of 
the  Moon,  in  Northern  Africa,  &c.  Here  they  have  the 
mountainous  framework  of  our  globe. 

Then  teach  them  the  divisions  of  this  land  into  the  basins 
of  rivers ;  such  as  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  St.  Lawrence, 
Hudson,  Connecticut,  &c.,  and  their  sub-divisions,  the  former 
into  those  of  the  Ohio,  Missouri,  Arkansaw,  &c.  Then  show 
them  the  leading  characteristic,  or  topography  of  each.  Each 
valley  has  its  leading  features.  Thus ;  the  St.  Lawrence  is 
characterized  throughout  its  course  by  innumerable  falls, 
exactly  like  those  of  Niagara  and  Genesee,  except  in  size. 
The  same  range  of  rocks  that  forms  the  Niagara  falls,  also 


TEACHING    HISTORY    WITH    GEOGRAPHY.  77 

extends  on  east  and  forms  the  Genesee  falls,  and  those  in  the 
Black  River  at  and  near  Watertown.  The  same  horizontal 
strata  of  rocks,  the  same  deep  gully  below  the  falls,  and  the 
same  fossil  remains  in  the  same  strata,  characterize  them  all^ 
and  all  the  rivers  that  enter  the  St.  Lawrence,  whether  from 
Canada  or  from  the  U.  S.  The  same  is  true  of  the  aspect  of 
the  country. 

The  Susquehanna,  again,  has  an  aspect  entirely  different 
from  that  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  Its  bed,  from  the  head-waters 
of  all  its  branches,  throughout  its  entire  course,  is  broad,  and 
its  waters  shallow,  and  on  each  side,  at  almost  any  part  of  it, 
or  any  of  its  branches,  will  be  found  terraces,  or  rapid  ascents 
from  the  bed  of  the  river  for  a  few  feet  and  then  a  level,  and 
another  rise  and  level,  corresponding  on  each  side  of  the  river. 
Its  waters  often  run  close  under  the  base  of  the  mountain, 
which  often  rises  rapidly  to  a  great  height,  and  is  quite  regular. 
Any  person  at  all  acquainted  with  the  general  aspect  of  either 
of  these  rivers  or  any  of  their  branches,  in  casually  entering 
any  part  which  he  had  not  seen,  and  did  not  know  to  what 
river  it  belonged,  would  know  where  it  belonged  just  from  its 
topographical  resemblance  to  the  other  portions  of  that  river. 

Combining  the  organs,  or  calhng  several  faculties  into  action 
at  the  same  time,  will  be  found  of  incalculable  value  in  teach- 
ing and  learning  geography,  as,  indeed,  any  thing  else.    That 
is,  while  you  are  exhibiting  the  position  of  places  and  the  geog- 
raphy of  a  country  to  Locality ;  let  Eventuality  also  be  called 
into  action  by  mingling  the  events  ox  history  of  the  people, 
with  the  geography  and  aspect  of  the  country.  In  other  words, 
let  the  teacher  tell  them  all  that  is  known  of  the  history,  pe- 
culiarities, modes  of  life,  habits,  government,  laws,  customs, 
&c.,  &c.,  of  each  country,  together  with  landscape  views  of 
their  principal  cities,  buildings,  rivers,  mountains,  scenery,  &c. 
For  instance,  connected  with  the  geography  of  England,  show 
them  a  view  of  London,  taken  from  some  point  from  which  it 
can  be  seen  to  the  best  advantage,  and  then  other  views  of 
"Westminster  Abbey,"  "The  Tower,"  "Buckingham  Palace," 
&c.,  &c.,  with  the  history  and  remarkable  events  tliat  have 
transpired  in  relation  to  each.     And  then,  by  a  very  cheap 
cosraorama,  or  a  mere  magnifying  lens  even,  each  pupi 


78  MAKING    SCIENTIFIC    EXCHANGES. 

could  be  placed  in  full  view  of  London,  or  any  other 
place,  or  scenery,  or  building  in  the  world,  and  see  it 
apparently  in  the  distance  and  as  large  as  life,  and  at  an  ex- 
pense not  greater  than  the  present  method  of  supplying  each 
scholar  with  a  geography  and  atlas  ;  for  then,  one  set  could 
be  made  to  serve  the  whole  school.  Let  each  civilized  nation 
employ  artists  to  take  and  lithrograph  views  of  their  principal 
landscapes,  cities,  &c. ;  and  then  let  the  nations  interchange 
these  specimens  ;  and  let  government  supply  them  to  the  pub- 
lic schools.  This  is  what  we  want  governments  and  public 
officers  for;  not  to  make  long  speeches,  and  roll  logs,  and  vote 
for  each  other,  that  is,  "I'll  tickle  you  if  you'll  tickle  me." 
As  our  governments  are  now  conducted,  they  do  more  harm 
than  good,  besides  spending  immense  sums  of  money  which, 
spent  in  the  way  just  proposed,  and  other  similar  ones,  would 
do  good,  whereas  it  now  only  robs  the  pockets  of  the  people, 
to  be  squandered  by  public  (not  servants,  but)  spendthrifts  and 
cheats  :  but  more  of  this  in  that  series  of  articles  entitled,  "ex- 
isting evils  and  their  remedy,"  in  which  I  shall  expose  politi- 
cal evils  and  abuses,  and  propose  a  more  excellent  way. 

By  teaching  geography  in  this  way,  children  would  not  have 
to  be  whipped  to  school,  nor  for  playing  truant,  but  would  long 
for  the  hour  to  arrive  when  they  could  go  to  partake  of  so 
rich  an  intellectual  feast. 

This  course  presents  still  another  advantage — that  of  teach- 
ing the  true  nature  of  m,an.  Civilized  life  is  mainly  a  per- 
version of  human  nature ;  but,  a  summary  of  the  true  nature 
of  man,  and  thus  of  the  true  road  to  happiness,  would  thus  be 
forced  home  upon  every  one  of  the  rising  generation,  and  this 
would  lead  to  an  im,mediate  reform;  for,  it  would  reveal 
many  excellent  customs  practiced  in  savage  and  half  civilized 
life,  and  expose  many  that  are  injurious,  and  thereby  lead  the 
youthful  mind  to  reflect  upon  the  true  nature  of  man,  as  well 
as  to  select  "the  good,  but  cast  the  bad  away." 

Another  suggestion.  The  national  phrenological  develop- 
ments of  every  nation,  should  be  given,  and  the  coincidences 
betw.ren  their  heads  and  characters,  should  be  drawn.  This, 
besides  teaching  them  Phrenology,  both  in  theory  and  practice, 
would  enable  them  still  farther  to  form  a  correct  estimate  of 


TEACHING  NATIONAL  PHRENOLOGY  WITH  GEOGRAPHY.   79 

the  nature  of  man,  and  to  see  what  customs  of  different  na- 
tions are  in  harmony  with  it.  Drawings  of  national  heads, 
and  busts  of  their  leading  characters,  might  and  should  be  pro- 
cured. If  our  Exploring  Expedition  had  taken  along  a  skil- 
ful and  devoted  Phrenologist  to  make  examinations  of  na- 
tional lieads,  and  to  set  all  hands  at  work  collecting  sculls,  busts, 
specimens,  drawings,  &c.,  of  national  heads,  as  well  as  of  the 
animals,  including  birds  &c,  of  different  climes,  his  labors  and 
report  alone,  would  have  been  worth  more  than  that  of  all  the 
rest  besides  and  been  a  "quid pro  quo,^'  or  equivalent  for  its 
immense  expense.  "When  will  the  nations  learn  wisdom  ?" 
Still  another  suggestion.  Every  school  should  be  furnished 
with  a  geological  and  minerological  cabinet,  embracing  all  the 
most  important  specimens  of  the  globe.  This  might  be  done 
very  easily,  by  that  system  of  exchanges  proposed  and  practiced 
by  JosiAH  HoLBROOK.  His  plans  are  excellent.  Let  them  be 
adopted,  that  is,  let  a  school,  situated  in  or  near  a  coal  or  iron 
region,  collect  a  great  amount  of  iron  oar,  or  coal  of  the  kind 
near  them,  and  let  another  school,  situated  in  a  marble,  or 
granite,  or  scionite  region,  collect  large  quantities  of  marble, 
or  granite,  or  sienite,  &c ;  and  then  let  each  school  exchange 
with  evrey  other.  Let  this  system  be  extended  to  nations,  as 
well  as  schools;  or,  rather  let  there  be  a  national  institution, 
to  effect  these  and  similar  ends,  including  the  geographical 
drawings  mentioned  above,  and  the  good  effected  thereby, 
would  be  incalculable.  It  would  also  give  employment  to 
many  discerning  and  talented  artists,  who  are  now  almost 
starving,  as  well  as  foster  a  taste  for  the  natural  sciences  and 
the  fine  arts,  and  spread  light  and  knowledge  throughout  the 
earth.  And  think  you  that  this  would  not  lessen  our  calen- 
ders of  crime,  empty  our  prisons  and  penitentiaries,  and  pro- 
mote moral  purity  and  intellectual  attainments,  to  a  degree 
which  would  well  nigh  drive  vice  and  crime  from  our  world, 
and  do  infinitely  more  to  induce  the  reign  of  the  moral  and  in- 
tellectual faculties  than  any  other,  if  not  than  all  other  means 
now  in  operation,  modern  preaching  included .''  This  would 
as  assuredly  beget  a  love  of  study,  and  especially  of  the  study  of 
nature,  of  the  laws,  and  operations,  and  adaptations  of  nature, 
which,  in  adition  to  the  knowledge  imparted,  and  the  pleasure 


80  A    NATIONAL    LITERARY   EXCHANGE  INSTITUTION. 

afforded  thereby,  is  more  effectually  and  certainly  promotive 
of  moral  parity,  than  any  thing  else  in  which  the  human  mind 
can  be  engaged.  To  every  student  of  nature,  I  appeal :  Is  not 
the  study  of  nature  eminently  purifying  and  elevating  to  the 
soul  ?  What  more  than  the  study  of  the  works  of  God,  is  cal- 
culated to  call  forth  Veneration  in  his  worship,  or  Conscien- 
tiousness in  living  an  upright,  blameless  life  ?  What  will  fill 
the  soul  with  wonder,  praise,  and  love  to  God,  more  than  be- 
holding the  infinite  wisdom  displayed  in  his  works,  and  all  to 
enable  man  to  be  happy  in  both  body  and  mind  ?     What  will 

carry  us 

"  Through  nature  up  to  Nature's  God  ?" 

What  will  equally  quell  the  passions,  promote  good  feeling,  and 
moral  integrity,  and  dispel  vice  and  immorality  in  all  their 
forms?  Butil  forbear,  for  I  am  encroaching  upon  ground 
appropriated  to  another  department  of  my  subject,  namely,  the 
importance  of  training  the  intellectual  and  moral  faculties  to 
act  TOGETHER,  that  is,  of  teaching  God  in  all  his  works,  of 
NOT  teaching  children  any  thing  in  science  or  nature,  without 
teaching  them  God  in  it  all ;  or,  the  importance  of  studying  and 
teaching  natural  theology.  After  analysing  the  moral  fac- 
ulties, I  propose  to  show  that  the  juxtaposition  of  the  moral 
and  intellectual  organs,  as  well  as  the  facility  with  which  the 
two  combine,  establishes  the  conclusion  that  natural  science 
and  natural  theology,  should  be  taught  and  learned  to- 
gether ;  that  the  latter  should  form  a  part  of  early  education, 
that  the  noxious  dogmas  and  superstitions  of  modern  religious 
sectarianisms,  should  be  rooted  up,  and  the  study  of  the  works 
of  God,  and  of  God  in  his  works  substituted  in  theire  stead — 
that  modern  religion  is  sadly  defective  in  not  being  founded  in, 
and  built  upon  natral  religion  and  that  natural  theology  and 
the  character  of  God  as  drawn  from  his  works,  is  indispensable  ; 
or  rather,  should /?recee^e  ^i\di  prepare  the  way  for,  the  teach- 
ing salvation  by  Christ,  which  is  only  the  superstructure  of 
natural  theology ;  and  which  must  be  founded  hi  it.  Both 
religion  and  education  are  sadly  deficient  by  each  standing  sep- 
arately, whereas  they  naturally  go  together,  and  "what  God 
hath  joined  together,  let  not  man  put  asunder." 

The  studies  of  Geology  and  Astronomy  come  as  appropri- 
ateley  under  the  faculty  of  Locality,  as  any  other.     We  cannot 


SHOWING    CHILDKEM    GEOLOGICAL    PHENOMENA.  81 

see  a  rock  or  an  embankment,  a  mountain,  a  valley,  a  river,  a 
stone,  a  mineral,  without  having  the  conviction/orce^  upon  us, 
that  some  most  important  geological  changes  have  occurred, 
and  continue  to  occur,  in  regard  to  our  earth.     To  me,  geologi- 
cal facts  and  observations,  have  always  been  most  interesting, 
and,  though  I  know  little  about  the  science  of  geology,  still  I 
observe  and  reflect  upon  all  the  geological  j^/ie72ome?ia  within 
my  reach,  as  I  travel  from  place  to  place.     Nor  do  I  fail  to  put 
to°'ether  what  I  see  in  different  places,  and  to  search  for  a 
common  cause,  as  well  as  to  philosophise  upon  the  earlier  con- 
dition of  our  earth,  &c.,  &c.     The  various  layers  of   earth 
seen  on  digging  into  an  embankment,  and  the  different  strata 
of  rocks  and  substances  in  the  same  rock,  the  different  veins  in 
rocks,  the  crystalizing  of  earths,  pudding  stones,  conglomerated 
rocks,  the  shells  often  found  imbedded  in  rocks,  stones  laying 
far  above  the  water  and  yet  appearing  as  if  worn  by  running 
water,  and  having  eddies  in  them,  dug  out  by  running  water, 
petrifactions  of  fish  and  animals  in  stone,  the  tracks  of  animals 
in  stone,  and  also  even  imbedded  in  rocks,  and  that  on  the 
lops  of  mountains,*  the  remains  of  animals,  often  of  immense 
size,  whose  race  is  now  extinct,  found  imbedded  deep  in  the 
earth,  and  often  even  in  solid  rocks — these,  and  innumerable 
kindred  phenomena,  one  and  all,  teach  lessons  about  the  past, 
if  not  prognosticate  future  events,  which  man  can  know  and 
should  learn,  and  which  will  yet  lead  to  some  discoveries   of 
immense  utility  and  magnitude.     I  say,  then,  let  children  and 
youth  be  taught  geology.  As  you  walk  with  them,  past  a  rock 
composed  of  different  materials,  or  see  an  embankment  having  ' 
different  strata  and  qualities  of  soils,  pebbles,  clays,  &c.,one  above 
another, point  them  out  and  explain  whatsis  known  or  suppos- 
ed of  their  cause ;  and  so  of  other  things.     Whenever  prac- 

*  A  hw  years  ago,  Prof.  Hitchcock,  of  Amherst  College,  discovered  nu- 
merous tracks  of  birds  as  large  as  the  ostrich,  and  even  larger,  in  the  pa- 
ving stones  of  the  streets  of  New  Haven.  Posterity  will  award  immortal 
honor  to  this  distinguished  devotee  of  science ;  and  this  eminently  talented 
expounder  of  geology,  for  his  successful  labors  in  this  and  other  depart- 
ments of  science.  His  head  is  the  head  of  a  truly  great  man, — one  in 
an  age, — and  his  talents  are  of  the  very  highest  order,  besides  their  being 
turned  to  the  best  account,  and  being  assiduously  cultivated.  Prof. 
Edward  ^itchcock  will  belong  and  gratefully  remembered  and  honored, 

6 


82  INFLUE^-CE    OF    THK    STUDY    OF    NATURAL    SCIENCE, 

ticable    take  them  into  coal  and  other  iiiineS;  to  salt-sprmgs, 
sulphur-springs,  mineral-springs,  (those  of  Saratoga  included,) 
or  into  a  well  before  it  is  stoned  up,  and  thus  jrn;^  iheni  vpon 
the  track  of  observation  and  reflection, for  themselves,  and 
you  Avill  thus  "sow  seed  on  good  ground,"  which  will  take  deep 
"root,  spring  up,  and  binng  forth  frnit,  some  thirty,  some  fifty, 
and  some  a  hundred  fold,"  not  only  of  immediate  pleasure^ 
but  also  of  subsequent  pleasure  and  profit  to  them  through- 
out their   whole    lives.        Get  ^them  a   hammer,   and  take 
them  with  you  to  quarries,  and  upon  the  mountains  in  search 
of  minerals,  (at  the  same  time  calling  their  attention  to  inter- 
esting flowers,  vegetables,  &c.,  &c.,  as   directed  under  the 
heads  of  Individuahty  and  Eventuality,)  and  think  you  that 
these  rural  rambles  will  not  invigorate  and  expand  both  mind 
and  body,  and  stimulate  the   intellect  a  hundred  fold  more 
thandoes  "setting  on  a  bench  andsaying  A,"  or  spelling  "baker, 
cider,  brewer,"  &c.,  for  the  hundredth  time  ?  If  not,  then  am  I 
no  judge  of  the  nature  and  operations  of  mind — ^^then  have  I 
been  misled  both  by  experience  and  observation.     I  repeat 
what  I  have  before  said,  that  our  schools  as  now  conducted, 
SiTe  public  curses — that  they  cramp,  instead  of  improving,  the 
intellect — that  they  deaden  and dimiirish  both  mind  and  body — 
that  they  violate  nearly  every  law  of  intellectual  culture — that 
they  cause  the  intellectual  dwarfishness  of  mankind,  and  also 
foster  all  the  vices  by  creating  a  dislike  for  study,  as  well  as 
by  propagating  the  vices  of  every  bad  scholar  through  the 
school,  throughout  the  district,  and  throughout  the  town — that 
we  MUST  have  a  change — and   that  Phrenology  will  work  it. 
This  glorious  science  has  only  to  be  spread  and  studied,  com- 
pletely to  revolutionize  man  civilly,  politically,  religiously, 
morally,  intellectually,  and  physically,  so  that  a  hundred  years 
hence,  he  would  not  be  recognised  as  belonging  to  the  :>ame 
race.     Phrenologists,  remember,  that,  in  propogating  this  sci- 
ence, you,  though  a  mere  handful,  are  doing  more  good,  pro- 
moting more  happiness,  abolishing  more  vice,  and  sowing  the 
seeds  of  virtue,  more  than  all  the   lawyers,  doctors,  teachers, 
clergymen,  and  religionists,  of  all  Christendom,  and  ten  years 
will  prove    it    by  experiment.      Ten]  years  will   turn,  and 
overturn  these  United  States,  till  the  true  principles  of  this  sci- 


WHAT    PIIKENOLOGY    WILL    YET    DO    FOR    MEN.  S3 

ence  leaven  society,  till  existing  institutions  totter  on  their  basis^ 
and  are  "rollec!  together  and  pass  away  as  a  scroll,"  to  make 
way  for  the  principles  revealed  by  this  science.  A  greater  in- 
strument of  good  to  mankind,  was  never  raised  up  than  this 
same  "American  Phrenological  Journal/'  and  a  few  years  vvill 
give  it  the  influence  it  is  destined  to  exert.  These  pages  will 
remodel  the  intellectual  education  of  children — the  first  step 
towards  this  great  and  glorious  result,  and  the  balance  of  this 
work  will  remodel  the  government  and  nxoral  training  of  chil- 
dren ;  which  alone  will  gain  the  day ;  and  then  Phrenology 
applied  to  religion,  will  complete  the  victory,  and  renew  man 
77ioralIy  as  well  as  socially,*  intellectually  and  physically. 
Mark  these  prophecies,  and  place  them  by  the  side  of  1852. 

I  have  alluded  to  the  study  of  Astronomy  in  connexion  with 
Locality,  because  the  relative  position  of  the  heavenly  bodies, 
at  diflerent  periods,  comes  under  this  organ  more  appropriately 
than  under  any  other ;  though  it  involves  Form,  to  give  good 
eye-sight ;  Size,  to  appreciate  distance  ;  Weight,  to  take  cog- 
nizance of  motion ;  Calculation,  to  do  the  numerical  computa- 
tion ;  Eventuality,  to  take  cognizance  of  the  changes  and 
tnotions  of  the  heavenly  bodies  ;  Order,  to  perceiA^e  their  har- 
mony^ — "  heaven's  Jirst  law" — Time,  to  calculate  their  posi- 
tions 'dtpa^t  and  future  periods;  and  Causality  and  lower  Com 
parison,  to  do  the  requisite  reasoning.  Still,  space  and  posi- 
iion  are  the  two  main  things  concerned  in  Astronomy,  and 
therefore,  my  remarks  on  this  science,  come  appropriately  un- 
der this  faculty. 

From  the  summary  just  given  of  the  organs  enlarged  hi 
studying  Astronomy,  it  is  self-evident  that  no  study  affords 
more  intellectual  discijjline  than  that  of  Astronomy.  It 
should  be  generaUy  studied,  —not  by  the  scientific  few,  who 
make  a.lmanacs, — but  by  all  classes.  Nor  is  this  impossible 
on  account  of  the  ditficulty  connected  with  its  being  too  deep 
and  abstruse.  I  fully  believe  that  good  practical  instruction 
only,  is  necessary  to  enable  youth,  if  not  children,  to  under- 
stand and  practise  it  sufficiently  for  all  ordinary  purposes.  At 
least,  the  various  constellations  might  be  pointed  out,  and  the 

*  My  work  on  Matrimony,  will  reform  man  in  his  social  and  matrimoni- 
al relations. 


84  THE    STUDY    OF    ASTRONOMY. 

relative  positions  of  the  principal  stars,  together  with  the  mo- 
tions and  distances  of  each,  &c.,  &c.     Nor  is  this  all:  the  tiine 
of  day  and  night  might  be  correctly   ascertained   from  their 
motions  and  positions.     How  is  it  that  many  of  our  old  farm- 
ers, will  get  up  at  any  time  of  the  night,  and  tell  the  hour  ac- 
curately by  the  position  of  the  stars  ?     And  "if  these  things 
be  done  in  a  green  tree,  what  shall  be  done  in  the  dry  ?"     If 
these  things  can  be  learned  without  a  teacher,  or  early  instruc- 
tion, but  from  casual  observation  «/o;2P,  what  could  not  be  ob- 
tained by  beginning  these  observations  ear/y,  under  excellent, 
practical  tuition,  and  continuing  them  through  life  ?     Even 
the  Indians  can  not  only  tell  the  time  of  the  year  and  the  hour 
of  the  day   or  night,  with  an  accuracy  impossible  to  us,  but 
what  is  more,  they  can  predict  the  iceather  for  days  and  years 
to  come.      Our   Astronomical   observations  are   exceedingly 
limited  and  inaccurate  ;  and  yet,  I  am  fully  persuaded,  that  we 
might  be  able  to  tell  the  state  of  the  lueather  and  its  changes 
for  days  and  weeks, \i  not  an  entire  season,  and  probably  several 
seasons  in  advance.     The  animals  do  this.     Then  why  not 
man  ?  The  spider  shapes  her  net  in  anticipation  of  the  weather, 
and  changes  it  before  we  discover  a  sign  of  a  change.     If  the 
season  is  to  be  wet,  the  beaver  builds  his  hut  one  story  higher 
the  preceding  fall ;  and,  if  the  winter  is  to  be  very  severe  or 
protracted,  the  squirrel  lays  in  an  extra  supply  of  nuts  ;  and  so 
of  many  other  animals.     A  knowledge  of  these  things  is  cer- 
tainly more  important  to  man  than  to  animals,  in  order  that, 
in  a  wet  season,  he  may  raise  more  of  those  crops  that  are 
adapted  to  wet  weather,  and  in  a  dry,  or  cold,  or  hot  season, 
he  may  plant  and  sow  the  kinds  of  crops  that  will  grow  best 
in  that  season,  as  well  as  plant  or  sow  early  or  late,  as  the 
season  is  to  be  early  or  late.      Does  a  merciful  God,  who  has 
shown  so  much  greater  care  for  man  than  for  brute,  supply  to 
brute   so  important  a  knowledge  which  he  denies  to  man } 
'frue,  they  are  said  to  be  guidedby  whatis  called  instinct,  (I  call 
it  intuition,  or  the  natural,  intuitive  action  of  the  phrenologi- 
cal faculties ;)  but,  if  man  has  not  the  instinct,  he  has  what  is 
better,  ndiVCieXy ,  greater  powers  of  observation  and  rejlectioiu 
And  in  addition  to  this,  I  believe  he  has  as  much  instinct,  at 
least  in  regard  to  the  weather,  as  brutes,  if  he  would  only  dis- 
play it. 


PREDICTING    THE    &OMING    STATE    OF    THE    WEATHEB.       85 

Rut  however  this  may  be,  one  thhig  is  clear,  that  the  weather 
s  governed  by  invariable  laios  of  cause  and  effect.  Every 
change  in  the  weather  is  caused ;  and  these  causes,  or  at  least 
most  of  them,  are  within  the  scope  of  man's  observation.  I 
remember  once  hearing  an  old  farmer  observe, that  the  charac- 
ter of  the  equinoctial  storm,  was  a  sample  of  all  the  storms  of 
the  next  six  months — that  if  that  storm  came  off  clear  and 
cold,  all  the  storms  of  the  fall  and  winter,  would  clear  np  in 
the  same  way,  and  the  snow  and  cold  be  abundant,  and  the 
winter  severe  ;  but,  if  that  storm  cleared  off  warm  and  muggy, 
all  the  storms  of  the  fall  and  winter  would  end  in  rain,  and  the 
winter  be  open.  I  have  observed  this  every  winter  since, 
and  found  this  sign  invariable.  The  equinoctial  storm  of  Sep- 
tember, 1841,  was  remarkably  warm,  and  the  winter  unusual- 
ly mild  and  open. 

I  have  also  observed  that  the  cold  snaps,  as  they  are  called, 
of  fall  and  winter,  continue  about  three  days — the  first  day 
being  cold,  the  second  very  cold,  and  the  third,  cold,  but  less 
so  than  either  of  the  others,  which  concludes  the  spell.  And  I 
believe  a  similar  principle  governs  the  seasons  as  well  as  days. 
So  als9,  the  frosts  of  fall  tally  with  this  arrangement.  The 
first  night  of  a  cold  spell  brings  a  frost,  »the  second,  a  heavy 
one,  for  the  season,  and  the  third  again,  lighter ;  though,  early 
in  the  season,  it  may  nQt  be  cold  enough  to  cause  a  fros*  the 
third  night,  nor  even  the  first;  yet  the  relative  coldness  will 
be  much  the  same. 

I  "do  not,  however,  intend  to  point  out  signs  of  the  weather, 
so  much  as  to  illustrate  my  idea  that  there  are  signs,  which, 
if  observed,  would  be  of  incalculable  advantage  to  seamen, 
agriculturists,  and  indeed,  to  all,  and  that  these  signs  should 
be  pointed  out  to  children,  and  additional  ones  observed.  In 
other  words,  let  this  department  of  nature  also  be  observed 
and  studied,  and  all  the  advantages  within  our  reach,  derived 
from  it.  Many  also  think  that  the  changes  of  the  moon  effect 
the  weather,  and  even  the  feelings,  as  well  as  influence  the 
crops.  This  may  be,  but  I  have  never  observed  this  point,  and 
therefore  only  say,  look  to  it. 

In  passing,  I  will  add,  that  the  study  of  the  starry  heavens 
tia3  \i  it  a  certain  something  calculated  to  awaken  emotions  of 


86  MORAL  INNFLUENCE  OF  ASTRONOMF. 

the  sublimeandthe beautiful, surpassing allother studies.  Thus, 
the  rolling  thunder — the  forked  lightning — the  western  sky 
tinged  with  gold  as  the  descending  sun  sinks  to  rest — the  clear, 
star-spangled  canopy  of  heaven  in  a  cloudless  night — the  twink- 
ling stars  rolling  over  your  head — the  northern  lights  pouring 
thieir  radiance  upon  you,  or  rushing  and  roaring  over  your 
head — the  pouring  rain  and  rushing  hail  and  snow — the  im- 
mensity of  space  above,  below,  and  all  around  you — all  be- 
speak the  power,  glory,  and  grandeur  of  that  Being  who  crea- 
ted them,  and  are  in  themselves  calculated  to  fill  ihe  soul  with 
admiration  and  adoration  for  their  great  and  all-powerful  Archi- 
tect. Who  can  contemplate  the  immensity  of  the  Universe, 
without  bowing  in  worship 

"  Before  Jehovah's  awful  throne  1" 

Let  "  Dick's  christian  Philosopher,"  and  kindred  works,  be 
studied,  and  a  knowledge  of  Astronomy  become  general,  and 
man  will  be  the  better  and  the  more  happy. 

In  order  to  cultivate  Locality,  I  observe  the  country  through 
which  I  pass  ;  and,  to  do  this  the  more  easily,  I  mount  the  top 
'  of  the  stage,  or  promenade  the  deck  of  the  steamboat  as  it  trav- 
erses the  valley  and  parts  the  hills,  and  catch  a  glimpse  of 
hill,  dale,  field,  paid  tlie  aspect  of  the  country  as  I  dart  past  them 
on  the  Rail-Road  ;  but,  rapid  travelling  affords  fewer  facilities 
for  i*s  cultivation,  than  proceeding  more  slowly.  And  I  stop 
no-where,  even  for  the  night,  without  following  a  river  for  a 
few  miles,  or  ascending  a  hill  to  obtain  a  prospect;  or  follow- 
ing the  shore  of  the  ocean,  or  bay,  or  lake  for  miles,  to  see  its 
geography,  and  always  keep  the  points  of  the  compass  in  my 
head. 

I  cannot  forbear  here  expressing  the  hope  that  the  dangers 
and  expenses  of  travelling,  will  soon  be  diminished.  Every 
steam-engine  I  see,  enforces  still  more  deeply  the  conviction 
I  have  long  entertained,  that  we  are  on  the  eve  of  some  simple 
discovery,  in  the  application  of  steam,  or  in  steam-machinery, 
by  which  the  present  immense  consumption  of  fuel  will  be  re- 
duced ninety-nine  times  in  every  hundred,  and  the  complica- 
tion of  the  machines  be  obviated,  so  that  they  will  not  cost  a 
hundredth  part  as  much  as  now.  I  call  the  attention  of  me- 
chanics, to   this  suggestion — not  to  the  improvement  of  the 


THE    CULTIVATION    OF    LOCALITY.  87 

Steam  engine,  but  to  its  entire  remodeling,  so  that  the  steam 
will  emerge  directly  from  the  boiler  upon — not  the  piston  ;  for, 
that~must  be  obviated — but  by  which  it  shall  press  directly 
upon  a  revolving  cylinder,  and  give  you  the  ivhole  power 
of  the  steam — now  not  half  its  power  is  obtained — without 
any  complication  of  the  machinery,  of  danger  of  explosion. 
Then  will  the  immense  expense  now  attendant  upon  travelling, 
be  obviated,  and  all  the  pleasure  and  advantages  of  travelling, 
which  are  very  great,  be  enjoyed  with  very  little  loss. 

The  study  of  Phrenology  affords  excellent  discipline  to  this 
faculty ;  for,  every  organ  must  be  located  exactly  right.  A 
successful  Phrenologist  must  have  it  large  and  well  disciplined. 
Often,  on  retiring  from  the  severe  labors  of  examining  heads 
all  day,  I  have  felt  the  brain  composing  this  organ,  as  it  were, 
appear  to  crawl,  and  have  a  prickling  sensation,  and  in  Dec. 
and  Jan.  last,  when  confined  with  the  small-pox,  and  threat- 
ened with  the  brain  fever,  the  heat  of  my  forehead  was  great, 
and  the  pain  rnost  intense,  in  Locality,  Individuality,  Form, 
Size,  Eventuality,  Comparison,  and  Benevolence  ;  but,  in  ] lo- 
cality the  most  severe.  In  every  other  part  of  the  body  and 
head,  the  disease  worked  to  admiration,  and  the  pustules  filled 
out  finely,  but  above  these  organs,  they  refused  to  come  to  a 
head,  and  were  a  long  time  in  recovering.  Nor  was  it  until 
this  portion  of  my  head  was  bathed  in  cold-water  for  two  days 
and  nights  in  succession,  that  the  fever  abated  at  this  point, 
though  it  had  subsided  every  where  else.  But  more  in  another 
place,  of  the  organs  brought  hi  to  exercise  in  the  successful  study 
and  practice  of  Phrenology. 

The  study  of  anatomy,  also,  comes  under  Locality  more 
properly  than  under  any  other  organ ;  for,  it  is  the  position  or 
location  both  absolute  and  relative,  of  the  organs  of  the 
body,  which  constitutes  ih.ef?'sf  and  mai)i  item  of  this  study, 
although  their  shape  is  next  in  order  and  importance.  Strange 
as  the  doctrine  may  seem,  I  maintain  that  children  should  be 
taught  ANATOMY,  in  connexion  with  physiology;  that  is,  that 
they  shouldbe  taught  the /oca//on5andy?inc/io;z.s  of  the  principal 
organs  of  the  body.  So  important  a  study  should  not  be  con- 
fined to  a  few  physicians  and  literati,  but  should  be  known  by 
all.  All  need  not  be  jjrofoundly  versed  in  it,  yet  all  should 
imderstand  it /;rac//ccr//7/,and  in  the  general.     Thus:  put  chil- 


8  DISCIPLINING    LOCALITY  BY    STUDYING  PHRENOLOGY, 

,  dren's  fingers  upon  your  pulse,  and,  as  they  are  delighted  and 
astonished  to  observe  its  throbbing,  tell  them  its  use,  namely, 
the  action  of  the  heart,  and  then  explain  the  position  and  looks 
of  the  heart,  and  the  whole  doctrine  of  the  circulation  and 
respiration.  As  you  may  have  occasion  to  kill  a  chicken  for 
your  table,  or  slaughter  a  calf  or  pig,  on  opening  it,  show  them 
the  position  of  the  heart,  and  the  manner  in  which  it  receives- 
and  ejects  the  blood,  and  give  them  all  the  information  you 
can  concerning  it.  Then  do  the  same  by  the  lungs,  liver,  in- 
testines, &c. 

Then  ask  them  what  has  become  of  the  great  amount  of 
food  they  have  consumed ;  amounting,  in  all,  to  many  times 
their  own  bulk.  Then  explain  to  them  the  office  of  the  stomach,, 
its  position,  looks,  and  the  whole  process  of  digestion,*  and 
nutrition.  What  will  dehght  or  benefit  them  more  ?  And 
think  you  that  this  knowledge  will  not  make  them  careful  in 
regard  to  injuring  their  health?  What  will  more  effectually 
promote  the  vigor  of  the  constitutijon  than  a  knowledge  of  the 
laws  of  life  and  health  ?  Compared  with  this,  all  other  know- 
ledge is  utter  folly ;  and  in  point  of  utility,  "is  as  a  drop  in 
the  bucket." 

Then  put  their  hand  on  the  back -bone,  (I  ought  to  be  learn- 
ed, and  to  call  it  the  spinal  column  ;  though  back-bone  is  just 
what  I  mean,)  and,  as  the  person  moves  his  body,  they  will 
see  the  workings  of  the  joints.  (Oh,.  I  forget  to  be  classical,  I 
should  have  said  vertebras;  although  few  children  or  adults  know 
what  vertebi'ce  means;  but  all  understand  what  joints  signify. 

Then  clinch  your  fist,  and  show  the  cords  or  tendons  of  the 
hands  and  wrist,  and  the  hardness  (I  mean  rigidity)  of  the 
muscles  of  the  arm,  and  their  shortening  and  lengthening  (con- 
traction and  relaxation)  as  you  lift  things  in  your  hands  ;  and 
show  them  hoiv  it  is  that  this  shortening  of  a  muscle  moves 

*  The  studies  of  Anatomy  and  Physiology  ought  never  to  be  separated 
from  each  other.  When  the  location  and  appearance  of  an  organ  are 
studied,  let  its  office,  and  the  end  in  the  animal  economy  it  performs,  be  also 
studied  ;  lor,  the  study  of  each  will  facilitate  that  of  the  other,  and  each 
impress  the  other.  Studying  Anatomy  alone,  is  like  cutting  up  a  dead 
man  to  see  what  a  live  one  will  do.  Unite  the  two.  Teach  children  the 
location  and  appearance  of  the  several  parts  of  the  body,  and  at  the  &am& 
time  teach  them  what  each  pari  does. 


chilJdren  should  learn  anatomy  and  PPIYSIGLOGY.  '89 

one  of  the  bones  of  the  joint  oyer  which  the  muscle  passes, 
SyC.  Then  tell  them  that  these  muscles  by  means  of  v/hich 
we  move,  labor,  &c.,  consistute  the  red  flesh  of  all  animals, 
and  are  what  is  usually  eaten.  Then  show  the  workings  of 
the  bones  upon  each  other  at  the  joints.  This  can  be  done 
conveniently  and  beautifully  when  cutting  up  (I  mean  dissect- 
ing ;  how  unaccountably  unclassical  1  am  though,)  a  chicken 
for  dinner,  or  a  hog  (I  mean  swine  ;  for,  it  is  very  vulgar  to 
say  hog)  for  salting. 

Then  cut  open  the  brains  of  animals  ;  (brains  are  very  good 
to  eat,  especially  for  those  who  have  but  few  of  their  own,) 
and  show  them  the  structure  of  this  organ  of  thought  and  feel- 
ing— this  palace  of  the  soul — its  lobes,  convolutions,  and  con- 
nexions with  the  nerves  of  the  eye,  ear,  spinal  marrow,  (or 
medulla  oblongata,  as  Dr  Latin  would  have  it,)*  nose,  &c.  &c. 
as  well  as  what  portions  of  the  brains  of  various  animals  are 
developed  in  accordance  with  their  habits  and  characteristics. 
Pursue  this  course  during  childhood  and  youth,  and  every 
mr. !i,  woman,  and  child  would  be  as  familiar  with  the  names 
aud  functions  of  all  the  organs  of  the  body,  as  they  are  with 
their  alphabet.  These  studies,  besides  the  thrilling  interest 
connected  with  them,  will  teach  them  how  to  husband  their 
vital  resources,  preserve  their  constitutions  "unimpaired 
through  life,  and  live  twice  as  long  and  thrice  as  happily  as 
now.  For  want  of  this  knowledge,  most  children  and  youth, 
almost  or  quite  break  down  their  constitutions  before  twenty, 
or  well  nigh  ruin  themselves  in  both  mind  and  body. 

If  you  object  that  you  do  not  know  enough  to  teach  all 
these  studies,  I  answer,  wait,  and  I  will  elsewhere  tell  yon 
how,  both  to  find  the  time,  and  obtain  the  knowledge,  required, 
or  else  how  not  to  get  married. 

Under  the  head  of  Locality,  I  cannot  well  forbear  recom- 
mending the  perusal  of  Voyages  and  Travels  -,  "Stephen's 
Central  America,"  is  deservedly  popular,  but  it,  in  common 
with  all  other  travels,  is  sadly  defective  in  this,  that  it  does  not 

*  I  have  employed  some  irony  here  and  above,  in  order  to  expose  what  I 
deem  the  utter  folly  of  the  '■Htarnei  world,"  in  calling  things  by  names 
which  few  understand.  I  intend  to  call  the  Phrenological  organs  by  their 
English  names.  To  write  medical  prescriptions  in  Latin,  is  foolish,  except 
where  all  understand  Latin.    Away  with  the  technicalities  of  science. 


90  ANALYSIS    AND    ADAPTATION    OP    ORDER. 

give  the  Phrenology  of  the  present  inhabitants,  or  of  the  relics 
observed.  Add  this,  and  the  most  interesting  if  not  most  in- 
structive department  of  reading,  would  be  Voyages,  Travels, 
&c,.  by  a  Phrenologist — in  connexion  with  the  manners  and 
customs  of  different  nations  and  ages.  And  if  my  life  be  spared, 
I  intend  eventually  to  travel  with  a  view  to  the  preparation 
of   such  works. 

ORDER. 

Method  :  arrangement,  system  :  having  a  place  for  every  thing,  and  every 
ihiag  IN  its  place,  so  that  it  can  be  found  at  once :  system  in  business,  &c. 

"  Order  is  heaven's  first  law." 

Adaptation.  System,  or  uniformity,  pervades  the 
"  whole  physical  world,  and  has  stamped  its  impress  upon  every 
work  of  God.  Order  reigns  supreme  in  the  worlds  on  high, 
and  in  the  earth  below,  producing  re^i</«rz7y  in  both.  It  has 
arranged  a  place  for  every  organ  of  the  human  body,  and  al- 
ways puts  every  organ  of  the  body  in  its  own  place,  so  that 
Locality  may  find  them,  or  Comparison  infer  where  they  may 
be  found.  It  puts  the  feet  always  at  the  end  of  the  lower  ex- 
tremities insteo*.d  of  on  the  top  of  the  head  or  the  end  of  the 
arms,  and  the  head  on  the  top  of  the  body  instead  of  on  the 
back,  or  ankles,  or  the  wrists,  and  systematizes  all  the  works  and 
operations  of  nature.  Indeed,  without  this  principle  oi  order, 
or  system  in  nature,  all  creation  would  be  one  vast  bedlam — 
one  grand  chaos  of  "confusion  worse  confounded,"  without 
beauty,  and  marred  in  all  its  other  qualities,  but  with  this  ar- 
rangement in  nature,  harmony  usurps  the  reign  of  chaos, 
beauty  is  brought  forth  out  of  deformity,  and  all  nature  moves 
on  with  a  systematic  regularity  as  beautiful  in  itseU'  as  it  is 
beneficial  to  man.  But,  without  this  faculty  of  order  in  man, 
adapted  to  this  contrivance  of  system  in  things,  though  this 
quality  might  have  existed  and  beautified  all  nature,  yet  man 
could  not  have  perceived  this  beauty,  or  applied'  this  contri- 
vance to  any  beneficial  purpose.  But  this  principle  exists  in 
nature,  and  this  faculty  in  man,  and  it  is  therefore  his  duty  and 
pleasure  to  exercise  it ;  and,  its  cultivation  should  form  an  im- 
portant part  of  the  education  of  children.  And  yet,  that  cul- 
tivation is  scarcely  once  thought  of. 

Its  primary  ofiice  seems  to  be,  to  keep  one's  oivn  things  in 
order,  and,  to  cultivate  it,  let  children  have  things  of  their  own, 


UTILITY    AND    IMPORTANCE    OF    CULTIFATING    ORDER.         91 

and  be  told  and  encouraged  to  put  things  in  their  places — to 
fold  and  lay  away  their  garments ;  to  put  their  playthings 
away  in  the  places  assigned  them ;  to  lay  their  hat  or  bonnet, 
&c.,  in  a  particular  spot ;  to  lay  off  their  clothes  at  night  so 
that  they  could  jump  into  them  in  case  of  fire ;  to  have  each 
book  in  its  own  place,  and  keep  it  whole  and  clean  ;  to  keep 
their  garments  whole,  (and  parents  should  never  allow  their 
children  to  go  dressed  shabbily,  or  with  holes  in  their  gar- 
ments,) and  to  take  care  of  every  thing. 

That  business  man  whose  accounts  are  not  kept  straight, 
will  most  assuredly  fail ;  and  that  farmer  who  keeps  his 
fences  up,  and  all  his  farming  utensils  in  their  places,  will 
thrive.  If  farmer  A  tells  his  son  John  to  yoke  up  the  oxen 
and  draw  any  thing,  if  John  says — "Where's  the  chain,"  or 
"I  don't  know  wheiie  the  yoke  is,"  that  is,  if  John  does  not 
know,  without  asking  or  looking,  where  to  find  the  chain,  or 
yoke,  or  hoe,  or  axe,  or  scythe,  or  sickle,  or  rake,  &c.  &c., 
down  to  the  hammer  and  nails,  mark  it  when  you  will,  that 
farmer  will  get  behind,  if  not  fail.  But  if  John  knows  at 
once,  just  where  to  find  whatever  he  wants  to  use,  that 
farmer  will  prosper ;  for,  this  order  facilitates  despatch,  and 
doubles  the  work  done  ;  whereas,  disorder  wastes  every 
thing,  and  will  ruin  any  farmer,  much  more  a  business  man. 
Let  parents  note  this  ;  and,  if  they  would  see  their  children 
become  prosperous  and  happy,  instil  early  into  them^  prin- 
ciples of  order  and  despatch. 

And  then  again,  how  much  more  agreeably  and  happily 
that  family  lives  in  which  every  one  know's  just  where  to 
find  any  thing  he  wishes,  and  always  returns  it  to  its  place 
when  he  has  done  using  it.  Disorder  spoils  the  temper^  as  well 
as  prevents  success  in  business.  Parents,  see  that  your  chil- 
dren are  trained  in  harmony  with  these  important  inferences. 

The  Society  of  Friends  usually  have  this  organ  large,  and 
their  women  generally  very  large ;  and,  they  are  among  the 
most  remarkably  systematic  and  methodical  people  Known. 
This  doubtless  contributes  largely  to  their  thrift  and  uniform 
success  in  business.  "  Go  thou  and  do  likewise  ;"  and  "  teach 
these  things  to  your  children,  and  your  children's  children." 

This  organ,  combining  with  Time,  produces  regularity  in 
all  the  habits  of  its  possessor,  lays  out  the  time  beforehand^ 

7 


92  MEANS  OF  CULTIVATING  ORDER. 

giving  so  many  hours  daily  to  certain  things,  having  meals 
punctually,  retiring  and  rising  at  given  periods ;  and  being 
regular  in  all  the  habits  and  affairs  of  life.  Nothing  is  more 
promotive  of  healthy  and  life^  and  hapjnness,  as  well  as  of 
peace  and  prosperity.  Mothers  should  begin  to  inculcate  this 
in  the  cradle.  Put  your  children  to  bed  at  a  given  hour — 
waken  them  at  a  fixed  period,  and  they  will  soon  awaken 
of  themselves ;  give  them  their  breakfast,  or  a  piece,  or  nurse 
them  at  stated  times;  have  them  take  their  naps  regularly  at 
a  certain  hour  of  the  day,  and  so  have  a  time  for  every  thing, 
and  every  thing  in  its  time.  This  course  will  save  you  a 
vast  amount  of  time  and  trouble ;  be  of  incalculable  advantage 
to  them  physically  and  mentally;  besides  forming  in  them  a 
hahit  of  method  in  every  thing;  and  save  them  a  great  deal 
of  peevishness  and  bad  temper.  The  power  of  habit  is  great 
indeed ;  far  greater  than  is  even  attributed  to  it.  A  habit, 
indifferent  in  itself,  may  be  followed  so  regularly,  as  to  be- 
come really  useful.  What,  then,  may  not  a  habit,  good  in 
itself,  do  for  the  physical  health,  and  the  moral  and  intellec- 
tual advancement,  of  its  possessor.  To  every  parent  and 
teacher,  then,  I  sdij i  form  habits  ;  but  form  \g-oo(/ ones,  in  your 
children.*  Do  not  these  remarks  commend  themselves  to 
every  parent  and  teacher,  as  immensely  important,  and  de- 
serving of  being  put  into  vigorous  practice  forthwith? 

If  you  wish  to  cultivate  your  own  faculty  of  Order,  be  sys- 
tematic. Begin  and  arrange  all  your  things,  tools,  papers., 
accounts,  and  every  thing ;  and  above  all,  remember  and 
replace  your  things  after  using  them,  which,  after  all,  is  the 
main  thing.  And  you,  young  men,  in  search  of  a  wife,  see 
to  it  that  you  do  not  marry  a  young  lady  who,  on  returning 
from  a  walk  or  ride,  leaves  her  bonnet  on  the  bed,  gloves  in 
a  chair,  parasol  in  the  corner,  (fcc. ;  or  who  is  forever  and  a 
day  in  getting  ready  to  go  out;  for  this  indicates  either  that 
she  cannot  find  her  things,  or  is  slow,  or  else  is  more  nice 
than  wise.  If  this  organ  be  small  in  yourself,  you  need  a 
wife  in  whom  it  is  large,  to  assist  this  defect,  and  to  aid  you 
in  cultivating  it;  but,  if  it  be  large  in  yourself,  you  do  not 
wish  to  be  continually  annoyed  or  tormented  with  its  defi- 

*  I  intend,  ere  long,  to  collect  together  and  publish  the  habits  of  distin- 
guished men,  and  recommend  to  my  readers  to  observe  this  point. 


ANALYSIS    AND    ADAPTATION    OF    SIZE.  93 

ciency  in  a  companion.  Still,  that  companion  should  not 
have  it  over  developed  ;  for,  "  enovgh  is  as  good  as  a  feast," 
and  "i'oo  much  of  a  good  thing,  is  worse  than  nothing." 

This  organ,  combined  with  Ideality,  gives  neatness  of  per- 
son, and  attends  to  the  outward  man.  It  cuts  off  a  long  beard, 
lays  by  a  soiled  linen,  and  keeps  the  clothes  neat  and  clean  ; 
and,  with  Approbativeness  large,  patronizes  the  tailor  and 
milliner,  and  chases  the  fashions.  Phrenology  discards  the 
fashions,  yet  requires  personal  neatness.^^^ 

Many  are  of  opinion  that  this  organ  extends  to  the  mental 
operations  also ;  but  I  confess  my  conviction  that  its  one 
specific  function  is  physical  system  and  arrangement.  Still  I 
incline  to  the  opinion  that  there  is  also  an  organ  of  mental 
order,  and  arrangement  of  ideas ^  located  by  the  side  of  that 
of  physical  order. 

SIZE.     ■ 
Cognizance  of  EULK,  magnitude,  and   proportion:  ability  to  judge  of 

SIZE,    LENGTH,    BREADTH,     HEIGHT,    DEPTH,    DISTANCE,    the    WEIGHT    of 

things  by  observing  iheir  BULK,  «fcc.  &c. :  judgment  of  angles,  per- 
pendiculars, DISPROPORTION,  &c. :  accuiacy  of  eye  in  measuring 
things,  &c. 

Adaptation.— The  element  of  size,  or  of  relative  magnitude, 
necessarily  appertains  to  all  physical  substances.  No  mate- 
rial thing  can  exist  without  being  relatively  large  or  small^ 
compared  with  other  things.*  But  for  this  element  in  nature, 
there  could  have  been  no  difference  between  a  drop)  of  water 
and  an  ocean  of  water;  between  a  mountain  and  a  mole-hill ; 
between  a  giant  and  a  pigmy ;  and  all  conception  of  hig  and 
little^  would  have  been  inconceivable  to  man.  And  again ; 
with  this  element  in  nature,  though  the  ocean  would  have 
been  larger  than  the  rain-drop,  and  the  mountain  larger  than 
the  hillock,  yet  to  man,  it  would  all  have  been  the  same ; 
and  he  could  never  have  distinguished  his  fellow-men  by  the 
size  of  their  bodies  as  a  whole,  or  any  feature  or  portion  of 
them.  Of  course,  all  knowledge  of  the  relative  size  of  the 
phrenological  organs,  would  have  been  unknown,  and  Phre- 
nology a  sealed  book  to  man.  But  both  this  element  in 
nature,  and  this  faculty  in   man,  exist,  and  are  adapted  to 

*  All  who  know  me,  will  say,  "  Physician,  heal  thyself."  "  Brush  up 
more,  and  look  more  trim  and  tidy."  Yes,  when  I've  nothing  more  im- 
portant to  do. 


91  THE    STUDY    OF    GEOMETRY   BY    CHILDREN. 

each  other ;  so  that  we  are  able  to  distinguish  material  things 
by  their  size  merely  :  study  Phrenology,  and  apply  this  fac- 
ulty to  thousands  of  the  operations  of  life.  The  husbandman 
requires  it  to  make  his  fences,  rows  of  corn,  furrows,  swaths, 
&c.  straight :  the  mechanic,  so  that  he  can  often  fit  and 
measure  things  by  his  eye,  and  without  a  rule :  the  tailor,  to 
guide  his  shears  and  needle  :  the  artist,  to  perceive  the 
proportion  of  parts  in  drawing,  chiselling,  &c.  Indeed  there 
is  scarcely  an  occupation  in  life  in  which  it  is  not  eminently 
useful,  and  in  most,  it  is  indispensable.  Hence,  the  impor- 
tance of  its  Y>^OTpeY  cultivation  even  in  children;  and  yet,  who 
ever  once  thinks  of  disciplining  or  exercising  this  faculty, 
either  in  children  or  in  themselves,  unless  by  mere  chance? 

The  German  teachers  have  an  excellent  method  of  culti- 
vating this  faculty  in  their  pupils,  which  will  show  parents, 
teachers,  and  all  who  wish  to  improve  this  faculty,  hotv  they 
can  do  so.  It  is  this  :  the  teacher  takes  his  pupils  out  into 
the  fields,  woods,  mountains,  &c.,  and  asks  them  how  far  it 
is  to  yonder  tree,  or  house,  or  stone,  or  any  thing  else.  Each 
pupil  takes  the  same  position,  and  passes  his  opinion,  which 
is  recorded,  and  then  the  actual  distance  is  measiired,  so  that 
each  one  can  compare  his  judgment  with  the  actual  distance; 
and  thus  improve  and  correct  his  judgment  as  to  the  dis- 
tance, &c.  Farmers  can  exercise  this  faculty  in  judging  of 
the  number  of  acres  embraced  in  a  certain  enclosure ;  the 
number  of  bushels  of  grain  in  a  certain  pile,  &c.  ;  drovers, 
butchers,  «fcc.,  in  judging  of  the  weight  of  a  bullock,  horse, 
hog,  &c.  ;  the  carpenter,  in  erecting  and  building  a  house  ; 
landscape  painters  and  drawers,  m  foreshortening^  and  giving 
the  perspective  to  the  picture  ;  portrait  painters,  in  making 
the  picture  the  size  of  life,  &;c.  To  improve  this  faculty,  look 
at  things  with  a  view  to  judging  of,  and  ascertaining  their 
qualities  appertaining  to  this  faculty. 

The  Study  of  Geometry,  comes  as  appropriately  under 
this  faculty,  as  under  any  other,  though  it  calls  nearly  all 
the  intellectual  organs  into  exercise.  This  study  should 
unquestionably  form  a  part  oi  primary  education,  if  not  even 
of  the  plaijs  of  children.  Let  even  their  playthings  be  so 
matle,  that  they  can  be  put  together  into  various  geometrical 
figures,  and  also  form  the  most  important  geometrical  prob- 


COLOR ITS    ANALYSIS.  95 

lems.  Thus;  the  problem  that  "the  squares  of  the  sides  of 
a  rectangle  triangle,  are  equal  to  the  square  of  the  hypote- 
nuse," may  easily  be  solved  by  having  blocks,  say  an  inch 
square,  and  taking  an  hypotenuse  of  any  size,  say  three 
inches.  This  square  will  be  filled  by  7iine  of  the  blocks,  and 
the  other  two  squares  will  be  found  to  hold  just  nine  blocks, 
but  no  more ;  so  if  the  hypotenuse  is  four,  or  six,  or  tweWe,  or 
any  other  number  of  inches,  it  will  take  just  as  many  blocks 
to  fill  the  long  side  of  any  triangle,  as  to  fill  the  other  two.  By 
playing  with  geometrical  blocks,  they  would  soon  become  as 
familiar  with  the  names  of  hexagon,  pentagon,  cone,  apex, 
cylinder,  globe,  segment,  prism,  &c.,  &c.,  and  all  the  various 
shapes  that  can  be  formed  from  them,  as  with  the  meaning  of 
dinner,  or  bread. 

COLOR. 

Perception,  recolleclion,  and  application  of  colors,  and  delight  in  them ; 
ability  to  recollect  and  compare  their  tints  and  shades. 

Color  forms  a  constituent  element  of  matter,  and  is  thrown 
broad-cast  over  all  nature.  It  tinges  and  variegates  the  flow- 
ers of  the  field,  and  beautifies  them  with  its  ever  varying 
shades  and  tints.  It  renders  all  vegetation  verdant  and  de- 
lightful. It  skirts  the  aurora  of  the  rising,  and  the  vesper  of 
the  setting,  sun,  with  its  golden  hues.  It  crimsons  the  rosy 
cheek  of  health,  the  beauty  of  its  color  being  to  the  human 
face  divine  one  of  its  chief  attractions.  In  short,  color  of 
some  kind  appertains  to  every  thing  made  of  matter,  and  is  a 
necessary  ingredient  in  matter.  Without  color,  how  dreary, 
how  cheerless  the  fields  of  nature,  the  face  of  creation, 
and  the  human  cheek  !  But,  color  exists,  and  man  has  the 
faculty  of  color  by  which  he  is  capacitated  to  perceive  and 
apply  colors,  and  to  derive  pleasure  therefrom.  Indeed,  from 
few  other  sources,  can  he  derive  more  pleasure  or  profit — ■ 
more  elevation,  refinement,  or  purity  of  mind  and  feeling. 
Thns,  the  study  of  botany — of  that  exhaustless  and  ever  va- 
rying richness  of  coloring  with  which  nature  has  adorned 
the  flowers  of  the  field — while  it  is  capable  of  affording  the 
richest  repast  of  unalloyed  pleasure,  can  also  be  rendered 
highly  instructive.  And  I  am  rejoiced  at  the  increased  atten- 
tion paid  to  this  subject.  Let  children  be  encouraged  to  plant 

7#' 


96  CULTIVATION    OF    COLOR. 

and  tend  flowers, to  make  bouquets,  and  arrange  flowers  taste- 
fully, and  also  to  cultivate  a  taste  for  the  fine  arts.  Let 
painting  be  encouraged.  Let  children  be  shown  pictures  as 
before  urged,  and  let  those  pictures  be  painted  to  life.  Let 
artists  be  multiplied  a  thousand  fold,  and  be  liberally  patron- 
ized, so  that  they  can  give  their  entire  energies  to  their  call- 
ing. And  let  all  cultivate  the  art  of  painting  and  drawing. 
All  are  endowed  with  more  or  less  of  this  talent,  yet  the 
mass  bury  this  source  of  exquisite  pleasure  in  the  earth,  by 
never  putting  forth  the  least  effort  in  behalf  of  its  cultivation. 

To  cultivate  this  faculty,  exercise  it  as  often  and  as  much 
as  possible  upon  flowers,  paintings,  &c.  by  feasting  your  eyes 
upon  them,  by  observing  the  exquisiteness  with  which  their 
tints  and  shades  are  arranged  and  displayed,  and  also  apply 
yourself  to  coloring  or  painting.  1  advocate  the  custom  of 
wearing  artificial  flowers,  of  making  wax  flowers,  and  of 
coloring  garments  so  much  practised,  particularly  in  preparing 
female  attire.  Nor  should  1  object  to  men  wearing  "coats  of 
many  colors,"  or  gratifying  this  faculty  in  every  suitable  way. 

Still,  1  cannot  recommend  woman  to  paint  her  checks. 
Not  that  I  would  not  have  her  cheeks  colored,  for  nature  has 
done  that  already.  All  she  has  to  do,  is  not  to  rub  off  ihe 
paint  already  put  on.  But  if,  by  ignorantly  violating  the 
physical  laws,  you  have  lost  the  rosy  cheek  of  health  and 
beauty,  the  way  to  restore  the  lost  color  is  not  by  applying 
rouge,  but  by  taking  fresh  air  and  exercise.  If  your  cheeks 
are  pallid,  it  is  because  your  huigs  are  inactive.  Your 
cheeks  can  be  repainted  by  simply  giving  your  lungs  abund- 
ance of  fresh  air.  Facing  a  stiff"  northwester  will  paint  your 
cheeks  for  the  time  being,  and  facing  it  a  good  many  times, 
will  paint  them  so  deeply  and  so  beautifully  that  they  wilt 
stay  painted,  as  v/ell  as  be  rendered  plump  and  glossy.  No 
paint,  not  the  extra  superfine  of  Broadway  or  Prince  Regent, 
will  equal  that  composed  of  uir  and  exercise.  Try  it,  ye 
who  would  obtain,  retain,  or  regain,  the  charnns  of  beauty. 

T'o  restrain  this  faculty — which  however  is  never  neces- 
sary, unless  this  organ  should  become  so  active  as  to  en- 
gross most  of  your  time  and  feelings,  so  as  to  prevent  the 
due  exercise  of  the  others — abstract  your  mind  from  colors 
and  the  arts,  and  indulge  this  passion  as  little  as  may  be. 


ORGANS    REQIflSifE    TOU    THE    TEACHER.  97 

THE    COMBINATIONS    OF   ORGANS    REQUISITE   FOR 
PARTICULAR   OCCUPATIONS. 

A  WORK  of  this  kind  would  be  exceedingly  incomplete 
without  a  section  in  which  the  organs  requisite  for  success  in 
particular  callings  shall  be  pointed  out;  so  that  those  who 
desire  to  fit  themselves  for  particular  callings,  may  know 
what  faculties  to  cultivate,  and  what  to  restrain.  That  sec- 
tion we  therefore  append. 

A  Teacher,  requires  an  active  temperament,  to  impart  life, 
vivacity,  and  quickness  of  mind,  so  that  he  can  excite  and 
draw  out  the  minds  of  his  pupils ;  large  perceptive  organs, 
especially  the  middle  or  literary  range,  to  give  abundance  of 
facts  to  enable  him  to  pour  a  continual  stream  oi  iv formation 
into  the  minds  of  children  ;  large  Language,  to  enable  him  to 
speak  freely  and  well;  large  Philoprogenitiveness,  to  make 
him  fond  of  children,  and  enable  him  to  ingratiate  himself 
into  their  affections ;  large  Benevolence,  to  impart  real  good- 
ness, to  make  him  seek  their  happiness;  large  Firmness,  and 
full,  but  not  large  Self-Esteem,  to  enable  him  to  act  a  digni- 
fied part,  and  to  prevent  his  being  a  boy  among  boys;  only 
average  or  full  Combativeness,  lest  he  try  \o  flog  learning  or 
goodness  into  them;  large  Conscientiousness,  to  enable  him  to 
deal  justly  himself,  and  cultivate  the  sentiment  oi  right  and 
truth  in  them ;  smaller  Concentrativeness,  so  that  he  can  go 
from  one  scholar  and  thing  to  another  in  quick  succession  ; 
large  Friendship,  to  enable  him  to  get  and  keep  on  the  right 
side  of  the  parents;  good  lungs,  and  a  well-proportioned 
head;  and  especially  large  Comparison  and  Human  Nature, 
the  first  to  enable  him  to  explain  and  expound  every  thing,and 
set  it  clearly  before  them  by  copiously  illustrating  every  thing, 
and  the  latter  to  enable  him  to  adapt  himself  to  the  ever  va- 
rying characters  and  peculiarities  of  his  pupils,  &c. 

A  Lawyer,  requires  the  mental,  or  mental  vital  tem- 
perament, to  give  him  intensity  of  feeling  and  clearness 
of  intellect;  large  Eventuality,  to  enable  him  to  recall  law 
cases  and  decisions,  and  to  recollect  all  the  particulars  and 
items  of  the  case  ;  large  Comparison,  to  enable  him  to  put  to- 
gether different  parts  of  the  law  and   evidence,  to  criticise, 


98  TALXNTS    GIVEN   BY    DIFFERENT    COMBINATIONS. 

cross-qnestion,  illustrate,  and  adduce  similar  decisions  and 
cases  ;  large  Mirth  fulness,  to  enable  him  to  ridicule  and  em- 
ploy the  reductio  ad  ahsurdum  in  argument;  very  large  Com- 
bativeness,  to  make  him  love  litigation  and  foment  strife,  in- 
stead of  reconciling  the  parties;  large  Hope,  to  make  him  ex- 
pect success  and  promise  it  as  certain  to  his  client;  small 
Veneration  and  Marvellousness,  and  large  Self-Esteem,  to 
make  him  well-nigh  impudent,  and  enable  him  to  brow-beat 
and  deny;  large  Combativeness,  Destructiveness,  and  Mirth- 
fuhiess,  to  make  him  sarcastic,  cutting,  and  biting  in  his  re- 
partees ;  large  Acquisitiveness  and  Self-Esteem,  to  make  him 
think  his  services  are  very  valuable,  and  demand  large  fees ; 
large  Secretiveness  and  small  Conscientiousness,  to  enable 
him  to  take  up  on  the  wrong  side  without  scruple,  and  wrong 
his  opponent  out  of  his  just  dues  by  some  quirk  of  the  law, 
if  he  possibly  can,  and  to  gloss  over  a  bad  case,  tell  a  smooth 
white  or  black  lie  with  a  face  unchanged  ;  large  Language, 
to  give  him  a  limber  tongue  ;  large  Ideality,  to  enable  him  to 
supply  the  place  of  facts  by  ingenious  suppositions;  and  a 
decidedly  bad,  selfish  head,  adapted  to  his  calling. 

A  Clergyman,  (as  he  shoidd  be,  not  as  clergymen  some- 
times are,)  should  have  the  mental,  or  motive  mental  temper- 
ament, to  give  him  a  decided  predominance  of  mi?id  over  his 
physical  tendencies,  and  impart  the  thorough  and  sid)stantial 
to  all  he  says  and  does;  a  large  frontal  and  coronal  region, 
the  former  to  give  him  intellectual  capacity,  and  the  latter  to 
impart  moral  worth,  high  moral  aims  and  feelings,  elevation 
of  character  and  blamelessness  of  conduct;  very  large  Be- 
nevolence and  Conscientiousness,  to  render  him  truly  philan- 
thropic and  disinterested,  and  willing  to  sacrifice  personal 
interests  upon  the  altar  of  human  happiness,  and  to  excite  a 
strong  desire  to  make  men  happier  by  making  them  better  ; 
large  Veneration,  to  make  him  truly  godly  and  prayerful,  so 
that  he  may  excite  these  feelings  in  those  around  him;  small 
Secretiveness,  so  that  he  may  declare  the,  whole  counsel  of 
God,  without  daubing  with  untempered  mortar,  or  hide  the 
truth  in  round-about  expressions;  small  Acquisitiveness,  so 
that  he  may  care  little  for  money,  and  be  unable  to  drive  a 
close  bargain,  (yet  he  should  have  a  frugal  wife  and  a  gen- 
erous people,  so  that  he  may  not  be  embarrassed  nor  harass- 


THE    CLERGYMAN THE    PHYSICIAN.  99 

edby  pecuniary  affairs;)  large  Adhesiveness,  so  that  he  may 
make  all  who  know  him  love  him,  and  win  them  over  to  the 
paths  of  truth  and  righteousness;  only  average  Combative- 
ness,  so  that  he  may  be  mild,  not  tame  nor  severe,  but  not  a 
coward  morally ;  large  Philoprogenitiveness,  to  render  him 
interested  in  the  moral  improvement  of  children  ;  full  or  large 
Ideality,  so  that  he  may  not  offend  by  his  coarseness,  but 
please  with  his  elegance  of  style  and  grace,  and  ease  of  man- 
ners and  delivery;  large  Comparison,  to  render  him  clear  and 
pointed,  and  to  enable  him  to  expound,  explain,  illustrate, 
and  clear  up  knotty  points,  make  himself  fully  understood, 
and  carry  conviction  to  the  understandings  of  all ;  full  Hope, 
to  render  him  cheerful ;  large  Language,  to  enable  him  to 
speak  with  ease  and  perspicuity;  full  Concentrativeness,  so 
that  he  may  impart  oneness  to  his  discourses,  yet  not  too 
large,  lest  he  become  prosy  and  prolix  ;  and  a  uniform,  well- 
balanced  head,  to  render  him  consistent  in  conduct,  and  cor- 
rect in  judgment,  and  excite  the  better  feelings  in  those  that 
come  within  the  sphere  of  his  influence. 

A  Physician,  requires  a  strong,  robust  temperament,  so  that 
he  can  endure  hardship,  fatigue,  and  want  of  sleep  and  food-, 
and  stan^  all  weathers  and  immense  labor ;  large  perceptive 
organs,  so  that  he  may  study  and  apply  anatomy,  physiolo- 
gy, chemistry,  and  botany,  with  skill  and  success;  large  Be- 
nevolence, so  that  he  may  really  desire  to  alleviate  suffering; 
full  or  large  Destructiveness,  lest  he  shrink  from  inflicting  the 
pain  requisite  to  cure,  amputate,  or  cut  into  the  live  flesh ; 
large  Constructiveness,  to  give  him  skill  in  the  surgical  part 
of  his  business ;  large  Amativeness,  to  render  him  a  favorite 
among  the  women,  (and  physicians  are  generally  well  sup- 
plied with  this  commodity;)  large  Philoprogenitiveness,  so 
that  he  may  get  on  the  right  side  of  the  children ;  large  Com- 
bativeness,  to  render  him  resolute  and  prompt;  large  Cau- 
tiousness, to  render  him  judicious  and  safe ;  and  a  large  head, 
to  give  him  power  of  mind. 

A  Merchant,  requires  a  light,  sprightly,  active  body,  so 
that  he  may  move  easily  and  be  any  thing  but  indolent;  large 
Acquisitiveness,  to  render  him  fond  of  making  money,  bar- 
gaining, buying,  selling,  and  handling  money  ;  large  Hope,  to 
make  him  sanguine  of  success,  and  dispose  him  to  speculate 


100  TALENTS    GIVEN   BY   DIFFERENT    COMBINATIONS. 

and  buy  largely,  but  not  too  large  Hope,  lest  he  buy  more 
than  he  can  pay  for  and  so  break ;  large  Cautiousness,  to  ren- 
der him  careful  and  provident;  large  or  very  large  perceptive 
organs,  to  enable  him  to  judge  correctly  of  the  qualities  of 
goods,  and  large  Ideality  added,  to  enable  him  to  judge  cor- 
rectly in  matters  oi  taste ;  large  Approbativeness,  and  less 
Self-Esteem,  to  render  him  polite,  affable,  courteous  and  fa- 
miliar; small  Concentrativeness,  to  enable  him  to  attend  cor- 
rectly to  a  great  multiplicity  of  business  in  a  short  time  with- 
out being  confused  ;  large  Adhesiveness,  so  that  he  may  make 
friends  of  his  customers,  and  thus  keep  them;  full  Construc- 
tiveness,  so  that  he  can  use  his  hands  tolerably  well  in  pack- 
ing, unpacking,  wrapping  up,  fixing  up  things  about  the 
store,  &c.;  full  or  large  Secretiveness,  so  that  he  may  throw 
out  some  false  colors,  but  the  best  side  of  his  goods  out,  and 
keep  many  things  in  his  business  to  himself;  Conscientious- 
ness variable ;  large  in  some  merchants,  so  that  they  may 
deal  fairly,  charge  only  moderate  profits,  and  have  but  one 
price ;  and  small  in  others,  so  that  they  may  set  high  prices, 
and  fall,  describe  poor  articles  as  good,  and  fair  as  superfine, 
and  make  money  fast  for  a  little  while,  only  to  drive  away 
all  custom  and  break. 

Mechanics,  require  large  Constructiveness  and  Imitation, 
to  enable  them  to  use  their  hands  and  tools  with  dexterity, 
and  take  pattern  or  make  like  something  else;  and. other  or- 
gans varying^  according  to  the  kind  of  mechanical  business 
in  which  they  engage.  Thus  ;  a  Builder,  whether  of  ships, 
boats,  houses,  wagons,  sleighs,  &c.,  «fcc.,  requires  the  motive 
vital  temperament,  which  gives  both  strength  and  endurance 
and  a  love  of  physical  labor,  to  enable  him  to  impart  strength 
to  his  works  ;  large  perceptive  organs,  to  enable  him  to  judge 
accurately  of  the  form,  size,  proportion,  perpendicularity,  po- 
sition, <fcc.  of  parts  ;  large  Order,  to  arrange  every  thingprop- 
erly,  and  keep  tools  and  every  thing  in  place;  large  Calcula- 
tion, to  help  him  compute  figures  with  ease  and  correctness; 
large  Causality,  to  enable  him  to  plan,  adapt  means  to  ends, 
create  resources,  contrive,  make  his  head  save  his  heels,  in- 
vent, enable  him  to  take  the  advantage  of  his  work,  and  be- 
gin at  the  right  end,  and  show  him  how  to  do  things,  and 
what  will  do  what,  with  a  good  share  of  Firmness,  to  impart 


THE    FARMER.  101 

perseverance,  and  full  Combativeness  and  Destructiveness,  to 
impart  the  requisite  force  and  energy  of  character. 

A  Farmer,  requires  the  motive,  or  the  motive  vital,  or 
vital  motive  temperament,  to  make  him  fond  of  work,  and 
enable  him  to  endure  it;  large  Constructiveness,  to  enable 
him  to  use  his  farming  utensils ;  large  Inhabitiveness,  to  make 
him  love  his  farm,  and  be  contented  at  home,  with  some  Ap- 
probativeness,  to  make  him  take  some  pride  in  improving  and 
adorning  it;  large  Philoprogenitiveness,  to  make  him  fond  of 
children  and  of  feeding  and  rearing  animals,"^  and  improving 
their  breed ;  large  Adhesiveness  and  Friendship,  to  render  him 
neighborly  and  obliging;  a  good  intellect,  to  give  him  ihenimd 
requisite  to  manage  and  arrange  matters,  and  dispose  him  to 
improve  rainy  days  and  odd  spells  in  study ;  large  Acquisi- 
tiveness, to  make  him  frugal,  industrious,  and  thrifty;  large 
Order,  to  keep  all  his  things  in  their  places;  and  a  good  de- 
velopment of  the  perceptive  faculties,  so  that  he  can  judge 
accurately  of  land,  crops,  and  the  value  and  uses  of  things. 
The  developments  requisite  for  a  good  farmer,  do  not  differ 
essentially  from  those  requisite  for  the  mechanic  of  the  heavier 
kinds  of  business. 

The  lighter  kinds  of  mechanical  business,  such  as  a  gold- 
smith, tailor,  engraver,  artist,  &c.,  require  the  nervous  tem- 
perament, to  give  lightness  and  ease  of  action,  and  much  the 
same  developments  as  the  mechanic  and  farmer  require,  ex- 
cepting that  Ideality  should  be  large,  to  give  taste  and  impart 
a  polish  to  his  productions.  The  vital  motive  temperament 
renders  persons  averse  to  confinement,  and  gives  great  action, 
but  the  nervous  endures  it  better. 

Painters  require  large  Color,  to  enable  them  to  judge  of,  mix, 
and  apply  colors,  with  more  or  less  Ideality  in  their  applica- 
tion. House  painters  should  have  much  of  the  motive,  or 
vital  temperaments,  and  large  Weight,  to  enable  them  to 
keep  the  centre  of  gravity.  Portrait  painters  require  the 
nervous,  or  nervous  motive  temperament,  to  impart  delicacy 
and  refinement  of  feeling,  (I  find  few  artists  without  a  highly 
wrought  temperament,)  large  Form,  Size,  Imitation  and  Con- 
structiveness, to  enable  them  to  copy,  draw,  and  pattern,  and 

*  The  lower  portion  of  Philoprogenitiveness  gives  fondness  for  -pd 
animals,  the  upper,  for  one's  own  children. 


102  TALENTS    GIVEN   BY   DIFFERENT    COMBINATIONS. 

to  transfer  the  likeness  to  canvass ;  large  Color  and  Ideality, 
to  give  finish,  taste,  and  exquisiteness  to  the  coloring;  large 
Language,  Mirthfulness  and  Eventuality,  to  amuse  their  cus- 
tomers and  give  them  a  pleasant  countenance  for  them  to  imi- 
tate ;  large  Cautiousness,  so  that  they  may  make  no  false 
touches ;  large  Approbativeness,  to  give  them  ambition,  &c. 

An  Engineer  requires  organs  similar  to  a  builder,  with 
decidedly  large  Form,  Size,  and  Calculation,  with  the  motive 
mental  temperament. 

An  Editor  requires  a  very  active,  excitable  temperament, 
so  that  he  can  excite  and  interest  his  readers,  and  color  well ; 
large  Individuality  and  Eventuality,  to  enable  him  to  collect 
and  wholesale  facts,  news,  incidents,  phenomena,  &c.,  &c. ; 
large  Form,  to  enable  him  to  spell  correctly  and  detect  errors 
in  the  proof-sheets ;  very  large  Comparison,  to  enable  him  to 
illustrate  and  explain  every  thing,  to  criticise,  pick  flaws, 
show  up  opponents ;  large  Mirthfulness,  to  enable  him  to  inake 
fun  for  his  readers,  ridicule  what  the  people  dislike,  &c. ;  large 
Ideality,  to  impart  good  taste;  large  Language,  to  make  him 
fluent,  and  less  Causality,  so  that  he  will  have  more  words 
and  facts  than  ideas,  (for  the  mass  do  not  love  to  read  ideas ;) 
large  Combativeness,  to  render  him  spirited  and  fond  of  con- 
flict, and  to  impart  force  and  eriergy  to  what  he  says,  &c. 

A  Phrenologist  requires  a  temperament  of  the  highest 
order,  to  impart  great  activity,  so  that  he  can  run  rapidly, 
yet  correctly,  through  the  vast  multiplicity  of  conditions  that 
aflect  the  character  ;  great  strength  of  organization,  so  that 
he  can  apply  his  whole  energies  with  great  power  to  the 
work  ;  a  large  intellectual-  lobe,  to  give  him  mind,  and  that 
evenly  balanced,  so  that  he  can  take  into  account  all  that 
bears  on  the  formation  of  character ;  great  Individuality,  so 
that  he  can  see  these  conditions  at  one  glance  ;  great  Even- 
tuality, to  remember  these  conditions  ;  great  Comparison,  to 
combine  them ;  good  Language,  to  express  them ;  high  moral 
sentiments,  and  a  well  balanced  but  strong  head. 

These  combinations  might  be  extended  to  any  length,  but 
enough  are  given  to  show  the  principle  aimed  at,  so  that 
readers  can  carry  them  out  for  themselves,  and  then  cultivate 
the  organs  required  by  the  calling  they  intend  to  pursue. 


GENERAL   APPLICATION.  lOS 

GENERAL  APPLICATION  OF  THIS   WHOLE  SUBJECT 
TO   SELF-IMPROVEMENT. 

We  have  thus  far  seen  in  what  a  good  head  and  body  con- 
sist, namely,  in  the  equals  harmonious,  proportionate  exercise 
of  all  the  physical,  all  the  mental  functions.  We  have  seen 
that  all  the  mental,  all  the  physical  functions  are  capable  of 
being  strengthened  or  restrained,  so  as  to  secure  this  balance. 
We  have  seen  what  is  the  function  and  the  food  of  every 
faculty,  by  applying  which  any  and  every  organ  can  be 
enlarged,  and  by  removing  which,  every  organ  can  be  di- 
minished. Bnt  we  have  yet  to  apply  this  subject  to  the 
combinations  of  faculties.  As  one  swallow  does  not  make  a 
summer,  nor  one  flower  a  spring,  so  neither  the  excess  nor 
the  deficiency  of  single  organs  does  any  very  great  injury  ; 
but,  as  it  is  generally  by  a  complication  of  several  diseases 
that  health  and  life  are  destroyed,  so  it  is  by  the  combination 
of  several  excessive  or  defective  faculties,  and  usually  both, 
that  sin  and  misery  are  produced.  Thus,  extremely  large 
Cautiousness,  properly  balanced  by  Combativeness  and  Caus- 
ality, will  do  no  special  harm  ;  but  very  large  Cautiousness, 
combined  with  small  Hope  and  Combativeness,  and  perhaps 
excessive  Approbativeness  an"d  deficient  Self-Esteem,  pro- 
duce a  most  unfavorable  combination,  and  one  that  should 
by  all  means  be  counteracted. 

But,  to  be  more  specific.  Suppose  your  Self-Esteem  is  not 
more  than  par,  and  that  Cautiousness,  Approbativeness,  and 
Veneration,  particularly  its  fore  part,  or  deference,  are  large, 
or  very  large,  you  are  of  course  diffident,  backward,  and 
liable  to  be  confused  ;  particularly  if  your  temperament  be 
excitable.  When  you  attempt  to  speak  to  others,  especially 
in  public,  or  do  any  thing  before  others,  or  are  among  stran- 
gers, yon  will  be  thrown  otf  your  balance,  and  lack  self- 
possession.  Now  let  such  bear  in  mind  that  this  feeling  of 
inferiority  proceeds  not  from  your  actual  inferiority,  but  from 
your  organization.  And  to  overcome  it,  bear  its  cause  in 
mind;  and  cultivate  the  deficient  faculties,  as  well  as  apply 
physical  remedies  to  the  cooling  off  of  your  system.  Be 
more  slow,  more  cool,  more  self-possessed,  and  take  all  pos- 

.     8 


IQfi  APPLICATION   OF    THIS    WHOLE   SUBJECT 

sible  means  to  counteract  this  diffidence,  by  breaking  over  it, 
not  by  submitting  to  it.  And  if  a  child  be  similarly  organ- 
ized, do  not  increase  this  diffidence  by  cultivating  backward- 
ness, and  what  you  call  manners,  in  a  child,  but  send  him 
out  among  strangers,  where  he  will  be  obliged  to  act  for 
himself,  address  others,  &c. 

If  Hope,  Acquisitiveness,  and  Combativeness  be  large,  in 
conjunction  with  an  active  organization,  remember  that  you 
are  too  enterprising;  that  you  plan  too  largely,  and  under- 
take too  much ;  that  you  count  your  chickens  before  they 
are  hatched,  and  are  liable  to  break  in  consequence  of  this 
visionary,  chimerical  spirit.  Now  can  you  not  off-set  this 
excess  by  pure  intellect  7  Can  you  not  moderate  both  your 
efforts  and  your  undertakings]  Make  allowances  for  this 
tendency  to  excess.  You  cannot  do  more  than  half  as  much 
as  you  think  you  can.  So  hold  up.  Take  the  world  easily. 
Be  more  cautious.  Guard  against  drawbacks  more.  Slack 
all  around,  and  do  not  hurry  through  life  with  such  race- 
horse speed. 

If  Approbativeness,  Cautiousness,  and  Conscientiousness 
be  larger  than  their  balancing  organs  of  Self-Esteem,  &c., 
and  the  temperament  be  susceptible,  remember  that  the  feel- 
ings of  shame,  mortification,  self-reproach,  and  fear  that 
others  will  criticise  or  laugh  at  you,  are  too  active  and  pow- 
erful. Do  not  allow  this  class  of  reflections  to  prey  upon 
you,  but  dismiss  them  with  the  reflection  that  they  are 
caused  by  the  "  bumps,"  and  not  by  any  real  occasion  for 
them.  So,  if  this  organization  be  reversed,  remember  that 
you  are  too  bold,  too  forward,  too  shameless,  too  apt  to  en- 
counter public  odium. 

If  Combativeness  be  large  and  sharp,  especially  in  con- 
junction with  an  excitable  temperament,  remember  that  you 
blame  others  when  there  is  no  occasion,  are  too  fault-finding, 
and  go  off  into  a  blaze  of  wrath  on  a  provocation  quite  too 
slight — that  you  are  in  fault  quite  as  much  as  the  other  party. 
Reflections  like  these,  will  do  much  to  cool  off  this  fiery 
temper.  So  will  making  apologies  afterwards  to  those  ag- 
grieved. Tell  them  you  are  a  little  sick,  mentally,  and  that 
therefore  they  must  pardon  you.  And  especially,  put  in 
practice  those  directions  for  cooling  off  the  physiology^  and 
thereby  the  base  of  the  brain,  already  given. 


TO   SELF-IMPROVEMENT.  105 

So,  if  Friendship  and  Benevolence  be  stronger  than  love 
of  money,  and  your  organization  be  fine,  bear  in  mind,  espe- 
cially if  Self-Esteem  be  weaker,  that  you  are  too  easily  per- 
suaded, are  apt  to  yield  to  your  better  feelings  against  your 
better  judgment.  To  accommodate  your  friends,  and  to 
accede  to  their  entreaties,  is  your  blind  side.  Guard  it. 
Learn  to  say,  No.  Hear  what  intellect  says.  Put  your 
hands  into  your  pocket  fewer  times,  and  not  so  deeply,  as 
you  are  inclined  to  do.  Never  endorse,  because  your  confi- 
dence in  your  friends  is  too  great. 

So,  if  Acquisitiveness  be  larger  than  Benevolence  and 
Friendship,  remember  that  you  are  too  penurious.  Be  more 
generous*.  Pursue  the  policy  opposite  to  that  just  advised, 
and  this  increased  liberality  will  greatly  augment  your  hap- 
piness. 

Another  highly  important  and  generally  needed  direction. 
If  Acquisitiveness  be  large  in  a  person  of  fine  organization 
and  great  activity,  it  is  apt  to  produce  too  much  industry  ; 
too  close  an  application  to  business,  especially  in  women 
whose  family  organs  are  large.  They  love  their  families, 
and  are  therefore  anxious  to  see  them  comfortable ;  and, 
being  predisposed  to  over-do  even  without  motive,  with  this 
powerful  stimulus,  they  are  almost  certain  to  work  very 
hard,  to  work  almost  constantly,  to  be  up  early  and  late,  to 
keep  all  the  sewing  in  doors,  to  save  whatever  they  can,  and 
thus  keep  wearing  continually  on  their  health,  till  they  in- 
duce general  debility,  and  lose  the  very  money  earned  by 
their  over-doing,  in  paying  doctor's  bills,  along  with  a  hun- 
dred times  more  added  to  it,  and  all  because  they  worked 
too  hard.  Merely  as  a  matter  of  economy,  work  only  as 
hard  as  you  can  endure  without  injury.  And  I  often  mark 
in  the  table  in  the  first  part  of  vol.  1,  that  Acquisitiveness 
should  be  restrained,  when  I  simply  mean  by  it  that  the  per- 
son so  marked  should  work  less,  and  not  that  they  are  liable 
to  cheat. 

If  Self-Esteem  be  small,  and  Benevolence  and  the  social 
organs  be  large,  or  very  large,  especially  in  a  woman,  re- 
member that  you  think  too  little  of  your  own  interest  and 
comfort,  and  too  much  of  making  others  happy — that  you 
are  likely  to  make  yourself  a  perfect  slave  to  your  family, 


lOBt  APPLICATION    OF    THIS    WHOLK    SUBJECT 

and  to  neglect  yourself  till  you  break  down  and  die.  Coun- 
teract this  slavish,  self-sacrificing  disposition,  and  remember 
that  your  Jii^st  duty  is  to  take  care  of  yourself.  Especially, 
if  Firmness,  and  perhaps  Combativeness,  be  too  small  in  this 
combination,  you  must  not  submit  so  much.  Have  a  mind 
and  a  will  of  your  own,  and  then  have  that  mind  and  will. 
Stand  up  for  your  rights.  Do  not  give  up  to  the  wishes  of 
others  so  easily.  Brace  yourself  up  to  do  what  intellect  tells 
you  ought  to  be  done.  Those  with  this  organization,  lack 
fortitude,  and  sufi'er  without  repining,  or  even  using  much 
effort  to  obtain  relief.  Let  such  breast  the  waves  of  adver- 
sity, and  see  if  they  cannot  drive  them  back. 

Those  whose  temperament  is  highly  wrought,  and  Ideality 
larger  than  intellect,  should  bear  in  mind  that  they  are  more 
nice  than  wise  :  are  a  little  fastidious  ;  are  over  particular 
about  matters  of  taste  ;  and,  if  Approbativeness  be  also  large 
or  very  large,  that  they  are  more  neat,  tidy,  and  dressy  than 
occasion  requires. 

So,  on  the  contrary,  those  whose  Ideality  is  only  average 
or  full,  and  organization  powerful  rather  than  delicate,  should 
remember  that  they  err  on  the  opposite  extreme,  and  that 
they  would  be  better  off  if  they  were  more  nice,  tidy,  and 
refined.  Let  such  cultivate  taste  as  to  appearances,  expres- 
sions, and  sentiments,  read  works  of  taste,  cultivate  a  love 
of  flo.wers,  and  be  careful  not  to  indulge  in  the  gross  or 
coarse. 

Those  who  have  Constructiveness,  Hope,  and  Causality 
all  large  or  very  large,  and  not  duly  balanced,  must  beware 
lest  they  spend  their  all  in  inventions,  which,  after  all,  are 
likely  never  to  be  practically  useful. 

Those  whose  Hope,  Mirthfulness,  Friendship,  Benevolence, 
and  perhaps  Approbativeness,  are  large  or  very  large,  in 
conjunction  with  an  exalted  temperament,  should  remember 
that  they  are  predisposed  to  gay  company,  and  that  it  will 
not  require  any  great  amount  of  temptation  to  lead  them  into 
the  paths  of  dissipation.  Be  guarded  on  this  point.  Be 
merry,  but  touch  not,  taste  not,  handle  not,  any  thing  that 
will  intoxicate.  And  be  very  careful  what  friendships  yow 
form.  Those  in  whom  Friendship  and  Kindness  are  strong, 
"with  a  highly  susceptible  organization,  and  Self-Esteem  only 


TO    SELF-IMPROVEMENT.  107 

averat^e  or  less,  should  bear  in  mind  that  their  characters  are 
modified  powerfully  by  their  friends — that  they  assimilate 
themselves  to  their  friends,  drink  in  their  influences,  and 
become  like  them.  And  I  warn  such  in  particular,  to  form 
friendships  with  those  only  who  will  exert  an  excellent  influ- 
ence over  them,  and  also  to  guard  against  admitting  too 
much  of  this  foreign  influence. 

If  the  whole  intellectual  lobe  is  less  than  it  should  be,  or 
less  active,  read,  think,  study,  and  that  daily  and  habitually. 
3ring  those  faculties  into  play  according  to  the  directions 
given  in  vol.  ii.  Especially,  study  Phrenology.  Nothing 
will  equally  interest,  expand,  feed,  each  intellectual  faculty 
separately,  or  the  whole  combined.  But,  if  the  intellect,  as 
a  whole,  be  too  active,  think,  study,  read  less,  exercise  more, 
dismiss  what  called  for  this  excessive  action,  and  especially 
wash  your  head  often  in  cold  water.     See  also  p.  87,  vol.  i. 

If  Language  and  Eventuality  are  both  small,  they  should 
by  all  means  be  cultivated,  as  the  combined  deficiency  of  both 
is  most  unfortunate.  See  means  of  cultivating  them  already 
pointed  out.  But  if  they,  with  Individuality,  be  larger  than 
Causality,  remember  the  deficiency,  and  cultivate  the  latter 
by  stopping  to  inquire  into  the  causes  of  all  you  see.  Espe- 
cially, study  the  odaptation  of  things  to  their  counterpart — 
of  all  animals  to  their  modes  of  life,  elements,  &:c. — of  the 
various  organs  of  the  body  to  the  functions  they  severally 
perform,  and,  above  all,  the  adaptations  of  the  phrenological 
faculties  to  the  purposes  they  serve,  as  well  as  of  the  location 
of  their  organs  to  the  functions  performed. 

But,  if  Causality  be  very  much  larger  than  Individuality 
or  Eventuality,  you  theorize  too  much ;  and  if  Combativeness 
be  full  or  large,  and  Conscientiousness  and  the  organization 
be  active,  are  apt  to  argue  ;  and  if  Firmness  be  large,  to  shut 
your  eyes  against  the  light,  and  argue  for  victory  rather  than 
for  truth.  And  if  Self-Esteem  be  also  large,  you  are  a  little 
bigoted,  and  catch  on  little  things,  without  taking  into  view 
the  general  bearings  of  the  whole  subject.  Don't  speculate 
so  much.  Look  at  the  whole  matter  just  as  it  is.  Espe- 
cially, reason  less  and  observe  more,  and  see  that  you  base 
your  inferences  in  facts^  rather  than  in  mere  inferential  rea- 
sonings, for  such  conclusions  are  of  little  account. 

8* 


1Q81 


REVIEW    OF 


Those  who  have  very  large  Conscientiousness  and  smaHer 
Self- Esteem,  especially  if  the  temperament  be  highly  exci- 
table, and  the  nervous  system  morbidly  active,  often  suffer  im- 
mensely from  groundless  conscientious  scruples ;  blame  them- 
selves when  there  is  no  occasion,  and  are  often  melancholy 
or  desponding  as  to  religious  matters.  Let  such  remember, 
especially  if  Hope  be  small,  that  they  are  not  as  bad  as  they 
think  they  are — that  these  feelings  result  from  their  morbid 
organization,  and  not  from  their  actual  sinfulness. 

The  reader  Avill  see  that  we  can  easily  enlarge  the  appli- 
cation of  these  beautiful  principles  of  self-improvement  to 
hundreds  of  pages ;  but  sufficient  illustrations  have  now  been 
given  to  enable  the  reader  to  carry  them  out  in  their  other 
applications,  till  he  can  apply  them  to  whatever  defects  or 
excesses  he  may  be  afflicted  with.  With  that  clear  analysis 
of  the  several  faculties  already  given,  to  study  out  the  means 
of  stimulating  or  guarding  their  combinations,  will  not  be 
difficult.  And  1  therefore  close  this  department  of  our  sub- 
ject by  simply  adding,  that  much  of  the  mental  as  well  as 
the  physical  disorders,  to  which  man  is  subject,  is  caused  by 
a  disordered  physiology.  Rectify'-  that  first,  then  the  faculties 
and  all  the  results  promised  in  these  pages,  will  be  your  re- 
ward for  thus  yielding  obedience  to  the  laws  of  your  being. 


PROF.  GOURAUD'S  MNEMOTECHNIC  SYSTEM. 

1  CLOSE  both  this  volume  and  the  work,  with  a  few  remarks 
on  Mnemonics,  which  attempts  to  improve  the  memory  by 
artificial  associations.  As  this  means  of  improving  the  mem- 
ory has  recently  made  so  much  stir  in  this  country,  especially 
under  Prof.  Gouraud,  it  deserves  notice  in  this  connection. 
This  system  is  selected  as  the  basis  of  our  remarks,  because 
it  is,  beyond  question,  incomparably  superior  to  all  others 
ever  propounded.  It  proceeds  upon  two  fundamental  princi- 
ples ;  first,  of  representing  figures  by  certain  letters^  by  the 
combination  of  which  certain  words  are  formed ;  and,  sec- 
ondly, of  associating  what  is  desired  to  be  remembered  with 
these  words,  the  translation  of  which  back  into  figures  gives 


gouraud's  system  of  mnemonics.  109 

the  desired  results.  In  this  arrangement,  the  vowel  sounds 
count  nothing,  and  hence  they  can  be  combined  with  what- 
ever consonants  will  form  the  word  desired.  In  applying  it, 
three  things  are  to  be  done  :  first,  to  remember,  by  an  effort 
of  nahiral  memory,  the  thing  or  event  desired  to  be  mnemo- 
nized  ;  secondly,  this  is  then  to  be  associated  with,  or  hitched 
on  to,  a  particular  word  or  series  of  words;  and,  thirdly,  this 
word  or  series  of  words  is  to  be  translated  mtojigw^es,  which 
translation  will  give,  in  figures,  the  dale  or  number  desired. 
For  example  : — The  death  of  Abraham  is  associated  in  a 
sentence  with  the  word  divinity^  the  translation  of  Avhich 
gives  1821 — the  period  of  his  death.  A  sentence  is  formed 
on  the  battle  of  Marathon,  with  which  the  word  repose  is 
associated,  which,  when  translated,  gives  490 — the  year  in 
which  that  battle  was  fought.  This  principle  is  applied  to 
the  ages  and  deaths  of  men,  to  latitudes,  longitudes,  altitudes, 
distances,  chronology,  astronomy,  the  ages  and  reigns  of 
kings,  specific  gravities,  nomenclatures,  phrenology,  and 
every  thing  that  involves  numbers,  or  is  expressed  by  the  use 
of  figures. 

This  general  principle  is  facilitated  by  a  great  many  beau- 
tiful and  ingenious  contrivances.  Thus,  to  remember  the 
latitude  and  longitude,  or  the  population,  of  Washington,  an 
association  is  formed  of  this  city  with  the  "  father  of  his 
country,"  of  whom  some  sentiment  is  uttered,  one  important 
word  of  which  translated,  gives  the  result  desired.  That  is, 
what  is  to  be  remembered  is  associated  with  something  anal- 
ogous in  sound,  with  which  the  word  to  be  translated  is  also 
associated.  Rome  is  associated  with  ?'um,  and  on  rum  a 
sentence  is  constructed  which  contains  the  words  hard  tone, 
which,  translated,  gives  the  latitude  and  longitude  of  this 
renowned  city.  Combativeness,  No.  6,  in  our  classification, 
is  associated  with  the  renowned  Horatii  and  Curatii,  who 
decided  an  important  battle  by  individual  combat;  Hope, 
No.  16,  is  associated  with  Louis  XVI.  ;  Causality,  No.  36, 
with  "  thirty-six  people  at  least  die  every  minute  of  their 
sickness,  without  knowing  the  cause,"  &c. 

A  similar  principle,  extended  in  its  application  by  a  most 
ingenious  table  to  a  series  of  dates,  ages,  facts,  &c.,  is  applied 
to  remembering  the  reigns  of  kings  and  queens  of  a  nation. 


110  REVIEW    OF 

say  of  England,  or  whatever  is  wished  to  be  remembered ;  and 
the  same  table  slightly  modified  by  taking  out  some  things 
and  putting  in  others,  is  applied  to  astronomy,  to  the  nomen- 
clatures of  chemistry,  and  all  the  sciences,  and  the  professor 
promises  to  apply  it  to  the  study  of  the  languages,  by  which 
he  says  complete  mastery  of  any  language  can  be  made  in 
eleven  lessons.  Whether  it  will  prove  to  be  a  better  method 
of  teaching  and  learning  languages  than  the  clumsy,  awk- 
ward, seven  years'  cruise  now  employed,  remains  to  be  de- 
veloped ;  but,  if  it  should  finally  prove  to  be  better  than 
natuie's  method — that  of  learning  a  language  by  talking  it 
and  Iiearing  it  talked^  it  must  indeed  be  pretty  good — a  de- 
cided improvemeyit. 

That  his  system  imparts  a  most  extraordinary  power,  not 
of  remernbeiing,  for  it  is  not  the  object  of  this  system  to  re- 
member any  thing,  but  of  re-producing,  or  rather  of  transla- 
ting dates,  figures,  &c.,  <fcc.,  and  that  with  great  facility  and 
correctness,  is  unquestionable.  The  editor  has  seen  a  pupil 
call  off,  with  considerable  rapidity,  a  row  of  154  figures  ;  has 
seen  another  put  this  row  on  a  black  board  as  fast  as  he 
could  write  them,  and  seen  several  pupils  answer,  off-hand, 
what  figure  was  the  57th,  or  the  130th,  or  the  13lh,  or  any 
other  one  called  for  by  the  spectators,  without  any  reference 
to  the  printed  list  or  the  black  board,  and  heard  them  answer 
immediately  and  correctly  the  date  of  any  event  mentioned 
in  a  page  of  dates  ;  and  so  of  other  things.  Some  of  the  re- 
sults attained  by  it,  are  certainly  remarkable,  still,  it  is  one 
thing  to  have  all  this  figured  out  beforehand — all  the  asso- 
ciations prepared  by  the  master  of  the  system,  and  all  the 
formulas  furnished  at  hand  ready  to  learn — and  quite  an- 
other thing  to  construct  oiir  own  formulas,  and  make  our  oum 
associations.  Thus,  if  we  wish  to  remember  the  date  of  the 
battle  of  Yorktown,  or  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrims,  we  must 
hunt  up  some  words,  which,  when  translated  into  figures, 
will  express  the  date  of  the  event  required  to  be  remembered, 
and  then,  after  associating  the  word  with  the  event,  must 
impress  this  word  on  the  memory,  so  that,  by  recalling  the 
word,  we  may  be  able  to  spell  out  from  it  the  date  required. 
This,  few  will  trouble  themselves  to  do.  If  his  system 
comes  into  general  use,  then  I  am  not  infallible  as  a  prophet. 


gouraud's  system  of  mnemonics.  Ill 

Still,  it  will  be  more  valued  and  applied  in  other  countries 
than  in  the  United  States. 

But  we  must  not  go  farther  in  giving  an  idea  of  his  system, 
lest  we  trespass  upon  his  copy-right,  for  he  has  placed  two 
vigilant  sentinels  on  every  leaf  of  his  principles  or  "  formu- 
las;" the  one  running  thus,  "  Entered  according  to  Act  of 
Congress,"  &c.,  and  the  other  thus,  "  The  republication  of 
any  of  these  formulas,  without  written  permission  from  the 
author,  is  strictly  prohibited  ;  and  any  violation  of  the  copy- 
right will  subject  the  parties  to  the  penalties  of  the  law :" 
nor  did  the  author  dare  to  say  thus  much  till  he  had  obtained 
verbal  permission  to  go  "  thus  far,  but  no  farther." 

Instead  of  proceeding  to  give  his  individual  opinion  touch- 
ing the  merits  of  this  system,  the  author  prefers  to  present  a 
iew  fundamental  principles  by  which  readers  will  be  enabled 
to  draw  conclusions  binder  standingly  for  themselves ;  he  not 
wishing  to  think  for  them,  but  simply  wishing  to  set  them  ta 
doing  up  their  own  thinking.  Indeed,  this  notice  of  the  Pro- 
fessor's system  is  inserted  here  mainly  for  the  purpose  of 
presenting  those  first  pi^inciples^  that  bear  on  the  improvement 
of  the  memory. 

In  his  introductory  remarks  to  his  class,  the  Professor 
assumed  and  proceeded  upon  two  principles  Avhich  Phrenolo- 
gists regard  as  fallacious — but  which  are  each  fundamental 
in  his  system-^the  first  of  which  Avas,  that,  while  most  of 
the  other  mental  faculties,  such  as  Judgment,  Conscientious- 
ness, Firmness,  &c.,  were  not  improveahle,  to  any  marked 
extent,  yet  that  the  faculty  of  Memory  loas  improveable,  and 
to  a  very  great  extent.  The  Professor's  error  is  this.  All 
the  faculties  are  equally  capable  of  improvement,  and  by  07ie 
and  the  same  means  only  ;  and  that  is,  by  augmenting  the 
tone  and  vigor  of  the  physical  organs  of  Memory,  Judgment, 
Conscience,  &jc.  The  organs  of  the  feelings  are  governed  by 
the  same  law  with  those  of  the  intellect;  namely,  that  the 
improvement  of  either  can  be  caused  solely  by  increasing  the 
facility  and  power  of  action  in  the  other.     All  mental,  all 

MORAL  IMPROVEMENT,  MUST  HAVE  A  PHYSICAL  CAUSE mUSt  pro- 
ceed from,  and  be  caused  by,  \\\e  improved  condition  of  the 
brain.  Judgment,  moral  feeling,  firmness  of  purpose,  and 
every  other  faculty,  can  be  improved  by  augmenting  the 


112  REVIEW    OF 

power  of  their  respective  organs,  bvi  by  no  other  means:  and 
Memory  can  also  be  improved,  but  it  must  be  by  the  same 
means  ;  it  can  be  improved  by  no  other. 

It  has  already  been  demonstrated  in  both  volumes  of  this 
work — is  even  woven  into  its  very  texture,  and  runs  through 
all  its  frame-work,  that  all  improvement  of  m,ind  must  be 
made  by  improving  the  power  and  activity  of  the  brain.  See 
especially  p.  12  of  vol.  ii.,  and  also  p.  86  of  vol.  i. 

Does,  then,  this  system  of  mnemonics,  does  any,  or  can 
any  system,  improve  the  activity  and  'power  of  the  organs  of 
memory,  that  is,  of  intellect?  This  can  be  done  in  two  ways 
only ;  first,  by  improving  the  general  tone  and  energy  of  the 
body  ;  and  secondly,  by  augmenting  the  action  and  power  of 
the  intellectual  organs,  by  calling  them  into  action.  Does  it, 
then,  improve  the  health,  or  increase  the  physical  energies'? 
Of  course  not.  Does  it  then  augTnent  the  exercise  of  memory  7 
On  the  answer  to  this  last  question,  depends  the  utility  or 
the  injurious  tendency  of  his  system ;  and,  in  order  that  no 
misrepresentation  may  creep  into  this  most  important  an- 
swer, we  will  allow  the  Professor  to  speak  for  himself.  In 
his  circular,  by  which  he  announces  his  courses,  he  thus 
answers  the  question  : — 

**  Professor  Gouraud  will  further  prove  to  his  auditors,  upon  their 
own  testimony,  that  the  learning  of  any  of  the  above  series  of  facts 
composing  the  programme  of  his  lectures,  will  not  require  any  se- 
rious effort  of  mind  ;  and  that  the  committing  to  memory  of  some 
of  the  most  difficult  or  lengthy  problems  of  the  lecture  programme 
can  be  effected  with  the  mere  attention  of  a  careful  perusal. — At- 
tention ....  this  is  all  that  will  be  required  of  every  one,  and  a 
few  leisure  hours  during  a  couple  of  weeks. 

This  is  clear,  explicit,  and  substantially  correct.  It  is  re- 
iterated for  the  hundredth  lime  by  the  Professor  in  his  lec- 
tures. Indeed,  he  has  framed  his  whole  system  for  the  eX' 
press  purpose  of  relieving  natural  memory  of  its  usual  ex- 
ercise. In  this,  he  places  its  entire  excellence.  This  is  its 
beginning,  end,  v:arp,  and  woof.  In  this  one  point  consists 
every  item  of  excellence  claimed  for  it  by  the  Professor,  and 
to  this  sole  end  does  every  part  and  parcel  of  it  tend — both 
as  to  its  leading  principles  and  its  specific  contrivances.  Be- 
yond all  question,  the  very  nature  and  structure,  design  and 
end  of  this  system,  is  to  render  memory  purely  mechanical 


gouraud's  system  of  mnemonics.  113 

— -as  much  so  as  when  two  rows  of  figures  are  multiplied  to- 
gether solely  by  looking  upon  the  multiplication  table,  and 
seeing  (not  using  the  head^  but  the  eye  only,)  it  multiplied, 
worked  out  for  you  in  that  table,  and  then  barely  setting 
doion  the  quotient,  would  be  mechanical;  thus  precluding 
the  exercise  of  natural  memory ;  whereas  this  exercise  of 
memory  has  been  shown  to  be  the  first,  the  second,  the  last, 
and  all  the  conditions  of  its  improvement.  If,  therefore,  it 
be  desirable  to  relieve  natural  memory  of  exercise  as  far  as 
possible,  and  give  it  nothing  to  do,  then  is  his  system  invalu- 
able ;  but,  by  as  much  as  it  is  not  merely  injurious,  but  in 
the  highest  degree  ruinous  to  natural  memory  thus  to  com- 
pel it  to  lie  almost  completely  dormant,  by  so  much  is  his 
system  utterly  ruinous  to  one  of  the  most  valuable,  rather 
invaluable,  elements  of  our  nature.  Nor  do  I  see  any  other 
view  that  Phrenology  can  possibly  take  of  this  matter.  If 
others  see  with  other  eyes,  the  columns  of  the  Phrenological 
Journal  are  open  to  the  full  discussion  of  a  question  so  in- 
conceivably momentous.  If  these  remarks  be  correct,  those 
who  adopt  his  system  must  experience  incalculable  evil ;  if 
they  be  fallacious,  let  their  fallacy  be  shown,  and  the  Pro- 
fessor is  especially  invited  to  defend  his  system  against  these 
apparently,  if  not  really  ruinous  tendencies. 

And  then  again,  of  what  use  is  it,  not  to  have  a  particular 
event  incorporated  with  the  mind,  so  as  to  form  a  jjart  of  it, 
but  simply  to  have  it  laid  by  as  on  a  shelf,  so  that  the  mind 
can  reach  and  take  it  down,  and  lay  it  back  again  when  it 
has  done  using  it !  This  system  makes  the  memory  a  perfect 
WMchine,  and  the  things  produced,  mere  mechanical  results. 
As,  if  you  had  a  fine  machine,  capable  of  producing  many 
valuable  fabrics,  and  should  put  corn  into  one  hopper,  and 
hoist  the  gate,  and  grind  out  corn  meal ;  put  wheat  into  an- 
other, hoist  another  gate,  and  grind  out  fine  flour  ;  and  so  of 
other  grains :  or,  put  cotton  into  one  part  of  it,  and  wool  into 
another,  and  set  it  a-going,  and  out  comes  cotton  or  woollen 
cloth  all  made  up  ready  for  wear.  If  it  be  desirable  to  con- 
vert memory  into  a  mere  machine,  however  complete,  then  is 
Gouraud's  system  valuable  ;  otherwise  it  is  injurious.  That 
it  naturally  and  necessarily  weakens  natural  memory,  no  one, 
act  even  the  talented  Professor  himself,  will  probably  deny  ; 


114  REVIEW    OF 

SO  that  li  artificial,  man-made  memory  be  better  than  natural 
memory — that  made  by  the  great  Architect  of  mind — then  is 
the  Professor's  system  entitled  to  notice  ;  otherwise  it  is  not. 
Indeed,  he  himself  asserts  and  re-asserts  a  hundred  times  in 
his  course,  that  natural  memory  cannot  possibly  retain  a 
hundredth  or  a  thousandth  part  as  much  as  can  his  m^achine 
memory,  and  that,  therefore,  his  system  is  inconceivably 
superior  to  natural  memory,  or,  what  amounts  to  the  same 
thing,  that  he  has  made  ^'' most  astonishing''^  (a  word  that 
he  uses  every  five  minutes,  in  describing  the  incomparable 
power  of  his  system)  improvements  on  the  workmanship  of 
the  Maker  of  man  !  This  is  precisely  the  issue  to  which  the 
Professor  himself  brings  the  matter.  As  if  mankind  had  no 
Jegs,  but  only  stumps,  and  therefore  that  his  ^^  most  astonish- 
ing invention"  of  wooderi  legs,  was  the  "  greatest  discovery 
the  world  ever  witnessed"- — a  remark  the  distinguished  Pro- 
fessor frequently  makes. 

The  other  fatal  fallacy  into  which  the  great  Professor  has 
fallen,  is  that  natural  memory  is  feeble.  He  asserts  and 
re-asserts,  that  natural  memory  cannot  possibly  learn  so  as  to 
retain  his  formula,  containing  154  figures,  which,  aided  by 
his  system,  any  of  his  pupils  can  learn  in  a  mere  fraction  of 
an  hour,  so  that  they  can  never  forget  it;  and  that  no  one, 
aided  by  natural  memory  alone,  can  retain  more  than  a  score 
or  two  of  dates,  while  his  system  enables  his  pupil  to  remem- 
ber and  recall  all  the  dates  they  please,  and  with  perfect 
certainty,  to  the  number  of  tens  of  thousands. 

But,  with  all  due  deference  to  the  learned  Professor's  supe- 
rior attainments  and  judgment,  I  take  the  liberty  of  differing 
from  him  on  this  essential  point.  While  he  bases  his  whole 
system  on  the  supposition,  that  natural  memory  is  poor,  very 
poor,  unfit  to  be  trusted  even  with  trifles ;  unable  even  to 
limp  along  without  his  staff  of  artificial  memory,  Phrenology 
maintains  that  natural  memory  is  quite  good  enough,  and 
that,  too,  by  virtue  of  its  own  intrinsic  power^  not  requiring 
the  least  aid  from  any  foreign  source  whatever.  In  this  work 
it  has  been  fully  shown,  that,  by  learning  the  functions  and 
food  or  objects  of  the  several  intellectual  faculties,  and  then 
feeding  them,  by  giving  them  all  the  work  ihey  can  well  do, 
and   strengthening   them   by   habitual   exercise  upon   their 


gouraud's  system  of  mnemonics.  115 

legitimate  objects,  while  it  is  the  only  way  to  augment  their 
power,  can  and  will  augment  natural  memory  beyond  all 
conception  ;  so  that,  instead  of  its  being  capable  of  retaining 
but  a/ew  dates,  or  numbers,  &:c.,  a  few  hundred  at  farthest, 
as  Professor  G.  asserts,  its  powers  are  illimitable^  and  its 
capacity  adequate  to  recalling  whatever  facts,  dates,  names, 
numbers,  any  thing  and  every  thing  with  which  it  can  ])ossi- 
bly  be  charged— -that  its  power  might  be  so  augmented  as  to 
be  able,  at  any  time,  to  recall  a7iy  thing  and  every  thing  that 
ever  entered  it. 

Let  children  be  educated  upon  the  principles  presented  in 
this  volume,  (their  having  a  good  physiological  condition  of 
course  being  presupposed.)  and  middle  age,  or  even  old  age, 
will  be  able  to  recall  any  event,  any  number  and  complica- 
tion of  figures,  any  and  every  thing  that  ever  entered  their 
minds,  any  of  the  way  along  up  from  the  cradle,  till  decrepit 
old  age  finally  weakens  and  at  last  obliterates  the  memory, 
along  with  all  the  powers  of  both  body  and  mind,  but  not  till 
all  the  other  meatal  faculties,  reason  alone  excepted,  have 
fallen  a  prey  to  devouring  age.  Unlike  his  system,  which 
must  necessarily  become  confused  by  a  few  hundred  of  his 
artificial  formulas,  every  new  truth  or  fact  lodged  within  the 
vessel  of  natural  memory,  instead  of  filling  it  up  so  that  it 
can  contain  one  the  less  by  every  one  already  lodged  there,  it 
expands  by  every  new  exercise  of  memory.  Giving  it  one 
thing  to  be  remembered,  necessarily  exercises  memory,  and 
this  exercise,  consequently  enlarges  it,  and  of  course  renders 
its  second  exercise  the  more  easy ;  and  this  additional  exer- 
cise doubly  augments  its  power,  the  exercise  of  which  in- 
creased power,  only  adds  strength  to  strength  in  the  expanding 
ratio  of  a  circle  caused  by  throwing  a  pebble  upon  the  glassy 
surface  of  the  unruffled  lake.  Every  drop  lodged  in  the 
ressel  of  memory,  erdarges  the  vessel*  instead  of  tending  to 
fill  it  up,  and  thus  prepares  the  way  for  two  tnore^  and  these 
two  render  it  capable  of  receiving  four  more ;  and  these  four, 
eight  more;    these  eight,  sixteen;    these,  thirty-two;  these, 

*  Illustration.  If  ydii  ever  wish  an  errand  done,  give  it  to  those  who 
have  a  great  many  to  do ;  if  you  care  little  vi'hether  it  is  done  or  not,  give 
it  to  the  man  who  has  few  errands  to  do,  and  exercises  his  memory  but 
little. 


\lf)  REVIEW    OF 

sixty-four,  and  so  on,  doubling  by  every  additional  exercise 
of  memory.  This  is  the  law.  This  law  Gouraud's  system 
violates,  and  that  violation  must  punish  every  one  of  his 
disciples. 

As  two  wrongs  can  never  make  one  right,  nor  two  errors 
ever  constitute  a  truth,  so  the  Professor's  two-fold  error,  (the 
one  that  natural  memory  is  extremely  feeble,  and  the  other, 
that  it  can  be  "most  astonishingly  improved"  by — not  its 
exercise^  oh  no,  that,  forsooth,  has  nothing  whatever  to  do  with 
it — but  by  introducing  within  it  "  Professor-Francis-Fauvel- 
Gouraud^s-Phreno-Mnemotechnic-system''''  machine,  just  as 
you  would  put  a  grain-cleaner  or  a  bolt  into  a  grist-mill,  or 
some  "  most  astonishing  and  immensely  powerful  invention," 
into  a  cotton  factory !)  cannot  be  productive  of  any  very 
"  immense  benefit,"  but  might  possibly  do  no  little  damage 
to  the  remembering  apparatus  invented  by  the  great  Architect 
of  the  Universe,  and  furnished  to  every  human  being  "with- 
out money  and  without  price."  As  if  Professor  Gouraud,  or 
Robert  Fulton,  or  some  great  inventor,  had  actually  invented 
a  tnachine  to  eat  ivlth,  or  to  walk  with,  or  with  which  to  di- 
gest, or  propel  the  blood,  or  breathe,  or  love,  or  reason,  or 
worship,  better  than  the  organs  and  faculties  invented  for 
these  respective  purposes  by  the  God  that  made  us  !  so  that, 
by  laying  aside  our  mouths,  stomachs,  muscles,  eyes,  lungs, 
Adhesiveness,  Causality,  Veneration,  &c.,  and  using  his  neio^ 
superior^  magyiifiqiie^  and  all-poicerfid  eater,  digester,  mover, 
lover,  worshij)per,  mnenionizer,  6cc.,  &c.,  to  the  whole  of 
man's  powers,  we  could  attain  results  "infinitely  superior  to 
those  we  now  attain"  !  for  no  one  can  listen  five  minutes  to 
the  Professor  without  hearing  him  say,  both  in  eff"ect  and  in 
so  many  words,  that  his  system  is  infinitely  superior  to  nat- 
ural memory.  This  depreciation  of  natural  memory,  of  itself, 
is  sufficient  to  condemn  his  system.  If  he  claimed  that  his 
system  aided  natural  memory,  worked  with  it,  and  tended  to 
strengtheyi  it,  then  might  it  merit  attention;  but,  when  he 
pits  it  against  natural  memory — tramples  natiu'al  memory 
into  the  very  dust,  and  then  crowns  his  magnificent  system, 
and  places  it  on  the  ruins  of  natural  memory — Phrenologists 
will  not  be  doubtful  as  to  its  merits  or  demerits,  nor  liable  to 
be  talien  in  by  its  meteoric  brilliancy. 


gouraud's  system  of  mnemonics.  117 

If  it  be  answered  that  "  learning  and  practising  his  system 
requires  considerable  exercise  of  memory,  by  which  natural 
memory  will  be  improved,"  I  reply,  Then  take  a  chip  and 
bite  away  upon  it,  because  this  marvellous  ^^inve7ition"  will 
exercise  and  strengthen  your  masticating  muscles.  Shoulder 
a  heavy  log  and  carry  it  up  stairs  and  throw  it  out  of  the 
window,  and  continue  to  do  this  all  your  life-time,  because, 
forsooth,  the  exercise  of  your  muscles  will  strengthen  them. 
I  grant,  that  if  you  had  nothing  but  gruel  to  eat,  it  might  be 
well  to  chew  the  chip  three  times  a  day.  If  there  were  no 
work  to  be  done,  carry  the  log  up  stairs  and  throw  it  down 
through  the  window  by  the  hour  together,  rather  than  allow 
your  muscles  to  lay  dormant.  But,  as  it  is  more  pleasant  to 
chew  crusts  of  bread  than  chips,  and  to  labor  at  what  will 
do  somebody  some  good,  so  it  is  best  to  exercise  the  memory 
directly  upon  what  you  wish  to  remember. 

To  learn  and  practise  his  system  does  not  certainly  require 
any  very  great  effort  of  the  memory ;  but  the  natural,  the 
necessary,  and  the  inevitable  tendency  of  the  system  is  to 
supersede  the  exercise  of  the  natural  memory ;  and  what 
trifling  exercise  of  memory  is  required  by  it,  can  be  put  forth 
quite  as  agreeably  and  profitably  upon  other  things  as  upon 
his  system.  Considered  which  ever  way  it  may  be,  its  le- 
gitimate and  uniform  operation  must  be  to  loeaketi  natural 
memory  by  restricting  its  use.  And  I  am  constrained  to  say, 
that  no  gift  in  the  universe  could  tempt  me  to  adopt  his  sys- 
tem— that  is,  to  exchange  my  natural  memory  for  his  purely 
artificial  system.  This  is  my  deliberate  conviction,  formed 
by  listening  to  his  whole  Course,  and  rendered  complete  by 
those  fundamental  principles  already  stated. 

An  admirable  commerit  on  the  Professor's  system  is,  that 
in  Brooklyn,  when  speaking  of  those  who  had  wonderful 
memories,  he  arranged  their  names  on  a  piece  of  paper,  which 
he  held  in  his  hand^  and  to  which  he  invariably  resorted 
whenever  he  introduced  a  new  person  or  subject.  This  was 
less  apparent  in  his  subsequent  lectures,  because,  doubtless, 
they  consisted  merely  in  familiar  explanations  of  that  with 
which  he  could  not  avoid  being  as  conversant  as  with  his 
alphabet.  Though  he  has  rendered  it  useful  in  lectures  on 
Astronomy,  yet  I  do  not  see  how  it  could  possibly  be  em- 


118  ^   gouraud's  system  of  mnemonics. 

ployed,  say  by  myself,  in  lecturing  on  Phrenology,  in  intro- 
ducing subjects,  or  remarks,  or  facts,  as  previously  arranged; 
nor  do  I  see  how  it  could  be  employed  in  speaking,  or  con- 
versation, or  composition,  except  where ^guj-es  are  concerned. 
However,  we  are  promised  some  astou7iding  additional  ap- 
plications of  his  system  in  the  fall— till  when,  gentle  reader, 
he  exhorts  you  to  wait  patiently — very  patiently,  as  if  there 
was  real  danger  of  our  starving  without  them ! 

In  conclusion.  I  make  this  exposition  of  the  Professor's 
system  with  great  reluctance.  As  a  man,  I  like  him;  and  if 
I  could,  conscientiously,  recommend  his  system,  I  would  do 
so  most  cordially,  from  the  j^^rsonal  prepossessions  I  feel  in 
his  favor.  But,  mine  is  the  unpleasant  task  of  sacrificing 
whatever  is  personal,  upon  the  altar  of  the  public  good. 
Phrenology  occupies  a  station  too  responsible  to  be  governed 
by  any  personal  motives.  It  stands  as  a  sentinel  upon  the 
watch  tower  of  mind,  and  ever  faithful  to  its  trust,  may  it 
survey  the  whole  field  of  intellectual  and  moral  inquiry, 
descry  danger  and  expose  it,  and  be  a  beacon  light — guided 
by  which  the  human  mind,  en  masse,  may  see  from  afar, 
and  come  forth  from  the  ends  of  the  earth,  out  of  the  quag- 
mires of  ignorance,  superstition,  sin,  and  suffering,  into  which 
it  has  either  wandered  or  been  cast,  and  sit  down  quietly  to 
enjoy  those  delicious  fruits  of  cultivated  intellect  and  piire 
morals,  which  this  tree  of  Phrenological  Science  showers 
down  in  such  rich  profusion,  such  endless  variety,  upon  all 
who  will  but  come  and  sit  under  its  shadow  and  partake 
thereof. 


PHRENOLOGICAL  WORKS 

FOR   SALE    BY 

O.  S.  FOWI.ER,  131  ]¥as§au  Street,  N.  Y. 

FOWLER'S  PRACTICAL  PHRENOLOGY, 

A  work  which,  has  now  been  eight  years  before  the  public,  so 
that  its  merits  are  allowed  to  speak  for  themselves. 


THE 

AMERICAN  PHRENOLOGICAL  JOURNAL, 

Devoted  exclusively  to  the  exposition  and  defence  of  Phrenology 
and  its  bearings,  and  of  the  kindred  sciences  of  Physiology  and 
Magnetism,  as  far  as  they  bear  on  it ;  embracing  the  clearest,  and 
yet  the  most  condensed  and  also  practical,  view  of  Phrenology  and 
its  bearings  on  health,  happiness,  virtue,  religion,  human  improve- 
ment, and  the  reforms  now  in  progress,  any  where  to  be  found. 
Monthly,  24  or  32  pages,  at  $1  per  year,  or  three  copies  for  $2; 
five  copies  for  $2  ;  nine  copies  for  $5  ;  or  twenty  copies  for  SIO. 
In  all  cases  in  advance,  post  paid. 


EDUCATION  AND   SELF-IMPROVEMENT, 

PHYSICAL,  MORAL,  AND   INTELLECTUAL: 

Founded  on  Phrenology  and  Physiology  ;  or  Good  Heads  and 
Bodies,  and  how  to  make  them  good,  both  in  children  and  in  one's 
self,  by  showing  how  to  enlarge  the  defective,  and  diminish  the 
excessive;  including  the  moral  training  and  government  of  children, 
without  the  rod.  This  work  expounds  the  principal  laws  of  virtue, 
or  conditions  of  happiness,  and  shows  how  to  fulfil  them. 


INTELLECTUAL  IMPROVEMENT : 

Or,  how  to  Cultivate  the  Memory  ;  Expand  and  Strengthen  the 
Intellect,  and  conduct  the  intellectual  education  of  children  ;  in 
which  is  pointed  out  a  new  and  more  excellent  way  to  intellectual 
attainments  than  our  common  schools  and  seats  of  learning  now 
furnish — a  work  of  great  value  and  importance  to  parents,  teachers, 
and  all  who  desire  to  know  how  to  improve  their  intellects. 


FOWLKR  S  PHRENOLOGICAL  WORKS. 


HEREDITARY   DESCENT; 

ITS   LAWS   AND  FACTS  : 

Or,  the  Transmission  of  Qualities,  Physical,  Intellectual,  and 
Moral,  from  parents  to  their  offspring,  through  successive  genera- 
tions ;  including  directions  for  forming  such  matrimonial  alliances 
as  will  secure  whatever  qualities  in  children  may  be  desired  ;  with 
hints  to  mothers  during  pregnancy — a  work  which  every  young 
married  pair  should  possess  ;  as  indeed  should  all  who  design  to 
form  the  matrimonial  relations.  To  improve  mankind,  we  must 
begin  with  the  gekm.  Education  bestowed  upon  a  good  physical 
and  moral  basis,  will  be  vastly  more  productive  than  that  expended 
upon  a  barren  soil.  Long  enough  have  parents  slept  over  this  sub- 
ject. Walker's  attempted  elucidation  of  it,  was  a  comparative  failure. 
In  this  work  it  is  treated — as  none  but  a  practical  Phrenologist  can 
treat  it — scientifically  ;  a  vast  many  most  important  principles 
being  stated,  and  all  supported  by  a  mass  of  facts  absolutely  over- 
whelming. A  most  useful  work,  and  a  rare  intellectual  treat. — 
270  pages,  and  a  Genealogical  Table  with  blank  paper,  for  recording 
family  likene-sses. 


PHRENOLOGY  APPLIED  TO   MATRIMONY  : 

Or  to  the  selection  of  Congenial  Companions  for  Life  ;  including 
directions  to  the  married  for  living  together  affectionately  and  hap- 
pily. The  cautions  it  administers  to  the  young  ;  the  hints  it  fur- 
nishes in  regard  to  conducting  courtship,  as  well  as  its  scientific 
exposition  of  man's  social  nature  and  relations,  and  the  laws  that 
govern  them,  render  it  most  interesting  and  most  useful. 


NATURAL    RELIGION: 

Or,  the  Natural  Theology  of  Phrenology;  its  aspect  on  reve- 
lation, and  its  general  harmony  with  it;  including  answers  to  the 
objections,  that  Phrenology  favors  Fatalism,  Materialism,  and  Infi- 
delity, and  is  opposed  to  a  change  of  heart  : — A  work  in  which,  the 
primary  elements  of  man's  moral  nature  are  fully  analyzed,  and 
therewith  the  religious  doctrines  taught,  and  the  duties  required  by 
man's  nature  and  constitution  ;  sectarianism  accounted  for,  and  ex- 
posed ;  and  the  general  tenor  of  the  Bible  doctrines  sustained.- — 
Religion  is  as  much  a  science  as  mathematics.  It  is  as  much  gov- 
erned by  fixed  principles  and  immutable  laws.  Nor  are  these  laws 
beyond  the  ken  of  man.  They  are  written  upon  his  nature.  Phre- 
nology unfolds  that  nature,  and,  therewith,  the  whole  code  of  doc- 
trines dependent  thereon,  and  duties  required  thereby. 


TIGHT   LACING ;    or  the  Evils  of  Compressing  the  Or- 
gans of  Animal  Life. 


fowler's  phrenological  works. 


PHRENOLOGY  APPLIED  TO  TEMPERANCE: 

A  scientific  exposition  of  the  physiological  effects  of  alcoholic 
liquors  upon  the  human  constitution,  and  especially  upon  the  animal 
propensities.  It  expounds  some  Physiological  lavvs  of  great  intrinsic 
value,  and  applies  them  to  temperance  with  tremendous  effect.  It 
has  been  regarded  by  many  as  the  strongest  temperance  document 
put  forth. 

In  Press,  and  soon  to  be  published,  a  work  on 

PHYSIOLOGY,  ANIMAL   AND  MENTAL: 

Or,  the  effects  of  different  organizations  and  conditions  of  the  body 
upon  the  character  and  mental  manifestations;  including  health — 
its  conditions,  and  the  means  of  preserving  and  restoring  it,  without 
medicine,  and  also  diet,  regimen,  habits,  and  their  effects  on  mind, 
&c.  The  reciprocal  influences  of  various  physiological  organiza- 
tions and  manifestations  upon  the  mind,  is  a  department  never  fully 
presented  ;  and  yet  its  importance  is  vastly  underrated.  The  Author 
hopes  to  present  some  principles  of  Physiology  vitally  important,  but 
usually  overlooked. 

WOMAN: 

HER  CHARACTER,  DUTIES,  SPHERE    &  INFLUENCE. 

To  improve,  elevate,  adorn  Woman,  is  to  improve  and  perfect  the 
race.  Nor  can  the  latter  be  effected  to  any  great  extent,  except  by 
means  of  the  former.  The  most  barren,  the  most  philanthropic, 
field  of  human  progression,  is  that  appertaining  to  woman.  For,  as  is 
woman,  so  are  our  sons,  physically,  intellectually,  morally  ;  and  as 
they  are,  so  is  the  world.  But,  essentially  to  reform  woman,  she 
must  be  known.  Her  character  is  exactly  right — is  perfectly  adapted 
to  the  sphere  she  should  fill.  Hence,  a  right  understanding  of  that 
character,  is  indispensable.  And  yet  that  character  is  very  imper- 
fectly understood.  But,  Phrenology  will  teach  it.  And  this  work 
is  designed  to  give  a  clear,  a  scientific  exposition  of  that  character, 
and  then  of  the  duties  that  grow  out  of  it :  to  which  will  be  added, 
many  important  suggestions  to  woman,  and  to  husbands  and  young 
men,  touching  their  duties  and  relations  to  woman.  It  will  probably 
appear  in  October. 


AMATIVENESS  : 

ITS  USES  AND  ABUSES. 
Including  its  legitimate  function  and  exercise,  and  also  directions 
for  restraining  its  excessive  or  perverted  action.  Besides  containing 
much  valuable  information  to  parents  touching  their  relations  as 
parents,  it  will  also  warn  the  young  and  guard  them  from  falling, 
and  tell  those  w^ho  have  fallen,  how  to  govern  this  their  easily  be- 
setting sin.     It  will  appear  in  August. 


fowler's  phrenological  works. 


THE  PHRENOLOGICAL  ALMANAC  for  1840,  1841, 
1842,  1843,  and  1844,  (1845  will  soon  be  published,)  containing 
many  interesting  and  valuable  facts,  amply  illustrated  with  cuts,  in- 
cluding likenesses,  and  short  biographies,  of  distinguished  men. — 
The  reading  matter  of  the  old  Almanacs  is  as  good  as  it  ever  was, 
and  worth  many  times  its  cost — 25  cents  per  set. 

^^^  SUBSCRIBERS  to  the  MAGNET  can  receive  that  work 
through  our  office.  It  is  now  well  conducted  by  P.  P.  Good,  138 
Fulton  street. 

DC?"  Editors  who  copy  all  or  either  of  these  advertisements,  shall 
receive  a  copy  of  the  work  or  works  advertised — they  sending  a 
paper  (marked)  containing  the  same,  to  the  Am,  Phrenological 
Journal  Office. 


PHRENOLOGICAL  JOURNAL— VOL.  IV. 


FOWLER  ON  MATRIMONY: 

OR, 

PHRENOLOGY  AND  PHYSIOLOGY 

APPLIED    TO   THE   SELECTION   OF 

CONGENIAL  COMPANIONS  FOR  LIFE; 

INCLUDING 

DIRECTIONS  TO  THE  MARRIED 

FOR    LIVING    TOGETHER 

AFFECTIONATELY  AND  HAPPILY. 
BY  0.  S.  FOWLER, 

PRACTICAL     PHRENOLOGIST, 

Mditor  of  the  American  Phrenological  Journal ;  and  Author  of  "  Phrenoiogy 

Proved,  Illustrated,  and  Applied;"  "  Fotvler's  Practical  Phrenology  ^' 

"  Phrenology  and  Physiology  applied  to  Education  and  Self- 

Improvement f^  do.  "to  the  Cultivation  of  the  Memory  f 

do.  "to  Temperance f'  do.  "  on  Tight  Lacing f 

"Answer  to   Vindex  f  "  Synopsis  of 

Phrenology,"  Sfc.  fyc. 

"NATURAL  WAISTS,  OR  NO  WIVES." 

STEREOTYPE    EDITION.  20th.  THOUSAND. 

NEW-YORK: 

PUBLISHED  AND  FOR  SALE  BY  0.  S.  &  L.  N.  FOWLER,  IN  CLINTON 
HALL,  135  Nassau  st.:  BOSTON,  Saxon  &  Pierce,  and  Jordan  &  Co. :  PHI- 
LADELPHIA, J.  R.  Colon,  203  1-2  Chesnut  st. :  R.  L.  Adams,  Rochester, 
N.  Y. :  Graham,  Dean,  &  Co.,  Rome,  N.  Y. :  0.  Hutchinson,  Utica,  N.  Y.: 
Dr.  Kimball,  Sackett's  Harbor,  N.  Y. :  J.  C.  Derbey  &  Co.,  Auburn,  N.  Y. : 
J.  A.  Hopkins,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. ;  Wise  &  Rice,  Lowell,  Mass. :  J.  G.  Forman, 
Buel  &  Sizer,  D.  G.  Derby,  Phrenologist,H.  Fowler,  Hanover,  Mich. 

1842, 


No.  1. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  Year  of  our  Lord  1842, 

BY    O.  S.  FOWLER, 
in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  United  States'  District  Court  for  the  South- 
ern District  of  New  York. 


STEREOTYPED  BY  VINCENT  L.  DILL, 
No.  ISJ8  Fulton  Street,  New- York. 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Analysis  and  adaptation  of  Amativeness,        -            -            -  8 

"                "               Philoprogenitiveness,              -            -  10 

Duty  of  Parents,  especially  mothers,  to  educate  their  own  children,  11 

Analysis  and  adaptation  of  Adhesiveness,             -            -            -  13 

Caution  to  the  young  about  forming  or  breaking  attachments,  14 

Existence  and  analysis  of  Union  for  Life,             -            -            -  15 

Analysis  and  objects  of  Inhabitiveness,         -            -            -  15 

Owning  a  home  contrasted  with  the  renting  system,         -            -  16 

City  residences,  boarding,  farming,  &c.       -            -            -  17 

The  combinations  of  the  Social  Faculties,  "■        -            -            -  19 

Location  and  appearance  of  the  Social  Organs,         -            -  21 

Filial  Love — its  cultivation,         -             -             -      '       -             -  22 

Amount  of  brain  allotted  to  the  Social  Organs,          -            -  24 

The  facility  and  power  of  their  combinations  illustrated,  -             -  25 
Every  element  of  our  nature  brought  into  delightful  action  by 

the  family  relations,             -            -            -            -            -  27 

Eeversal  of  these  faculties,  and  amount  of  misery  caused  thereby,  31 
Domestic  happiness  and  misery  contrasted,          -            -             -  32 
Securing  this  pleasure  and  avoiding  this  unhappiness,  by  obey- 
ing the  Social  laws,             -            -            -            -            -  33 

The  thing  to  be  done  in  marrying  is  to  secure  Congeniality,  34 

Select  a  companion  whose  qualities  resemble  your  own,  .             -  35 

The  reversed  or  painful  action  of  the  faculties,          -            -  36 
Importance  of  similarity  and  eifects  of  dissimilarity,  illustrated 

and  contrasted,            -             -             -             -             -             -  37 

Directions  for  counteracting  defects  by  off-setting  them,         -  42 

Who  should  not  marry,               -            -             -            -            -  43 

How  to  secure  congeniality  by  means  of  Phrenology,           -  44 

Evils  of  modern  courtship,          -            -            -            -            -  45 

A  new  method  of  ascertaining  the  character  of  your  intended  for 

certain,       -  -  -  -  -  -  -46 

Governing  love,  by  rectifying  the  standard  of  Admiration,     -  47 

Directions  for  courting  and  marrying  Phrenologically,              -  48 

Necessity  of  amply  developed  Moral  Faculties,        .            -  49 


IV  CONTENTS. 

Evils  of  marrying  for  beauty,  music,  or  wealth,       -         -             -  51 

Rich  and  fashionable  young  women  make  poor  wives,          -  52 

Good  constitutions — against  small  waists  and  soft  hands,               -  53 

Natural  waists,  or  no  wives,          .-._._  54 
Matrimonial  anecdotes,     ----..--55 

Marrying  a  wit,  talker,  economist,  &c.  -----  58 

Being  a  good  wife,  implies  being  a  good  house-keeper,        -         -  57 

Samples  of  well  developed  female  heads,        -         -         -         -  58 

Importance  of  a  good  physical  organization  and  strong  constitution,  60 

Young  women  should  take  exercise  and  avoid  becoming  delicate,  61 

A  small  stature  objectionable  in  women,               -         .         -  62 

Marry  so  as  to  gratify  the  greatest  number  of  faculties,              -  63 

Hints  in  reference  to  conducting  courtship,     -         -        -        -  63 

Never  let  pride  interfere  with  love,    ------  64 

Age  most  suitable  for  marrying,     ------  65 

An  improper  objection  to  early  marriages,            -         -         -         -  66 

Single  blessedness,       ---.----67 

Marrying  for  a  home  merely,             ----._  69 

Marry  to  please  no  one  but  yourself,  not  even  your  parents,      -  70 

Parents  should  advise,  but  not  control  their  children's  choice,       -  71 

Evils  of  marrying  an  intemperate  companion,          -         -         -  72 

Be  certain  of  marriage  before  bestowing  the  affections,         -         -  74 

Causes  and  evil  consequences  of  searing  the  Domestic  Faculties,  75 

Evils  of  courting  periodically  and  for  sport,        -         -         -         -  76 

Interruptions  in  love,  and  coquetry,  main  causes  of  licentiousness,  77 
Inconsistencies  of  pious  people,  in  praying  for  reform,  yet  igno- 

rantly  augmenting  the  evil  they  wish  to  be  removed,        -  78 

Choosing  Intellectually  first  and  loving  afterward,       -        -         -  79 

An  important  hint  to  young  ladies,         -----  80 

The  premature  development  of  Amativeness  the  primary  cause 

of  licentiousness,            -            -             -         -         -         -  81 

Caused  by  the  conduct  and  conversation  of  adults  before  the  young,  81 

"       by  reading  novels,  love-tales,  &c.        -         -         -         -  82 

«'       a  stimulating  diet,         -        -        -        -        .  ^;>'  -        -  83 

"       want  of  exercise,       -------84 

"       modern  female  education,       ------  85 

Marry  your  first  love,          .-----.  88 

Mutual  love,  and  not  the  legal  ceremony,  constitutes  matrimony,  89 

True  love  perpetuates  itself,           ------  91 

To  interrupt  love  the  same  as  separating  husbands  and  wives,       -  92 

One  love — one  marriage,        -        -        -        -        -        -        -  93 

Directions  to  the  Married,         .......96 


PREFACE  TO  THE  FIRST  EDITION. 

Although  the  Author  is  fully  convinced,  that  the  premature  publica- 
tion of  this  work  will  not  do  honor  to  himself  or  justice  to  the  subject, 
yet  he  cannot  longer  resist  the  importunities  of  those  who  have  earnest- 
ly solicited  its  publication  in  a  cheap  and  abbreviated  form.  It  will 
soon  be  revised,  enlarged,  and  incorporated  into  the  American  Phreno- 
logical Journal.     (See  Prospectus  of  that  work.) 

It  expounds  scientifically  the  laws  of  man's  social  and  matrimonial 
constitution  ;  and  thereby  exposes  some  of  the  evils  caused  by  their 
violation  :  shovvs  what  organizations  and  phrenological  developments 
naturally  assimilate  and  harmonize  with  each  other;  that  is,  with  whom 
given  individuals  can,  and  with  whom  they  cannot,  so  unite  as  to  live 
affectionately  and  happily :  explains,  in  order  to  diminish  or  remove, 
occasions  of  discord  between  husbands  and  wives,  by  showing  them 
how  to  adapt  themselves  to  the  phrenological  developments  of  each 
other,  and  thus  how  to  strengthen  the  ties  of  connubial  love:  and  con- 
ducts ALL  who  follow  its  principles  to  a  happy  union  for  life  with  a 
congenial  s'^'mi.  Some  of  its  positions  are  new,  others  siarding,  and 
ALL  vitally  important  to  the  virtue  and  well-being  of  man.  Read  at- 
tentively, ponder  deeply,  and  act  accordingly. 


PREFACE  TO  THE  SECOND  EDITION. 

Though  the  first  edition  of  this  work  was  all  written  in  the  business 
intervals  of  one  week,  and  therefore,  necessarily  imperfect,  yet  an  edi- 
tion of  5000  copies  sold  in  three  months.  This,  together  with  the  al- 
most unqualified  commendation  every  where  bestowed  upon  it,  shows 
that  the  intrinsic  merit  of  its  matter — for  which  the  reader  is  indebted 
to  Phrenology — outweighed  the  minor  defects  of  its  composition.  Only 
one  point  has  been  criticised,  namely,  that  love  constitutes  matrimony^ 
which,  a  little  farther  explanation  and  qualification  would,  doubtless, 
have  rendered  unexceptionable.  But  the  argument  on  which  it  is 
based,  is  invulnerable,  namely,  that  matrimony  consists  in  mutual 
LOVE,  and  not  in  legal  enactments;  and  that  making  it  consist  in  its 
man-made  ceremony,  strips  it  of  all  those  high  and  holy  sanctions  with 
which  basing  it  in  mutual  love  invests  it ;  because  the  latter  makes  its 
origin  divine, — the  former,  human.  If  legal  enactments  make  and 
break  marriage,  it  is  easily  broken  and  modified — and  a  very  different 
thing  one  inch  east  of  the  line  separating  New  York  from  Vermont, 
but  quite  another  thing  an  inch  west  of  that  line. 

But  if  marriage  consist  in  mutual  love,  a  feeling  implanted  by  God, 
its  origin  is  divine,  and  its  obligations  infinitely  more  sacred  and  bind- 
ing than  they  can  be  made  by  all  the  legal  injunctions  and  penalties  that 
can  possibly  be  thrown  around  it,  Let  this  portion  be  read  and  pon- 
dered, and  also  the  one  entitled  "  Marry  your  first  Love,''^  which 
assigns  the  cause,  and  points  out  the  only  remedy,  of  licentiousness. 
As  long  as  the  main  cause  of  this  vice  exists,  and  is  aggravated  by 
purse-proud,  high-born,  aristocratic  parents  and  friends,  and  even  by 
the  virtuous  and  religious,  just  so  long,  and  exactly  in  the  same  ratio, 
will  this  blighting  Sirocco  blast  the  fairest  flowers  of  female  innocence 


Tl  PREFACE. 

and  loveliness,  and  blight  our  noblest  specimens  of  manliness.  No  sin 
of  our  land  is  greater .  Reform  in  no  other  department  of  vice  is  equally 
demanded,  and  the  Author  wishes  this  work  to  contribute  its  share  to- 
wards pointing  out  the  cause  and  remedy  of  this  evil,  and  thereby  pro- 
mote moral  purity.  Those  who  concur  in  this  opinion  will,  of  course, 
aid  in  extending  its  circulation, — to  facilitate  which  its  price  is  put  low, 
— but  those  whom  it  rebukes,  will  of  course  rdjuke  it ;  but  it  will  be 
like  iron  cutting  steel.  Its  main  positions  are  immutable,  because 
founded  in  the  nature  of  man.  Let  time  be  my  judge,  and  common 
sense  my  jury. 

Its  directions  to  the  married,  if  followed,  will  enable  even  those  hus- 
bands and  wives  who  disagree,  to  adapt  themselves  to  each  other  as  far 
as  to  prevent  discord,  if  not  to  secure  harmony  of  feeling  and  concert 
of  action. 


PREFACE  TO  THE  THIRD  EDITION. 

The  second  edition  of  10,000  copies  of  this  work  was  exhausted  in 
four  months,  and  the  third  edition,  containing  nearly  three  times  as 
much  matter  as  the  first,  and  greatly  improved  in  regard  to  style  and  ar- 
rangement, is  now  offered  to  the  public.  An  important  chapter  has  been 
added  on  Female  Education,  and  another  on  "Single-Blessedness;" 
and  that  on  "  Directions  to  the  married,"  has  been  enlarged  so  as  to 
present  the  duty  and  means  of  making  families  happy,  and  neighbor- 
hoods agreeable. 

Thus  improved,  it  is  sent  forth  to  be  an  agreeable  and  healthful  in- 
tellectual repast  to  the  reader, — a  beacon  light  to  guard  the  unmarried 
against  making  matrimonial  ship-wreck  upon  the  rocks  and  shoals 
of  discordant  and  unsuitable  marriages ;  and  a  pilot  to  guide  them  into 
the  haven  of  matrimonial  felicity,  as  well  as  an  olive-branch  of  peace  to 
discordant  husbands  and  wives. 

Instead  of  encountering  that  deadly  opposition  which  the  Author 
expected  it  would  excite,  not  only  has  its  reception  been  most  cordial, 
but  hundreds  have  expressed  the  most  heart-felt  gratitude  for  the  plea- 
sure and  profit  of  its  perusal.  To  have  thus  laid  my  fellow-men  under 
a  contribution  of  gratitude  by  benefiting  them,  is  the  highest  object  of 
the  labors  and  eflx)rts  of  my  life.  It  was  written  to  do  good,  and  its 
success  in  this  respect  gives  me  unspeakable  pleasure.  May  it  continue 
to  throw  a  fresh  stream  of  benign,  purifying,  and  reforming  influences 
over  the  marriage  relations  of  mankind,  till  all  are  brought  to  drink 
deep,  and  drink  through  a  long  and  happy  life  of  reciprocal  love,  at 
this  fountain  of  connubial  bliss. 

THE  AUTHOR. 

New  York,  131  Nassau-st. 
July,  1842. 


PHRENOLOGY 
APPLIED   TO   MATRIMONY. 


Man  is  eminently  a  social  being.  This  is  evinced  by  his  phren- 
ological developments,  and  by  his  disposition  to  congregate  and 
form  friendships.  His  social  affections  even  lie  at  the  very  basis 
of  his  virtue  and  happiness,  or  vice  and  misery.  Parental  and  con- 
nubial love  are  among  the  highest  species  of  enjoyment  belonging 
to  his  nature ;  while  blighted  affections  and  family  dissensions  bear 
the  most  bitter  fruits  he  can  taste — the  former,  placing  its  happy 
possessor  above  the  reach  of  trouble ;  and  the  latter,  being  the'  can- 
ker-worm of  his  every  pleasure.  No  element  of  his  character  is 
more  conducive  to  virtue  or  happiness,  and  the  destruction  of  none 
would  leave  him  more  utterly  desolate  and  wretched. 

The  domestic  relations,  how  beautiful,  how  perfect  throughout ! 
The  family  group,  gathered  around  their  own  fire-side,  how  com- 
fortable, how  happy  !  Husbands  and  wives  quaffing  the  imalloyed 
sweets  of  connubial  love — parents  protecting  their  children,  and 
children  nestling  under  the  kind  wings  of  parental  fondness — the 
former  providing  for  the  latter,  and  the  latter  serving  the  fonner, 
and  waiting  upon  one  another  —  the  elder  children  serving  the 
younger,  and  the  younger  clinging  affectionately  around  the  elder 
— the  whole  family  commingling  their  joys  and  sorrows ;  bound 
together  by  the  strongest  and  most  tender  ties  of  our  nature ;  be- 
stowing and  receiving  the  caresses  of  affection,  and  reciprocating  a 
continual  succession  of  kind  offices.  Oh !  if  there  be  a  green  spot 
on  our  barren  earth — a  pleasing  picture  upon  which  the  fatigued 
eye  rests  with  dehght — a  redeeming  trait  in  fallen  man — it  is  the 
haffy  family — it  is  domestic  bliss.     What  other  class  of  faculties 


8  ANALYSIS  AND   ADAPTATION   OF  AMATIVENESS. 

exerts  a  greater  influence  upon  his  present  or  future  happiness  or 
destinies  than  his  social  ?  From  what  other  fountain  of  his  nature 
gushes  forth  a  deeper,  broader,  or  more  perpetual  stream  of  happi- 
ness or  misery  1  And,  since  the  obedience  or  violation  of  those 
laws  which  govern  these  social  relations  cause  all  this  enjoyment 
or  suffering,  a  knovdedge  of  these  laws  is  all  important,  especially 
to  young  -people  ;  for,  by  obeying  them,  they  will  enjoy  all  the  bless- 
ings flowing  from  their  obedience,  and  avoid  the  penalties  attached 
to  their  infraction.  Phrenology  beautifully  and  clearly  unfolds  and 
expounds  these  laws,  and  conducts  the  inquirer  in  the  paths  of  their 
obedience  to  the  fruits  they  bear. 

But,  in  order  fully  to  appreciate  the  vast  power  of  the  social  fa- 
culties, or  understand  those  laws  which  govern  their  action,  by 
obeying  which  their  exercise  will  be  rendered  always  pleasurable, 
we  must  briefly  analyze  them.     They  are — 

AMATIVENESS: 

The  reciprocal  attachment  and  love  of  the  sexes  for  each  other. 

Some  means  for  multiplying  our  race,  is  necessary  to  prevent  its 
extinction  by  death.  Propagation  and  death  appertain  to  man's 
earthly  existence.  If  the  Deity  had  seen  fit  to  bring  ever}''  member 
of  the  human  family  into  being  by  a  direct  act  of  creative  power, 
without  the  agency  of  parents,  the  present  wise  and  benevolent 
•irrangements  of  husbands  and  wives,  parents  and  children,  friends 
and  neighbors,  would  have  been  superseded,  and  all  opportuni- 
ties for  exercising  parental  and  connubial  love,  in  which  so  much 
enjoyment  is  taken,  cut  off.  But,  the  domestic  feelings  and  rela- 
tions, as  now  arranged,  must  strike  every  philosophical  observer  as 
inimitably  beautiful  and  perfect — as  the  offspring  of  infinite  Wis- 
dom and  Goodness  combined.  Amativeness  and  its  combinations 
constitute  their  origin,  counterpart,  and  main  medium  of  manifesta- 
tion. Its  primary  function  is  connubial  love.  From  it,  mainly, 
spring  those  feelings  which  exist  between  the  sexes  as  such,  and 
result  m  marriage  and  offspring.  Combined  with  the  higher  senti- 
ments, it  givcS  r:se  to  all  those  reciprocal  kind  feelings  and  name- 
less courtesies  which  each  sex  manifests  towards  the  other ;  refi- 
ning and  elevating  both,  promoting  gentility  and  politeness,  and 
greatly  increasing  social  and  general  happiness.  So  far  from  being 
in  the  least  gross  or  indelicate,  its  proper  exercise  is  pure,  chaste. 


ANALYSIS  AND  ADAPTATION   OF   AMATIVENESS.  9 

Tirtuous,  and  even  an  ingredient  in  good  manners.  It  is  this  which 
renders  men  always  more  pohte  towards  women  than  to  one  ano- 
ther, and  more  refined  in  their  society,  and  which  makes  women 
more  kind,  grateful,  genteel,  and  tender  towards  men  than  women. 
It  makes  mothers  love  their  sons  more  than  their  daughters,  and 
fathers  more  attached  to  their  daughters.  Man's  endearing  recol- 
lections of  his  mother  or  wife,  form  his  most  powerful  incentives  to 
\drtue,  study,  and  good  deeds,  as  well  as  restraints  upon  his  vicious 
inclinations ;  and,  in  proportion  as  a  young  man  is  dutiful  and  af- 
fectionate to  his  mother,  will  he  be  fond  of  his  wife  ;  for,  this  fac- 
ulty is  the  parent  of  both. 

Those  in  whom  it  is  large  and  active,  are  alive  to  the  personal 
charms  and  mental  accomplishments  of  the  other  sex ;  ardent  ad- 
mirers of  their  beautiful  forms,  graceful  movements,  elegant  man- 
ners, soft  and  winning  tones,  looks,  accents,  &c. ;  seek  and  enjoy 
their  society  \  easily  reciprocate  fond  looks  and  feelings  with  them  \ 
create  favorable  impressions,  and  kindle  in  them  emotions  of  friend- 
ship or  the  passion  of  love ;  and,  vnth  Adhesiveness  (or  Friend- 
ship)* large,  are  inclined  to  marry,  and  capable  of  the  most  devoted 
connubial  love. 

Those  in  whom  it  is  deficient,  are  proportionally  cold-hearted, 
distant,  and  ill  at  ease  in  the  society  of  the  other  sex ;  and  less  ten- 
der and  affectionate,  less  soft  and  winning  in  their  mannere,  less 
susceptible  of  connubial  love,  less  inclined  to  marry,  &c. 

Its  combinations,  which  so  modify  its  action  as  actually  to  change 
its  character  from  the  best  of  feelings  to  the  worst  of  passions,  will 
be  given  after  the  other  social  faculties  have  been  analyzed.  They 
are  given  in  full  in  "  Fowler's  Phrenolog}^" 

Amativeness,  is  supposed  to  be  sub-divided ;  the  lower  and  inner 
portion  manifesting  the  mere  animal  passion,  or  physical  love ;  the 
upper  and  outer  portion,  next  to  the  ears,  giving  a  disposition  to 
caress,  accompanied  with  pure  Platonic  affection. 

*  Phrenology  has  suffered  somewhat  from  the  attempt  of  its  founders  to  put  it 
on  a  scientific  footing,  and  especially  in  giving  learned  names  to  the  organs,  in- 
stead of  plain,  English  names,  expressive  of  the  function  of  the  faculties.  In 
order  to  make  himself  more  fully  understood  by  all,  the  author  will  use  the  term 
Friendship,  instead  of  Adhesiveness;  Parental  Love,  instead  of  Philoprogeni- 
tiveness ;  Resistance,  instead  of  Combativeness ;  Appetite,  instead  of  Alimen- 
tiveness;  Belief,  instead  of  Marvellousness ;  Observation,  instead  of  Individual- 
ity ;  and  so  with  others  the  names  of  which  do  not  already  express  the  function 
performed  by  the  organ. 


10        ANALYSIS  AND  ADAPTATION  OF  PARENTAL  LOVE. 

PHILOPROGENITWENESS : 

Parental  love :  attachment  to  one's  own  children :  love  of  children  generally. 

If  man  had  been  brought  forth,  hke  the  fabled  Minerva  from  the 
brain  of  Jupiter,  in  the  full  possession  of  all  his  physical  and  mental 
■powers,  capable,  from  the  first,  of  taking  abundant  care  of  himself, 
■♦srithout  requiring  parents  to  supply  a  single  want,  this  faculty  would 
have  been  out  of  place ;  for  then'  it  would  have  nothing  to  do. 
But  the  FACT  is  far  otherwise.  Man  enters  the  world  in  a  condi- 
tion utterly  helpless.  Infants  require  a  great  amount  of  care  and 
nursing.  This  infantile  condition  of  man  has  its  counterpart  in  this 
faculty.  Without  its  stimulus  to  provide  for  and  watch  over  in- 
fancy, every  infant  must  inevitably  perish,  and  our  race  soon  be- 
come extinct.  No  other  faculty  can  fill  its  place,  or  accomplish  its 
end.  Infants  cannot  be  regarded  as  friends,  so  that  Adhesiveness 
cannot  help  them.  Though  Causality  might  devise  ways  and  means 
for  their  relief  and  comfort,  yet  it  would  not  execute  them;  and, 
though  Benevolence  might  do  something,  yet  it  would  be  far  too 
little  for  their  physical  salvation,  or  for  their  moral  and  intellectual 
cultivation ;  for,  how  many  are  there  who  are  kind  to  adults,  but 
unwilling  to  take  care  of  children,  and  even  unkind  to  them  ? 

These  vexatious  and  expensive  little  creatures,  are  far  more  likely 
to  array  Combativeness,  Destructiveness,  Acquisitiveness,  Self-Es- 
teem,  &c.,  against  them,  than  Benevolence,  or  any  other  faculty,  in 
their  behalf  If  parents  were  not  endowed  vvdth  a  faculty  expressly 
adapted  to  the  nursing  and  training  of  children,  their  burden  would 
be  intolerable  ;  yet  this  faculty  not  only  casts  into  the  shade  all  the 
toil,  trouble,  and  expense  they  cause,  but  even  lacerates  the  pa- 
rental heart  with  the  keenest  pangs  when  death  tears  parents  and 
children  asunder.  It  renders  children  the  lichest  treasure  that  pa- 
rents possess ;  their  greatest  delight ;  and  an  object  for  which  they 
willingly  labor,  sacrifice,  and  suffer  more  than  for  all  others. 
What  sweetens  parental  toil  by  day,  and  watchfulness  by  night  1 
Parental  Love.  What  parent  will  sell  his  child  for  gold  ?  But  why 
not?  Because  lacerated  Parental  Love  causes  far  greater  pain 
than  gratified  Acquisitiveness  gives  pleasure.  What  loss,  save  that 
Df  companions,  equals  that  of  children  ?  None :  not  all  others 
combined.  But  vihy  1  Let  the  amount  of  brain  allotted  to  this 
faculty,  especially  in  mothers,  answer. 


DUTY  OF  PARENTS  TO  EDUCATE  THEIR  OWN  CHILDREN.     11 

Its  primary,  distinctive  function  is,  Parental  Love — attachment 
to  one's  OWN  children :  and  the  more  helpless  the  child,  the  more 
vigorous  its  action.  It  also  extends  to  grand-children,  and  the 
children  of  others ;  yet  its  power  is  far  less  towards  them,  than  to- 
wards one's  own  children.  None  but  parents  can  ever  know  the 
genuine  feelings  of  a  parent's  heart.  There  is  something  peculiarly 
endearing  in  the  thought  that  our  offspring  are  bone  of  our  bone, 
and  flesh  of  our  flesh  ;*  and  this  feeling  is  still  heightened  by  their 
being  born  of  a  wife,  or  begotten  by  a  husband,  wdrom  we  dearly 
love.  Hence,  children  are  regarded  as  "  the  dear  pledges  of  connu- 
bial love ;"  because  Parental  Love  is  located  by  the  side  of  Connu- 
bial Love ;  so  that  the  exercise  of  either,  naturally  excites  that  of 
the  other. 

This  train  of  remark  renders  it  self-evident,  that  husbands  and 
mves,  having  children,  should  never  be  divorced  ;  for,  then,  this 
parental  feeling  must  be  lacerated,  at  least  in  one  parent.  For 
parents  to  dislike  each  other,  and  yet  love  their  mutual  children, 
must  make  both  unhappy.  On  no  account,  therefore,  should  hus- 
bands and  wives,  who  do  not  love  each  other,  become  parents ;  yet 
chose  who  do  love  each  other,  will  find  their  enjoyments  greatly 
augmented  thereby. 

The  duties  and  relations  of  mothers  to  their  children,  require  a 
much  stronger  development  of  this  faculty  in  woman  than  in  man. 

*  This  analysis  renders  the  inference  clear  and  forcible,  that  parents  should 
NURSE  and  educate  their  own  children.  What  end  in  life  is  more  important? 
Is  it  not  infinitely  more  so  than  making  of  money,  or  acquiring  fame,  or  oflSce  1 
If  parents  cannot  do  all  they  desire,  and  yet  find  time  to  care  for  and  educate 
their  children,  let  them  hire  the  other  things  done,  while  they  themselves,  not 
over-see,  but  actually  train  and  educate  their  own  children.  If  they  do  not 
know  enough,  or  if  they  cannot  afford  the  time,  they  are  bound,  by  the  most  sa- 
cred obligations  of  our  nature,  not  to  become  parents.  Getting  children  nursed 
out ;  sending  them  to  school  just  to  be  rid  of  them;  employing  "  wet  nurses," 
and  pretending  to  be  too  great  a  lady  to  nurse  or  tend  one's  own  children,  is  a 
breach  of  nature's  laws,  and  will  inevitably  incur  the  consequent  penalties. 
Strange  !  that  mothers  will  ruin  their  children,  and  violate  their  natures,  just  to 
be  fashionable.  Let  those  who  cannot  hire  their  children  taken  care  of  and 
educated,  count  this  their  gain  ;  and  let  those  who  employ  low,  ignorant,  or  vi- 
cious nurses — a  practice  as  common  as  it  is  reprehensible — bear  in  mind  the 
principle  brought  to  view  in  the  text,  and  also  remember  that -these  grovelling 
and  often  immoral  associations  are  sure  to  pollute  their  children ;  besides,  their 
intellects  being  often  too  feeble  to  excite  or  discipline  the  intellectual  faculties  of 
the  young.  But  more  of  this  in  my  work  on  "  Phrenology  applied  to  Education 
and  Self-Improvement,"  in  which  mothers  are  presented  with  a  recipe  for  find- 
ing time  to  educate  their  own  children. 


12  THE   DUTY   OF   MOTHERS   TO   THEIR   OWN   CHILDREN. 

Accordingly,  it  is  much  larger  in  females  than  in  males.  This  in- 
creased size  of  the  organ,  and  power  of  the  feeling  in  woman,  and 
their  adaptation  to  the  far  greater  demand  made  upon  her  by  hex 
offspring,  not  only  evince  the  truth  of  Phrenology,  by  showing  it 
to  harmonize  with  nature,  but  show  that  upon  her  devolve  more  of 
the  nursing,  training,  and  early  education  of  children,  than  upon 
man.  They  peculiarly  adapt  woman  to  develope  the  minds,  and 
train  the  feelings  of  children ',  and  hence  teachers  of  small  scholars 
should  always  he  females.  Woman's  delicacy  of  feeling  and  quick- 
ness of  perception ;  her  tenderness  and  willingness  to  do  and  to  suf- 
fer ;  her  intuitive  knowledge  of  theu-  little  wants ;  her  gentleness 
and  playfulness,  peculiarly  adapt  her  to  expand  and  mature  the 
tender  germ  of  infant  intellect ;  to  train  the  feelings,  and  to  instil 
into  their  susceptible  hearts  the  first  principles  of  moral  rectitude  and 
sense  of  character ;  to  purify  and  elevate  their  feelings,  and  implant 
a  disgust  for  vice  and  immorality ;  to  cultivate  benevolence  and 
piety,  and  all  the  moral  virtues ;  to  develope  the  affections,  and  to 
start  the  immortal  traveller  in  the  paths  of  virtue  and  intelhgence 
the  goal  of  their  terrestrial  and  celestial  enjoyments. 

The  great  development  of  this  organ  in  woman,  is  a  beautiful 
instance  of  Divine  Wisdom  and  Benevolence,  in  thus  rendering  her 
principal  duty,  her  greatest  pleasure.  But  this  delightful  task,  con- 
ceded by  all  to  woman  during  infancy,  is  too  soon  wrested  from 
her  hands.  Mothers  should  be  their  children's  chief  instructors. 
Happy  would  it  be  for  families,  happy  for  society,  if  woman  were  to 
devote  herself  more  exclusively  to  these  duties.  To  you,  young 
ladies — ^ye  future  mothers  of  our  race !  do  we  look  for  the  faithful 
performance  of  this  momentous  duty.  In  more  respects  than  one,  you 
are  to  form  the  intellectual  and  moral  character  of  our  race,  and 
should  prepare  yourselves  accordingly.  Is  it  right,  then — does  it 
comport  with  this  great  end  of  your  being — that  your  time  should 
be  spent  in  following  the  fashions,  in  acquiring  "  the  graces"  (as  this 
fashionable  foolery  is  called,)  or  in  fashionable  boarding-schools, 
■where  not  a  thing  is  thought  of  appertaining  to  a  preparation  for 
becoming  wives  and  mothers  ?  Before  you  "  set  your  caps"  for  a 
husband ;  before  you  think  of  bestowing  or  receiving  a  single  atten- 
tion from  a  gentleman,  see  to  it,  I  beseech  of  you,  for  his  sake,  for 
your  own  sake,  for  the  sake  of  your  offspring,  that  you  fit  your- 
selves to  develope  all  the  physical,  the  moral,  and  the  intellectual 
capacities  of  children. 


ANALYSIS  AND   ADAPTATION   OF  ADHESIVENESS.  13 

This  powerful  development  m  woman  renders  it  evident,  that  the 
'primary  object  of  female  education  should  be  to^^  young  ladies  for 
the  station  of  wives  and  mothers,  and  to  act  well  their  parts  in  that 
capacity.  But  more  will  be  seen,  in  reference  to  female  education, 
in  another  portion  of  the  work. 

ADHESIVENESS : 

Friendship  :   the  Social  feeling :  love  of  Society :  desire  and  ability  to  form  at- 
tachments, congregate,  associate,  visit  and  entertain  friends,  &c. 

If  man  had  been  created  a  lonely,  imsocial,  solitary  being,  nearly 
half  his  faculties,  having  nothing  to  excite  them  to  action,  would 
have  lain  dormant,  and  the  balance  have  been  but  feebly  exercised 
The  activity  of  every  faculty  in  one,  naturally  excites  the  same  fa 
culty  in  those  around  him.  Hence,  without  the  element  of  Friend 
ship,  to  bring  mankind  together  into  associations,  neighborhoods, 
families,  &c.,  they  could  have  had  no  opportunity  for  the  exercise 
of  Language,  Ambition,  Imitation,  and  many  other  faculties,  and 
little  for  that  of  Kindness,  Justice,  &c. ;  and  all  the  remainder 
would  have  been  far  less  efficient  and  pleasurable  than  now. 
Without  this  arrangement,  co-partnerships,  and  those  public  and 
private  works  which  require  the  combined  labor  and  resources  of 
more  than  one  individual  for  their  completion,  would  have  remained 
unknown,  and  the  selfish  propensities  have  rendered  all  men  Ish- 
maehtes ;  turning  every  man's  hand  against  his  neighbor,  render- 
mg  each  most  hateful  to  all ;  kindUng  rising  jealousies,  animosities, 
&c.,  into  burning  flames,  and  for  ever  blotting  out  the  pleasant 
smile  of  glowing  friendship — the  cordial  greeting  of  old  associates 
— the  hearty  shake  of  the  hand,  and  that  silent  flow  of  perpetual 
happiness  which  springs  from  being  in  the  company  of  those  we  like. 

This  faculty  casts  into  the  shade  the  modern  ceremony  of  formal 
introductions,  and  waiting  for  the  last  call  to  be  returned,  or  letter 
answered.  It  should  be  in  constant  action,  and  therefore,  lonely 
travellers  should  wile  away  their  tedious  hours  by  opening  at  once 
the  portals  of  their  hearts,  engaging  freely  in  conversation,  and-, 
«  scraping  acquaintance"  at  first  sight.  Still,  intimate  friendships 
should  be  formed  judiciously  ;  for,  it  is  a  most  powerful  means  of 
mtellectual  and  moral  elevation  or  degradation.  Young  people  in 
particular,  (though  they  should  form  speaking  acquaintances  and 
passing  friendship  readily,  to  which  they  are  strongly  predisposed,) 


14  THE   IMPORTANCE   OF   FAMILY   ATTACHBIENTS. 

should,  nevertheless,  be  careful  how  they  make  confidants  and  bo- 
som friends. 

The  young  form  attachments  much  more  readily  than  those  who 
are  older,  partly  because  the  latter  become  hardened  by  frequent 
disappointments  in  finding  supposed  friends  unfaithful,  and  partly 
because  they  have  been  longer  separated  from  the  friends  of  their 
youth.     This  blunting  of  the  fine,  glowing  feelings  of  friendship,  is 
certainly  most  unfortunate.     Friendship  should  be  regarded  as  most 
sacred,  and  never  to  be  trifled  mth.     Do  almost  any  thing  else 
sooner  than  violate  this  feeling ;  and  let  friends  bear  and  forbear 
much,  at  least,  until  they  are  certain  that  a  supposed  injury  or  un- 
just remark  was  premeditated  ;  and  then,  when  friendship  is  thus 
violated,  \^' '  ink  no  more  of  your  former  friend,  not  even  enough  to 
hate  him      Dwell  not  upon  the  injuries  done  to  you,  but  banish 
them  as  jov  do  him  from  your  mind,  and  let  him  be  to  you   as 
though  you  had  never  known  him;    for,  dwelling  upon  broken 
faith  only  still  farther  lacerates  and  blunts  or  sears  the  feehng 
of  genuine  friendship.     Never  jTorm  friendships  where  there  is  any 
danger  of  their  being  broken,  and  never  break  them  unless  the  occa- 
sion is  most  aggravating  and  intentionally  given ;   but  rather  let 
friends  try  to  make  up  little  differences  as  soon  as  possible.* 

These  remarks  apply  with  redoubled  power  to  members  of  the 
same  family.  Let  parents  cultivate  affection  for  one  another  in 
their  children,  and  let  brothers  and  sisters  separate  as  little  as  pos- 
sible, correspond  much,  and  never  allow  a  breach  to  be  made  in 
their  attachments.  Add  continually  new  fuel  to  the  old  fire  of  fam- 
ily friendship.  Let  the  right  of  hospitality  be  extended  more  often 
than  it  now  is,  and  let  friends  entertain  friends  around  the  family 
board  as  often  as  possible,  instead  of  allowing  them  to  eat  their  un- 
social fare  at  the  public  hotel.  We  have  too  little  of  the  good  old 
Yankee  custom  of  "  cousining"  and  of  English  hospitahty,  and 
spend  far  too  little  time  in  making  and  receiving  social  visits.  Still, 
those  formal,  polite  calls  are  perfect  nuisances — are  to  friendship 
what  the  smut  is  to  the  grain — ^poisonous.  True  friendship  knows 
no  formality. 

*  I  have  seen  a  young  man  rendered  crazy,  and  thrown  into  a  perfect  phrenzy 
of  excitement,  by  being  imposed  upon  by  a  supposed  friend,  one  too  of  his  own 
sex.  He  appeared  very  much  like  those  who  haVe  been  recently  disappointed 
in  lore. 


EXISTENCE  AND  ANALYSIS   OF   UNION  FOR  LIFE.  16 


UNION  FOR  LIFE. 

There  is  little  doutt  of  the  existence  of  another  faculty,  located 
between  Adhesiveness  and  Amativeness,  which  disposes  husbands 
and  wives  in  whom  it  is  large  and  active,  to  be  always  together. 
They  cannot  endure  the  absence  of  tljeir  companion,  even  for  an 
hour,  and  feel  as  though  the  time  spent  away  from  them,  was  so 
much  of  their  existence  lost.  It  is  developed  before  Amativeness 
appears,  and  hence  this  Union  is  often  formed  in  childhood.  It  pu- 
rifies and  refines  the  sentiment  of  love ;  desires  to  caress  and  be  ca- 
ressed ;  and  is  the  soul  and  centre  of  connubial  love ;  creating  that 
union,  that  oneness  of  feeling,  that  harmony  of  spirit,  and  that^ow?- 
ing  together  of  soul,  which  characterize  true  conjugal  aifection. 
It  is  very  reluctant  to  fasten  upon  more  than  one,  and  that  is  the 
FiKST  love. 

I  have  seen  several  striking  proofs  and  illustrations  of  the  exist- 
ence of  this  faculty,  and  the  location  of  its  organ.  I  know  a  lady 
in  whom  both  are  marked,  who,  whenever  her  husband  is  about  to 
leave  her  for  a  few  days,  feels  an  acute  'pain  in  that  organ.  When 
she  pointed  out  the  location  of  this  pain,  and  stated  that  it  always 
accompanied  the  absence  of  her  husband,  I  saw  that  it  belonged  to 
neither  Adhesiveness  nor  Amativeness,  but  was  located  betiveen  the 
two.  As  the  intensity  of  the  pain  rendered  this  matter  certain,  I 
surmised  the  existence  of  another  organ,  and,  two  years  afterwards, 
found  it  confirmed  by  observations- made  in  France. 

It  is  much  larger  and  more  active  in  woman  than  in  man,  and 
which  causes  and  accounts  for  the  far  greater  power  and  intensity 
of  woman's  love  than  that  of  man. 

INHABITIVENESS: 

Or  love  of  home,  and  the  domicil  of  both  childhood  and  after  life  :  attachment 
to  the  PLACE  where  one  lives,  or  has  lived  :  unwillingness  to  change  it :  de- 
sire to  locate,  and  remain  permanently,  in  one  habitation,  and  to  own  and 
IMPROVE  a  homested :  Patriotism. 

"  Home,  home.'  sweet,  sjceet  home.'   Therms  noplace  like  home." 

The  advantages  of  having  a  permanent  home,  and  the  evils  and 
losses  consequent  upon  changing  it,*  are  each  very  great.    "  Three 

»  It  is  estimated,  that  the  expenses  of  moving  on  the  first  of  May,  in  the  city 
of  New  York  alone,  exceeds  ^25,000. 


16  ANALYSIS   AND   ADAPTATION  OF   INHABITIVENESS. 

moves,"  it  is  said,  "  are  as  bad  as  a  fire."     Those  who  have  homes 
of  their  own,  be  they  ever  so  homely,  are  comparatively  rich.    They 
feel  that  no  crusty  landlord  can  turn  them  homeless  into  the  streets, 
or  sell  their  furniture  at  auction  for  rent.     Rent-days  come  and  go 
unheeded,  and  the  domestic  affections  have  full  scope  for  delightful 
exercise.     Every  married  man  is  bound  by  this  inhabitive  law  of 
his  nature,  as  well  as  in  duty  to  liis  family,  to  own  a  house  and  gar- 
den spot ;  and  every  wife  is  bound  by  the  same  law  and  duty,  to 
render  that  home  as  agreeble  as  possible.     The  prevalent  practice 
of  renting  houses,  violates  this  law  and  arrangement  of  man's  do- 
mestic nature,  and  must  necessarily  produce  evil  to  both  owner  and 
tenant.     This  is  established  by  facts  as  well  as  theory ;  for,  what 
observer  is  not  at  once  struck  with  the  general  fact,  that  landlords 
improve  their  houses  only  to  raise  .their  rents,  and  charge  enor- 
mously for  every  additional  convenience ;    and  tenants  will  not 
make  improvements,  because  they  intend  soon  to  "  move  ;"  besides, 
often  Wfintonly  damaging  their  dwellings.    All  permanent  improve- 
ments, such  as  fertilizing  or  beautifying  a  garden,  rearing  fruit  of 
various  kinds,  setting  out  trees,  shrubbery,  &c.,  raising  stock,  and 
getting  conveniences  and  comforts  for  a  family  around  you,  require 
a  succession  of  years ;   and,  therefore,  tenants  are  compelled  to  do 
without  them.     If  they  wish  fruits  or  vegetables,  instead  of  pluck- 
ing the  fully  ripe  cherry,  the  delicious  peach  or  pear,  and  the  ever 
varying  fruits  of  the  seasons,  and  setting  down  quietly  to  enjoy 
them  "  under  their  own  vine  and  fig  tree,"  by  which  their  relish 
would  be  doubled,  they  are  obhged  to  take  their  hard-earned  money, 
pav  a  four-fold  price  in  market,  and,  after  all,  take  up  with  articles 
that  are  green,  wilted,  or  stale ;    it  being  the  universal  custom  to 
pluck  fruit  for  market  before  it  is  ripe,  so  that  it  may  keep  the 
longer,  and  not  spoil  by  being  transported.     Who  has  not  tasted 
the  difference  in  eatables  fresh  from  the  garden,  compared  with 
those  purchased  in  the  market  1     Again :  market  men,  being  gene- 
rally too  poor  to  own  land,  are  obliged  to  demand  high  prices  in 
order  to  cover  exorbitant  rents,   which  furnishes  an  excuse    for 
those  who  raise  things  for  market  on  their  own  land,  to  do  the  same. 
I'his,  together  with  the  markets  being  forestalled  by  hucksters  and 
speculators,  increases  the  price  of  provisions  so  enormously,  that  one 
dollar  earned  by  those  who  ovm  a  house  and  bit  of  land,  brings  more 
than  five,  if  not  than  ten,  earned  by  city  tenants.     What  consum- 
mate folly,  then,  to  emigrate  from  the  country  to  cities,  because 


EVILS   OF  RENTING  AND   BOARDING.  T7 

a  dollar  a  week  more  wages  may  be  given,  when  the  increased  ex- 
penses of  rent,  fuel,  food,  &c.  are  perhaps  five  times  more  than  the 
additional  earnings.  This  reveals  one  cause  of  the  greater  degree 
of  poverty,  privation,  and  suffering  in  the  city  than  in  the  country. 

Again,  city  tenants  usually  buy  a  small  quantity  at  a  time,  such 
as  a  pound  of  meat,  half  a  pound  of  sugar,  a  pint  of  milk  or  mo- 
lasses, a  cent  bunch  of  onions  or  radishes,  an  ounce  of  tea,  a  pound 
of  flour,  &c.,  and  hence  are  obliged  to  pay  double  price,  or  at  least 
all  the  difference  between  the  wholesale  and  the  retail  prices,  be- 
sides the  increased  price  of  articles  in  the  city  above  those  of  the 
country ;  while  those  who  own  land,  usually  raise,  or  else  lay  in, 
their  year's  supply  of  provisions  at  the  time  of  their  production, 
and  at  a  comparatively  trifling  cost.  To  this  renting  system  mainly 
do  we  owe  the  exorbitant,  but  merely  nominal,  prices  of  "  city 
property,"  the  rents  and  the  rise  of  the  property  combining  to  in- 
crease them ;  whereas,  were  there  but  few  tenants,  the  city  prices 
would  sink  far  below  those  demanded  for  country  property,  from 
which  a  living  could  be  obtained.  It  is  one  of  the  most  efficient 
causes  of  "  hard  times"  and  distressing  poverty.  For  a  small  room, 
too  contracted  to  yield  scarcely  a  comfort,  and  often  in  the  base- 
ment or  attic,  many  tenants  are  compelled  to  pay  their  hard-earned 
dollar  every  Saturday  night,  or  be  turned  into  the  streets.  It  has 
infused  its  baneful  influences  into  nearly  all  the  arrangements  and 
relations  of  life.  Indeed,  so  great  and  multifarious  have  its  evils 
become,  that  they  will  compel  men  ere  long  to  abandon  it,  and  buy 
a  poorer  house  in  preference  to  renting  an  expensive  one.  Rents 
will  then  fall,  and  landlords  be  losers.  To  own  the  house  you  live 
in,  is  enough ;  owning  more,  will  injure  all  concerned. 

This  faculty  and  its  combinations,  plainly  indicate  that  the  prev- 
alent practice  of  boarding,  is  not  the  most  profitable  or  agreeable. 
Those  generally  take  boarders  who  are  too  poor  to  take  care  of 
tliem,  so  that  the  fare  in  a  boarding-house  is  far  inferior  to  that  in 
the  family.  And  then,  too,  the  social  feelings  cannot  find  gratifi- 
cation or  reciprocation.  Boarders  frequently  waste  more  than  is 
necessary,  so  that  boarding  creates  a  selfish  feeling,  where  all 
should  be  harmony  and  friendship.  And,  then,  to  be  sick  in  a 
boarding-house  or  tavern !  Let  those  who  know  its  horrors,  bear 
witness.  To  be  sick  at  home,  with  all  the  attentions  that  affection 
can  bestow,  is  bad  enough ;  but  to  be  sick  among  strangers,  and 
have  only  such  attention  as  money  can  procure,  is  the  climax  of 
2* 


18  ADVANTAGES   OF   OWNING   A   HOME. 

"wretcnedness.  Let  young  men  whose  circumstances  compel  them 
to  board,  choose  some  good  family,  and  identify  themselves  with  it, 
and  cultivate  the  social  affections,  and  then  change  the  boarding- 
house  for  a  home  as  soon  as  possible.  Nor  should  young  men  leave 
their  father's  house  as  soon  as  they  generally  do,  but,  in  most  cases, 
they  should  stay  at  home  till  they  get  homes  of  their  own. 

I  have  always  observed,  that  children  who  have  lived  in  one 
dwelHng,  and  especially  on  a  farm,  till  they  were  fifteen,  have  this 
organ  large ;  whereas  it  is  small  in  those  who  have  hved  in  differ- 
ent places  during  childhood.  This  shows  the  importance  of  culti- 
vating it  in  children,  and  says  to  parents,  in  the  language  of  nature, 
— "  Make  as  few  moves  as  possible,  and  generally  keep  your  chil- 
dren at  home.'' 

It  is  also  large  in  most  farmers,  and,  with  Approbativeness  large, 
gives  a  kind  of  pride  in  having  a  nice  farm,  house,  furniture,  garden, 
&c.,  together  with  a  disposition  to  improve  one's  residence.  The 
lower  portion  of  Parental  Love,  is  supposed  to  create  a  fondness  for 
pets,  stock,  and  young  and  tender  of  animals,  with  a  disposition  to 
improve  their  breed  j  and  the  union  of  the  two,  increases  the  charms 
of  husbandry  and  farming.  No  life  is  equally  independent,  or  free 
from  care,  or  healthy,  or  more  favorable  either  to  virtue  or  to  intel- 
lectual pursuits.  If  our  farmers,  instead  of  laboring  mth  all  their 
might  to  become  rich,  "would  labor  just  enough  to  earn  a  livelihood, 
and  devote  the  balance  of  their  time  to  reading  and  study,  no  class 
of  people  on  earth  would  be  equally  happy,  or  moral,  or  talented ; 
and  to  leave  the  farm  for  the  city  or  counting-room,  evinces  a 
species  of  folly  bordering  on  derangement,  or  else  sheer  ignorance 
of  the  road  to  happiness.  The  best  heads  I  have  examined,  are  or 
have  been  farmers ;  and  a  majority  of  our  great  and  good  men,  will 
be  foimd  to  have  once  followed  the  plough,  and  reaped  the 
harvest. 

This  organ,  also,  is  supposed  to  be  double ;  the  inner  portion 
creating  attachment  to  the  home  of  childhood,  to  the  family  domi- 
cil,  to  the  stones,  trees,  and  place  of  youth,  and  delighting  to  re- 
visit them ;  the  outer,  creating  patriotism,  and  love  of  the  more 
recent  homested,  with  unwillingness  to  "  move'' 


THK   COMBINATIONS   OF  THE   SOCIAL   FACULTIES  19 


THE  COMBINATIONS  OF  THE  SOCIAL  FACULTIES. 

Though  the  individual  action  of  these  social  faculties,  is  power- 
ful, and  productive  of  intense  enjoyment  or  suffering,  still  their 
combinations  are  much  more  so ;  and  also  account  for  the  infinite 
diversity  of  tastes  in  the  selection  of  friends  and  companions,  and  in 
the  management  of  children.  I  will  give  enough  of  them  here  to 
present  to  view  the  general  doctrine  and  law  of  the  combinations, 
and  for  additional  ones,  refer  readers  to  my  work  on  Phrenology. 

Thus,  those  who  have  large  Amativeness,  combined  with  large 
Adhesiveness,  not  only  love  the  other  sex  as  such,  but  contract  a 
strong  friendship  for  them,  and  make  them  their  warmest  and  most 
confidential  friends  ;  and,  with  the  addition  of  large  "  Union  for 
Life,"  experience  that  love  for  some  congenial  spirit,  some  kindred 
soul,  which  makes  "  of  twain  one  flesh,"  and  perfectly  "  unites  two 
^\nLlling  hearts,"  and  are  tender  and  affectionate  as  companions; 
will  mingle  pure  friendship  with  devoted  love ;  "  cannot  flourish 
alone,"  but  will  be  inclined  to  love  and  marry  young;  will  invest 
the  beloved  one  with  almost  angelic  purity  and  perfection ;  mag- 
nify their  mental  and  moral  charms,  and  overlook  their  defects ; 
feel  happy  in  their  company,  but  miserable  vdthout  it ;  freely  un- 
bosom every  feeling ;  communicate  and  share  every  pain  and  pleas- 
ure ;  and  have  the  whole  current  of  the  other  faculties  enlisted  in 
their  behalf,  with  large  Ideality:  and  the  mental  Temperament 
added,  vdll  experience  a  purity,  a  devotion,  a  fervor,  an  elevation, 
an  intensity,  and  even  ecstacy  of  love  well  nigh  romantic,  especially 
the  first  love ;  fasten  upon  mental  and  moral,  instead  of  'personal 
charms,  or,  rather,  blend  the  two ;  can  fall  in  love  only  with  one 
who  combines  good  looks  with  refinement,  good  manners,  and  much 
delicacy  of  feeling ;  will  be  soon  disgusted  with  what  is  improper, 
not  in  good  taste,  coarse,  or  vulgar  in  the  person,  dress,  manners, 
conversation,  &c.  of  the  other  sex,  but  exceedingly  pleased  with  the 
opposite  qualities ;  will  express  love  in  a  refined,  delicate,  and  ac- 
ceptable manner ;  be  fond  of  poetry,  love-tales,  romances,  and  the 
sentimental ;  but  with  Ideality  moderate  or  small,  will  be  the  re- 
verse :  with  Parental  Love  also  large,  will  be  eminently  qualified  to 
enjoy  the  domestic  relations  of  companions  and  parents;  be  as 
happy  in  the  family  relations  as  they  can  be  in  any  other,  and  stay 
from  home  only  when  compelled  to  :    with   Inhabitiveness   also 


20  THE   COMBINATIONS   OF   THE    S0CL1L   FACULTIES. 

large,  will  travel  half  the  night  to  be  at  home  the  other  half;  sleep 
poorly  from  home ;  and  remove  only  vs^hen  they  cannot  well  avoid  it : 
with  large  Firmness  and  Conscientiousness  added  to  this  combina- 
tion, will  be  constant,  and  keep  the  marriage  relations  inviolate, 
regarding  them  as  the  most  sacred  feelings  of  our  nature :    with 
large  Combativeness  added,  will  defend  the  object  loved  with  much 
spirit,  and  indignantly  resent  scandals  or  indignities  offered  them : 
with  large  Approbativeness  added,  will  hear  them  praised  with  de- 
light, and  greatly  enjoy  their  approval ;  but  be  cut  to  the  heart  by 
their  reproaches ;  and  if  moderate  or  small  Self-Esteem,  and  large 
Ideality,  and  only  average  or  full  Conscientiousaess  and  Causality, 
be  added,  will  be  too  ready  to  follow  the  fashions  demanded  by  the 
other  sex,  and  too  sensitive  to  their  censure :    (a  combination  too 
common  in  woman :)    with  large  Secretiveness  and  Cautiousness, 
will  feel  much  more  affection  than  is  expressed,  appearing  indiffer- 
ent, especially  at  first,  or  till  the  other  party  is  committed ;  and 
perhaps  not  bring  matters  to  a  direct  issue  till  too  late ;  but  with 
Secretiveness  only  moderate  or  small,  will  throw  wide  open  the 
portals  of  the  heart ;  freely  showing  in  every  look,  word,  and  ac- 
tion, all  the  love  felt :  with  Firmness,  Self-Esteem,  and  Friendship, 
all  large,  will  not  be  subdued  by  love,  however  powerful,  nor  be 
humble  or  servile  in  this  matter ;  and  bear  its  interruption  with  for- 
titude ;  but  will  be  the  reverse  when  Self-Esteem,  Firmness,  and 
Combativeness,  are  only  moderate,  or  average  :  \vith  Causality  and 
the  head  only  moderate  or  average  in  size,  the  vital  or  mental 
temperament  predominant,  and  Adhesiveness,  Approbativeness,  and 
Ideality  large  or  very  large,  will  prefer  the  company  of  the  fash- 
ionable, dressy,  gay,  superficial,  witty,  showy,  &c.  of  the  other  sex, 
and  love  to  talk  small  talk  with  them,  and  love  and  marry  those 
of  this  class :  with  the  moral  faculties  predominant,  will  choose  the 
virtuous,  moral,  devout,  and  religious  for  friends  and  companions : 
with  the  intellectual  organs  large  or  very  large,  can  admire  and 
love  only  those  who  are  intellectual,  sensible,  and  literary,  and  will 
almost  adore  them ;  but  be  disgusted  with  the  opposite  class :  with 
the  ^ital  or  vital-motive  temperament  predominant.  Ideality  large  or 
very  large,  and  Causahty  and  Conscientiousness  only  average  or 
moderate,  will  be  less  particular  as  to  their  moral  than  their  per- 
sonal charms ;  will  love  the  pretty  face  and  figure  last  seen  ;  and 
have  an  attachment  by  no  means  exclusive ;    courting  many,  rather 
than  being  satisfied  with  individual  attachment,  and  inclined  to  the 


LOCATION   AND  APPEARANCE   OF   THE   SOCIAL   ORGANS. 


21 


merely  animal  gratification  of  Amativeness ;  and  with  large  Lan- 
guao"e  and  Mirthfulness  added,  will  delight  to  joke  with  and  about 
the  other  sex ;  often  be  indelicate,  fond  of  hearing  if  not  of  relating 
improper  anecdotes  about  them,  and  of  seeing  vulgar  prints,  &c. ; 
and,  with  large  Tune  also  added,  be  prone  to  sing  objectionable 
songs,  if  not  to  revelry  and  profligacy ;  and  extremely  hable  to 
pervert  Amativeness :  and,  with  large  Acquisitiveness  added,  vsdll 
marry  for  money  quite  as  soon  as  for  true  love,  especially  after  the 
first  attachment  has  been  interrupted,  &:c. 

But  those  in  whom  Amativeness  is  only  moderate  or  small,  the 
mental  temperament  predominant,  and  the  moral  faculties  more  ac- 
tive than  the  propensities,  will  not  love  or  marry  young,  and  have 
more  friendship  and  pure,  Platonic  affection  than  animal  feel- 
ing, &c. 

These  combinations  are  given  mainly  as  a  sample  of  the  others, 
and  also  to  illustrate  the  law  of  love,  and  account  for  different  mat- 
rimonial tastes.  Additional  ones  will  be  found  in  the  author's  work 
on  Phrenology. 


LOCATION  OF  THE  SOCIAL  ORGANS. 

These  social  organs  are  located  together,  in  a  kind  of  family 
group,  in  the  back  and  lower  portion  of  the  head,  behind  the  ears, 
as  seen  in  cut  No.  2.     They  predominate  in  the  cut  of  the  «  affeo- 


No.2. 


2%e  Affectwnate  Female. 

No.  3 


22  FILIAL  love:  its  cultivation. 

tionate  female,"  No.  3.  This  is  the  usual  form  of  the  female 
head,  and  the  social  faculties  constitute  the  predominant  quality  of 
the  female  character ;  though  Amativeness  is  usually  smaller  in 
women  than  in  men.  These  organs,  when  very  large  and  active, 
elongate  the  head  backwards,  behind  the  ears,  as  in  cut  No.  3,  and 
their  activity  causes  the  head  to  rechne  directly  back  tov/ards  the 
spine.  Those  who  have  a  slim  neck,  and  a  head  projecting  behind 
the  ears,  but  narrow  at  its  junction  with  the  back  of  the  neck,  as  in 
cut  No.  3,  are  susceptible  of  much  purity  and  tenderness  of  love, 
which  will  be  founded  in  friendship  and  union  of  soul  more  than  in 
animal  passion :  but  those  whose  heads  are  broad  between  the  ears 
and  at  their  union  with  the  back  of  the  neck,  and  the  back  parts  of 
whose  heads  do  not  project  much  behind  the  neck,  or  are  nearly  on 
a  line  with  it,  as  in  cut  No.  4,  will  have  more  animal  passion  than 
pure  affection.  Though  a  full  development  of  Amativeness  is  im- 
portant in  a  companion,  yet  large  Friendship  and  high  moral  facul- 
ties are  quite  as  much  so. 

In  this  family  group,  there  may  be  two  or  more  additional  organs, 
one  of  which  is  doubtless  located  between  Friendship  and  the  upper 
part  of  Parental  Love,  and  creates  attachment  to  keepsakes,  or  gifts 
presented  by  friends,  to  old  household  furniture  which  has  de- 
scended from  parents,  to  children;  also,  to  things  long  used. 
Another  is  probably  located  at  the  sides  of  Parental  Love,  which 
experiences  the  emotion  of  Filial  Love,  causing  children  to  love, 
obey,  and  wait  upon  their  parents ;  to  sit  at  the  feet  of  age  and  ex- 
perience, and  learn  lessons  of  vfisdom,  or  listen  to  their  stories ;  fol- 
low their  counsels,  especially  those  of  parents ;  and  to  cherish  for 
parents  that  filial  affection  which  delights  to  serve,  nurse,  love, 
and  support  them,  and  weeps  over  their  departed  spirits. 

Let  parents  assiduously  endeavor  to  cultivate  filial  affection  in  the 
bosoms  of  their  children,  and  avoid  every  thing  calculated  to  wound 
or  weaken  it;  and  let  children  love  their  parents,  and  cherish  a 
disposition  to  serve  them,  so  that  when  they  become  feeble  or  help- 
.  less.  Filial  Love  may  delight  to  return  those  unnumbered  attentions 
received  in  childhood  at  the  hands  of  Parental  Love.  How  wise, 
how  admirable,  this  Parental  Love  !  How  beautiful,  how  perfect, 
this  Filial  Attachment !  The  former,  giving  the  highest  pleasure 
in  nursing  and  providing  for  their  children ;  and  the  latter,  giving 
these  same  children  equal  pleasure  in  bestowing  the  very  same  kind 
of  attentions  upon  the  very  same  parents :  the  former,  softening  the 
pillow  of  infancy,  and  supplying  its  wants ;  the  latter,  softening  the 


FILIAL  love:    its   CULTIVATION. 


23 


pillow  of  age,  and  alleviating  the  infirmities  of  dotage,  and  kindly 
proffering  those  attentions  which  Filial  Love  alone  can  bestow  ! 
What  quality  in  youth  is  more  praise-worthy  -,  what  recommenda- 
tion for  virtue  or  gooduess  more  unequivocal,  than  obedience  and 
devoted  attachment  to  parents  1  How  can  vice  or  immorality 
dwell  in  a  bosom  filled  with  love  and  devotedness  to  an  aged  or 
needy  parent  ?  What  is  more  meritorious,  or  what  yields  a  richer 
harvest  of  happiness,  than  toiling  to  support  an  infirm  parent  *? 

But,  on  the  other  hand,  how  ungrateful,  how  utterly  depraved, 
how  superlatively  wicked,  must  those  be  who  neglect  this  pleasing 
duty  of  taking  care  of  them,  or  who  let  them  want ;  or,  above  all, 
who  desire  their  death,  or  hasten  it  by  neglect  or  abuse,  in  order 
the  sooner  to  inherit  their  patrimony !  Give  me  the  glorious  privi- 
lege of  cherishing  my  dearly  beloved  parents — of  listening  to  their 
ad\ace,  and  being  guided  by  their  counsels ;  and,  at  last,  when  their 
days  are  all  numbered,  let  them  breathe  their  last  breath  in  my 
arms,  as  is  my  desire  to  do  in  those  of  my  children,  to  be  gathered 
unto  our  fathers  in  the  family  sepurchre !  Let  my  bones  repose  by 
the  side  of  those  of  my  ancestors,  and  let  those  of  my  descendants 
rest  in  peace  by  the  side  of  my  own ;  and  let  this  family  feeling 
be  cherished  from  generation  to*  generation ! 


M 


SIZE    OF   THE    SOCIAL    ORGANS. 


No.  6. — Internal  View  of  the  Skull  of  the  Fond  Mother. 


EXPLANATION  OF  THE  CUTS. 


These  cuts  show  the  position  of  the  Social  Organs,  and  the  amount 
OF  BRAIN  allotted  them.  Cut  No.  3,  shows  the  great  projection  of  the 
Social  Organs  behind  the  ears ;  and  that  large  portion  of  the  brain  in- 
closed by  the  lines  A.  B.  C,  in  cut  No.  5,  is  mostly  occupied  by  the 
Social  Organs.  Cut  No.  6,  was  also  drawn  from  the  same  skull,  and 
shows  how  large  a  portion  of  the  base  of  the  skull  is  occupied  by 
these  Social  Organs  ;  namely,  all  that  part  behind  the  line  A.  A.,  or 
the  upper  portion  of  the  cut.  Cut  No.  5,  shows  the  depth  of  the  So- 
cial Organs,  while  cut  No.  6,  shows  their  basilar  surface. 


AMOUNT  OF  BRATN  ALLOTTED  TO  THESE  ORGANS.       25 


AMOUNT  OF  BRAIN  ALLOTTED  TO  THE  SOCIAL 
ORGANS. 

Nothing  exhibits  the  power  and  energy  of  these  social  faculties, 
or  the  importance  of  their  .proper  exercise,  in  a  more  striking  light 
than  the  great  amount  of  brain  allotted  to  their  organs, — which 
averages  from  one-twelfth  to  one-sixth  of  the  whole.  The  accom- 
panying cuts  of  "  a  fond  mother,"  Nos.  5  and  6,  exhibit  this  point  in 
its  true  light.  In  her,  these  feelings  were  too  strong,  especially 
Parental  Love ;  and,  in  harmony  with  this  development,  her  exces- 
sive fondness  spoiled  all  her  children  by  extra  attention  and  nm-s- 
ing,  by  indulging  them  in  idle  habits,  and  rendering  them  helpless  by 
doing  every  thing  for  them.  Nearly  all  the  brain  behind  the  line 
A.  A.,  belongs  to  the  domestic  group,  which,  it  will  be  seen,  en- 
grosses nearly  a  third  of  the  entire  brain.  The  cut  of  the  perfect 
female  head,  (to  be  inserted  hereafter,)  Avill  show  about  how  much 
brain  should  be  allotted  to  the  social  organs.  Do  not,  on  any  ac- 
count, marry  one  the  back  of  whose  head  resembles  cut  No.  4 ;  nor 
is  an  excess  of  affection,  as  represented  in  cuts  Nos.  3  and  5,  advis- 
able ;  for  one  may  have  too  much  even  of  affection.  Still,  an  am- 
ple development  behind  the  ears,  is  a  primary  and  most  important 
requisite  in  a  companion  and  parent.  Those  in  whom  it  is  deficient, 
will  never  enjoy  a  family,  nor  render  it  happy. 

It  is  a  well  established  principle  of  Phrenology  that,  activity  and 
other  things  being  equal,  the  larger  the  amount  of  brain  called  into 
action,  the  greater  will  be  the  enjoyment  or  suffering  experienced. 
This,  in  part,  explains  and  imparts  the  immense  power  of  the  social 
feelings  over  the  happiness  and  misery  of  mankind.  And  this 
power  is  greatly  augmented  by  their  location,  or  physiological  rela- 
tion to  the  other  portions  of  the  brain, — it  being  directly  calculated, 
to  throw  much  of  the  latter  into  a  state  analogous  to  their  own. 
Hence,  the  natural  action  of  the  social  feelings,  tends  to  quiet 
all  the  others,  which  is  highly  promotive  of  virtue  and  enjoyment ; 
but,  their  fevered  or  inflamed  condition,  tends  to  inflame  the  whole 
brain,  especially  the  animal  propensities,  among  which  they  are 
located,  which  causes  vice  and  misery.  This  inflammation  renders 
those  recently  disappointed  in  love,  irritable,  fault-finding,  and  dis- 
pleased with  every  thing  and  every  body,  and  unfit  for  study  or  the 
advantageous  exercise  of  intellect ;  because  their  whole  brain  and 

3 


26  THE   POWER   OF   THE    SOCIAL   FACULTIES. 

mind  are  thrown  into  violent  commotion,  and  all  their  animal  pro- 
pensities highly  excited.  Nothing  excites  Combativeness  and  Des- 
tructiveness  to  so  high  a  pitch  of  indignation,  if  not  revenge,  as  to 
be  cut  out,  or  "  get  the  mitten,"  or  be  "  crossed  in  love,"  or  have  a 
supposed  friend  prove  untrue ;  or  lose  a  child,  companion,  or  friend  j 
or  any  other  interruption  of  the  social  feelings. 

Why  are  more  duels  fought,  and  more  animosities  engendered, 
by  interruptions  in  love  and  consequent  jealousy,  than  by  any  other 
cause  ?  Let  the  juxtaposition  of  the  organs  of  Love  and  Resist- 
ance, answer.  Even  the  moral  and  religious  organs  are  greatly 
disturbed  thereby.  On  the  other  hand,  doubtless  many  readers  can 
bear  experimental  witness  to  that  peace  of  mind,  that  delightful 
composure,  that  happy  state  of  feeling  which  follows  marriage,  or 
the  final  and  favorable  adjustment  of  reciprocated  love.  These, 
and  kindred  states  of  mind  are  caused,  and  beautifully  accounted 
for,  by  this  principle. 

And  what  is  more,  the  facility  and  power  with  which  these  fac- 
ulties combine,  individually  and  collectively,  with  each  and  all  the 
other  faculties,  is  greater  than  that  with  which  any  other  class 
combines  with  any  other  class.  This  greatly  augments  their  power 
of  exciting  all  the  other  faculties  to  the  highest  pitch  of  pleasurable 
or  painful  action,  accordingly  as  they  are  properly  or  improperly 
placed ;  so  that  their  condition  reciprocally  affects,  if  it  does  not  go 
far  actually  to  control,  that  of  the  balance  of  the  brain,  and  with  it, 
the  state  of  the  mind ;  and  they  proportionally  hold  the  keys  of  our 
happiness  or  misery. 

To  illustrate :  Though  the  meal  eaten  alone  may  gratify  Appe- 
tite, yet,  even  the  pleasures  of  the  palate  are  greatly  augmented  by 
the  exquisite  satisfaction  derived  from  eating  at  our  own  table,  sur- 
rounded by  our  family  and  friends.  This  increased  enjoyment  pro- 
motes digestion  and  health,  which  redoubles  all  our  enjoyments, 
besides  prolonging  life.* 

*  An  extensive  census,  taken  in  England,  for  the  purpose  of  comparing  the 
ages  of  a  specified  number  of  married  persons  of  both  sexes,  with  the  same  num- 
ber of  those  who  were  single,  shows,  that  seventj'-eight  married  men  attain  the 
age  of  forty,  where  forty-one  bachelors  attain  the  same  age.  As  age  advances, 
the  difference  is  still  more  striking.  At  sixty,  there  are  ninety-eight  married 
men  alive,  to  only  twenty-two  unmarried,  or  4  1-2  to  one.  At  seventy,  there 
are  oaly  eleven  bachelors  alive,  to  twenty-seven  married  men,  or  nearly  three  ' 
to  one;  and  at  ninety,  there  are  nine  married  men  to  three  bachelors.  Nearly 
the  same  rule  holds  good  with  regard  to  the  female  sex.    Married  women,  at  the 


THE   INFLUENCE   OF  THE   SOCIAL   FACULTIES   IN   COMBINATION.      27 

Combativeness,  or  the  element  of  resistance,  is  called  into  more 
powerful  action,  by  indignities  offered  to  one's  famihj,  than  by  be- 
ino-  cheated,  or  reproached,  or  by  any  other  imposition  that  can  be 
practiced  upon  one's  self.  What  husband  or  father  will  not  resent 
an  mdignity  offered  to  a  wife  or  daughter  sooner  and  more  powerfully 
than  one  offered  to  himself  1  Our  heroic  forefathers,  actuated  by 
love,  neither  of  blood  nor  gain,  nor  glory,  but  mainly  by  love  of 
their  families,  and  to  protect  their  f  re-sides,  braved  every  danger, 
endured  every  privation,  and  conquered  the  conquerors  of  the  world. 
To  this  combination  mainly,  do  we  owe  our  ever  glorious  Independ- 
ence. This  principle  holds  equally  true  of  Destructiveness  and  Se- 
cretiveness. 

Marriage  doubles  and  quadruples  the  energy  of  Acquisitiveness. 
Many  young  men,  who,  before  becoming  husbands  and  fathers,  were 
prodigal  of  their  time,  and  lavish  of  their  money,  spending  much 
of  both  in  what  injm-ed  instead  of  benefiting  them,  after  marriage, 
save  every  farthing,  and  practice  rigid  economy,  besides  convert- 
ing every  hour  to  some  useful  purpose.  The  best  recipe  for  be- 
coming wealthy  is  to  marry,  not  a  rich,  but  a  frugal,  companion. 
Marriage  renders  a  home  necessary,  and  greatly  increases  efforts  to 
provide  one ;  which  serves  as  a  depository  of  many  useful?  articles 
that  would  otherwise  be  lost. 

Cautiousness  is  agreeably  and  continually  excited  by  the  cares 
of  a  family,  by  watching  over  them,  and  providing  for  their  present 
and  prospective  wants ;  while  Self-Esteem  affords  parents  as  much 
patriarchial  pleasure  in  governing  their  household,  as  it  does  a  king 
in  ruling  his  kingdom.  The  agreeable  exercise  of  Acquisitiveness 
greatly  increases  this  delight  in  those  who  have  it  to  say  that  they 
otun  a  house  and  land  enough  to  live  upon ;  so  that  they  are  inde- 
pendent ;  can  defy  the  banks  and  hard  times ;  and  owe  no  man 
any  thing. 

Approbativeness,  or  love  of  the  good  opinion  of  others,  in  the 
unmarried,  is  confined  mainly  to  themselves  ;  that  of  parents,  reverts 
to  their  children.     The  single  lady  is  pleased  with  marks  of  cona- 

age  of  thirty,  on  an  average,  may  expect  to  live  tnirty-six  years  longer,  but  the 
unmarried,  only  thirty,  (that  is,  one  fifth  less.)  Of  those  who  attain  the  age 
of  forty-five,  there  are  seventy-two  married  women  alive  for  fifty-two  single 
ladies,— the  difference  being  nearly  one  third.  Beyond  all  doubt,  there  is  some- 
xhing  in  marriage  highly  calculated,  in  itself,  both  to  prolong  life,  and  to  render 
that  life  more  peaceful  and  happy. 


28  INCREASED   INFLUENCE   OF   THE   SOCIAL   FACULTIES 

mendation  bestowed  upon  her  dress,  appearance,  attainments,  and 
things  appertaining  to  herself ;  while  the  mother  is  doubly  de- 
lighted with  praises  bestowed  upon  her  darling  child,  taking  more 
pride  in  adorning  its  person  and  improving  its  mind,  than  she  ever 
took  in  regard  to  herself.  Praises  bestowed  upon  it,  sound  more 
sweetly  in  her  ear,  and  awaken  more  thrilhng  emotion  in  her  bosom, 
than  those  bestowed  upon  herself  ever  had  the  power  of  doing  ;  be- 
cause the  latter  strike  but  the  single  chord  of  Approbativeness, 
while  praises  bestowed  upon  the  child,  sweep  harmoniously  the  two 
chords  of  Approbativeness  and  Parental  Love  combined,  thereby 
more  than  doubling  her  pleasure,  and  opening  the  shortest  and 
surest  way  of  access  to  the  good  will  of  parents.  What  but  this 
powerful  combination,  uncontrolled,  could  produce  that  excessive 
and  almost  sickening  parental  vanity  which  many  parents  lavish 
upon  their  children,  or  account  for  their  conceit  that  their  children 
excel  those  of  most  others,  of  which  the  majority  of  parents  are 
guilty  1 

The  family  affords  Conscientiousness  ample  scope  for  delightful 
exercise  in  dealing  out  even-handed  justice  to  all ;  and,  combined 
with  Combativeness,  of  defending  the  injured  and  righting  the 
wronged ;  and  in  implanting  in  the  tender  minds  of  their  children 
lessons  of  duty,  and  the  principles  of  right ;  while  Hope  feasts  it- 
self upon  the  promises  their  expanding  intellects  afford  of  dawning 
talents,  virtue,  and  honor;  transporting  Parental  Love  in  view  of 
the  brightening  prospects  of  their  coming  prosperity,  as  well  as  of 
the  enjoyments  yet  to  be  realized  in  the  family  circle. 

To  him  who  delights  in  prayer  and  praise  to  God,  the  exercise 
of  Veneration  may  yield  a  rich  harvest  of  pure  and  exalted  pleas- 
ure ;  but  it  is  when  offering  up  the  morning  and  evening  sacrifice  of 
prayer  and  thanksgiving  around  the  family  altar — when  praying 
with  the  family  for  blessings  tipon  the  family,  that  this  faculty  is 
kindled  up  to  its  most  devout  and  fervent  action ;  melting  the  heart, 
purifying  the  soul,  and  reforming  the  conduct.  How  much  more 
gratifying  to  "  go  up  to  the  house  of  God  in  company,"  than 
alone  ?  This  increase  of  pleasure  has  its  origin  in  the  combination 
of  Veneration  and  these  Social  Faculties.  Marvellousness,  also, 
delights  to  commit  and  commend  these  objects  of  affection  to  the 
merciful  protection,  and  gracious  guidance,  of  an  all-wise  and  over- 
ruling Providence. 


IN   COMBINATION   WITH   OTHER   FACULTIES.  29 

Though  the  exercise  of  Benevolence  towards  strangers,  or  even 
brutes,  gives  a  great  amount  of  real  pleasure,  yet  we  feel  double 
gratification  in  conferring  favors  upon  those  we  love.  The  family 
presents  many  an  opportunity  for  doing  Httle  acts  of  kindness 
where  the  world  at  large  affords  one.  Indeed,  it  enables  us  to  be 
doing  and  receiving  an  almost  continual  succession  of  kind  offices, 
perhaps  trifling  in  themselves,  but  great  in  their  aggregate,  and 
highly  promotive  of  reciprocal  good  feeling.  Children  can  gratify 
Imitation  by  taking  pattern  from  their  beloved  and  venerated  pa- 
rents, while  the  wife  can  indulge  her  Ideality  and  Order  in  keep- 
ing the  house  and  children  neat,  tidy,  and  clean,  and  in  cultivating 
vines,  flowers,  &c:*  The  family  also  affords  her  an  admirable  op- 
portunity to  exercise  her  Constructiveness — which  is  called  into 
action  in  nearly  every  thing  done  with  the  hands — in  making  and 
repairing  garments  and  conveniences  for  those  she  loves,  and  at  the 
same  time  to  endear  herself  to  her  husband  by  gratifying  his  Acqui- 
sitiveness in  saving  many  a  tailor's  bill,  &c.  while  he  will  find  his 
Constructiveness  agreeably  exercised  in  "  fixing  up  things,  and 
making  conveniences  about  the  house,  repairing  a  door,  inserting  a 
broken  glass,  &c.  &c.,  as  well  as  in  the  daily  labor  of  his  hands  in 
their  support. 

With  all  the  freedom  allowable  in  the  family  circle,  Mirthful- 
ness  can  let  fly  its  sprightly  jokes,  its  agreeable  sallies  of  wit,  and 
its  tart  repartees,  without  the  least  fear  of  giving  offence,  or  any  of 
that  studied  guardedness  or  artificial  precision  required  among 
others.  The  Language  and  Eventuality  of  parents  and  grand-pa- 
rents, find  frequent  and  delightful  exercise  in  recounting  to  their 
young  and  eager  listeners  the  incidents  of  by-gone  days,  and  the 
history  and  genealogy  of  their  ancestors,  and  in  telling  or  reading 
to  them  stories  calculated  to  strengthen  their  memories  and  improve 
their  morals ;  who,  in  return,  also  indulge  their  Language,  in 
their  incessant  prattle  and  childish  sports. 

It  is  in  the  family  circle,  also,  that  Tune  can  exert  its  powerful 

*  Every  good  wife  will  gladly  improve  every  opportunity  to  adorn  her  house, 
especially  with  natural  charms,  and  render  it  as  pleasant  and  agreeable  as  possi- 
ble. This  seems  to  be  one  important  and  leading  duty,  or  rather  pleasure,  of  a 
wife  and  mother,  and  yet,  one  that  is  too  much  neglected.  Let  every  wife  have 
her  ilower  garden,  her  arbor,  her  plants,  and  shrubbery,  and  by  throwing  those 
little  charms  and  niceties  around  "  home"  which  the  hand  and  the  taste  of  woman 
alone  can  impart,  give  to  it  a  peculiar  and  pleasant  attraction.  But  more  on  this 
point  elsewhere. 

3* 


30  THE   COMBINATIONS  OF   THE   SOCUL  FACULTrES. 

charms  by  striking  up  the  cheerful  lay,  and  giving  expression  to 
buoyant,  elastic  feelings  in  unreserved  strains  of  thrilling  melody 
and  pathos.  How  exalted  a  source  of  pleasure  is  music !  How 
powerful  an  instrument  of  good  or  evil — of  moral  purity  or  debase- 
ment, and  of  subduing  unruly  passions  and  harmonizing  all  the 
discordant  faculties !  To  enliven  and  cheerfulize  home  ;  to  throw 
a  charm  around  the  fire-side  ;  to  dispel  the  vexations  and  disap- 
pointments of  unpropitious  business,  and  make  a  family  happy,  is 
its  peculiar  prerogative.  What  will  quell  the  turbulent  temper  of 
a  child,  or  assuage  the  irritability  of  a  husband,  or  sooth  liis  de- 
pressed spirits  as  he  returns  home  disappointed,  or  weary,  or  angry, 
from  the  business  of  the  day,  as  soon  as  to  hear  his  wife  or 
daughter  strike  up  a  cheerful  lay,  or  play  a  favorite  tune  ?  Its 
power  in  this  respect  is  underrated,  and  too  seldom  applied,  yet 
moderm  music  is  too  artificial  and  scientific  to  awaken  or  divert  the 
feelino;s.* 

How  vast  the  sum  total  of  that  quiet  stream  of  the  purest,  sweet- 
est enjoyments  flowing  almost  continually  from  the  affectionate  and 
happy  family  circle,  with  their  comfortable  fire  blazing  before  them, 
and  the  means  at  hand  of  gratifying  every  returning  want !  inclu- 
ding their  agreeable  conversation,  pouring  incessantly  from  every 
mouth,  the  pleasant  chit-chat  of  the  table  and  parlor,  and  that 
ceaseless  prattle  provoked  by  the  domestic  feelings  and  family  ar- 
rangements! Here,  also,  Order  has  a  wide  field  for  dehghtful  ex- 
ercise by  having  a  place  for  every  thing,  and  every  thing  in  its 
place,  so  as  to  be  forthcoming  at  a  moment's  call ;  and  Time,  by 
having  a  time  for  every  thing,  and  every  thing  in  its  season ;  meals 
punctually,  and  all  at  their  meals  at  the  same  time,  &c.  Here,  too, 
Causality  and  the  Social  Eaculties  combine  with  Benevolence,  in 
giving  advice,  and  contriving  and  arranging  matters  for  their  com- 
fort :  with  Language  and  Comparison,  in  explaining  their  conclu- 
sions, and  in  asking  and  answering  questions :  with  Acquisitiveness, 
in  devising  and  executing  ways  and  means  of  augmenting  their  es- 
tate :  with  Cautiousness,  in  foreseeing  danger  and  providing  against 
it,  and  securing  their  good :  and  so  of  their  other  combinations. 
In  short,  what  motive  equals  that  of  a  needy  or  dependant  family 
for  putting  the  Causality  of  parents  upon  the  rack  to  invent  a  con- 

*  See  the  author's  analysis  of  Tune,  and  criticisms  on  modern,  fashionable 
music,  in  his  work  on  '  Phrenology  applied  to  Education  and  Self-Improvement.' 
Published  in  connexion  with  the  Phrenological  Journal. 


REVEKSAL   OF   THE   DOMESTIC   FACULTIES.  31 

stant  succession  of  devices  for  their  relief, — to  sharpen  up  and  call 
forth  every  power  of  the  intellect,  every  energy  of  the  body,  every 
capacity  of  man,  as  well  as  to  stir  up  every  fountain  of  feeling  in  his 
soul  ? 

But  this  delightful  picture  is  often  reversed;  and  then,  how 
■  changed  the  scene !  how  heaven-wide  the  contrast !  When  Com- 
bativeness,  instead  of  defending  the  family  group,  is  arrayed  against 
it,  and,  calling  Self-Esteem  to  its  assistance,  tyranizes  over  it, 
and  rules  with  a  rod  of  iron — when  contention  supplants  protection, 
and  angry  looks  dispel  the  smiles  of  affection  -,  when  Approbative- 
ness,  instead  of  being  gratified  by  commendation,  is  mortified  by 
having  their  faults  or  follies  exposed,  or  wounded  by  reproach ; 
when  Conscientiousness  is  offended  by  their  unprincipled  immorali- 
ties ;  when  Veneration  turns  its  back  upon  the  Social  group,  refus- 
ing to  unite  in  devotional  exercises ;  when  a  want  of  order  or  punc- 
tuality in  either,  incenses  the  Combativeness  of  the  others ;  when 
Language,  instead  of  engaging  in  agreeable  conversation,  is  em- 
ployed to  mortify  Approbativeness  by  administering  reproaches  or 
hurling  reproof;  and  when  miserly  Acquisitiveness,  instead  of  mak- 
ing money  to  procure  comforts  for  the  family,  arrays  Combative- 
ness against  the  family  because  they  are  expensive  ;  in  short,  when 
the  other  faculties,  instead  of  uniting  with  the  Social  to  make  home 
a  paradise  and  the  family  happy,  are  brought  into  collision  with 
them,  and  make  home  a  pandemonium — a  real  family  Hades — 
their  sufferings  are  intolerable,  and  their  warfare  is  perpetual ;  be- 
cause the  family  relations  bring  them  and  keep  them  in  constant 
contact,  and  that  the  most  direct  and  powerful.  Then  it  is  that 
the  stream  of  life  is  poisoned  at  its  fountain-head,  and  made  to  send 
forth  bitter  waters,  and  that  continually.  The  very  quintessence 
of  misery  consists  in  this  collision,  this  warring  of  the  faculties. 
As  in  the  case  of  magnetic  bodies,  the  nearer  their  contact  the  more 
powerful  their  attraction  or  repulsion,  so  the  family  relations  bring 
every  point  in  the  character  of  each  into  direct  unison  with,  or  op- 
position to,  those  of  the  others. 

With  great  emphasis,  therefore,  I  repeat  this  main  proposition, 
that  the  influences  of  the  domestic  organs  on  the  rest  of  the  brain, 
and  of  the  sochsX  faculties  on  the  other  mental  powers,  are  so  direct 
and  reciprocal  that  their  proper  or  improper  exercise — their  peace- 
ful or  disturbed  action— throws  the  whole  brain  and  mind  into  a 
similar  condition,  forming  a  kind  of  centre  of  virtue  and  happiness, 


32  DOMESTIC   HAPPINESS  AND  MISERY   CONTRASTED. 

or  vice  and  misery.  Is  a  man  but  happy  in  the  domestic  relations, 
he  is  happy  every  where,  in  spite  of  all  the  evils  that  can  assail 
him.  What  though  the  storms  of  adversity  beat  violently  from 
every  quarter  upon  his  devoted  head,  and  misfortunes  thicken  upon 
him ;  what  though  every  wind  wafts  tidings  of  evil ;  though  scan- 
dal and  reproach  assail  him  without  and  sickness  within ;  though 
riches  take  to  themselves  wings  and  fly  away,  and  all  his  plans  and 
prospects  prove  abortive  :  if  he  but  live  affectionately  with  his 
wife,  and  sees  his  children  growing  up,  to  love  and  bless  him ;  his 
lot  is  fortunate,  and  his  joys  are  beyond  the  reach  of  misfortune 
The  arrows  of  affliction  drop  harmless  at  his  feet,  and  his  burdens 
become  his  pleasures,  because  borne  with  andybr  those  he  loves. 

But,  let  a  man  be  miserable  at  home ;  let  his  wife  prove  unfaith- 
ful or  a  termigant,  and  his  children  become  a  disgrace  to  him ;  and 
no  matter  if  every  breeze  is  wafting  to  him  the  wealth  of  the  Indies ; 
no  matter  if  the  trumpet  of  fame  is  sounding  his  name  throughout 
Christendom ;  if  the  simshine  of  prosperity  beams  with  full  efful- 
gence on  his  pathway,  and  success  every  where  attends  him ;  so 
that  he  has  at  command  every  thing  that  heart  can  wish ;  still,  still, 
a  canker  worm  is  preying  on  his  vitals — he  is  most  wretched.  All  his 
joys  are  rotten  at  their  core,  and  his  life  is  the  very  dregs  of  bit- 
terness. It  is  in  the  power  neither  of  poverty,  nor  reproach,  nor  mis- 
fortune to  blast,  nor  even  to  embitter  the  fruits  of  domestic  fehcity  ; 
while  it  is  in  the  power  of  domestic  discord  or  unhappiness  to  poi- 
son every  sweet  that  riches,  or  fame,  or  learning  can  bestow,  and 
to  mar  every  other  enjoyment  of  life ;  even  the  consolations  of  re- 
ligion not  excepted.  Let  the  blasting  winds  of  adversity  blow 
upon  me  a  perfect  hurricane  of  trouble ;  let  my  fellow  men  all 
cheat,  and  scorn,  and  reject  me ;  let  the  afflictions  even  of  Job  be 
repeated  upon  me — only  let  me  live  in  the  bosom  of  my  family,  and 
let  my  wife  and  children  be  spared  always  to  greet  me  with  the 
smiles  of- love  and  the  kisses  of  affection,  and  my  cup  of  pleasure  is 
full. 

And  if  these  things  be  true  of  man,  how  much  more  so  of  woman, 
whose  home  is  the  family,  whose  heart  is  tenderness,  and  whose 
very  being  is  connubial  and  maternal  love ;  but  whose  blighted  af- 
fections occasion  the  most  bitter  agony  experienced  beneath  the 
sun !  Indeed,  words  cannot  express  the  amount  either  of  happiness, 
aye,  of  perpetual  bliss,  which  the  social  affections  are  capable  of 
pouring  into  the  human  bosom,  and  that  'perennially,  or  the  amount 


IMPORTANCE   OF   OBEYING   THE   SOCIAL   ORGANS.  33 

of  sio-lis,  and  woes,  and  the  most  bitter  sorrow,  with  which  they 
have  the  power  to  curse  man,  besides  blasting  every  other  fruit  of 
pleasure  growing  upon  his  nature.  None  but  those  who  have 
tasted  either,  ever  can  know  the  full  force  of  these  remarks. 

In  proportion,  therefore,  to  the  power  of  these  social  faculties 
over  the  weal  or  woe  of  man,  is  the  importance  of  understanding 
and  obeying  the  laws  of  their  action ;  that  is,  of  properly  'placing 
and  regulating  them.  If  their  exercise  were  productive  of  good 
only,  it  would  be  entirely  proper  for  young  people  to  fall  in  love 
and  marry  as  they  now  do — any  how,  just  as  it  happens — and 
for  parents  to  make  pecuniary  matches ;  but,  since  man  is  placed  in 
this  world  to  enjoy  life,  and  since  pleasure  is  certainly  more  agreea- 
ble than  pain,  it  becomes  all  candidates  for  marriage — nay,  it  is 
their  most  imperious  duty  to  themselves,  their  fellow  men,  and  their 
God,  so  to  place  and  exercise  their  social  feelings  as  to  secure  all 
the  enjoyments  they  are  designed  to  impart.  But  many  experience 
all  the  curses  they  are  capable  of  inflicting — curses  proportionate  to 
the  blessings  they  are  capable  of  conferring.  W/iy  is  this  ?  Is  it 
unavoidable  ?  This  would  indeed  be  charging  God  foolislily,  and 
blaming  him  for  our  own  folly  or  sinfulness.  Cannot  all  be  happy 
in  the  domestic .  relations '?  Is  not  happiness  here,  like  happiness 
every  where  else,  the  result  of  the  action  of  certain  fixed  and  inva- 
riable LAWS  ?  And  is  not  this  equally  the  case  in  regard  to  domes- 
tic misery  ?  By  applying  to  yourself  causes  productive  of  happi- 
ness, you  will  be  very  happy  ;  but,  apply  opposite  causes,  and  you 
have  opposite  results.  And  these  causes  are  mostly  in  your  ovm 
hands,  so  that  all  have  it  in  their  power  to  say  whether  they 
will  enjoy  domestic  life,  or  endure  it,  or  have  a  hitter-sweet 

The  question,  then,  returns  with  redoubled  force :  HOW  can  we  so 
place  and  regulate  our  social  faculties  as  to  secure  all  the  blessings 
they  are  designed  and  adapted  to  yield  ?  and  how  avoid  all  the  evils 
they  are  capable  of  inflicting  ?  Phrenology  kindly  replies.  Most 
beautifully  and  clearly  does  it  unfold  the  laws  of  man's  social 
nature,  on  the  observance  or  violation  of  which  these  momentous  re- 
sults depend.  It  even  goes  farther :  it  shows  us  how  to  obey  them, 
and  thereby  how  to  secure  the  blessings  to  be  derived  from  them : 
besides  distinctly  pointing  out  the  causes  of  most  of  that  domestic 
discord  and  wretchedness  which  curse  mankind.  Mark  well  its  an- 
swer: observe  and  follow  its  directions,  and  you  will  drink  in, 
without  alloy,  all  the  benefits  designed  by  nature  to  flow  from  mar- 
ried life. 


34  HOW  TO  MARRY  SO  AS  TO  BE  HAPPY. 

But,  in  order  to  marry  so  as  to  be  happy  in  the  domestic  rela- 
tions, we  must  first  understand  the  'precise  thing  to  he  done,  and 
then  the  means  of  doing  it.  That  thing  is,  to  secure  Connubial 
Love,  which  consists  in  the  reciprocal  exercise  of  the  social  facul- 
ties of  two  persons  of  opposite  sexes,  in  harmony  with  all  their 
other  faculties.  Union  of  soul,  harmony  of  views  and  sentiments, 
perfect  congeniality  of  tastes  and  feelings,  and  a  blending  of  the 
natures  of  both,  so  as  to  make  "  of  twain  one  flesh,"  is  the  end  to 
be  obtained.  This  is  Love — that  wonderful  element  of  our  nature 
which  made  Eleanor  of  Castile  jeopardize  her  oion  life  to  save  that 
of  her  beloved  husband,  Edward  the  First,  and  suck  the  poison 
from  his  otherwise  fatal  wound — which  induced  Gertrude  Van  der 
Wart  to  bid  defiance  to  the  ribbaldry  of  the  soldiers,  and  stand  reso- 
lutely by  the  side  of  her  racked  and  mangled  husband  during  the 
whole  of  an  awfully  tempestuous  night,  soothing  him  by  her  sym- 
pathies, and  sustaining  him  by  her  fortitude  till  the  cruel  rack  ended 
his  life  and  sufferings  together — and  w^hich  makes  every  fond  wife 
and  devoted  husband  willing,  and  even  glad,  to  sacrifice  their  ow^n 
ease  and  happiness  upon  the  altar  of  love,  and  rejoice  in  enduring 
toil,  suffering,  and  self-denial,  to  relieve  the  sufferings  or  promote 
the  happiness  of  their  dearly  beloved  companion,* 

Having  seen  precisely  what  requires  to  be  done  in  order  to  enjoy 
married  life,  the  question  returns  upon  the  means  of  doing  it. 
They  are  brief  and  simple,  but  clear  and  plain,  covering  the  whole 
ground. 

*  There  are  two  kinds  of  love, — the  one  healthy,  (he  other  sickly ;  the  one 
virtuous  and  elevating,  the  other  questionable  ;  the  one  strong  and  natural,  and 
governed  by  judgment;  the  other,  a  green-house  exotic,  governing  the  intel- 
lect, springing  up  before  its  time,  and  bearing  unripe,  unhealthy  fruit.  Per- 
sons afflicted  with  this  unnatural  parasite,  are  said  to  be  love-sick,  and  sick 
enough  it  sometimes  makes  its  youthful  victims.  This  kind  of  love  will  fre- 
quently be  found  described  in  novels,  and  its  workings  seen  in  young  people  in 
high  life,  (improperly  so  called  ;)  for,  it  afflicts  those  of  a  nervous  temperament 
and  sentimental  cast  of  mind  most  grievously.  Those  who  are  above  C?  below) 
labor,  who  are  too  good  (1  too  bad)  to  mingle  with  the  medium  classes  or  engage 
in  any  useful  occupation ;  who  have  little  to  do  except  attend  balls  and  parties, 
to  dress  in  the  tip  of  the  fashion,  thumb  the  piano,  and  such  high-life  occupa- 
tions; those  whose  parents  roll  in  luxury  or  live  in  affluence;  those  boys  and 
girls  whose  worth  is  neither  in  their  heads  nor  hearts,  but  in  their /aider's  name 
and  pockets,  are  most  apt  to  be  attacked  by  this  love-sickness.  They  are  usually 
"  smitten"  with  it  at  a  party,  or  dance,  or  sail ;  they  exchange  love-looks,  sigh, 
simper,  say  and  hear  soft  things,  press  hands,  exchange  kisses,  &c.  and  conclude 
by  proposing  and  accepting,  and  sending  for  the  parson.     This  love-sick  kind 


HOW  TO   SECURE   CONGENIALITY.  35 

SELECT   A   COMPANION   WHOSE   PHRENOLOGICAL   DEVELOPMENTS   AND 
TEMPERAMENT   RESEMBLE   YOUR   OWN. 

That  is,  select  one  whose  feelings,  desires,  sentiments,  objects, 
tastes,  intellectual  and  moral  qualities,  &c.,  harmonize  with  your 
own ;  at  least  in  all  their  leading  elements.*  Follow  this  rule,  and 
you  may  be  sure  of  securing  connubial  love  and  congeniality  of 
feeling,  provided  care  be  taken  properly  to  cement  these  kindred 
developments. 

The  one  main  and  fundamental  law  of  both  love  and  friendship 
is  this :  We  become  attached  to  those  whose  qualities  of  intellect  and 
feeling  resemble  our  ovm.  The  reason  of  this  is  found  in  the  fact, 
that  as  the  proper  exercise  of  every  faculty  gives  pleasure,  and  as 
the  active  faculties  of  each  excite  the  same  faculties  of  the  other, 
we  become  attached  to  those  whose  tastes,  objects,  sentiments,  and 
other  qualities  resemble  our  own,  because  they  most  powerfully  ex- 
cite, and  thereby  gratify,  our  own  largest  organs,  which  at  the 
same  time  harmonize  vdth  theirs,  and  this  gives  both  the  greatest 
amount  of  pleasure.  Thus,  if  your  Conscientiousness,  or  sense  of 
justice,  be  strong,  the  same  faculty  in  another  will  agreeably  excite 
and  gratify  this  organ  in  yourself,  and  thus  ^ive  you  pleasure ;  but 
the  want  of  moral  principle  in  another  violates  your  sense  of  right, 
and  gives  you  pain,  and  this  reversed  or  painful  action  of  Conscien- 
tiousness excites  your  Resistance,  Firmness,  Intellect,  Apprehension, 
and  nearly  all  your  other  faculties  against  him. 

of  feeling  is  much  more  prevalent  in  the  city  than  country,  and  attacks  its  vic- 
tims there  much  earlier;  besides,  rendering  them,  if  possible,  still  more  soft  and 
sickish  there  than  elsewhere ;  and  is  one  of  the  principal  causes  of  so  many  un- 
happy marriages. 

The  other  kind  of  love  appears  in — a  small  waist,  seldom  if  ever ;  in  cities 
rarely ;  but  in — our  hard-working,  substantial  swains  and  dames,  who  think  little 
and  care  less  about  love  and  matrimony  till  their  physical  powers  are  fully  de- 
veloped, their  characters  and  judgments  matured,  and  their  intellects  sufficiently 
developed  to  guide  their  love  understandingly  into  the  paths  of  domestic  hap- 
piness. 

*  This  rule  is,  as  it  should  be,  in  direct  hostility  to  a  leading  doctrine  of  Wal- 
ker, who  contends  that  opposites  unite.  Whatever  may  be  the  ground  of  prefer- 
ment or  law  of  tastes  in  regard  to  merely  physical  qualities,  which  are  of  little 
account  compared  with  those  of  mind  and  character.  Phrenology  recognizes  no 
such  doctrine  in  regard  to  mental  and  moral  preferences.  The  text  goes  into 
this  matter  more  deeply  than  the  mere  shape  of  the  body,  color  of  the  eyes  or 
hair,  &c.. 


36  THE   REVERSED   OR   PAINFUL   ACTION   OF   THE    FACULTIES. 

As  this  principle  of  the  reversed  or  'painful  action  of  the  faculties 
bears  with  great  force  upon  our  conclusions,  and  will  frequently  be 
employed  hereafter,  a  short  digression  is  necessary  in  order  to  ex- 
plain and  illustrate  it.     Every  faculty  has  its  natural,  and  also  its 
reversed  or  "painful  action.     Thus,  the  natural  function  of  Benevo- 
lence is  to  feel  that  lively  sympathy  for  distress  which  induces  ef- 
forts to  relieve  it,  whereas  its  reversed  action  is  that  keen  anguish, 
that  poignant  grief  which  the  benevolent  heart  experiences  on  be- 
holding distress  which  cannot  be  relieved.    The  natural  function  of 
Approbativeness  is  that  pleasure  felt  when  our  laudable  actions 
meet  deserved  commendation,  but  its  reversed  action  is  that  shame, 
mortification,  and  chagrin  caused  by  a  counsciousness  of  being  dis- 
graced.    The  natural  function  of  Conscientiousness  is  that  satisfac- 
tion derived  from  a  consciousness  that  we  have  done  rigid  ;  but  its 
reversed  action  produces  the  goadings  and  compunctions  of  a  guilty 
conscience.     Order  is  gratified  by  having  a  place  for  every  thing 
and  every  thing  in  its  place,  but  reversed  by  disorder  and  confusion 
Size  is  gratified  by  proportion,  but  reversed  and  pained  by  dispra 
portion.    Ideality,  in  its  natural  action,  is  gratified  by  beholding  the 
beautiful  in  nature  or  art,  but  pained  and  reversed  by  the  vulgar  or 
disgusting  :    and  so  of  the  other  faculties.     And  what  is  more,  the 
reversed  action  of  any  faculty,  calls  the  other  faculties  into  reversed 
action.      Thus,  reversed  Conscientiousness   reverses  Cautiousness, 
which  makes  the  wicked  flee  when  no  man  pursueth.     Reversed 
Self-Esteem,  or  wounded  pride,  reverses  Combativeness  and  Adhe- 
siveness ;  converting  the  warmest  friendship  into  the  bitterest  hatred ; 
and  so  of  other  reversals. 

Let  us  apply  this  principle  to  the  reversed  action  of  the  Social 
faculties.  Though  Amativeness  in  each  sex  creates  a  predisposi- 
tion in  favor  of  the  other,  yet  how  much  greater  disgust,  and  even 
hatred  and  abhorrence,  does  virtuous  woman  feel  towards  the  man 
who  has  insulted  her,  or  who  would  rob  her  of  her  virtue,  than  she 
ever  can  feel  towards  one  of  her  own  sex  ?  No  element  of  our  na- 
ture is  more  powerful  or  inveterate  than  the  reversed  action  of 
Amativeness  and  its  combinations.  Though  Amativeness  alone 
could  never  turn  against  the  opposite  sex,  yet  the  other  faculties 
may  reverse  it  even  against  a  husband  or  wife ;  but  oh !  the  loath- 
ing and  disgust,  the  abhorrence  and  even  perfect  hatred  engender- 
ed thereby,  may  be  felt,  but  can  never  be  told.  And  then  the  lin- 
gering misery  of  being  chained  for  life  to  a  loathed  and  hated  hus- 


IMPORTANCE   OF   SIMILARITY   ILLUSTRATED.  37 

band  or  wife,  and  shut  out  from  the  embraces  of  those  that  are  loved, 
can  be  known  to  those  only  who  experience  it.  Over  such  a  pic- 
ture, let  the  curtains  of  darkness  be  drawn  for  ever ! 

But,  to  return  to  the  reason  why  we  should  select  companions 
whose  developments  accord  substantially  with  our  ow^n.  When 
Ideahty  is  large  in  the  one  and  small  in  the  other,  the  former  will 
be  continually  disgusted  and  offended  with  the  coarseness  and  vul- 
garity of  the  latter,  and  the  absence  of  taste  and  gentility,  of  refine- 
ment, personal  neatness,  and  sense  of  propriety,  who,  in  turn,  will 
be  equally  displeased  with  the  former's  attention  to  trifles,  and  pref- 
erence of  the  ornamental  to  the  useful.  This  disparity  of  tastes 
calls  Gombativeness  if  not  some  of  the  other  faculties  into  reversed 
action,  and  widens  the  breach  made  in  their  affections,  till  even 
Adhesiveness  and  Amativeness  may  become  reversed,  and  both 
rendered  most  wretched,  merely  from  want  of  similarity  of  develop- 
ments. But  where  Ideality  is  large  in  both,  each  will  be  continually 
delighted  with  the  other's  refinement  of  manners,  delicacy  of  feel- 
ing, and  admiration  of  the  beautiful  in  nature  and  art ;  which  will 
redouble  their  love,  enable  each  to  administer  pleasure  to  the  other, 
and  thus  swell  their  mutual  happiness.  What  pleases  either  will 
gratify  both,  and  what  disgusts  either  will  also  offend  the  taste  of 
the  other.  On  the  other  hand,  when  Ideality  is  defxient  in  both, 
.  each  will  be  satisfied  with  home-made,  common  articles  of  dress, 
furniture,  &c. ;  the  slovenliness  of  either,  so  far  from  offending, 
rather  pleases,  the  other,  and  though  they  do  not  enjoy  the  pleas- 
ures flowing  from  the  exercise  of  this  faculty,  yet  neither  will  ob- 
serve their  want  of  it,  but  each  will  love  the  other  the  better  for 
their  being  alike. 

Large  Mirthfulness  in  the  one,  will  throw  out  continual  sallies  of 
wit,  which  small  Mirthfnlness  in  the  other,  unable  to  comprehend 
or  return,  will  call  upon  Gombativeness  to  resent ;  whereas  large 
Mirthfulness  would  be  gratified  thereby,  and  even  delight  to  hear 
and  return  them. 

If  the  husband  has  large  Hope  and  deficient  Cautiousness,  and 
the  wife  large  Gautiousness  but  deficient  Hope,  the  husband,  hoping 
every  thing  and  fearing  nothing,  will  see  only  sunshine  and  pros- 
perity before  him,  yet  be  careless,  continually  plunging  into  new 
difficulties,  and  utterly  incapable  of  sympathizing  with  or  soothing 
the  gloomy  cast  of  mind  which  afflicts  his  wife,  and  even  displeased 
with  it ;  while  she  will  be  continually  dreading  the  effects  of  his 
4 


38  IMPORTANCE   OF   SIMILAIITTY   ILLUSTRATED. 

imprudence,  and  reproving  him  for  it,  not  only  without  effect,  but 
with  his  marked  displeasure.  She  being  timid,  and  frightened  al- 
most at  her  own  shadow,  "s^^ll  feel  very  much  in  want  of  some  care- 
ful, judicious  husband,  in  whose  care  she  may  feel  safe,  yet  will  he  in 
the  hands  of  an  imprudent  husband,  who,  insteed  of  keeping  her  out 
of  danger,  will  be  continually  exposing  her  to  it,  and  doubly  fright- 
ening her  with  both  real  and  imaginary  dangers.  He  will  be  con- 
tinually looking  upon  the  bright  side  of  every  prospect ;  she,  upon 
the  dark  side  :  he,  never  seeing  a  difficulty  or  danger ;  she,  seeing 
more  than  there  are,  and  nothing  else.  How  can  they  love  each 
other  ?  or,  rather,  how  can  they  avoid  mutual  contention  and  fault- 
finding, and  the  consequent  reversal  of  their  social  feelings  ?  But 
if  each  one  is  cautious  in  reference  to  the  other,  and  both  look  at 
the  same  measures  and  prospects  in  the  same  light,  this  similarity 
of  character  will  augment  their  love,  and  increase  their  happiness 
and  prosperity. 

Suppose  your  large  Benevolence  fastens  upon  doing  good  as  your 
chief  delight,  your  highest  duty,  how  can  your  other  feelings  har- 
monize with  a  selfish  companion,  whose  god  is  gain,  and  who  turns 
coldly  away  from  suffering  humanity ;  refusing  to  bestow  a  charity, 
and  contending  with  you  for  casting  in  your  mite  ?  His  Selfish- 
ness reverses  your  Benevolence  against  him,  and  this  not  only  utterly 
precludes  congeniality  in  other  respects,  but  even  engenders  that 
displeasure  which  is  the  very  antipode  of  love.  But  if  you  see  in 
your  companion  that  same  gushing  fountain  of  humanity  which 
overflows  your  own  heart,  how  does  this  common  feeling,  this  congen- 
iality, swell  the  love  and  estimation  of  each  for  the  other,  and  en- 
dear both  to  each  other  ! 

If  thoughts  of  God,  eternity,  and  things  sacred,  be  uppermost  in 
your  own  mind,  you  can  no  more  commingle  your  joys,  sorrows, 
affections,  and  feelings  with  one  who  trifles  with  these  things,  than 
you  can  assimilate  oil  and  water,  to  say  nothing  of  the  painful  ap- 
prehension often  entertained  by  such  that  death  may  separate  them 
for  ever.  Nor  can  your  irreligious  companion  esteem  or  love  one 
whom  he  regards  as  deluded  or  fanatical.  Not  only  will  there  be  a 
want  of  congeniality  of  views  and  feelings  in  a  most  important  point, 
but  your  reversed  religious  feelings  will  reverse  your  other  faculties 
against  him,  and  his  Combativeness  be  reversed  against  you  on  ac- 
count of  those  religious  feelings  which  you  regard  as  most  sacred, 
and  this  will  be  liable  to  reverse  his  love,  and  to  root  out  the  last 


IMPORTANCE   OF   SOIILAKITY   ILLUSTRATED.  39 

V  astige  of  affection  between  you.  But  if  you  both  love  to  worship 
God  together,  to  pray  with  and  for  each  other,  and  mutually  offer 
thanks  to  the  Giver  of '  every  good  and  perfect  gift ;'  if  you  can  walk 
arm  in  arm  to  the  sanctuary,  sweetly  conversing,  as  you  go  and 
come,  upon  heaven  and  heavenly  things ;  if  you  can  mutually  and 
cordially  succor  each  other  when  tempted,  and  encourage  each 
other  to  religious  zeal,  and  faith,  and  good  works,  will  not  this 
religious  union  unite  you  in  other  respects,  and  enhance  your  mu- 
tual esteem  and  reciprocal  love  1  Unless  I  have  seen  and  felt  in 
vain,  and  in  vain  deeply  pondered  the  volume  of  man's  nature,  as 
unfolded  in  the  book  of  Phrenology,  this  harmony  in  other  respects 
is  but  the  precursor — the  necessary  concomitant,  and  the  co-worker 
of  connubial  love — the  former  the  root,  the  latter  the  branches  and 
fruit,  and  each  decaying  and  dying  when  cut  off  from  the  other. 
Even  when  husbands  and  wives  belong  to  different  religious  sects, 
this  concord  is  essentially  marred,  in  regard  both  to  themselves  and 
their  children.  Paul's  advice  to  Christians  to  marry,  "  but  only  in 
the  Lord,''^  is  in  beautiful  harmony  with  this  our  leading  principle. 

If  Approbativeness  be  large  in  the  one,  but  small  in  the  other, 
the  conduct  of  the  latter  will  frequently  incur  the  reproach  of  his 
fellow-men,  which  will  mortify  and  displease  the'  other  extremely, 
and  be  liable  to  create  in  each  unfavorable  feelings  towards  the 
other  :  but  if  the  desire  for  the  good  opinion  of  others  be  strong  in 
hath,  each  will  be  dehghted  with  praises  bestowed  upon,  and  de- 
fend the  character  of,  the  other — ^be  ambitious  to  merit  the  other's 
approbation,  and  so  conduct  as  to  secure  for  both  a  respectable 
standing  in  society.  How  many  men  abstain  from  doing  wrong, 
lest  they  should  bring  disgrace  upon  their  wives  and  children  1 
And  how  many  more  are  incited  to  praise-worthy  deeds  because  of 
the  consequent  honor  shared  with  them  ? 

If  the  large  intellectual  organs  of  the  one  prefer  the  paths  of 
literature  to  fashion,  and  philosophical  conversation  to  idle  chit- 
chat, while  the  weak  intellectual  organs  and  excessive  vanity  and 
Ideality  of  the  other,  seek  the  gaudy  splendor  and  parade  of  fash- 
ionable life ;  the  former  will  be  continually  disgusted  with  the 
fashionable  fooleries  of  the  latter,  and  the  latter  equally  displeased 
with  the  intellectuality  of  the  former.  But  if  both  be  intellectual, 
if  both  love  to  think  and  read,  and  especially  if  both  prefer  the 
same  class  of  books  and  studies — which  they  will  do  if  their  organs 
are  similar — they  will  not  only  be  delighted  to  hold  intellectual  in- 


40  EFFECTS   OF   SIMILAIIITY   OF   ORGANIZATION 

tercourse  with  each  other  hy  conversation  and  reading,  hut  they 
can  promote  the  intellectual  advancement  of  each  other ;  criticise 
each  other's  ideas  and  productions ;  and,  continually  and  immensely 
advance  each  other  in  the  main  object  of  desire  and  pursuit.  How 
exceedingly  delighted  must  President  Adams  have  been  with  the 
highly  intellectual  correspondence  of  his  uncommonly  talented  wife, 
and  how  much  more  with  the  masterly  manner  in  which  she  con- 
ducted the  education  of  their  son  ex-President  John  Quincy  Adams,* 
and  instilled  into  his  tender  mind  those  principles  of  integrity  and 
uncompromising  moral  rectitude  which,  together  with  his  acknowl^ 
edged  intellectual  superiority,  placed  him  in  the  Presidential  chair, 
and  have  distinguished  his  long,  laborious,  and  useful  life  ?  A  cor- 
respondence which  is  all  love,  would  soon  cloy  and  sicken  an  intel- 
lectual companion,  while  one  rich  in  ideas  and  good  counsel,  and 
also  full  of  tenderness  and  elevated  love,  is  a  rare  treat,  a  treasure 
which,  to  be  appreciated,  must  be  experienced. 

K  the  Temperament  and  feelings  of  the  one  be  coarse  and  harsh, 
while  those  of  the  other  are  fine  and  exquisite ;  if  the  one  be  phleg- 
matic, and  the  other  sentimental ;  one  quick,  and  the  other  slow ; 
one  elevated  and  aspiring,  the  other  grovelling ;  one  clear-headed, 
the  other  dull  of  comprehension ;  one  frugal  and  industrious,  the 
other  idle  and  extravagant ;  true  Connubial  love  cannot  exist  be- 
tween them.  How  can  two  walk  together  unless  they  be  agreed  1 
And,  if  Phrenology  be  true,  how  can  they  be  agreed  unless  their 
temperaments  and  organs  be  similar  1  How  can  husbands  and 
wives  live  happily  together  whose  tastes,  dispositions,  objects,  sen- 
timents, views,  opinions,  preferences,  feelings,  &c.  &c.  are  conflict- 
ing, or  even  unlike  ?  For  then,  every  faculty  of  either  only  excites 
those  of  the  other  to  discordant  and  disagreeable  action ;  the  prod- 
uct of  which  is  pain,  which  engenders  dislike ;  whereas  the  very 
essence  of  connubial  love,  that  in  which  alone  it  consists  and  has 
its  being,  is  this  very  congeniality  the  necessity  of  which  I  am 
urging. 

Let  the  reader  now  pause  and  examine  the  correctness  of  this 
principle.     Inquire  at  the  shrine  of  your  own  heart,  and  question 

*  If  any  should  deem  this  allusion  irrelevant  or  improper,  let  such  read  the 
published  correspondence  between  President  John  Adams  and  his  wiie,  particu- 
larly in  reference  to  the  education  of  their  children,  and  at  the  same  time  re- 
collect, that  scarcely  any  one  thing  will  attach  an  intellectual  man  to  his  wif# 
sooner  or  more  effectually,  than  to  see  her  employ  a  vigorous  intellect  and  an  en* 
lightened _/Mf?gmen<,  in  the  training  and  ^ome-education  of  their  children. 


CONTRASTED  WITH   THAT   OF  DISSIMILARITY.  41 

the  experience  of  the  married,  in  regard  to  its  validity.  I  call 
upon  you  who  are  married  to  bear  witness,  whether  you  love  each 
other  as  far  as  your  qualities  of  mind  harmonize,  and  on  account  of 
that  harmony,  or  the  reverse  ?  Do  those  of  you  who  admire  and 
love  each  other,  do  so  on  account  of  your  mental  similarity  or  dis- 
similarity ?  And  do  those  of  you  who  in  part  dislike  each  other, 
do  so  as  far  as,  and  because,  you  are  alike,  or  as  far  as,  and  be- 
cause, you  are  unlike  ?  Is  not  the  main  procuring  cause  of  that 
frequent  want  of  love  between  husbands  and  wives,  founded  in  this 
want  of  similarity  in  their  feelings  and  intellectual  qualities? 
Does  not  this  dissimilarity  account  for  there  being  so  many  pairs 
yet  so  few  matches  1     This  is  Phrenology — this  is  human  nature. 

If  to  this  you  answer,  by  asking  "  how  it  happens  that  they  love 
and  marry  at  all,  since  this  similarity  is  the  law  and  the  basis  of 
love,  and  since,  after  marriage,  they  find  they  do  not  possess  it  ?"  I 
reply,  that,  when  first  "smitten,"  they  find,  on  a  casual  comparison 
of  views  and  feelings,  that  they  are  alike  on  some  one  or  two 
strong  points,  and  marry  before  they  have  compared  notes  and 
feelings  in  other  respects.  Before  marriage,  only  the  concordant 
points  were  brought  out ;  after  marriage,  their  dis-cordant  points 
are  brought  into  collision,  and  their  attachments  reversed. 

To  every  unmarried  man  and  woman,  then,  I  say  in  the  name  of 
nature  and  of  nature's  God,  marry  congenial  spirits  or  none — con- 
genial, not  in  one  or  two  material  points,  but  in  all  the  leading 
elements  of  character.  And  to  obtain  this  congeniality,  marry  one 
whose  Temperament  and  Phrenological  developments  are  similar 
TO  YOUR  OWN !  Do  tMs,  and  you  are  safe,  you  are  happy :  fail  to 
do  this,  and  you  marry  sorrow  and  regret. 

But,  if  this  principle  hold  true  of  the  other  faculties,  how  much 
more  so  of  the  socla.l  ?  If  they  be  unlike ;  if  Amativeness  or 
Friendship  be  strong  in  the  one  and  weak  in  the  other,  the  former 
will  be  all  tenderness  and  aflTection,  but  the  latter,  too  cold-hearted 
to  reciprocate  them,  which  will  put  the  affectionate  one  upon  the 
rack,  besides  other  items  of  disagreement  certainly  not  less  essen- 
tial. Of  all  other  points  of  dissimilarity,  those  in  regard  to  the 
social  faculties  are  the  most  momentous,  and  disagreement  here 
the  most  disastrous  !  See  to  it,  therefore,  those  of  you  who  have 
large  domestic  organs,  that  you  marry  one  in  whom  they  are  also 
large,  and  not  pre-engaged,  or  fastened  on  another. 
4* 


42  THIS  PRINCIPLE   ILLUSTRATED   AND   ENFORCED. 

In  case  your  own  excesses  or  defects  are  liable,  if  equally  devel- 
oped in  a  companion,  to  endanger  your  happiness,  or  prove  injuri- 
ous to  your  offspring,  it  may  be  best  to  violate  this  rule  by  choosing 
a  companion  whose  qualities  are  the  opposite  of  your  ow^n  in  these 
injurious  extremes.  Thus,  if  your  Cautiousness  be  deficient,  you 
should  not  marry  one  in  whom  it  is  also  small,  lest  your  combined 
imprudences  keep  you  both  always  in  difficulty ;  but  you  should 
select  a  companion  having  this  organ  large,  one  who  will  take 
care  of  things,  and  stand  sentinel  for  you  both,  warn  you  of  ap- 
proaching danger,  and  check  your  imprudences.  Though  these  ad- 
monitions may  at  times  annoy  you,  still,  if  you  bear  in  mind  the 
good  conferred  upon  you  by  this  dissimilarity,  it  will  only  tend  to 
increase  your  love,  especially  as  this  course  was  pointed  out  by  in- 
tellect and  required  by  your  own  good.  But  if  Cautiousness  be  so 
excessive  in  you  as  to  produce  irresolution,  procrastination,  or 
cowardice,  you  require  a  companion  in  whom  it  is  less,  who  will  be 
bold  and  prompt,  and  encourage  you  to  action,  as  well  as  dispel 
your  groundless  fears.  Their  carelessness  may  often  make  you 
afraid,  yet  this  evil  is  less  than  its  excessive  development  in  both. 
Still,  a  full  and  equal  development  of  it  in  each  is  altogether  pre- 
ferable. 

If  Acquisitiveness  be  small  in  yourself,  you  should  by  no  means 
marry  one  in  whom  this  organ  is  also  small,  lest  the  combined  ex- 
travagance of  both  and  the  economy  of  neither,  bring  you  to  pov- 
ert}^,  and  keep  you  there ;  but  you  should  choose  a  frugal,  acquisi- 
tive, industrious  companion ;  one  who  will  make  good  bargains, 
hold  on  to  the  purse-strings,  save  every  thing,  and  check  your 
profuseness.  Though  this  parsimony  may  sometimes  disgust  you, 
yet,  by  recollecting  that  this  very  quality  benefits  yourself,  this 
dissimilarity  will  only  serve  to  increase  your  mutual  esteem  and 
affection.  And  yet,  unless  you  saw,  in  the  light  of  this  principle, 
that  this  disagreement  worked  out  your  oion  personal  good  as  well 
as  theirs,  and  was  dictated  by  intellect,  evil  consequences  would 
almost  inevitably  grow  out  of  it.  But  by  "  agreeing  to  disagree" 
for  the  sake  of  the  common  good,  this  opposition  of  qualities,  in- 
stead of  brealdng  in  upon  your  affections,  will  only  strengthen 
them. 

But  these  exceptions  to  this  rule  are  few,  and  can  occur  only 
upon  the  animal  propensities  or  lower  sentiments.  On  no  account 
•^^'Mild  they  ever  occur  in  reference  to  the  moral  sentiments  or  intel- 


WHO  SHOULD   NOT   BIARRT.  43 

.'lect.  Agreement  here  is  indispensable  to  true  connubial  love ; 
while  disagreement  here,  is  fatal  to  domestic  happiness.  This  law 
is  imperative.  Whoever  marries  in  violation  of  it,  must  abide  the 
consequences,  and  they  will  be  found  to  be  terribly  severe. 

If,  however,  your  oion  animal  propensities  predominate,  you 
should  by  no  means  marry  one  whose  animal  nature  also  predomi- 
nates, for  this  WTill  cause  a  perpetual  strife,  and  a  continual  boiling 
over  of  the  animal  natures  of  both.  Nor  should  you  marry  one 
whose  sentiments  predominate ;  first,  because  their  goodness  will  be 
a  living,  ever  present  reproof  to  your  badness,  tormenting  you  con- 
tinually, (for  moral  purity  always  rebukes  selfishness;)  and,  secondly; 
because  your  propensities  will  be  a  perpetual  thorn  in  the  side  of 
your  moral  companion.  As  well  marry  a  chicken  to  a  hawk,  or  a 
lamb  to  a  wolf,  as  high  moral  sentiments  to  predominant  animal 
passions.  But,  say  you,  if  I  must  neither  marry  one  having  the 
propensities  predominant,  nor  one  of  predominant  moral  sentiments, 
what  shall  I  do,  whom  shall  I  marry  1  I'll  tell  thee,  friend  :  Don't 
marry  at  all.  Your  own  good  demands  this  course.  The  farther 
you  keep  from  the  marriage  state,  the  better  for  yourself  and  all 
concerned.  Till  you  rid  yourself  of  your  selfishness — till  your 
moral  sentiments  rule — you  are  neither  fit  to  marry,  nor  to  mingle 
with  your  fellow-men  at  all.  Your  Selfishness  renders  you  neces- 
sarily miserable,  and  also  all  with  whom  you  have  to  do.  So  have 
as  little  to  do  with  your  fellow-men  as  possible,  both  on  your  own 
account  and  on  theirs.  Above  all,  avoid  this  closest  of  all  contacts, 
and  especially  refrain  from  becoming  a  parent,  lest  you  render  your 
posterity  miserable  by  entailing  upon  them  that  animal  organization 
which  torments  yourself. 

An  extremely  active  Temperament  forms  another  exception  to 
this  rule.  When  both  parents  are  extremely  active  and  nervous, 
their  children  will  be  liable  to  precocity,  and  subject  to  a  premature 
death.  For  the  same  reason,  too,  persons  having  small  chests  and 
weak  vital  powers,  should  not  become  parents,  but  should  off-set 
these  defects  by  opposite  qualities  in  their  companions,  not  in  order 
thereby  to  promote  connubial  love,  which  will  be  weakened  by  this 
course ;  but,  on  account  of  offspring.  The  domestic  felicity  of  pa- 
rents, and  indeed  of  the  whole  family,  is  greatly  augmented  or 
diminished  by  the  good  or  bad  dispositions  of  the  children,  by  their 
life  and  health,  their  sickness  or  death,  &c.  &c.  j  hence,  this  matter 


44  HOW   TO   SECURE   THIS   CONGENIALITY. 

becomes  an  item  of  no  inconsiderable  consequence  to  be  taken  into 
account  in  selecting  a  husband  or  wife. 

Since  this  subject  has  thus  inadvertently  been  broached,  I  will 
just  allude  to  the  manifest  impropriety  of  choosing  companions 
who  have  any  hereditary  tendency  to  mental  or  physical  diseases, 
such  as  insanity,  consumption,  scrofula,  apoplexy,  &c.,  and  show 
the  importance  of  choosing  a  companion  who  is  qualified  to  become 
the  parent  of  healthy,  moral,  and  intelligent  offspring :  although 
to  show  what  qualities  are  requisite  in  parents  as  parents,  in  order 
to  prepare  them  to  impart  to  their  children  the  most  desirable  phys- 
ical and  mental  qualities,  does  not  come  within  the  design  of  this 
work ;  it  being  reserved  for  one  on  "  Hereditary  Descent,  its 
Laws  and  Facts,"  which  will  be  published  in  connecxon  with  the 
"  Phrenological  Journal."    (See  Prospectus.) 

The  leading  principle  of  Phrenology  in  regard  to  marriage,  to- 
gether with  its  reasons,  is  now  before  the  reader.  But  the  next 
inquiry  is,  How  can  this  harmony  be  effected  1  By  what  means, 
and  in  what  way,  can  it  be  brought  about  1  for,  to  know  how  to 
obtain  this  harmony,  is  quite  as  important  as  the  harmony  itself. 
The  answers  of  Phrenology  here,  also,  are  clear  and  directly  in 
point,  and  its  directions  so  plain  that  "  he  that  runs  may  read." 
They  are — 


first,    study  yourself  thoroughly. 

Study  both  your  physical  organization  and  your  phrenological 
developments.  Ascertain  your  own  qualities,  and  that  will  tell  you 
just  what  qualities  you  require  in  a  companion,  to  harmonize  with 
them.  I  say,  study  yourself  phrenologically ;  because  no  other 
method  is  equally  satisfactory  or  certain.  Without  a  knowledge 
of  this  science,  your  Self-Esteem,  if  large,  will  magnify  all  your 
good  qualities,  and  throw  the  mantle  of  charity  over  your  defects ; 
or,  the  deficiency  of  this  organ  with  large  Conscientiousness,  will  give 
you  too  low  and  humble  an  opinion  of  yourself;  magnifying  your 
faults  and  hiding  from  you  your  good  qualities.  Our  own  organi- 
zation constitutes  the  medium,  or  the  colored  glasses,  through  which 
■we  look  at  all  subjects,  ourselves  included.  If  that  organization  be 
defective,  that  is,  if  our  characters  be  faulty,  our  standard  of  self- 
estimation  is  erroneous,  and  our  self-knowledge  proportionably  defi- 


HOW  TO   SECURE   CONGENL'ULITY.  45 

cient  or  defective.  But,  in  case  Phrenology  be  true,  it  affords  cer- 
tain and  tangible  data  for  self-examination — data  that  cannot  he 
mistaken — so  that  it  leaves  scarcely  a  possibility  of  our  being  de- 
ceived or  mistaken  in  regard  to  our  real  characters :  especially 
when  we  combine  our  own  consciousness  with  a  knowledge  of  our 
phrenological  developments. 

Secondly. — Phrenology  will  also  tell  you  the  true  character  and 
disposition  of  your  intended,  and  thereby  show  wherein  each  is 
adapted  to  the  other,  or  discover  their  want  of  adaptation.  Modern 
courtship  is  little  else  than  a  school  of  deception.  The  time  being 
previously  appointed,  the  best  dress  is  put  on ;  the  mouth  put  in 
prun  and  set  off"  with  artificial  smiles ;  the  gentleman  an'ayed  in  his 
best  broadcloth,  and  the  l^dy  dressed  in  the  tip  of  the  fashion,  and 
corsetted  too  tight  to  breathe  freely  or  appear  naturally ;  fine  say- 
ings, well  spiced  with  flattery,  cut  and  dried  before-hand ;  faults  all 
hid,  and.  virtues,  set  in  the  fore-ground  ;  and  every  thing  white- 
washed for  the  occasion.  And,  what  is  even  worse,  the  night  season 
is  usually  chosen ;  whereas  this,  the  most  momentous  and  eventful 
business  of  our  lives,  should  be  transacted  in  open  day-light,  when 
both  parties  are  fully  themselves,  and  have  all  their  faculties  in 
vigorous  exercise.  Is  there  any  shame  or  deformity  in  this  matter 
requiring  the  shades  of  darkness  to  screen  them  1  Let  courting  be 
done  in  the  day  time,  with  an  open  heart,  and  in  your  every  day 
clothes.  The  one  main  object  of  courtship  should  be,  to  become  ac- 
quainted, especially  with  each  other's  faults  ;  for,  if  the  parties 
marry,  they  are  sure  to  find  out  these  had  qualities ;  but  it  will  then 
be  too  late.  In  trying  to  cheat  the  other  party  by  concealing  your 
faults,  you  are  only  cheating  yourselves  ;  for,  how  can  those  love 
you  whom  you  have  deceived  ?  and  how  can  you  live  happily  to- 
gether when  you  both  find  yourselves  taken  in  by  each  other  1 
Hence,  you  should  freely  disclose — your  faults  especially  :  your 
virtues  will  exhibit  themselves.  Besides,  persons  in  love  are  quite 
liable  enough  to  be  blind  to  the  faults  of  their  sweet-hearts,  with- 
out any  attempts  to  keep  these  faults  concealed.  The  great  dan- 
ger— the  main  point  to  be  guarded  against — is,  a  relapse,  a  re-ac- 
tion after  marriage ;  which  wiU  be  effectually  prevented  or  indu- 
ced by  both  disclosing  or  concealing  their  faults  before  marriage. 

But  even  in  case  your  intended  should  follow  this  almost  univer- 
sal custom  of  practising  these  harmless  (?)  deceptions,  a  knowledge 


46  HOW   TO  KNOW  THE   CHARACTER   OF  YOUR   INTENDED. 

of  Phrenology,  with  one  scrutanizing  glance,  strips  the  character 
of  all  artificial  deceptions  that  can  be  thrown  around  it,  and  furnishes 
an  unerring  index  of  character,  talents,  tastes,  sentiments,  pre-dis- 
positions,  &c. ;  for  the  developments  can  neither  be  inflated  nor  de- 
pressed to  suit  the  occasion,  but  are  fixed  and  permanent  signs  of 
the  naked  character,  just  as  it  will  be  found  to  be  on  acquaintance. 
Tliis  science,  therefore,  is  an  invaluable  directory  to  candidates  for 
marriage.  If  it  were  studied  and  applied,  there  would  be  no  more 
need  of  making  a  bad  choice,  or  of  mistaking  a  poor  husband  or  wife 
for  a  good  one,  than  of  mistaking  a  thistle  for  a  rose. 

But  if  you  have  not  sufficient  time  to  study  it  so  as  to  apply  it 
with  the  requisite  certainty  for  yourself,  you  can  employ  the  ser- 
vices of  an  experienced  practical  Phrenologist,  or  if  this  carmot  be 
done,  a  comparison  of  charts,  carefully  prepared  by  him,  may  an- 
swer. At  this  course,  you  smile  in  ridicule ;  but  what  is  there  in  it 
at  all  absurd,  or  even  improper  ?  Is  it  improper  to  ascertain  the 
qualities  of  each  other  1  Certainly  not :  whereas  it  is  ridiculous  to 
marry  a  stranger,  or  even  one  of  whose  qualities  you  know  but  lit- 
tle. Does  this  absurdity  then  consist  in  the  proposed  means  of  ob- 
taining this  knowledge  1  In  what  else  can  it  consist  ?  The  only 
reason  for  smiling  at  this  proposed  method  is,  that  it  is  novel,  which 
evinces  the  folly,  not  of  this  method,  but  of  the  laugher.  Let  such 
laugh  on ;  for,  they  laugh  only  at  themselves ;  but  let  those  who 
would  avail  themselves  of  an  assistant  superior  to  all  others,  observe 
the  heads  of  their  intended,  and  marry  phrenologically.  And  let 
matrimony,  instead  of  being  treated  lightly,  and  as  a  matter  of 
merriment,  which  is  usually  the  case,  be  regarded  by  both  parties, 
and  also  by  their  friends,  as  it  really  is — ^the  most  momentous  busi 
ness  of  our  lives. 

If  to  this  it  be  objected,  that  Cupid  is  blind,  and  though  I  have 
told  how  to  select  a  suitable  companion,  yet,  what  is  even  more  im- 
portant, I  have  not  shown  how  to  get  in  love  with  the  one  selected  ; 
I  reply,  by  admitting  the  truth  of  the  quaint  adage,  that  "  where 
love  falls,  it  falls  flat."  I  know  full  well  that  mankind  generally 
fall  in  love,  whereas  they  should  get  in  love  ;  and  that,  from  time 
immemorial,  Cupid  has  been  blind ;  but  Phrenology  opens  his  eyes, 
and  shows  how  to  love  intellectually.  In  order  to  do  this,  you 
have  only  to 


HOW  TO   GET   IN  LOVE.  47 


KECTIFY  YOUR    STANDARD   OF   ESTEEM   AND   ADMIRATION. 

If  Cupid  has  always  been  blind,'  he  has  always  blindly  followed 
admiration.  We  foil  in  love  with  whatever  we  admire  and  esteem, 
and  with  that  only.  The  young  man  who  admires  a  delicate  hand 
or  handsome  figure,  a  pretty  foot  and  ancle,  or  a  fine  set  of  teeth,  a 
small  waist  or  find  bust,  a  beautiful  face,  or  genteel  manners  most, 
\vill  fall  in  love  with  one  possessing  the  admired  quality,  and  be- 
cause she  possesses  it.  But  he  who  admires  moral  purity,  or  supe- 
rior talents,  or  piety,  or  tenderness  of  love,  will  love  a  woman  pos- 
sessing these  qualities,  and  on  account  of  this  possession.  Is  not 
this  proposition  founded  in  a  law  of  mind  ?  Who  can  controvert 
or  essentially  modify  it  7  To  you  whose  experience  enables  you  to 
judge  feelingly  in  regard  to  this  matter,  I  make  my  appeal  for  its 
correctness. 

This  point  being  established,  it  follows  that  whoever  regards 
particular  forms  of  the  head,  or  certain  phrenological  developments, 
as  indications  of  those  quahties  of  mind  admired,  will  fall  in  love 
with  one  having  these  developments  just  as  deeply  and  as  effectu- 
ally as  with  one  having  a  pretty  face,  handsome  figure,  &c.,  when 
they  are  admired,  and  for  precisely  the  same  reason — namely,  be- 
cause they  are  admired.  Why  should  this  not  be  the  case  7  My 
position  that  love  follows  admiration,  embodies  the  enth'e  experience 
of  mankind,  and  is  invulnerable  ;  and  the  consequent  inference 
that  those  who  admire  an  excellent  head,  will  surely  fall  in  love 
with  it,  is  conclusive.  Whatever,  therefore,  a  young  man  or  v/o- 
man  admires  most,  whether  personal  beauty,  a  sweet  smile,  a  talent 
for  music,  or  poetry,  or  painting,  or  high  intellectual  or  moral  at- 
tainments, or  kindness,  or  industry,  or  frugality,  or  wit,  or  strong 
common  sense,  or  a  well  formed  head,  as  indicating  a  superior 
mind  or  excellent  feelings,  will  be  fallen  in  love  with  first.  To 
this  rule,  there  can  be  no  exception.  By  applying  it,  you  can 
guide  your  love  in  any  channel  pointed  out  by  intellect,  or  sanc- 
tioned by  the  moral  sentiments.  This  principle  is  to  your  love  what 
the  helm  is  to  a  ship,  and  intellect  should  be  the  pilot.  Let  your  in- 
tellect and  higher  sentiments  rectify  your  standard  of  admiration 
and  esteem,  and  this  will  effectually  govern  your  love,  and  guide  it 
into  the  peaceful  haven  of  connubial  bliss. 


48  COURTING   AND   MARKYING  PHRENOLOrilCALLY. 

Allow  me  to  add,  that  my  own  experience  accords  entirely  with 
this  principle,  besides  fully  confirming  the  preceding,  namely,  that 
of  selecting  a  companion  by  the  developments.  I  say,  with  empha- 
sis, and  from  experience,  that  I  would  place  more  confidence  in  a 
good  phrenological  head,  in  connexion  with  a  good  physical  orga- 
nization and  training,  than  in  ten  years  acquaintance  and  courtship, 
added  to  all  the  recommendations  that  can  be  produced.  They  never 
vary,  never  deceive ;  while  the  latter  may  be  only  outside  appear- 
ances. How  often  have  they  deceived  the  most  cautious  ?  So  of- 
ten— so  egregiously — that  choosing  a  companion  has  been  appro- 
priately compared  to  buying  a  ticket  in  a  lottery.  You  may  draw 
a  prize,  but  the  chances  are  ten  to  one  that  you  will  draw  a  blank ; 
and  if  a  blank  only,  it  might  be  endured,  but  a  blank  here,  is  a  con- 
tinual eye-sore,  a  perpetual  fountain  of  bitterness.  In  hundreds  of 
instances  have  I  seen  the  course  here  proposed,  of  courting  and 
marrying  by  the  developments,  followed,  and  in  as  many  instances 
have  been  called  upon  professionally  to  decide  on  the  fitness  and 
the  adaptation  of  the  parties  to  each  other,  and  never  saw  one  ter- 
minate any  other  way  than  happily.  I  stake  my  reputation  as  a 
Phrenologist  on  the  success  of  this  direction  properly  applied,  and 
am  entirely  willing  to  abide  any  evil  consequences  resulting  from  its 
failure. 

But,  continues  our  objector,  though  you  show  us  how  to  make 
our  choice,  and  then  how  to  get  in  love  with  the  object  chosen,  yet 
it  is  quite  as  important  that  you  show  us  how  to  get  the  object  of 
our  choice  in  love  with  us.  I  reply,  that  Phrenology  discovers  at  a 
glance  the  "  blind  side'^  of  every  one,  and  thus  shows  you  just  how 
successfully  to  address  them — just  how  to  take  them ;  but  as  my 
present  object  is  rather  to  point  out  the  course  to  be  pursued  before 
marriao-e,  I  shall  waive  this  point  for  the  present.  After  I  have 
shown  you  how  to  marry,  I  shall  give  directions  to  the  married,  for 
exciting  and  perpetuating  each  other's  love,  and  living  affection- 
ately and  happily  together.  Suffice  it  for  the  present  to  say,  that 
in  case  the  affections  of  the  other  party  are  not  previously  engaged, 
very  little  difficulty  need  be  apprehended  about  engaging  them ; 
for,  both  young  men  and  young  women  are  apt  to  get  in  love  quite 
easily  enough  without  effort.  In  fact,  the  great  diflficulty  consists 
in  keeping  them  from  loving  till  they  are  fully  matured  and  pre- 
pared for  marriage. 


NECESSITY   OF  AMPLY   DEVELOPED  MORAL   SENTIMENTS.  49 

And  now,  good  reader,  let  us  pause  and  review  the  ground  al- 
ready gone  over.     The  three  points  thus  far  presented,  are : 

1.    THE   POWER   OF   THE   DOMESTIC   FACULTIES   OVER   THE   HAPPINESS  OR 
MISERY   OF   MANKIND. 

2.  LET   YOUR    COMPANION   BE    SIMILAR    TO   YOURSELF. 

3.  RECTIFY     YOUR    STANDARD   OF   ESTEEM   AND    ADMIRATION,     and    this 

will  enable  you  to  control  your  love. 

If  this  last  direction  should  call  out  the  question,  "  By  what  model 
shall  we  rectify  our  standard  ?  On  what  pQ-inciples  shall  this  esteem 
and  admiration  be  based  V    I  answer,  on 

A   FULL   DEVELOPMENT   OF    THE    jMORAL    SENTIMENTS. 

This,  according  to  Phrenology,  is  one  main  condition  of  virtue 
and  happiness.  Not  only  does  their  proper  exercise  give  a  great 
amount  of  enjoyment  of  the  purest,  highest  kind,  but  the  action  of 
the  other  faculties  can  be  productive  of  pleasure  only  when  exer- 
cised in  harmony  with  them,  and  under  their  sanction.  This  con- 
stitutes the  phrenological  definition  of  virtue — its  principal  condi- 
tion of  enjoyment — and  is  the  Moral  Law  of  Phrenology.  The  ex- 
ercise of  the  animal  propensities  without  their  sanction,  or  in  oppo- 
sition to  their  dictates,  constitutes  that  violation  of  this  law  which 
brings  down  its  penalties  upon  the  head  of  the  offender.  By  the 
still,  small  voice  of  these  sentiments,  man  instinctively  jfee/*  that  he 
should  be  governed.  He  is  intuitively  conscious  of  his  obligation  to 
yield  obedience  to  their  mandates.  He  feels  their  dictates  to  be 
imperious  and  sovereign.  When  large  Acquisitiveness  would  fain 
take  what  belongs  to  another.  Conscientiousness,  even  though  less 
in  size,  resists  the  enticement  with  more  energy  and  success  than 
Acquisitiveness  urges  it.  It  is  only  after  the  moral  sentiments  have 
been  disarmed  of  their  power  by  having  been  perverted,  that  they 
allow  the  propensities  to  lead  astray.  No  exercise  of  these  pro- 
pensities without  their  sanction,  or  at  least  in  opposition  to  it,  can 
ultimately  produce  happiness,  but  always  pain.  It  is  a  law  of  our 
nature  that  selfishness  and  sin — only  other  names  for  the  predomi- 
nance of  the  propensities — should  invariably  punish  themselves  j 
and,  on  the  other  hand,  that  virtue  and  moral  purity — only  other 
names  for  the  ascendency  of  the  moral  sentiments  properly  directed — 
constitute  their  own  reward,  and  make  their  possessor  happy.  To 
enjoy  any  relation,  and  especially  the  domestic  relations,  your  own 
5 


50  THIS   PRINCIPLE   ILLUSTRATED   AND   ENFORCED. 

moral  faculties  must^r^^  be  exercised  and  gratified  ;  and,  to  do  this, 
you  require  their  full  development  in  your  companion,  so  that  this 
companion  may  continually  and  agreeably  excite  and  gratify  your 
own  moral  faculties.  But  in  case  your  own  moral  sentiments  are 
feeble,  you  should  certainly  not  marry,  as  already  shown.  If,  there- 
fore, you  do  not  wish  to  be  put  in  perpetual  torment,  by  having 
your  own  propensities  continually  excited  by  their  predominance  in 
your  companion,  or  if  you  would  inhale,  day  by  day,  and  year  by 
year,  the  balmy  breezes  of  high  moral  sentiments,  of  pure  and  holy 
emotion,  see  to  it,  I  beseech  you,  that  you  choose  a  companion 
having  large  moral  organs,  so  that  your  own  may  be  continually 
and  agreeably  excited,  and  never  outraged. 

To  woman  this  principle  applies  with  double  force  :  first,  because 
she  is  much  more  under  the  power,  and  subject  to  the  caprice  of  her 
husband  than  he  is  to  hers,  and  therefore  her  happiness  depends 
more  on  his  being  a  good-feeling  man,  than  his  happiness  depends 
on  her  good  feelings ;  but  what  is  more,  man  is  less  likely  to  be 
m^oral  and  virtuous  than  woman :  that  is,  woman  has  generally 
better  moral  developments  than  man ;  and,  secondly,  woman  is  more 
social,  affectionate,  and  domestic  than  man ;  that  is,  she  enjoys  a 
good  husband,  and  suffers  from  a  bad  one,  more  than  it  is  possible 
for  man  to  enjoy  from  a  good  wife,  or  suffer  from  a  bad  one. 

The  reader  hardly  requires  to  be  told  that  a  predominance  of  the 
moral  sentiments  is  indicated  by  a  high  head,  and  one  that  is  long, 
especially  on  the  top  ;  but,  that  a  large  neck,  and  a  thick,  broad, 
r.onical  head,  one  that  runs  up  as  it  were  towards  a  peak  upon  the 
top,  somewhat  resembling  a  cone,  largest  at  the  base,  and  neither 
high  nor  long,  indicates  the  ascendency  of  the  propensities.  Do 
not  marry  a  man  with  a  low,  wide,  flat  head ;  for,  however  fascina- 
ting, genteel,  polite,  tender,  plausible,  or  winning  he  may  be,  you 
will  repent  the  day  of  your  espousal.  I  would  not  have  you  many 
a  head  too  long,  or  too  thin,  lest  your  husband  should  lack  the  re- 
quisite force  of  mind  and  energy  of  character  to  support  yourself 
and  children ;  but,  marry  a  well  proportioned  head  and  body.  In 
my  work  on  education,  pp.  33  to  44,  I  have  shown  that,  other 
things  being  equal,  the  best  heads  are  those  in  which  the  organs 
are  the  most  evenly  and  harmoniously  developed  and  balanced — a 
principle  which  should  be  borne  in  mind  in  selecting  companions  for 
life ;  for,  the  better  their  characters,  the  greater  the  enjoyment  you  will 
derive  from  their  society  and  affection,  and,  education  and  other  things 


DO  NOT   MARRY   FOR   BEAUTY  51 

being  right,  the  more  equally  developed  their  organs,  the  more  per- 
fect will  be  their  characters,  and  the  greater  the  amount  of  brain  in 
your  head  that  will  bfe  called  into  action  by  them,  and,  consequently, 
the  greater  your  happiness. 

Let  us  now  look  at  a  few  illustrations  and  applications  of  our 
second  leading  principle,  namely,  The  importance  of  marrying  so 
as  to  gratify  the  whole  brain,  or  the  moral  and  intellectual  faculties 
in  conjunction  with  the  propensities,  rather  than  to  gratify  the  pro- 
pensities merely.  If  your  standard  of  admiration  be  beauty,  and 
you  love  and  marry  this  quality,  you  gratify  Amativeness  only,  com- 
bined perhaps  with  Ideality  and  Form,  so  that  but  a  small  portion 
of  your  brain  is  exercised  or  gratified,  nor  that  long ;  for,  beauty 
soon  fades,  and  with  it  all  your  pleasure  connected  v^'ith  marriage ; 
lea\'ing  your  other  faculties  liable  to  be  reversed,  and  you  in  a  fair 
way  to  drag  out  a  miserable  life  of  connubial  wretchedness,  and  all 
because  your  standard  of  admiration  was  erroneous. 

So,  if  you  admire  a  singing-bird,  and  love  and  marry  her  because 
she  gratifies  your  organ  of  Tune,  combined  with  one  or  two  others, 
the  cares  of  a  family,  blended  with  another  kind  of  music,  are  liable 
to  drown  the  tones  of  the  piano  or  harp,  and  compel  you  to  exclaim 
with  Micah,  "  Ye  have  taken  away  my  Gons !  what  have  I  more  ?" 

If  Acquisitiveness  determine  your  choice,  and  you  love  and 
marry  for  riches,  though  you  may  gratify  a  single  faculty,  and  that 
a  lower  propensity,  still,  you  thereby  violate  the  main  law  already 
presented,  which  requires  the  ascendency  and  dictation  of  the  moral 
sentiments,  and  incur  its  penalties.  Married  gold  soon  vanishes ; 
but,  even  though  it  remain,  the  other  party  cannot  fail  soon  to  dis- 
cover your  real  motive  for  marrying,  so  that  this  very  money  is  al- 
most sure  to  become  a  bone  of  contention  between  you  for  life. 
No !  you  cannot  violate  this  law  without  incurring  its  penalties, 
and  they  are  terribly  severe,  because  the  law  broken  is  so  all-impor- 
tant. The  rage  of  American  gentlemen  seems  to  be  for  rich  wives 
and  small  waists — both  curses  to  any  man.  The  habits  of  women 
brought  up  in  affluence,  are  any  thing  but  those  calculated  to  make 
a  husband  happy.  They  usually  know  little  or  nothing  of  domes- 
tic matters ;  are  neither  able  nor  willing  to  work ;  and,  worst  of 
all,  2Lve  fashionable! — which  is  only  another  name  for  "  a  whitened 
sepulchre,"  full  of  hypocrisy ;  fashionable  life  being  only  one 
continual  round  of  deception,  and  a  tissue  of  hollow-hearted  preten- 
sions.   Rarely  have  such  much  sterling  sense,  much  energy  of  char 


52  EVILS   OF   MARRYING  FOR   MONEY. 

acter,  or  power  of  intellect.  They  expect  all  around  them  to  be 
their  waiters,  to  have  their  every  whim  gTatified,  and  all  their  re- 
quisitions implicitly  obeyed.  And  then,  too,  most  of  them  have 
been  in  love,  and  many  of  them  several  times  over.  The  parties 
they  have  attended,  and  the  company  they  have  seen,  have  brought 
with  them  love  scenes  and  blighted  affections,  till  their  elements  of 
love  have  been  seared  and  frost-bitten  by  disappointment.  Nor  do 
those  who  marry  for  wealth  often  secure  to  themselves  even  that 
very  wealth  for  which  they  married,  and  to  obtain  which  they  vio- 
lated the  sacred  relations  of  matrimony;  for,  rich  girls,  besides 
being  generally  destitute  of  both  industry  and  economy,  are  gene- 
rally extravagant  in  their  expenditures,  and  require  servants  enough 
about  them  to  dissipate  a  fortune.  They  generally  have  insatiable 
wants,  yet  feel  that  they  deserve  to  be  indulged  in  every  thing,  he- 
cause  they  placed  their  husbands  under  obligation  to  them  by  bring- 
ing them  a  dowery.  And  then  the  mere  idea  of  living  on  the  money 
of  a  wife,  and  of  being  supported  by  her,  is  enough  to  tantalize 
a;ny  man  of  an  independent  spirit  too  much  for  endurance.  What 
spirited  husband  would  not  prefer  to  support  both  himself  and  wife, 
rather  than  submit  to  this  perpetual  bondage  of  obligation.  To 
live  upon  a  father,  or  take  a  patrimony  from  him,  is  quite  bad 
enough ;  but  to  run  in  debt  to  a  wife,  and  owe  her  a  living,  is  a 
little  too  aggravating  for  endurance,  especially  if  there  be  not 
'perfect  cordiality  between  the  two,  which  cannot  be  the  case 
in  money  matches.  Better  hang  yourself,  or  drown  yourself,  or  any 
thing  else,  rather  than  marry  for  money.  Whoever  violates  the 
sacred  relations  of  matrimony  by  marrying  mainly  for  riches,  should 
be,  and  is  cursed,  and  deserves  to  drink  deep,  to  drink  through  life, 
to  drink  to  its  very  dregs,  of  the  cup  of  matrimonial  bitterness  :  nor 
does  he  merit  our  pity,  for  his  punishment  is  just. 

"  What !"  you  exclaim,  "  should  the  rich  never  marry  ?"  It  is 
not  against  riches  as  such  that  I  exclaim,  but  against  those  things 
that  usually  accompany  them.  I  have  elsewhere  shown,  that  the 
possession  of  great  wealth  violates  a  law  of  man's  constitution,  and 
therefore  brings  its  punishments  along  with  it.  These  punishments 
are  inseparable  from  wealth,  and,  therefore,  follow  it  into  married 
life  as  well  as  every  where  else.  Wherever  riches  go,  they  entail 
unhappiness,  and  parents  who  leave  their  children  wealthy,  in  this 
very  act  entail  a  curse  upon  them  proportionate  to  the  amount  left 
them  above  a  mere  competency,  including  the  means  of  intellectual 


AVOID   SMALL    WAISTS   AND    SOFT   HANDS.  53 

and  moral  improvement.  Let  facts  be  my  vouchers.  Do  they  not 
bear  me  out  in  this  assertion  ?  Take  it  which  ever  way  you  please, 
ricli  girls  make  poor  wives,  and  yet  they  are  the  first  selected. 
Shame  on  sordid  wife-seekers,  or,  rather,  money -seekexs ;  for,  it  is 
not  a  wife  that  they  seek,  but  orAy  filthy  lucre  !  They  violate  all 
their  other  faculties  simply  to  gratify  miserly  Acquisitiveness !  Verily 
such  "  have  their  reward  !" 

Still,  I  w^ould  not  have  you  marry  a  companion  from  the  depths 
of  poverty  ;  for,  extremes  either  way  are  unfavorable.  The  prayer 
of  Agur,  "  Give  me  neither  poverty  nor  riches"  is  the  golden  me- 
dium in  this  respect. 

And  to  you,  young  ladies,  let  me  say  with  great  emphasis,  that 
those  who  court  and  marry  you  becaiise  yoii  are  rich,  will  make 
you  rue  the  day  of  your  pecuniary  espousals.  They  care  not  for 
you,  but  only  for  your  money,  and  when  they  get  that,  will  be  lia- 
ble to  neglect  or  abuse  you,  and  probably  squander  it,  leaving  you 
destitute,  and  abandoning  you  to  your  fate. 

Above  all,  do  not  marry  a  soft  and  delicate  hand  ;  for,  soft  hands 
necessarily  accompany  soft  brains,  and  a  mind  too  soft  to  be  sensi- 
ble ;  because  the  whole  organization,  mental  and  physical,  partakes 
of  one  and  the  same  character ;  so  that  a  soft,  pliable,  yielding, 
delicate  hand  indicates  a  predominance  of  the  same  characteristic 
throughout.  Such  may  do  for  a  parlor  toy,  but  not  for  a  wife  or 
mother. 

Ladies  take  too  much  pride  in  cultivating  delicacy  and  softness ; 
refusing  to  labor,  lest  they  should  spoil  their  hands.  But  if  work- 
ing spoils  the  hands,  its  absence  spoils  the  brain  ;  for,  labor,  or  at 
least  a  great  degree  of  exercise,  is  indispensable  to  vigor  and  strength 
of  body,  and  this,  to  a  vigorous  brain  and  strong  mind.  Marry 
a  working,  industrious,  young  lady,  whose  constitution  is  strong, 
flesh  solid,  and  health  unimpaired  by  confinement,  bad  habits,  or 
late  hours.  Give  me  a  plain,  home-spun  farmer^ s  daughter,  and 
you  may  have  all  the  rich  and  fashionable  belles  of  our  cities  and 
villages. 

Marrying  small  waists  is  attended  with  consequences  scarcely 
less  disastrous  than  marrying  rich  and  fashionable  girls.  An  am- 
ply developed  chest  is  a  sure  indication  of  a  naturally  vigorous  con- 
stitution and  a  strong  hold  on  life ;  while  small  waists  indi- 
cate small  and  feeble  vital  organs,  a  delicate  constitution,  sickly 
offspring,  and  a  short  life.  Beware  of  them,  therefore,  unless  you 
5* 


54  NATURAL   WAISTS   OR   NO   WIVES. 

wish  your  hearts  broken  by  the  early  death  of  your  wife  and  cliil- 
dren.  Temperance  ladies  have  wisely  adopted  the  excellent  motto, 
"  Total  abstinence,  or  no  husbands.''^  Let  men  adopt  the  equally 
important  motto,  "  Katural  waists,  or  no  ivives."  Tight-lacing  is 
gradual  suicide,  and  almost  certain  infanticide,  besides  exciting  im- 
pure feelings.* 

But  to  return  to  the  necessity  of  amply  developed  moral  organs 
in  a  companion  and  parent.  A  story  or  two  from  real  hfe  will  il- 
lustrate and  enforce  this  point  better  than  all  the  reasonings  that 
can  be  adduced.  It  was  in  a  country  village,  and  just  before  tea- 
time  on  a  scorching  hot  day,  that  a  boy,  returning  tired  and  hungry 
from  the  blackberry  field,  entered  the  store  of  a  very  pious  mem- 
ber of  a  church,  and  asked  how  much  he  would  give  for  the  ber- 
ries. "  A  sixpence,"  answered  the  man  of  prayer,  though  his  prac- 
ticed eyed  saw  that  they  were  amply  worth  double  that  sum.  On 
turning  them  out,  the  poor  boy  saw  that  he  had  not  obtained  half 

*  The  object  of  the  ladies  in  thus  padding  some  parts  and  compressing  others, 
is,  to  make  themselves,  not  better,  but  the  more  handsome  ;  though  corslets  de- 
stroy the  very  beauty  they  are  designed  to  impart ;  for,  beauty  depends  upon 
health,  and  tight-lacing  impairs  this,  and  makes  them  thin,  scrawny,  and  pale, 
(nor  can  rouge  supply  the  place  of  the  rosy  cheek  of  health,)  besides  shortening 
the  period  of  youth.  Better  far  adopt  the  Chinese  method  of  lacing  the  feet,  or 
even  the  Flat-head  Indian  method  of  compressing  the  head ;  for,  the  compression 
of  no  other  part  is  as  equally  detrimental  as  that  of  the  vs^aist,  because  it  retards 
the  action  of  the  vital  organs,  which  sustain  life.  Abundance  of  exercise  and 
fresh  air,  is  the  best  recipe  for  promoting  beauty.  Those  who  keep  up  the  tone 
and  vigor  of  their  physical  organs,  will  be  sprightly  and  interesting,  and,  even 
though  coarse-featured,  yet  their  freshness,  wide-awake  appearance,  and  the  ani- 
mated glow  of  their  cheeks,  wall  make  a  far  deeper  impression  than  laced  but 
sickly  beauty.     A  tight-laced  woman  always  reminds  me  o[  a  foolish  woman. 

But,  since  the  late  Parisian  fashions  discard  corslets,  I  hope  this  crying  evil 
will  be  arrested;  for,  if  it  progresses  twenty  years  longer  as  it  has  for  the  twenty 
years  past,  it  will  kill  off  all  our  American  ladies,  and  leave  only  our  large-waist- 
ed,  full-chested,  Dutch-rigged,  hearty  Irish  and  German  girls  for  wives  and 
mothers.  Words  cannot  express  my  deep-toned  indignation  at  the  evils  inflicted 
on  the  present  and  rising  generation,  by  this  death-dealing  practice.  It  is  higfi 
time  to  speak  out,  and  warn  fashion-loving  w'omen  of  the  sin  and  danger  of  tight- 
lacing  ;  and  also  for  men  who  wish  healthy  wives  and  offspring  to  shun  small 
waists,  and  patronise  full  chests.  Still  men  are  mostly  in  blame ;  for,  women 
would  never  dress  thus  except  to  accommodate  the  perverted  taste  of  the  gen- 
tlemen. 

For  a  full  exposition  of  the  evils  of  this  practice,  the  reader  is  respectfully 
referred  to  my  work  on  this  subject,  just  published,  which  is  well  illustrated 
with  appropriate  engravings. 


FEEBLE   MORAL   SENTIMENTS  DESTOY  LOVE.  55 

their  value,  and  began  to  cry ;  for  his  heart  was  set  upon  this 
money  to  procure  a  much  desired  gratification.  "  A  bargain  is  a 
bargain,"  said  the  praying  man  of  httle  conscience,  as  he  ordered 
the  berries  prepared  for  the  supper-table.  "  Do  let  the  boy  have 
his  berries  or  their  full  value,"  said  his  conscientious  and  benevolent 
wife.  This  occasioned  an  altercation  which  ended  in  the  wife's 
crying  along  with  the  boy,  and  refusing  to  partake  of  the  berries, 
and  even  of  her  supper.  How  could  she  relish  a  repast  the  pur- 
chase of  which  outraged  her  Conscientiousness  and  Benevolence,  as 
well  as  exposed  her  husband's  utter  want  of  moral  principle  and 
good  feeling !  But  if  Conscientiousness  and  Benevolence  had  been 
large  in  him  also ;  if,  when  he  saw  that  the  sobbing  boy  repented 
of  his  bargain  and  had  not  been  paid  enough  for  his  berries,  she 
had  seen  him  pay  the  boy  the  full  value  of  his  earnings  instead  of 
swindling  him  because  he  could,  she  would  have  admired  the- noble 
act,  loved  her  husband  the  better  for  his  stanch  integrity,  and  eaten 
the  berries  with  increased  relish.  How  could  she  love  a  cheat  1 
How  avoid  apprehending  that  this  utter  want  of  kindness  and  jus- 
tice would  sooner  or  later  be  manifested  towards  herself  or  chil- 
dren?* 

Another  wife  of  great  kindness  and  a  nice  sense  of  justice,  saw 
her  husband  wrong  her  mother,  and  prove  ungrateful  as  well  as 
untrue  to  his  promises,  and  declared  that  for  ever  after  this,  she 
loathed  and  even  hated  him. 

Another  wife  caught  her  husband  in  a  trifling  deception;  unim- 
portant in  itself,  and  not  calculated  to  injure  any  one,  but  it  threw 
her  into  such  an  agony  of  feehng  that  the  cold  drops  of  perspiration 
covered  her  face ;  the  color  fled  from  her  cheeks ;  hope  departed 
from  her  soul,  and  she  became  almost  deranged  ;  nor  is  the  impres- 
sion effaced  to  this  day,  though  she  never  saw  a  similar  instance. 
This  single,  trifling  deception  reversed  her  Conscientiousness,  and 
this  came  near  reversing  even  her  devoted  love  for  him. 

Reader,  suppose  you  bury  your  face  in  your  hands,  and  think  over 
similar  occurrences  between  husbands  and  wives,  which  have  fallen 
under  your  own  observation,  and  then  ask  yourself,  if  all  the  gold  in 
Christendom  would  tempt  you  to  be  similarly  situated  ?     And  if 

*  The  sequel  of  this  story  is,  that  the  next  January,  this  praying  cheat  was 
imprisoned  for  stealing.  The  wife's  grief  on  the  occasion  of  the  berries  was  tri- 
fling compared  with  that  on  his  being  imprisoned ;  yet  such  a  result  might  have 
been  almost  predicted ;  for,  the  man  who  will  cheat  a  boy  out  of  a  cent,  will 
cheat  his  fellow-raen  in  larger  matters. 


55  SPECIMENS   OF  WELL   DEVELOPED   FEMALE   HEADS. 

you  ask  how  to  avoid  such  a  fate,  I  answer,  marry  a  companion  ha- 
ving amply  developed  moral  organs. 

These  remarks  have  incidentally  evolved  another  principle,  which 
accounts  for  a  phenomenon  of  frequent  occurrence,  namely,  the  fact 
that  some  husbands  and  wives  can  neither  live  together  nor  apart. 
Their  organs  of  Adhesiveness  make  them  love  each  other  too  well 
to  be  happy  when  separated,  yet  some  of  their  other  faculties,  hav- 
ing become  reversed,  repel  a  close  contact,  and  forbid  their  living 
together.  Both  love  and  yet  hate  each  other,  and  are  in  a  dilemma, 
either  horn  of  which  is  most  painful,  yet  both  might  have  been 
avoided  by  marrying  one  of  kindred  developments. 

In  marrying  a  wit  or  a  talker  merely,  though  the  brilliant 
scintillations  of  the  former,  or  the  garrulity  of  the  latter,  may  amuse 
or  delight  you  for  the  time  being,  yet  you  will  derive  no  permanent 
satisfaction  from  these  qualities,  for  there  will  be  no  common  bond 
of  kindred  feeling  to  assimilate  your  souls  and  hold  each  spell-bound 
at  the  shrine  of  the  others'  intellectual  or  moral  excellence.  Though 
these  qualities  are  good  in  their  places,  yet  they  should  be  allowed 
no  more  weight  in  the  scale  which  determines  your  choice  of  a 
companion  for  life,  than  the  size  of  these  organs  compared  with 
the  rest  of  the  brain.  Still,  if  these  are  superadded  to  a  fine  moral 
and  intellectual  organization,  you  are  the  gainer  to  the  amount  of 
the  pleasure  they  afford. 

Other  facts  and  illustrations  of  this  subject  might  be  added  to  any 
extent ;  but  these  render  it  too  plain,  too  apparent  to  require  them, 
or  to  require  those  of  an  opposite  character,  showing  how  it  is  that 
the  high  moral  sentiments  of  each  promote  the  happiness  of  the 
other.  Without  the  strictest  fidelity  of  each  party  to  the  other, 
— without  unreserved  candor  and  perfect  good  faith, — reciprocal 
love  cannot  exist ;  for,  that  esteem  will  be  destroyed  on  which,  as 
already  shown,  true  love  can  alone  be  founded. 

A  similar  train  of  remark  applies  to  marrying  an  economist,  or  a 
worker.  Each  is  excellent  in  its  place,  though  subordinate  to  the 
character  as  a  whole.  •  Many  men,  especially  in  choosing  a  second 
wife,  are  governed  by  her  known  qualifications  as  a  house-keeper 
mainly,  and  marry  industry  and  economy.  Though  these  traits  of 
character  are  excellent,  yet  a  good  house-keeper  is  far  from  being  a 
good  wife.  A  good  house-keeper,  but  a  poor  wife,  may  indeed 
prepare  you  a  good  dinner,  and  keep  her  house  and  children  neat 
and  tidy,  yet  this  is  but  a  part  of  the  office  of  a  wife ;  who,  besides 


BEING  A  GOOD   WIFE,  IMPLIES  BEING  A  GOOD   HOUSE-KEEPER.      57 

all  her  household  duties,  has  those  of  a  far  higher  order  to  perform. 
She  should  soothe  you  with  her  sympathies,  divert  your  troubled 
mind  by  her  smiles  and  caresses,  and  make  the  whole  family  happy 
by  the  gentleness  of  her  manners,  and  the  native  goodness  of  her 
heart. 


BEING   A   GOOD  WIFE,   IMPLIES   BEING  A   GOOD   HOUSE-KEEPER. 

Far  be  it  from  me  to  underrate  a  good  house-keeper  as  a  constitu- 
ent part  of  a  good  wife.  On  the  other  hand,  I  know  her  value, 
and  I  tell  every  young  man  that  he  cannot  have  a  good  wife  with- 
out her  being  a  good  house-keeper,  any  more  than  he  can  live  by 
bread  alone  ;  and,  I  tell  you,  young  ladies,  that  to  be  good  wives, 
you  must  be  good  house-keepers.  True,  this  is  but  one  duty,  but  it 
is  a  most  important  one.  You  cannot  love  a  husband  without  wish- 
ing to  make  him  happy,  and  to  do  this,  you  must  know  how  to 
economize ;  how  to  make  his  hard-earned  money  go  as  far  as  pos- 
sible, and  procure  as  many  of  the  comforts  of  life  as  can  well  be 
obtained  with  it ;  how  to  prepare  his  meals  properly,  and  gratify 
his  appetite ;  how  to  make  his  home  agreeable,  and  feed  and  clothe 
his  children ;  how  to  make  and  mend  things  promotive  of  his  com- 
fort ;  and  how  to  wait  on  him ;  for  there  is  a  certain  mysterious 
something  in  the  relations  subsisting  between  husbands  and  wives 
which  renders  the  meal  prepared  by  a  beloved  wife  far  more  pala- 
table than  the  same  meal  prepared  by  a  servant ;  an  agreeable 
beverage  still  more  agreeable  by  its  being  served  by  her  ;  and  even 
a  bitter  medicine  less  bitter.  For  the  correctness  of  this  remark,  I 
appeal  to  every  man  who  has  a  good  cook  arid  house-keeper  in  the 
person  of  his  wife — the  others  are  incapable  of  judging.  To  all 
young  men  in  search  of  a  good  wife,  let  me  say  with  emphasis.  Let 
the  woman  of  your  choice  he  familiar  vnth  the  kitchen  and  the 
smoothing  iron.  If  to  these  she  adds  those  graces  and  accomplish- 
ments requisite  to  shine  in  the  parlor,  so  much  the  better ;  but  at 
all  events,  select  a  good  house-keeper.  I  despise  the  modern  notion 
that  fashionable  young  ladies  must  know  little  of  kitchen  duties — 
that  a  wife  must  be  too  pretty  and  too  accomplished  to  work.  As 
soon  would  I  deem  it  a  recommendation  in  a  woman  not  to  know 
how  to  eat  or  sleep  !  What !  a  woman  put  herself  in  the  market 
for  a  husband  when  she  does  not  know  how  to  make  bread  and 


58         HUSBANDS   SHOULD   BE    INDUSTRIOUS   AND  ECONOMICAL   ALSO. 

wash  dishes  !  She  certainly  will  impose  on  the  man  she  marries ; 
for,  no  other  quahty  or  talent  can  compensate  for  the  absence  or 
inactivity  of  the  working  talent. 

These  remarks  involve  ingenuity  on  the  part  of  a  good  wife ;  for 
it  is  very  convenient  to  have  a  wife  who  can  use  her  needle  in 
making  linen,  cotton,  and  other  garments  for  her  husband  and  chil- 
dren ;  repairing  garments,  making  convenient  articles,  &c.  &c.,  as 
well  as  in  turning  off  every  Idnd  of  household-work.  Every  girl 
should  be  taught  to  sew,  spin,  weave,  make  dresses,  &c.,  as  well  as 
to  sweep,  wash,  cook,  &c.  Before  you  "  pop  the  question,"  see 
what  kind  of  hread  your  intended  can  make ;  for  I  assure  you 
that  home-made  bread  is  better  and  cheaper  than  baker's  bread. 
To  young  men  who  are  poor,  and  even  to  those  in  moderate  circum- 
stances, these  qualifications  are  invaluable,  and  even  indispensable ; 
and  to  the  rich,  especially  in  these  times  of  pecuniary  embarrass- 
ment and  uncertainty,  they  are  scarcely  less  so. 

And  let  the  ladies,  before  giving  their  assent,  see  to  it  that  their 
would-be  husbands  have  some  occupation  which  can  be  relied  upon 
to  support  a  family.  Industry  and  economy  are  invaluable  recom- 
mendations that  will  rarely  be  wanting  in  a  good  husband.  The 
man  who  is  without  them,  may  possibly  make  a  good  one,  yet  he 
must  have  virtues  many  and  rare  to  offset  for  these  deficiencies. 
Shun  the  dandy :  dismiss  the  young  man  of  leisure  who  has  drawn 
his  support  from  a  father's  pocket.  If  he  can  love  you,  (which  is 
doubtful,)  he  cannot  support  you,  and  therefore,  at  the  farthest, 
cannot  be  more  than  half  a  husband,  just  as  you  can  be  only  a  part 
of  a  wife  if  you  do  not  understand  domestic  matters.  Get  a  lohole 
wife  or  husband,  or  none  ;  for,  while  you  require  congeniality  of 
feeling  as  the  foundation,  you  also  require  these  as  no  inconsidera- 
ble parts  of  the  superstructure. 


AMPLES  OF  WELL  DEVELOPED  FEMALE  HEADS. 

Duty  to  his  subject,  perhaps  requires  that  the  Author  should  draw 
a  beau-ideal  head,  as  a  model  of  a  well-balanced  character ;  yet 
things  of  this  kind  can  hardly  be  put  on  paper.  The  rules  al- 
ready presented,  together  with  the  accompanying  cut  (No.  8),  will 
present  the  principles  which  should  govern  this  point.  It  may  be 
summed  up  in  a  well-halanced  and  a  uniform  head  and  character. 


SAMPLES  OF  WELL  DEVELOPED  FEMALE  HEADS. 


59 


An  uncommon  head  indicates  an  uncommon  character,  which  may 
be  very  good  in  some  things,  but  is  hable  to  be  defective  or  excessive 
in  others.  Such  heads  may  be  good,  but  are  not  the  best.  Cut 
No.  9  was  drawn  from  a  head  fairly  developed  in  all  its  parts,  with 
excellent  moral,  and  amply  developed  social  faculties,  and  with 
good  perceptive  and  fair  reasoning  organs.  Its  owner  is  an  ex- 
cellent specimen  of  a  superior  wife  and  mother. 


N.O.  8.  Highly  moral  and  intellectual  Head.     No.  9.  A  well  balanced  Head: 

Cut  No.  8,  was  taken  from  a  woman  noted  for  superior  talents 
and  high  moral  quahties,  a  natural  lady,  a  first-rate  house-keeper, 
and  an  invaluable  wife.  This  class  of  female  heads  is  rare,  few 
w^omen  having  their  intellectual  lobe  as  amply  developed,  yet  one 
that  I  esteem  above  all  others,  though  perhaps  less  exquisite  and 
perfect.  Her  high,  wide,  and  ample  forehead,  indicates  superior 
judgment,  great  penetration,  and  especially  a  faculty  to  contrive 
and  manage.  In  point  of  size  and  activity,  her  brain  is  more  than 
ordinary,  while  her  temperament  is  of  the  finest  and  firmest  quality", 
and  her  person  of  good  size,  with  much  sprightliness  and  strength 
combined.  She  has  a  full  supply  of  auburn-colored  hair,  which 
indicates  great  delicacy,  sensitiveness,  and  exquisiteness  of  feeling, 
the  keenest  perceptions,  amounting  almost  to  intuitive  knowledge, 
a  brilliant  fancy,  a  refined  taste,  and  high-toned  moral  purity.    The 


60  IMPORTANCE   OF  A   GOOD  PHYSICAL   OKGANIZATlOiM. 

main  difficulty  accompanying  this  temperament  is  its  liability  to 
excessive  sensitiveness,  and  consequent  debility, — its  activity  being 
too  great  for  its  strength ;  but  this  lady  combines  great  activity 
and  delicacy  with  great  strength  of  constitution. 

This  prepares  the  way  for  a  few  general  remarks  on  the  im- 
portance of 


A   GOOD   PHYSICAL   ORGANIZATION   AND   A    STRONG   CONSTITUTION. 

Another  leading  element  in  this  standard  of  admiration  should 
be,  a  good  "physical  organization,  or  a  strong,  healthy  constitution. 
On  the  importance  of  health  in  a  companion  and  parent,  it  is  hardly 
necessary  to  dwell.  Nine  tenths  of  the  pains  experienced  by  mo- 
thers as  mothers,  have  their  origin  in  feeble  constitutions  or  physi- 
cal debility ;  and  delicate,  sickly,  peevish,  scrofulous,  consumptive, 
short-lived  children,  owe  their  pains  while  alive,  and  their  pre- 
mature death,  to  the  feeble,  broken  constitutions  of  their  parents. 
And,  what  is  more,  the  state  of  the  mind  takes  its  origin  from  that 
of  the  hody.  Hence,  those  who  are  subject  to  dyspepsy,  liver-com- 
plaint, indigestion,  ennui,  a  sour  stomach,  heart-burn,  hypochondria, 
&c.  &c. — all  only  different  forms  of  the  same  disease,  namely,  the 
morbid  excitement  or  predominance  of  the  brain  and  nervous  sys- 
tem —  are  continually  oppressed  wi^th  sad,  melancholy  feelings ; 
with  that  depression  of  spirits  which  turns  every  thing  into  occa- 
sions of  trouble,  and  sees  impending  misfortunes  in  every  trifling 
thing.  It  renders  them  miserable,  and  all  connected  with  them 
unhappy.  But,  how  much  more  enjoyment  can  be  taken  in  the 
company  of  a  husband  or  wife  who  always  has  a  cheerful  and 
happy  flow  of  spirits ;  who  is  free  from  sickness  and  requires  no 
nursing ;  who  is  always  healthy  and  able  to  endure  fatigue  and  ex- 
posure, and  to  take  a  rural  ramble,  or  turn  off  a  smart  day's  work ; 
who  does  not  sink  under  misfortune,  and  is  not  the  creature  of  mor- 
bid feeling,  &c.,  than  in  the  company  of  a  companion  who  is  mis- 
anthropic, irritable,  weakly,  and  often  requires  the  doctor,  or  con- 
tinually excites  your  sympathy.  Both  should  be  healthy,  or  forego, 
not  the  plea^sures  of  matrimony,  but  its  pains ;  for,  no  chronic  in- 
valid can  enjoy  life,  much  less  married  life. 

In  the  light  of  the  importance  of  health  in  a  companion  and  pa- 
rent, look  at  nearly  all  the  \2i^\Qs'  fashions  of  the  present  day  !  Are 
they  not  directly  calculated  to  destroy  the  health  and  ruin  the  con- 


MARRY  A  HEALTHY  COMPANION.  61 

stitutions  of  most  of  our  ladies,  so  that  they  must  be  patched  up  by 
using  tea,  coifee,  and  those  ten  thousand  other  nostrums  employed 
by  invalid  ladies  1  Let  the  medical  profession,  and  especially  the 
venders  of  quack  medicines,  but  speak  out  on  the  subject,  and  they 
will  astonish  all.  I  refer  to  females,  not  because  their  health  is 
more  important,  or  their  debility  more  disastrous,  but  because  they 
are  generally  more  sickly.  Behold  their  pale  and  sickly  forms ; 
their  feeble,  measured  movements  ;  their  care-vi^orn,  pitiable  looks ; 
their  extreme  delicacy  and  frailness ;  their  deficient  vital  organs 
and  excessive  nervousness ;  their  miserably  small  waists,  and  slim, 
feeble  muscles ;  their  sufferings  as  mothers,  and  their  mental  and 
physical  debility !  And  all  caused  by  their  ignorantly  or  fashiona- 
bly violating  the  laws  of  Physiology  !  Even  girls  must  be  kept 
shut  up  in-doors,  and  laced  tight  at  that,  and  never  be  allowed  to 
romp,  because  it  is  so  ungenteel  for  a  girl  to  romp.  No  !  she  must 
be  a  lady  before  her  time,  and  therefore  must  never  race  or  romp. 
Shame  on  such  mothers !  Shame  on  such  green  ladies !  for,  unripe 
fruit  is  neither  agreeable  nor  wholesome.  Let  girls  romp,  and  let 
them  range  hill  and  dale  in  search  of  flowers,  berries,  or  any  other 
object  of  amusement  or  attraction :  let  them  bathe  often,  skip  the 
rope,  and  take  a  smart  ride  on  horseback ;  often  interspersing  these 
amusements  with  a  turn  at  sweeping  or  washing,  in  order  thereby 
to  develop  their  vital  organs,  and  thus  lay  a  substantial  physical 
foundation  for  becoming  good  wives  and  mothers.  The  wildest 
romps  usually  make  the  best  wives,  while  quiet,  still,  demure,  se- 
date and  sedentary  girls  are  not  worth  having. 

The  English  understand  this  principle,  and  hence  encourage 
rambling,  riding,  hunting,  &c. ;  and,  accordingly  their  ladies  make 
much  more  hale,  healthy,  rosy-cheeked  vdves  and  mothers  than 
American  ladies,  who  fastidiously  regard  these  healthful  exercises 
as  improper  for  ladies  !  though  breathing  is  equally  so.  But  Ame- 
rican ladies  are  waking  up  to  the  importance  of  studying  Physiolo- 
gy, a  few  lessons  in  which  will  soon  bring  them  also  to  adopt  a 
similar  course.  Healthy  women  will  then  be  in  demand ;  but  deli- 
cate, fastidious  yasMona6Ze5  neglected. 

Confinement  often  induces  gloomy  feelings,  if  not  peevishness, 
which  may  usually  be  dispelled  by  a  smart  walk  or  ride,  or  by  rec- 
reation.    Many  wives  suffer  extremely  from  debility  and  bad  feel- 
ings, induced  by  excessive  care  and  labor,  and  by  seldom  taking 
6 


62  SMALLNESS   OF   STATURE   OBJECTIONABLE   IN   WOMEN. 

that  recreation  which  is  as  indispensable  to  mental  health  and  hap- 
piness as  food  is  to  physical  enjoyment. 

Many  husbands  could  not  more  effectually  promote  their  own 
happiness,  as  well  as  that  of  their  companions,  than  by  diverting 
them  by  means  of  a  ride,  sail,  ramble,  a  visit  to  the  Museum,  pass- 
ing an  afternoon  or  evening  with  a  friend,  spending  an  hour  in  cul- 
tivating the  garden,  &c.  To  every  husband,  I  say  with  emphasis, 
"  Take  special  care  of  the  health  of  your  wife ;"  for,  it  is  an  in- 
valuable treasure. 

In  passing,  I  will  just  remark,  that  good  size  is  important  in 
wives  and  mothers.  A  small  stature  is  objectionable  in  a  woman, 
because  little  women  usually  have  too  much  activity  for  their 
strength,  and,  consequently,  feeble  constitutions;  hence  they  die 
young,  and  besides,  being  nervous,  suffer  extremely  as  mothers. 
But  those  of  good  size,  generally  have  much  better  health,  far 
greater  powers  of  endurance,  and  more  strength  of  mind,  though 
perhaps  less  brilliancy  of  talent :  besides,  being  the  parents  of  much 
larger,  finer,  and  more  healthy  offspring.  As  a  class,  they  are  bet- 
ter every  way,  except  merely  in  point  of  exquisiteness  of  feeling, 
which,  in  that  excess  in  which  most  small  women  have  it,  is  most 
pernicious. 

For  many  years,  the  fact  that  small  women  were  preferred,  and 
that  young  ladies  tried  to  render  themselves  small,  was  to  me  a 
perfect  mystery,  but  that  mystery  was  solved  when  Physiology 
taught  me  that  small  persons  had  proportionally  more  feeling,  with 
less  strength.  Having  too  little  vital  stamina  to  perfect  their  bodies, 
like  exotic  plants  they  bloom  before  their  time,  and  are  sickly  and 
feeble.  This  extreme  susceptibility  of  feehng  is  the  ground  of  their 
preference ;  whereas,  it  should  be  the  very  ground  of  their  rejection ; 
for,  besides  that  physical  inability  which  occasions  their  diminished 
size,  their  offspring  are  small,  feeble,  and  few.  And  if  this  cause 
continue  to  operate  upon  the  rising  race,  we  shall  soon  be — ^what 
we  are  fast  becoming — a  nation  of  dwarfs,  mentally  as  well  as 
physically.  Small  parents  may  indeed  have  smart  and  brilliant 
children,  yet  they  will  be  precocious,  and  hence  almost  sure  to  die 
young. 


NETER  LET  PRmE   INTERFERE   WITH  LOVE.  63 

In  concluding  the  directions  for  choosing  a  companion,  I  say, 
marry  so  as  to  gratify,  not  one  faculty,  nor  a  few  faculties  merely, 
but  ALL  of  them ;  for,  it  is  the  harmonious  exercise  and  gratification 
of  them  all,  which  constitutes  the  very  jpinnacle  of  human  enjoy- 
ment. But  if  you  cannot  do  this  in  its  full  extent,  which  might, 
perhaps,  be  too  sweet  a  cup  for  erring  mortals  to  drink,  unmingled 
with  any  bitter,  then  gratify  as  many  as  possible,  or,  rather,  the 
largest  possible  amount  of  hrain.  If  you  are  prevented  from  attain- 
ing this  very  achme  of  human  bliss,  ascend  as  high  in  the  scale  as 
you  can ;  but,  in  doing  this,  you  must  begin  right.  Let  no  07ie 
quality  of  body  or  mind,  however  desirable,  determine  your  choice, 
but  examine  the  character  as  a  whole.  And  also  bear  in  mind  the 
fact,  that  our  tastes  vary  much  between  youth  and  mature  age. 
In  the  former  period,  the  animal  feelings  are  much  more  vigorous 
than  in  after  life,  yet  by  far  the  greatest  and  the  best  portion  of 
life  is  that  passed  after  the  propensities  begin  to  wane.  Let  those 
youth,  therefore,  in  whom  Amativeness  especially,  is  strong  and 
ardent,  or  who  seek  to  marry  for  personal  beauty,  remember  that 
this  ground  of  preference  is  not  to  continue  always,  and  hence,  let 
them  cater,  not  for  their  animal  natures  mainly,  but  for  their  high- 
er moral  and  intellectual  faculties,  whose  fountains  of  happiness 
never  dry  up,  and  whose  streams  of  pleasure  are  always  pure, 
sweet,  rich,  wholesome,  and  abundant. 


HINTS  IN  REFERENCE  TO  CONDUCTING  COURTSHIP. 

To  make  a  good  selection,  is  by  no  means  the  only  important 
point  connected  with  getting  married.  The  proper  method  of  con- 
ducting the  courtship,  is  almost  as  much  so.  In  forming  the  matri- 
monial relations,  let  special  care  be  taken  properly  to  blend  the 
qualities  and  assimilate  the  affections  of  each  with  those  of  the 
other.  Let  the  social  faculties  be  to  marriage  what  the  head- 
waters of  the  Mississippi .  are  to  that  npble  river,  while  the  other 
faculties  represent  its  branches.  When  these  tributaries  join  the 
main  river  while  running  in  a  contrary  direction,  the  consequences 
will  be  a  constant  boiling  and  commotion  of  their  waters  through 
life ;  but  when  they  unite  while  both  are  flowing  on  in  a  similar 
direction,  this  harmonious  union  swells  your  flood  of  joy  and  happi- 
ness till  its  deep  and  expansive  waters  glide  smoothly  on  to  the  vast 


64  BLENDING  THE  FACULTYS. 

ocean  of  eternal  bliss.  Not  only  should  the  faculties  be  similar  in 
point  of  size,  h\it,from  the  first,  they  should  be  trained  so  as  to  act 
in  unison  and  harmony  with  those  of  the  other.  Instead  of  this, 
many  hegin  married  life  by  arraying  their  faculties  against 
those  of  their  companions — by  saying,  in  action  if  not  in  words,  "  I 
will  let  you  know,  in  the  beginning,  that  I  am  not  to  be  ruled  by 
you,  and  will  do  as  I  please."  But  in  so  doing,  they  are  planting 
thorns  under  pillows  of  down,  on  which  they  are  compelled  to  He — 
but  not  rest — through  life ;  for,  every  unpleasant  feeling  during 
courtship,  is  sure  to  have  its  bitter  taste  through  life.  How  often 
do  petty  feelings  of  pride,  proceeding  from  the  jealousy,  or  distrust,  or 
guilty  conscience  of  the  complaining  party,  construe  a  fancied  neg- 
lect or  imaginary  provocation,  wholly  undesigned  by  the  other, 
into  occasions  of  disaffection,  which  frequently  widen  into  recipro- 
cal coldness,  if  not  into  mutual  accusations,  and  thereby  break  oif, 
at  least  for  a  time,  their  growing  attachments,  leaving  both  most 
wretched.  Each  loves  the  other,  and  yet,  while  their  affections  in- 
cline them  one  way,  their  pride  or  Combativeness  drives  them  the 
other.  This  clashing  of  the  faculties,  is  the  most  unhappy  state  of 
mind  imaginable.  Beware  how  you  set  your  faculties  at  war  with 
each  other ;  for,  it  is  like  cutting  off  your  nose  to  spite  your  face. 
Why  make  yourself  most  miserable  merely  to  tease  and  torment  the 
object  of  your  affections,  or  rather  jealousy  ?  Recollect  your  lia- 
bility to  become  jealous  without  cause,  in  consequence  of  the  prin- 
ciple explained  on  page  25,  and  therefore,  make  abundant  allow- 
ances, as  well  for  yourself  as  for  your  intended.  Close  the  breach ; 
heal  the  wound ;  make  mutual  concessions ;  and  never  let  yoiu* 
f/ride  conflict  with  love.  And  let  young  gentlemen,  especially,  re- 
member that  they  are  more  liable  to  give  occasions  of  offence  than 
young  ladies ;  for,  it  is  almost  impossible  for  a  woman  who  is  in 
love,  to  be  the  aggressor,  or  ill-treat  the  object  of  that  love.  And 
then,  too,  young  ladies  suffer  more  from  these  interruptions  than 
young  men,  because  their  attachments  are  so  much  stronger  and  more 
tender,  and  they  have  so  much  less  to  divert  their  minds  from  the 
cause  of  their  grief.  Follow  the  advice  already  given,  in  first 
choosing  intellectually,  and  then  let  no  petty  feeling  of  pride  or 
anger  interrupt  your  love.  Give  no  occasion  of  offence,  and  be 
slow  to  receive  one.  The  acknowledged  principle  that  we  dislike 
those  we  have  injured,  shows  that  those  who  are  angry  first  or  most, 
are  usually  the  most  in  fault. 


AGE  MOST   SUITABLE   FOR   MARRIAGE.  65 


AGE    MOST   SUITABLE   FOR   MABRYINT/. 

On  this  point,  a  great  diversity  of  opinion  exists.  The  miinher 
of  years  is  not  material,  but  the  vigor  and  youthfulness  of  the  con- 
stitution alone  are  important ;  for,  some  are  older  at  twenty,  than 
others  at  twenty-five.  Never  ask  how  many  years  old  one  is,  but 
only  how  much  animal  and  mental  vigor,  or  how  much  youthful- 
ness and  ardor  there  is.  A  broken  constitution  begins  to  decline  at 
seventeen,  while  a  strong,  unimpaired  constitution  is  in  its  prime  at 
forty.  These  remarks  apply  both  to  the  absolute  age  suitable  for 
marrying,  and  to  the  comparative  ages  of  the  two  parties.  J  incline 
to  the  opinion,  that  between  twenty  and  thirty  is  the  age  designed 
by  nature,  and  the  one  most  suitable  in  itself;  yet  persons  from  short- 
lived families  mature  much  earlier,  and  are  inclined  to  marry  much 
younger,  than  those  from  long-lived  families.  The  Scriptures  in- 
form us,  that  those  before  the  flood  who  lived  to  so  great  an  age, 
did  not  marry  till  from  sixty  to  a  hundred  and  fifty  years  old.  This 
discloses  a  principle  which  will  be  found  universally  true ;  that  those 
who  are  inclined  to  marry  very  young,  are  prematurely  developed 
throughout,  and  die  early.  Individual  exceptions  may  occur,  yet 
this  principle  forms  a  law  of  our  being. 

Franklin,  in  a  letter  to  a  newly  married  friend,  advocated  early 
marriages,  on  the  ground  that  nature  would  indicate  the  most  suit- 
able time,  by  imparting  the  requisite  feelings  or  instincts.  In  this, 
he  was  philosophically  right,  b)ut  practically  wrong,  as  will  appear 
on  referring  to  those  causes  which  develope  Amativeness  prema- 
turely. Let  nature  have  her  perfect  work,  and  she  will  indicate 
the  proper  time  by  implanting  the  requisite  feelings,  but  that  artifi- 
cial state  of  society  in  which  we  live,  violates  her  laws,  and  causes 
her  to  lead  him  wofuUy  astray  in  this  respect.  One  thing  is  cer- 
tain, that,  at  all  events,  marriage  should  be  postponed  till  the  growth 
is  completed,  the  physical  organization  well  nigh  consolidated,  the 
judgment  fully  matured,  and  both  parties  have  obtained  a  good 
practical  knowledge  of  Physiology,  as  w'ell  as  of  the  best  method  of 
nursing  and  educating  children. 

Early  marriages  have  one  important  advantage, — that  of  the 

more  easily  assimilating  the  feelings,  and  adapting  the  habits  to 

each  other,  but  the  disadvantage  of  a  judgment  too  immature  to 

select  the  best  object  of  affection ;  while  late  marriages  have  a  dis- 

6* 


66  AN   IMPROPER   OBJECTION   TO   EARLY   MARRIAGE. 

advantage  of  far  greater  magnitude, — that  of  marrying  a  second  or 
a  twentieth  love,  7.hich  is  well  nigh  sufficient,  as  we  shall  present- 
ly see,  for  ever  to  blast  true  connubial  love.  As  societ}'  now  is,  it 
is  luy  unequivocal  opinion,  that  very  early  marriages,  say  from 
ffteen  to  twenty,  are  the  best,  if  not  almost  indispensable  to  virtue 
and  connubial  happiness.  Of  the  two  evils,  of  mai'rying  without 
judgment,  or  with  judgment  but  vdthout  love,  choose  the  former, 
for  it  is  the  least.  But  a  more  conclusive  reason  for  this  opinion 
will  be  given  under  a  subsequent  head. 

AN   IMPROPER   OBJECTION    TO   EARLY   MARRIAGES. 

Many  mothers  object  to  their  daughters'  marrying  young,  on  the 
ground  that  married  women  not  only  take  little  or  no  enjoyment, 
but  are  rendered  unhappy  by  the  cares  of  the  family,  and  by  being 
shut  out  from  all  the  pleasures  of  society.  What  an  idea  this  ? 
Wh«t  a  reflection  on  this  heaven-born  institution.  Those  whom 
marriage  renders  unhappy,  or  even  whose  pleasures  it  abridges, 
better  not  marry  at  all. 

But  what  is  the  origin  of  this  almost  blasphemous  idea  1  Why 
that  all  the  pleasures  of  young  ladies  are  summed  up  in — attending 
balls,  parties,  sleigh-rides,  pleasure-excursions,  in  love-scrapes,  court- 
ing, flirting  with  the  beaux  to  secure  a  more  advantageous  match, 
and  things  of  this  class !  It  certainly  can  have  no  other  origin, 
and  is  an  impious  reflection  on  the  marriage  institution  and  the 
family  relations.  I  scorn  the  mother,  I  pity  the  daughter,  w^ho 
would  postpone  marriage  an  hour  to  allow  the  latter  an  opportunity 
to  take  a  little  more  pleasure  before  marriage  shuts  her  out  fi'om 
the  world  and  its  pleasures.  (?)  In  so  doing,  they  condemn  marriage 
as  a  necessary  evil,  and  imply  that  matrimony  is  that  hateful 
altar  on  the  burning  embers  of  which  woman  must  be  sacri- 
ficed, with  all  her  hopes  and  prospects — that  married  life  is  a 
slavish,  an  intolerable  drudgery,  and  therefore  to  be  postponed  as 
long  as  possible.  And  to  those  women  who  do  postpone  marriage 
from  this  wicked  motive,  married  life  is  all  that  they  fear ;  for,  they 
marr}^  from  interest,  not  from  love,  and  therefore  experience  all  the 
miseries,  and  none  of  the  blessings,  already  described.  Those 
mothers  who  entertain  so  repugnant  an  idea  of  marriage,  only  show 
what  kind  of  wives  and  mothers  they  have  been.  The  sooner  this 
relation  is  entered  into,  after  the  intellect  of  the  parties  is  sufficiently 
matured  to  choose  the  proper  object,  the  better. 


CAUSES   WHICH   INDUCE   SOME   NOT  TO  MARRY.  67 


SINGLE-BLESSEDNESS. 

But  some  do  choose  not  to  marry  at  all,  but  prefer  a  life  of  sin- 
gle-blessedness. I  grant  that  it  is  better  not  to  marry  at  all,  than  to 
marry  a  bad  husband  or  wife,  or  even  a  poor  one,  (not  poor  in 
fortune,  but  poverty-struck  in  mental  or  moral  qualities) ;  for,  it  is 
obviously  better  to  let  the  social  organs  remain  unexercised,  than  to 
have  them  reversed  or  painfully  exercised.  I  also  grant,  that, 
taking  an  even  chance,  there  is  more  prospect  of  marrying  a  bad  or 
a  poor  husband  or  wife  than  there  is  of  marrying  a  good  one ;  still, 
follow  the  principles  kid  down  in  this  work,  and  I  will  stand  spon- 
sor for  the  result ;  that  is,  if  you  can  find  one  to  marry.  But  to 
find  the  proper  one  is  the  main  difficulty. 

"  Hie  labor,  hoc  opus  est." 

Especially  is  it  difficult  to  find  a  good  wife  ;  because,  modern  edu- 
cation has  just  about  ruined  our  young  women  and  girls,  as  will  be 
fully  shown  in  our  chapter  on  "  female  education."  Still,  not- 
withstanding all  the  difficulty  connected  with  finding  a  good  com- 
panion, marriage  is  just  as  much  a  part  of  our  nature  as  talking  or 
eating,  and  therefore,  cannot  be  dispensed  with  without  serious 
detriment.  If  the  social  organs  be  small,  domestic  enjoyment  is 
proportionably  circumscribed.  If  they  be  large,  but  unexercised, 
they  leave  an  aching  void,  a  craving  after  something  which  they  do 
not  have,  a  longing  for  a  kindred  spirit  which  they  cannot  find,  or 
which,  if  they  do  find  but  do  not  marry,  renders  the  matter  still 
worse ;  for,  true  love  cannot  flourish  alone,  but  intwines  its  affec- 
tionate tendrils  around  some  lovely  object  which  it  can  make  its 
own.  Deliver  me  from  love  when  either  unrequited  or  ungratified. 
Hence,  I  really  pity  those  young  people,  especially  young  ladies, 
whose  domestic  feelings  are  so  strong,  and  whose  hearts  are  gushing 
fountains  overflowing  with  love  and  tenderness,  but  who  have  no 
object  on  which  to  bestow  them.  Do  you  not  pity  yonder  cooing 
dove  without  its  mate  ?  Such  anomalies  rarely  if  ever  occur  in 
nature,  nor  should  they  occur  in  reference  to  man  or  woman,  who 
takes  so  much  enjoyment  in  loving,  and  suffers  so  much  from  its 
absence.  How  many  maiden  ladies  who  are  every  way  quali- 
fied to  make  the  best  of  wives  and  mothers,  are  doomed  to  live  un- 
married, and  to  die  unmourned  1    I  sometimes  think  that  this  unfor- 


68     A  LAW  OF  OUR  NATURE  REQUIRES  US  TO  MARRY. 

tunate  class  are  the  very  BEST  of  the  sex — those  whose  feelings  of 
love  are  of  that  exquisite  character  which,  once  disappointed,  for 
ever  afterward  refuse  to  violate  the  sacredness  of  their  first  love  hy 
a  second  engagement.  Some  of  them  are  doubtless  too  particular, 
others  too  cautious,  but  the  majority  too  tenderly  endeared  to  some 
congenial  spirit  ever  to  cast  an  eye  of  love  upon  any  other  than  him 
who  bore  off,  only  to  blight,  their  first  full-blooming  affections.  Let 
them  not  be  ridiculed,  but  rather  let  them  be  commended  for  being 
thus  true  to  nature,  or,  rather,  for  having  so  much  nature  in  them. 
And  then,  too,  they  render  themselves  very  useful  in  families,  neigh- 
borhoods, and  societies,  especially  rehgious,  as  teachers,  nurses, 
makers  of  garments,  &c.  But  they  should  not  expect  to  live  as 
long  or  as  happily  as  they  would,  had  they  married  well  while 
young. 

But  to  those  whose  social  organs  are  large  and  also  active,  Phren- 
ology says,  with  all  the  emphasis  of  a  law  of  our  being,  added  to 
all  the  penalties  of  its  infraction — Marry  !  Marry  soon,  or  else 
cease  exercising  your  social  faculties ;  because,  besides  foregoing 
the  virtuous  pleasures  of  that  quiet,  unchecked,  and  reciprocal  exer- 
cise of  the  social  faculties  afforded  by  marriage,  their  ungraii- 
Jied  action,  or  else  their  vicious  indulgence — one  of  which  must 
accompany  their  every  exercise  in  the  unmarried — though  it  may 
afford  temporary  pleasure,  is  sure  to  poison  or  pollute  the  foun- 
tain of  love,  and  to  render  all  its  succeeding  streams  full  of  bitter- 
ness and  wo ! 

Phrenology,  therefore,  recognises  and  enforces  this,  one  of  the  first 
commands  of  God  to  man :  "  Be  ye  fruitful  and  multiply,  and  re- 
plenish the  earth.'"  Become  husbands,  wives,  and  parents ;  so  that 
your  social  faculties  may  have  full  scope  for  action,  together  with  a 
delightful  object  for  the  combined  exercise  of  the  other  faculties  ; 
and,  that  you  may  leave  a  name  and  a  race  to  "  rise  up  and  call 
you  blessed."  You  cannot  be  a  whole  man  or  woman  unless  all 
your  faculties  are  brought  into  pleasurable  action  upon  their  legiti- 
mate objects  ;  or  when  they  are  perverted. 

Many  persons,  particularly  young  men,  refuse  to  marry,  espe- 
cially "  these  hard  times,  because  they  cannot  support  a  wife  in  the 
style  they  wish.  To  this,  I  reply,  that  a  good  wife  will  care  less 
for  the  style  in  which  she  is  supported  than  for  you.  She  will 
cheerfully  conform  to  your  necessities,  and  be  happy  with  you  in  a 
log-cabin.     She  will  even  help  you  support  yourself.     To  support 


I 


DO  NOT  MARRY  FOR  A  HOME  MERELY.  69 

a  good  wife,  even  if  she  have  children,  is  really  less  expensive  than 
to  board  alone,  besides  being  one  of  the  surest  means  of  acquiring 
property,  as  is  shown  page  26.  This  false  pride  of  wishing  to  sup- 
port a  wife  in  style,  is  really  pernicious  in  its  influences  on  yourself, 
and  even  on  woman,  who  thinks,  when  this  idea  is  rife,  "  Well, 
I'm  married  now,  and  I'll  live  in  just  the  style  I  prefer,"  and  this 
diverts  her  mind  from  the  qualities  of  a  good  mother,  to  those  of  a 
fashionable  lady.  It  also  encourages  young  ladies  to  strain  every 
point  in  order  to  show  off  in  fine  style,  so  that,  when  a  young  man 
finally  becomes  able  to  marry  and  dash  out  in  splendid  style,  he 
may  know  where  to  find  a  show-'  help-mate."  Is  not  this  mis- 
chievous idea  directly  calculated  to  divert  its  entertainers  from  the 
one  distinct  and  only  proper  motive  of  marriage,  namely,  domestic 
enjoyment  1  Is  it  not  calculated  to  promote  a  fashionable,  com- 
pany-seeking, company-entertaining  spirit,  and  to  encroach  upon 
domestic  enjoyment,  and  even  to  supplant  it  1  However,  those  who 
see  fit  to  marry  a  show,  may  do  it,  and  reap  what  they  sow. 

MARRYING  FOR  A  HOME  MERELY. 

Do  not,  however,  marry  for  a  home  merely,  unless  you  wish  to 
become  even  more  destitute  with  one  than  without  one ;  for,  it  is 
on  the  same  footing  vnth  "  marrying  for  money."  (See  page  51.) 
I  know  a  lady,  who,  when  an  orphan  girl,  lived  with  a  relative 
who  abused  her  beyond  measure,  and  who,  at  an  early  age,  married, 
not  because  she  had  the  least  spark  of  affection  for  her  husband, 
but  to  free  herself  from  her  uncle,  and  be  independent  of  her  friends. 
To  use  her  own  expression,  "  I  jumped  out  of  the  frying-pan  into 
the  fire."  I  will  not  enter  into  particulars,  but  suffice  it  to  say, 
that  she  describes  her  situation  as  horrible  beyond  all  description, 
and  that  of  her  daughters  as  scarcely  less  so ;  because  that  father 
who  should  have  loved  and  cherished  his  daughters  for  her  sake 
as  well  as  his  his  own,  hates  and  abuses  them  on  her  account.  And 
all,  not  for  any  fault  in  her,  for  she  has  an  excellent  head,  socially, 
intellectually,  and  morally,  but  because  she  violated  the  law  of 
marriage  by  marrying  for  a  home  ;  and  a  long,  dreary,  dark,  and 
awful  twenty  years  has  she  been  paying  the  dreadful  forfeit.  She 
could  not  live  with  her  husband,  because  his  physical  abuse  was  in- 
tolerable, and  therefore  obtained  a  divorce;  nor  could  she  live  sep- 
arated from  him,  on  account  of  her  children :  so  that  her  sufFerinss 


70  MARRY   TO   PLEASE   YOURSELF   ONLY. 

cannot  be  ended  while  she  lives.  "What  a  long  and  most  awfully 
wretched  life  would  the  timely  perasal  of  this  work  have  saved  her ! 
and  is  it  too  much  to  expect  that  the  principles  here  laid  down,  and 
the  advice  given,  will  save  many  a  worthy  youth  from  being  ship- 
wrecked upon  the  rocks  and  shoals  of  unpropitious  marriage  1  "  He 
that  hath  ears  to  hear,  let  him  hear."  He  that  has  his  die  yet  to  cast, 
let  him  beware  ! 


MARRY  TO  PLEASE  NO  ONE  BUT  YOURSELF,  NOT  EVEN  YOUR  PARENTS. 

Marriage  is  a  matter  exclusively  your  own  ;  because,  you  alone 
must  abide  its  consequences.  No  person,  not  even  a  parent,  has 
the  least  right  to  interfere  or  dictate  in  this  matter.  I  never  knew 
a  marriage  made  to  please  another,  turn  out  any  otherwise  than 
most  unhappily. 

I  know  a  lady  who,  to  please  a  widowed  mother,  and  provide 
her  a  home,  (property  she  did  not  need,)  married  a  man  for  whom 
she  had  not  one  spark  of  love,  and  who,  to  obtain  her,  had  art- 
fully courted  the  mother  more  than  the  daughter.  Her  marriage 
was  the  destruction  of  all  her  pleasures,  and  the  grave  of  that  very 
mother  who  had  persuaded  her  daughter  into  it.  Because  the  moth- 
er would  not  give  him  the  command  of  a  thousand  dollars,  (it  was 
this  thousand  dollars  that  he  courted  and  married !)  the  interest  of 
which  was  her  main  support,  he  became  her  enemy,  and  made  her 
life  most  wretched,  and  then  exposed  her  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
cause  her  death  as  effectually  as  if  he  had  poisoned  her.  The 
mother  thus  ruined  her  obedient  daughter  by  insisting  upon  her 
marrying  a  man  she  never  loved,  and  thereby  ended  her  own  life. 
How  forcibly  this  illustrates  the  evil  of  marrying  except  from  pure 
love,  from  congeniality  of  soul. 

Parents  can  no  more  love  for  their  children  than  they  can  eat,  or 
sleep,  or  breathe,  or  die  and  go  to  heaven  for  them.  They  may 
give  wholesome  advice  merely,  but  should  leave  the  entire  decision 
to  the  unbiased  judgment  of  the  parties  themselves,  who  mainly  are 
to  experience  the  consequences  of  their  choice.  Besides,  such  is 
human  nature,  that  to  oppose  lovers,  or  to  speak  against  the  per- 
son beloved,  only  increases  their  desire  and  determination  to  marry. 
The  beloved  one  is  considered  as  abused,  and  this  sympathy 
strengthens  love,  and  weakens  the  influence  of  those  who  oppose, 
and  thereby  furthers  the  match  by  preparing  the  way  for  an  elope 


PARENTS  SHOULD  ADVISE,  BUT  NOT  CONTROL  THE  CHOICE.   71 

ment  Many  a  run-away  match  would  never  have  taken  place  but 
for  opposition  or  interference.  Parents  are  mostly  to  be  blamed  for 
these  elopements.  Their  children  marry  partly  out  of  spite,  and  to 
be  contrary.  Their  very  natures  tell  them  that  this  interference  is 
■unjust — as  it  really  is — and  this  excites  Combativeness,  Firmness, 
and  Self-Esteem,  in  combination  with  the  Social  Faculties,  to  pow- 
erful and  even  blind  resistance — which  turmoil  of  the  faculties  has- 
tens the  match.  Let  the  affections  of  a  daughter  be  once  slightly 
enhsted  in  your  favor,  and  then  let  the  "  old  folks"  start  an  opposi- 
tion, and  you  may  feel  sure  of  your  prize.  If  she  did  not  love  you 
before,  she  will  now  that  you  are  persecuted.  Is  not  this  a  princi- 
ple of  our  nature  1  Then,  why  ever  oppose  a  marriage  ?  Reason 
with  them  mildly,  and  then  throw  on  them  the  responsibility,  and 
they  will  give  it  up  a  thousand  times  sooner  than  when  opposed. 
Never  disinherit,  or  threaten  to  disinherit,  a  child  for  marrying 
against  your  will.  If  you  wish  a  daughter  to  marry  a  man  whom 
you  do  not  wish  her  to  marry,  oppose  her,  and  she  will  be  sure  to 
marry  him ;  so  also  in  reference  to  a  son. 

"  But,"  says  a  parent,  "  if  I  let  my  daughter  alone,  she  will  mar- 
ry against  my  will,  and  you  say,  if  I  oppose  her,  she  will '  make  as- 
surance doubly  sure.'  What,  then,  shall  I  do  ?"  Don't  do  much 
about  it ;  and,  after  properly  counselling  your  child,  care  as  little 
about  any  disastrous  results  as  may  be ;  for,  your  opposition  will 
only  make  matters  worse,  by  setting  your  daughter  against  you,  as 
well  as  by  promoting  the  disagreeable  match ;  so  that  your  best 
course  is,  patiently  to  endure  what  you  cannot  cure  if  you  try. 

The  fact  is,  however,  that  such  should,  and  might  be  the  rela- 
tions between  parents  and  children,  that  the  latter  would  apply  to 
parents  for  advice  on  the  first  pulsation  of  love.  Let  the  father 
properly  train  his  daughter,  and  she  will  bring  her  first  love-letter 
to  him,  and  give  him  an  opportunity  to  cherish  a  suitable  affection, 
and  to  nip  an  improper  one  in  the  germ,  before  it  has  time  to  do 
any  harm. 

There  is,  however,  one  way  of  effectually  preventing  an  improper 
match,  and  that  is,  not  to  allow  your  children  to  associate  with  any 
whom  you  are  unwiUing  they  should  marry.  How  cruel  as  well  as 
unjust,  to  allow  a  daughter  to  associate  with  a  young  man  till  the 
affections  of  both  are  riveted,  and  then  forbid  her  marrying  him ' 
Forbid  all  association,  or  consent  cheerfully  to  the  marriage. 


72        DO  NOT  MAKRY  AN  INTEMPERATE  COMPANION. 

"  But,"  answers  a  purse-proud  mother,  "  my  daughter,  (impudent 
huzzy !)  has  fallen  in  love  with  our  hired  man  !  How  could  I  pre- 
vent their  being  together  and  exchanging  love-looks  1"  Good 
madam,  if  your  hired  man  be  immoral  or  unworthy,  exclude  him 
from  your  family ;  if  he  be  intelligent  or  worthy,  he  'may  be  as 
good  as  your  daughter  is,  even  though  a  laborer;  for,  labor  is 
highly  promotive  of  every  virtue.  If  you  are  still  determined  that 
your  daughter  shall  not  marry  a  poor  man,  and  yet  if  you  must 
have  a  young  man  to  do  your  drudgery,  I  see  no  other  way  but  to 
hire  a  rich  young  man  to  do  that  drudgery,  or  else  to  break  your 
daughter's  heart,  and  render  her  miserable  for  life. 

DO  NOT  MARRY  AN  INTEMPERATE  COMPANION. 

So  many  and  so  aggravated  are  the  instances  of  matrimonial  suf- 
fering produced  by  marrying  companions,  especially  husbands,  of 
intemperate  habits,  that  a  passing  allusion  merely  to  this  subject  is 
all  that  is  required.  Intemperance  is  the  parent  of  all  the  vices, 
because  (as  shown  in  my  work  on  "  Intemperance  founded  on 
Phrenology  and  Physiology,)  such  is  the  relation  between  the  body 
and  the  hase  of  the  brain,  or  the  animal  propensities,  that  the  stim- 
ulant afforded  by  alcoholic  drinks  excites  these  animal  propensities 
more  relatively  than  it  does  the  moral  sentiments  or  intellect,  and 
hence  induces  vice  in  all  its  forms,  as  well  as  every  species  of  bad 
habits. 

Do  not  flatter  yourself  that  your  intended  is  only  a  moderate  or 
an  occasional  drinker ;  for,  moderate  drinking  is  the  only  cause  of 
besotted  drunkenness,  as  well  as  the  main  high  road  to  all  the 
wretchedness  and  crime  accompanying  it.  How  alcoholic  drinks  de- 
base and  degrade  the  man  or  woman !  nor  is  it  any  palliation  that  only 
an  occasional  glass  oi  wine  or  'porter  is 'taken,  and  taken  genteelly  ; 
for,  the  more  genteel,  the  worse,  and  the  more  dangerous.  I  never 
see  a  young  lady  tip  off  a  glass  of  wine  in  company,  without  think- 
ing what  a  miserable  wife  she  will  make  !  Wine  is  as  bad,  espe- 
cially for  ladies  and  the  higher  or  sedentary  classes,  as  rum  or 
brandy  is  for  the  laboring ;  because  it  stimulates  them  quite  as 
much,  and  it  is  this  very  stimulus  that  does  the  mischief.  To 
every  young  man,  then,  I  say,  Do  not  'marry  a  ivife  who  drinks 
even  wine  or  'porter ;  for,  as  sure  as  you  do,  you  will  rue  the  day 
of  your  marriage.  You  will  find  her  irritable  and  peevish,  and  any 
thing  but  agreeable ;  and  liaUe  not  to  he  virtuous ;   because  it  is 


NOT  EVEN   IF   A  MODERATE   WINE-DRINKER.  73 

conceded,  on  all  hands,  that  every  form  of  alcoholic  drinks  excites 
Amativeness,  which  exposes  any  woman,  when  slightly  exhilarated, 
(I  do  not  mean  intoxicated,)  to  be  taken  advantage  of.  If  the  ex- 
hilarating effects  of  ardent  spirit  render  a  man  liable  to  be  taken 
advantage  of  in  business — and  this  is  conceded  on  all  hands ;  for, 
the  most  effectual  way  to  take  advantage  of  a  man  is  first  to  treat 
him,  not  till  he  is  drunk,  but  till  he  becomes  excited  and  exhila- 
rated— then  surely  the  exhilaration  produced  by  any  kind  of  ardent 
spirit,  even  by  wine,  exposes  her  also  to  be  taken  unawares,  and 
robbed  of  her  most  costly  jewel.  JVb  wine-drinking  woman  is 
safe,  even  though  she  drinks  only  enough  to  become  somewhat 
exhilarated  ;  for  it  is  the  exhilaration — whether  of  wine  or  stronger 
liquors  is  immaterial — that  does  the  mischief.  Let  those  young 
men  who  gallant  the  ladies  home  from  balls  and  parties  where  wine 
is  drank,  be  my  vouchers.  Hence  for  a  woman  to  drink  wine  or  any 
kind  of  exhilarating  drinks,  I  deem  immodest  and  even  gross  vul- 
garity. 

If  this  allusion  be  deemed  improper,  surely  it  is  far  more  so  for 
a  woman  to  drink  even  wine.  Only  wine-drinking  women  will 
object  to  it,  and  they  know  it  to  be  true. 

And  to  every  young  woman,  I  would  say,  with  great  emphasis, 
adopt  the  motto,  "  Total  abstinence  or  no  husband  ;"  for  there  is  a 
world  of  philosophy  in  every  word  of  it.  The  philosophy  of  the 
"  TOTAL  abstinence"  is,  that  unless  a  young  man  abstains  totally  from 
every  form  and  degree  of  intoxicating  drinks,  he  is  in  danger,  aye, 
almost  sure  to  become  a  drunkard,  and  not  only  to  neglect  to  pro- 
vide for  a  wife,  but  to  drink  up  even  her  earnings,  besides  abus- 
ing her.  The  philosophy  of  the  last  clause,  "  or  no  husband,"  is, 
that  it  is  infinitely  better  to  have  no  husband  than  a  drunken  one. 
I  appeal  to  you,  wives  and  mothers  of  drinking  husbands,  if  you 
would  not  infinitely  prefer  never  to  have  married  1  If  words  are 
not  utterly  inadequate  to  describe  your  sorrows  and  your  sufferings, 
both  on  your  own  account  and  on  account  of  your  children  ? 

Do  not  flatter  yourselves,  that  you  can  wean  even  an  occasional 
wine  drinker  from  his  cups  by  love  and  persuasion.  Ardent  spirit 
at  first,  kindles  up  the  fires  of  love  into  the  fierce  flames  of  burning- 
licentiousness,  which  burn  out  every  element  of  love,  and  destroy 
every  vestige  of  pure  affection.  It  over-excites  Amativeness,  and 
thereby  finally  destroys  it, — producing  at  first,  unbridled  libertinism, 
and  then  an  utter  barrenness  of  love  j  besides  reversing  the  other 
7 


74  SEARING   THE   DOMESTIC   AFFECTIONS. 

faculties  of  the  drinker  against  his  own  consort,  and  those  of  the 
"wife  against  her  drinking  husband.  Read  my  work  on  "  Intempe- 
rance." and  you  will  never  wish  to  marry  even  a  moderate  drinker, 
though  it  be  of  wine  only. 

But,  another  direction,  still  more  important  if  possible  than  either 
that  precedes  it,  and  one  more  intimately  associated  with  the  virtue 
and  well-being  of  man  than  any  yet  given — it  is. 


DO  NOT  ALLOW  THE  DOMESTIC  FACULTIES  TO  BECOME  ENGAGED  UNTIL 
YOU  HAVE  MADE  YOUR  CHOICE,  AND  OBTAINED  CONSENT. 

It  has  already  been  shown,  pp.  24-34,  that  no  small  part  of 
man's  happiness  or  misery  depends  upon  the  condition  of  his  Social 
Faculties ;  and  also,  that  domestic  enjoyment  can  be  secured  only 
by  obedience  to  the  laws  of  their  constitution,  wliile  domestic  misery 
is  the  inevitable  consequence  of  their  infraction.  Let  it  ever  be 
remembered  that  love  is  one  of  the  most  sacred  elements  of  our 
nature,*  and  the  most  dangerous  with  which  to  tamper.  It  is 
a  very  beautiful  and  delicately  contrived  organ,  producing  the 
most  delightful  results,  but  easily  thrown  out  of  repair — like  a 
tender  plant,  the  delicate  fibres  of  which  incline  gradually  to 
intwine  themselves  around  its  beloved  one,  uniting  two  willing 
hearts  by  a  thousand  endearing  ties,  and  making  of  "  twain  one 
flesh :"  but  they  are  easily  torn  asunder,  and  then  adieu  to  the  joys 
of  connubial  bliss !  but  prepare  to  meet  the  impending  penalties 
attached  to  the  violation  of  those  laws  which  govern  the  Social 
relations.  The  domestic  faculties  are  easily  violated  and  seared. 
It  is  with  them  as  with  seared  or  violated  Conscientiousness,  Bene- 
volence, Approbativeness,  Veneration,  &c.  Thus,  how  "pungent, 
how  overwhelming,  are  the  first  compunctions  of  a  guilty  con- 
science !  but  every  new  violation  wears  oflf  its  tender  edge,  and 
blunts  the  moral  sensibilities,  and  persisted  in,  soon  effectually  si- 
lences and  sears  it.  So,  when  Approbativeness  in  a  child,  espe- 
cially in  a  girl,  is  first  wounded  by  reproof  or  reproach,  her  feelings 
of  shame  and  mortification  are  so  intolerable  that  she  knows  not 
where  to  hide  her  head,  crimsoned  with  the  blush  of  shame  and 

*  What  is  called  sudden  love,  has  its  origin  mainly  in  the  action  of  Amative- 
ness,  and  is  another  name  for  animal  passion.  True  love  is  of  slower  growth, 
— always  mutual  and  reciprocal,  and  founded  in  esteem,  and  in  an  admiration  of 
moral  and  intellectual  nualities,  while  sudden  love  is  excited  hy  physical  charms 


HOW   THE   SOCIAL   FACULTIES   BECOME   SEARED.  75 

sense  of  disgi-ace.  But  reproaches  and  blame  administered  a  few 
times,  sear  this  faculty  so  effectually  that  she  holds  up  a  bold  and 
brazen  face  to  all  the  reproaches  that  can  be  heaped  upon  her ; 
being  callous  to  all  sense  of  shame  and  regard  for  character.  So, 
also,  if  one  whose  heart  is  all  alive  to  the  miseries  of  sensitive  be- 
ings, sees  an  animal  killed  for  the  first  time,  or  a  fellow-being  rack- 
ed with  pain,  reversed  Benevolence  inflicts  even  greater  agony  than 
that  endured  by  the  object  pitied ;  yet,  a  few  such  sights  so  effec- 
tually harden  the  heart  and  drown  the  voice  of  pity  as  even  to  pre- 
pare him  to  take  part  in  causing  pain  or  killing  animals.  His 
Benevolence  is  seared,  never  again  to  experience  that  exquisitive- 
ness  of  pity  which  accompanied  its  primitive,  unviolated  tenderness. 
So,  in  regard  to  Veneration,  when  the  name  of  God  is  profaned ; 
with  Ideality,  when  vulgarity  is  witnessed;  with  Cautiousness, 
when  danger  is  frequently  incurred  ;  and  so  with  every  other  facul- 
ty. This  principle  applies  with  peculiar  force  to  the  social  facul- 
ties. And  since  these  organs  are  very  large,  the  evils  attendant 
upon  their  violation  are  proportionably  great. 

But  how  are  these  faculties  seared  1  What  constitutes  their  vio- 
lation ?  The  INTERRUPTION  of  lovc.  This — this  alone — is  capable 
of  violating  and  searing  them.  Interrupted  love  places  its  sufferer 
precisely  in  the  same  position,  in  regard  to  loving  subsequently,  that 
violated  Conscientiousness  does  in  regard  to  moral  principle,  or  be- 
ing disgraced  does  in  regard  to  character,  or  witnessing  pain  does 
in  regard  to  subsequent  sympathy.  To  love  after  this  interruption 
with  the  same  purity  and  tenderness  as  before,  is  as  utterly  impossi- 
ble as  to  enjoy  the  same  unblemished  moral  purity  after  the  goad- 
ings  of  a  guilty  conscience  have  been  endured  for  months  or  years 
as  he  could  before  this  faculty  was  violated ;  or  to  feel  the  same 
tender  sympathy  for  suffering  in  others,  after  scenes  of  distress  have 
been  witnessed  as  long  as  that  love  has  been  interrupted.  Yea, 
more  impossible.  As  this  interruption  violates  several  large  organs, 
the  injury  inflicted,  and  pain  endured,  are  so  much  the  greater  than 
the  mere  searing  of  a  single  organ,  such  as  Conscientiousness,  or  Be- 
nevolence, or  Approbativeness,  &c.  It  is  also  proportionally  the 
more  injurious  to  all  the  other  faculties,  on  account  of  that  intimate 
reciprocal  intercommunication  already  shown  to  subsist  between  the 
social  and  the  other  organs.  Interrupted  love  causes  the  feverish 
and  painful  action  of  the  social  organs,  and  this  causes  the  morbid 


76  EVILS  OF  COURTING  BY  THE  QUAETEK. 

and  painful  action  of  the  other  faculties,  and  converts  all  their  joys 
and  pleasures  into  pains  and  sorrows. 

K  exception  be  taken  to  this  view  of  interrupted  love,  I  have  only 
to  say,  that  this  doctrine  of  searing,  or  hardening,  or  blunting  the 
faculties,  by  violating  their  legitimate  and  natural  action,  is  a  law 
of  our  nature,  and  supported  by  innumerable  facts  in  the  history 
of  almost  every  individual.  What  possible  exception  to  this  law 
can  free  the  social  organs  from  the  evil  effects  of  its  action  1  Do 
not  facts,  drawn  from  the  experience  of  those  whose  love  has  been 
interrupted,  bear  out  this  principle  1  Then  let  candidates  for  mar- 
riage remember  this  ail-important  law  of  mind.  See  to  it,  that 
your  love  is  nemr  interrupted.  Do  not  allow  your  affections  to  he- 
come  engaged,  till  you  have  made  your  choice,  and  are  certain  of 
marriage. 

This  courting  by  the  quarter,  "  here  a  little  and  there  a  little,"  is 
one  of  the  greatest  evils  of  the  day.  This  getting  a  little  in  love 
with  Julia,  and  then  a  little  with  Eliza,  and  a  little  more  with  Mary, 
— this  fashionable  flirtation  and  coquetry  of  both  sexes — is  ruinous 
to  the  domestic  affections ;  besides,  effectually  preventing  the  for- 
mation of  true  connubial  love-  Though  I  consider  this  dissipation 
of  the  affections  one  of  the  greatest  sins  against  Heaven,  ourselves, 
and  the  one  trifled  with,  that  can  be  committed,  (because  a  direct 
and  palpable  violation  of  one  of  the  most  important  laws  and  sacred 
elements  of  our  nature — the  law  and  element  of  love,)  yet  I  urge  it 
solely  on  the  ground  of  selfish  motives,  and  purely  in  consideration 
of  its  effect  upon  your  own  happiness. 

Young  men  commence  courting  long  before  they  think  of  marry- 
ing, and  where  they  entertain  no  thoughts  of  marriage.*  They 
fritter  away  their  own  affections,  and  pride  themselves  on  their 
conquests  over  the  female  heart ;  triumphing  in  having  so  nicely 
fooled  them.  They  pursue  this  sinful  course  so  far  as  to  drive  their 
pitiable  victims,  one  after  another,  from  respectable  society,!  who, 
becoming  disgraced,  retaliate  by  heaping  upon  them  all  the  indigni- 

*  An  infallible  sign  that  a  young  man's  intentions  are  improper,  is  his  trying 
to  excite  your  Amativeness-  If  he  loves  you,  he  will  never  appeal  to  that  feel- 
ing, because  he  respects  you  too  much  for  that.  And  then  the  woman  who  allows 
a  man'  to  take  advantage  of  her  just  to  compel  him  to  marry  her,  is  lost  and 
heartless  in  the  last  degree,  and  utterly  destitute  of  moral  principle  as  well  as 
virtue. 

t  Man  it  seWom  drives  from  society.  Do  what  he  may,  woman,  aye,  virtuous 
and  everi  pious  woman,  rarely  excludes  him  from  her  list  of  visitors,  if  of  suitors. 


INTEKEUPTED  LOVE   THE   CAUSE   OF   LICENTIOUSNESS.  77 

ties  and  impositions  which  the  fertile  imagination  of  woman  can  in- 
vent or  execute.  Nearly  all  this  wide-spread  crime  and  suffering 
connected  with  public  and  private  licentiousness  and  prostitution, 
has  its  origin  in  these  unmeaning  courtships — this  premature  love — 
this  blighting  of  the  affections.  And  every  young  man  who  courts 
without  intending  to  marry,  is  throwing  himself  or  his  sweet-heart 
into  this  hell  upon  earth.f  And  most  of  the  blame  rests  on  young 
men,  because  they  take  the  liberty  of  paying  their  addresses  to  the 
ladies,  and  discontinuing  them,  at  pleasure,  and  thereby  mainly 
cause  this  vice. 

True,  young  ladies  sometimes  "  set  their  caps,"  sometimes  court 
very  hard  by  their  bewitching  smiles  and  affectionate  manners  ;  by 
the  natural  language  of  Amativeness,  or  that  backward  reclining 
and  affectionate  roll  of  the  head  which  expresses  love ;  by  their  soft 
and  persuasive  accents ;  by  their  low  dresses,  artificial  forms,  and 
many  other  unnatural  and  affected  ways  and  means  of  attracting  at- 
tention and  exciting  love ;  but  women  never  court  till  they  have 
heen  in  love  and  experienced  its  interruption — till  their  first  and 
most  tender  fibres  of  love  have  been  frost-bitten  by  disappoint- 
ment. 

But  man  is  a  self-frivileged  c)ciSXd£X&c.  He  may  not  only  violate 
the  laws  of  his  own  social  nature  with  impunity,  but  he  may  even 
trample  upon  the  affections  of  woman.  He  may  even  carry  this 
sinful  indulgence  to  almost  any  length,  and  yet  be  caressed  and 
smiled  tenderly  upon  by  woman  ;  aye,  even  by  virtuous  woman. 
He  may  call  out,  only  to  blast,  the  glowing  affections  of  one  young 
lady  after  another,  and  yet  his  addresses  be  cordially  welcomed  by 
others.     Surely  a  gentleman  is  at  perfect  liberty  to  pay  his  ad- 

But  where  is  the  point  of  propriety — the  Rubicon  of  virtue — the  transgression  of 
which  should  exclude  either  sex  from  respectable  societyl  Is  it  that  one  false 
step  which  noio  constitutes  the  boundary  between  virtue  and  vice  ?  Or,  rather, 
the  discovery  of  that  false  step  1  Certainly  not !  but  it  is  all  that  leads  to,  and 
precedes,  and  induces  it.  It  is  this  courting  without  marrying.  This  is  the 
beginning  of  licentiousness,  as  well  as  its  main,  procuring  cause,  and  therefore 
indiiitely  worse  than  its  consummation  merely. 

t  Of  169  convicts  in  the  Connecticut  State  Prison,  104  were  never  married  ; 
and  of  the  residue,  11  have  lost  their  wives,  and  22  had  parted  from  their  wives 
when  the  crimes  were  committed  which  carried  them  to  prison.  Leaving  only 
32  (out  of  169)  who  at  the  same  time  of  their  fall  remained  within  the  influence 
of  the  conjugal  relation. 

Further,  of  the  whole  number,  108  were  intemperate,  78  sold  liquors,  92  left 
their  parents  under  21  years  of  age,  76  visited  houses  of  ill-fame,  32  had  been 
sailors,  and  12  soldiers. 

.7* 


78  PIOUS   INCONSISTENCIES. 

dresses,  not  only  to  a  lady,  but  even  to  the  ladies,  although  he  does 
not  once  entertain  the  thought  of  marrying  his  sweet-heart,  or, 
rather,  his  victim.  Oh,  man,  how  depraved !  Oh,  woman,  how 
strangely  blind  to  your  own  rights  and  interests!  Ah !  Httle  does 
he  think  that  he  is  planting  thorns  in  his  ovm  side,  and  taking  into 
his  own  bosom  a  promethean  vulture,  to  gnaw  for  ever  at  his  own 
heart's  core.  No !  he  cannot  thus  violate  these  most  sacred  rela- 
tions without  thereby  bringing  down  upon  his  own  head  all  the 
righteous  retributions  which  his  depraved  nature  can  bear.  He  has 
sown  the  wind,  and  must  now  reap  the  whirlwind.  He  has  seared 
his  social  affections  so  deeply,  so  thoroughly,  so  effectually,  that 
when,  at  last,  he  wishes  to  marry,  he  is  incapable  of  loving.  He 
marries,  but  is  necessarily  €old-hearted  towards  his  wife,  which  of 
course  renders  her  wretched,  if  not  jealous,  and  reverses  the  facul- 
ties of  both  towards  each  other ;  making  both  most  miserable  for 
life.  This  induces  contention  and  mutual  recrimination,  if  not  un- 
faithfulness, and  imbitters  the  marriage  relations  through  life ;  and 
well  it  may. 

This  very  cause,  besides  inducing  most  of  that  unblushing 
public  and  private  prostitution  already  alluded  to,  renders  a 
large  portion  of  the  marriages  of  the  present  day  unhappy.  Good 
people  mourn  over  this  result,  but  do  not  once  dream  of  its  cause. 
They  even  pray  for  moral  reform,  yet  do  the  very  things  that  in- 
crease the  evil.  Do  you  see  yonder  godly  mother,  weeping  over 
her  fallen  son,  and  remonstrating  with  him  in  tones  of  a  mother's 
tenderness  and  importunity  ?  That  very  mother  prevented  that  very 
son's  marrying  the  girl  he  dearly  loved,  because  she  was  poor,  and 
this  interruption  of  his  love  was  the  direct  and  procuring  cause  of 
his  ruin ;  for,  if  she  had  allowed  him  to  marry  this  beloved  one,  he 
never  would  have  thought  of  giving  his  "  strength  unto  strange 
women."  True,  the  mother  ruined  her  son  ignorantly,  but  none 
the  less  effectually.  That  son  next  courts  another  virtuous  fair 
one,  engages  her  affections,  and  ruins  her,  or  else  leaves  her 
broken-hearted,  so  that  she  is  the  more  easily  ruined  by  others,  and 
thus  prepares  the  way  for  her  becoming  an  inmate  of  a  house 
"  whose  steps  take  hold  on  hell."  Meanwhile,  this  godly  (?  proud) 
mother  prays  daily  for  the  "  Magdalen  cause,"  and  gives  monthly 
to  Moral  Reform  Societies.*     She  means  no  harm  (only  to  have 

*I  adjure  you,  Editors  of  this  class  of  papers,  and  Managers  of  these  Societies, 
not  to  give  this  work  one  word  of  commendation,  lest  you  pollute  your  pages 
with  Phrenology,  and  help  on  that  very  cause  in  which  you  pretend  to  labor,  au, 


CHOOSING   INTELLECTUALLY   FIRST,   AND   LOVING   AFTERWARD.      79 

her  son  marry  wealth  or  fashion),  but  does  wickedly,  and  ignorantly 
perpetrates  a  crime  of  the  blackest  die.  Ah,  proud,  but  foohsh 
mother !  Oh,  ruined  and  abandoned  son !  Alas,  wretched  vic- 
tims ! !  If  the  painful  consequences  attached  to  this  violation  of 
the  social  feelings  by  this  courting  and  loving  without  marrying, 
were  confined  to  the  principal  offender,  all  would  be  right,  for 
every  voluntary  agent  has  an  undoubted  privilege  of  doing  for  him- 
self as  he  pleases,  yet  he  alone  should  abide  the  dreadful  conse- 
quences ;  but  he  certainly  has  no  "  Divine  right"  to  plant  thorns 
of  anguish  under  the  pillow  of  his  wife,  or,  rather,  of  his  victim, 
(for  a  wife  he  cannot  have)  ;  not  to  mention  the  evils  brought  upon 
his  children  by  this  disagreeable  state  of  feeling  between  their 
parents. 

I  say,  then,  with  emphasis,  \\\^i  no  man  should  ever  pay  his  address- 
es to  any  woman,  until  he  has  made  his  selection,  not  even  to  aid 
him  in  making  that  choice.  He  should  first  make  his  selection  in- 
tellectually, and  love  afterward.  He  should  go  about  the  matter 
coolly  and  with  judgment,  just  as  he  would  undertake  any  other 
important  matter.  No  man  or  woman,  when  blinded  by  love,  is  in 
a  fit  state  to  judge  advantageously  as  to  what  he  or  she  requires,  or 
who  is  adapted  to  his  or  her  wants.  I  know,  indeed,  that  this  doc- 
trine of  choosing  first  and  loving  afterward,  of  excluding  love 
from  the  councils,  and  of  choosing  '  by  and  with  the  consent  of  the' 
intellect  and  moral  sentiments,  is  entirely  at  variance  with  the  feel- 
ings of  the  young  and  the  customs  of  society ;  but,  for  its  correct- 
ness, I  appeal  to  the  common  sense — not  to  the  experience,  (for  so 
few  try  this  plan,)  of  every  reader.  Is  not  this  the  only  'proper 
method,  and  the  one  most  likely  to  result  happily  1    Yet,  why  ap- 

hundred  fold  more  effectually  than  you  are  now  doing.  I  have  struck  the  very 
fountain  of  this  corrupt  stream ;  but  do  not  lend  me  a  helping  hand,  for  you  will 
be  doing  more  good  than  you  novt^  are.  And,  ye  Editors  of  the  N.  Y.  Observer, 
N.  Y.  Evangelist,  (Zion's  Herald  and  Zion's  Watchman  excepted)  and  other 
religious  papers  and  periodicals,  see  to  it  that  you  never  meniion  Phrenology, 
except  with  a  sneer,  nor  advocate  any  of  its  moral  or  philanthropic  bearings, 
however  effectually  they  may  promote  that  very  end  for  which  you  labor,  lest  a 
David  should  obtain  rule  in  the  kingdom  of  a  Saul;  but  rather  let  the  Sauls 
that  now  rein  the  religious  world,  oppose  every  step  of  this  David  of  Phrenology, 
though  that  very  David  has  come  to  smite  the  Goliath  of  wickedness,  and  conquer 
the  Philistines  of  immorality ;  though  he  is  cutting  away  at  the  root  of  that  tree 
of  sin  of  which  you  are  hacking  away  at  its  branches  merely ;  though  he  is  using 
an  axe,  while  you  are  whittling  away  with  &  penknife ;  though  he  is  doing  more 
at  one  stroke  than  you  do  at  millions,  and  will  effect  'permanent,  radical  reform, 
while  you  reach  only  those  who  are  in  no  danger. 


80  THE  PRIMARY   CAUSE   OF  MORAL   IMPURITY. 

peal  at  all  ?  I  know  that  I  am  on  'phrenological  ground ;  enough 
for  me  to  know.  Phrenology  requires,  as  an  indispensable  condi- 
tion of  virtue  and  enjoyment,  that  the  propensities  (that  of  love  of 
course  included,)  should  be  governed  by  the  moral  sentiments  and 
intellect,  and  the  more  momentous  the  matter,  the  more  imperious  this 
requisition ;  shall  we,  then,  in  this  the  most  momentous  and  eventful 
transaction  of  our  whole  lives,  be  governed  by  blind  animal  J^ecl- 
ings  ?  This  science  forbids.  Your  own  happiness  forbids  it.  Rather 
follow  its  advice,  and  hold  a  tight  rein  upon  your  love  till  intellect 
shall  have  designated  a  suitable  time,  and  selected  a  desirable  ob- 
ject on  whom  it  may  rest  for  ever,  and  the  full  fruition  of  all  those 
joys  designed  by  nature  to  flow  from  marriage,  will  abundantly  re- 
ward you  for  this  temporary  self-denial. 

And,  especially,  let  no  young  lady  ever  once  think  of  bestowing 
her  affections  till  she  is  certain  they  will  not  be  broken  off — that  is, 
untill  the  match  is  fully  agreed  upon;  but  rather  let  her  keep 
her  heart  whole  till  she  bestows  it  for  life.  This  requisition  is  as 
much  more  important,  and  its  violation  as  much  more  disastrous  to 
woman  than  to  man,  as  her  social  faculties  are  stronger  than  his. 
As  a  "  burnt  child  dreads  the  fire,"  and  the  more  it  is  burnt,  the 
greater  dread :  so  your  affections,  once  interrupted,  will  recoil  from  a 
second  love,  and  distrust  all  mankind.  No !  you  cannot  be  too 
choice  of  your  love — that  pivot  on  which  turns  your  destinies  for 
life. 

But  here  an  apparently  insurmountable  difficulty  rises  to  prevent 
putting  this  direction  in  practice.  These  matrimonial  instincts 
usually  develop  themselves  early,  long  before  the  judgment  is  ma- 
tured, and  often  rage  to  a  degree  well  nigh  ungovernable,  refusing 
to  wait  till  the  tardy  intellect  has  made  its  selection,  and  has  all 
things  ready.  In  such  cases,  what  must  be  done  ?  Kind  reader, 
listen ;  moralists  and  philanthropists,  attend,  while  I  strike  the  very 
root  of  this  Bohun  Upas,  or  poisonous  tree  of  domestic  bitterness — 
while  I  lay  open  the  primary  cause  and  fountain-head  of  this  un- 
blushing licentiousness,  which  constitutes  the  sin  of  this  sinful  age — 
this  nucleus  of  all  the  vices — this  hell  upon  earth,  whose  fierce 
flames  are  continually  consuming  the  very  life  and  souls  of  millions, 
by  inflicting  upon  them  all  the  mental  and  physical  agonies  which 
our  nature  can  bear.  On  the  two  preceding  pages,  I  gave  the  di- 
rect and  ostensible  cause,  but  I  shall  now  present  the  primary 
cause,  or  the  cause  of  tekt  cause;  and  that  is,  the  premature  de- 


EVILS   OF   EXCITING   AMATHTENESS   IN   CHILDREN.  81 

VELOPMENT  and  the  artificial  stimulation  of  Jimativeness.  I  will 
expose  a  few  of  those  causes,  kept  in  constant  operation  by  nearly 
all  classes  of  the  community,  which  tend  to  bring  forward  the  pas- 
sion of  love  prematurely,  and  to  keep  it  constantly  and  morbidly 
excited. 

1.  The  conduct  and  conversation  of  adults  before  children  and 
youth.  How  often  have  I  blushed  with  shame,  and  kindled  with 
indignation  at  the  conversation  of  parents,  and  especially  of  motJiers, 
to  their  children !  "  John,  go  and  kiss  Harriet,  for  she  is  your 
sweet-heart."  Well  may  shame  make  him  hesitate  and  hang  his 
head.  "  Why,  John,  I  did  not  think  you  so  great  a  coward. 
Afraid  of  the  girls,  are  you  ?  That  will  never  do.  Come,  go 
along,  and  hug  and  kiss  her.  There,  thafs  a  man.  I  guess  you 
will  love  the  girls  yet."  Continually  is  he  teazed  about  the  girls, 
and  being  in  love,  till  he  really  selects  a  sweet-heart.  I  will  not 
lift  the  veil,  nor  expose  the  conduct  of  children  among  themselves. 
And  all  this,  because  adults  have  filled  their  heads  with  those  im- 
purities which  surfeit  their  own  What  could  more  effectually 
wear  off  that  natural  delicacy,  that  maiden  purity  and  bashfulness, 
which  form  the  main  barrier  against  the  influx  of  vitiated  Amative- 
ness  1  How  often  do  those  whose  modesty  has  been  worn  smooth, 
even  take  pleasure  in  thus  saying  and  doing  things  to  raise  the 
blush  on  the  cheek  of  youth  and  innocence,  merely  to  witness  the 
effect  of  these  improper  allusions  upon  them ;  little  realizing  that 
they  are  thereby  breaking  down  the  barriers  of  their  virtue,  and  pre- 
maturely kindling  the  fires  of  animal  passion  ? 

As  puberty  approaches,  the  evil  magnifies.  The  prematurely 
kindled  embers  of  love  now  burst  forth  into  the  unextinguishable 
flames  of  unbridled  licentiousness  or  self-pollution.  Most  of  the 
conversation  of  young  people  is  upon  love  matters,  or  used  in  throw- 
ing or  pretending  to  parry  the  shafts  of  love  j  and  nearl}''  all  their 
plays  abound  in  kissing,  mock-marriages,  &c.  &c.  The  entire  ma- 
chinery of  balls  and  parties,  of  dances  and  the  other  amusements  of 
young  people,  tend  to  excite  and  inflame  this  passion.  Thinking  it 
a  fine  thing  to  get  in  love,  they  court  and  form  attachments  long 
before  either  their  mental  or  physical  powers  are  matured.  Of 
course,  these  young  loves,  these  green-house  exotics,  must  be 
broken  off,  and  their  miserable  subjects  left  burning  up  with  the 
fierce  fires  of  a  flaming  passion,  which,  if  let  alone,  would  have 


82  READING   NOVELS    AND  LOVE-TALES   INJURIOUS. 

slumbered  on  for  years,  till  they  were  prepared  for  its  proper  man- 
agement and  exercise. 

Nor  is  it  merely  the  conversation  of  adults,  that  does  all  this  mis- 
chief: their  manners  also  increase  it.  Young  men  take  the  hands 
of  girls  from  six  to  thirteen  years  old,  kiss  them,  press  them,  and 
play  with  them  so  as,  in  a  great  variety  of  ways,  to  excite  this  organ, 
combined,  I  grant,  with  Friendship  and  Refinement — for  all  this 
is  genteelly  done.  They  intend  no  harm,  and  parents  dream  of 
none ;  and  yet  their  embryo  love  is  awakened,  to  be  again  still 
more  easily  excited.  Maiden  ladies,  and  even  married  women,  of- 
ten express  similar  feelings  towards  lads,  not  perhaps  positively 
improper  in  themselves,  yet  injurious  in  their  ultimate  effects. 


READING  NOVELS,   LOVE   TALES,   ETC.    INJURIOUS. 

The  fashionable  reading  of  the  day  is  still  7nore  objectionable. 
As  to  its  amount,  let  publishers,  and  the  editors  of  family  news- 
papers, testify.  Whose  sales  are  the  greatest  ?  Whose  patronage 
is  the  most  extensive  1  Those  who  publish  the  most  novels,  and 
the  best  [1  worst)  love-tales.  Let  those  weeklies  that  boast  of 
their  "  30,000  subscribers,"  and  claim  "  the  largest  circulation  in 
the  world,"  have  a  red  line  drawn  across  every  column  containing 
a  story,  the  substance  and  seasoning  of  which  is  love,  and  more  than 
half  their  entire  contents  will  be  crimsoned  with  this  sign  of  Ama- 
tiveness  !  Try  this  experiment,  and  it  will  astonish  you.  Country 
newspapers  also  must  have  a  part  or  the  whole  of  some  love-talc 
every  week,  or  else  run  down.  These  stories,  girls  are  allowed  and 
encouraged  to  read.  How  often  have  I  seen  girls  not  twelve  years 
old,  as  hungry  for  a  story  or  novel  as  they  should  be  for  their  din- 
ners !  A  sickly  sentimentahsm  is  thus  formed,  and  their  minds  are 
sullied  with  impure  desires.  Every  fashionable  young  lady  must 
of  course  read  every  new  no\'el,  though  nearly  all  of  them  contain 
exceptionable  allusions,  perhaps  dehcately  covered 'over  with  a  thin 
gauze  of  fashionable  refinement ;  yet,  on  that  very  account,  the 
more  objectionable.*  If  this  work  contained  one  improper  allusion 
to  their  ten,  many  of  those  fastidious  ladies  who  now  eagerly  de- 

*  I  do  not  undertake  to  say,  that  there  are  no  good  novels,  yet  their  number  is 
very  small.  Even  those  of  Scott,  the  very  best  (or  rather  the  least  bad)  of  novels, 
are  full  of  love  ;  and  I  maintain  that  this  passion  in  man  is  quite  strong  enough. 


A   STIMULATING  DIET   EXCITES  AMATIVENESS.  83 

vour  the  vulgarities  of  Marryatt,  and  the  douUe-entendres  of  Bul- 
'\\'er,  and  even  converse  with  gentlemen  about  their  contents,  would 
discountenance  or  condemn  it  as  improper.  Shame  on  novel-read- 
ing WOMEN ;  for,  they  cannot  have  pure  minds  or  unsullied  feelings, 
but,  Cupid,  and  the  beaux,  and  waking  dreams  of  love,  are  fast 
consuming  their  health  and  virtue. 

Not  that  I  impute  the  least  blame  to  those  respectable  editors  and 
publishers,  who  fill  their  coffers  by  feasting  this  diseased  public  ap- 
petite, especially  of  the  ladies,  even  though  they  thereby  pander  to, 
and  increase  this  worst  vice  of  this  our  vicious  age  and  nation ; 
any  more  than  I  blame  grog-sellers  for  making  money  out  of  ano- 
ther diseased  public  taste ;  because  both  are  aiming  mainly  at  dol- 
lars and  cents,  yet  stabbing  public  virtue  to  the  heart.  But  their 
money  will  be  a  curse  to  them,  and  their  trash  is  a  curse  to  its 
readers. 

3.  A  STIMULATING  DIET  pretematurally  excites  and  prematurely 
develops  this  organ.  That  there  exists  an  intimate  and  perfectly 
reciprocal  relation  between  the  state  of  the  hody  and  that  of  the 
anhnal  propensities,  is  a  plain  matter  of  fact  and  experience,  sus- 
ceptible of  the  clearest  demonstration  by  appealing  to  facts,  espe- 
cially of  a  collective  character.  Although  the  proof  of  this  princi- 
ple is  indispensable  in  order  to  enforce  the  conclusion  that  flesh, 
tea,  coiFee,  tobacco,  snufF,  candies,  condiments,  spices,  &c.  &c. 
stimulate  the  propensities,  and  especially  excite  Amativeness,  yet 
our  restricted  limits  forbid  its  introduction  here  ;  but  the  reader  is 
referred  to  my  work  on  "  Temperance,  founded  on  Phrenology  and 
Physiology,"  pp.  13  to  23,  and  to  my  work  on  "  Phrenology  ap- 
plied to  Education  and  Self-Improvement,"  published  in  the  Phre- 
nological Journal,  in  which  the  principle;,  that  whatever  artificially 
stimulates  the  body  thereby  stimulates  the  animal  propensities  much 
more  in  proportion  than  the  moral  or  intellectual  organs,  is  proved 
beyond  all  doubt  or  cavil,  to  be  a  law  of  our  nature.  Tea,  coffee, 
flesh,  tobacco,  spices,  &c.,  as  well  as  wine  and  ardent  spirit,  are 
unquestionably  highly  stimulating,  much  more  so  than  water, 
breadstufFs,  vegetables,  &c. ;  and  therefore  powerfully  excite  these 
propensities.  And  since  the  relation  between  the  body  and  Jlma- 
tiveness,  and  especially  between  the  stomach  and  this  organ,  is 

without  any  artificial  stimulant.  Works  of  fiction  might  be  turned  to  most  ex- 
cellent account  by  enforcing  valuable  morals,  yet  are  and  might  be  are  two  very 
different  things,  for  their  morals  arc  mostly  drowned  in  love. 


84  WANT   OF  EXEKCISE   EXCITES   IMPTJPvE   FEELINGS. 

more  direct  and  intimate  than  between  the  body  and  any  other  por- 
tion of  the  brain,  the  inference  is  clear  that  stimulating  food  and 
drink  tend  directly  and  powerfully  to  develop  this  organ  prema- 
turely, and  keep  it  in  a  morbid,  feverish  state  of  action.  Children, 
therefore,  should  not  be  allowed  a  stimulating  diet,  nor  is  it  exactly 
proper  for  young  ladies. 

Want  of  exercise  is  another  means  of  exciting  impure  desires  j 
while  labor  tends  to  subdue  them.  The  principle  just  stated,  ap- 
plies here  with  increased  force.  As  the  energies  of  the  system  are 
continually  accumulating,  they  rnUst  have  some  door  to  escape. 
Labor  and  exercise  carry  them  off  through  the  muscles ;  but  when 
this  door  is  closed  by  fashionable  idleness,  their  next  medium  of 
egress  is  through  the  propensities.  This  is  established  by  facts  as 
■well  as  by  this  principle.  What  class  of  society  is  the  most  vir- 
tuous ?  The  laboring.  But,  who  are  the  most  licentious  ?  Idlers, 
loafers,  "  soap-locks,"  men  and  women  of  leisure,  and  those  who 
are  too  good  (query,  too  bad)  to  labor.  When  the  laborer  retires, 
he  falls  asleep  at  once,  while  those  who  are  too  proud  or  fashiona- 
ble to  work,  retire  to  indulge  the  nightly  reveries  of  their  fancies, 
mingled  with  unclean  thoughts,  and  stained  with  impure  desires. 
Labor,  or,  at  least,  vigorous  exercise,  is  as  indispensable  to  moral 
purity  as  breath  is  to  life.  All  who  break  this  law,  even  fashiona- 
ble ladies  included,  must  abide  the  consequences,  one  of  which  is, 
a  depraved  imagination,  full  of  unclean  desires;*  but  whoever  obeys 
it,  thereby  reaps  a  rich  reward  of 'personal  hapjnness. 

To  CHILDREN  AND  YOUTH,  tliis  principle  applies  with  increased 
force.  Keeping  them  housed  up  iurdoors,  and  from  play  or  labor, 
prevents  the  free  circulation  of  their  blood  thoughout  the  body,  and 
of  course  sends  it  up  to  the  brain,  and  especially  to  its  base,  to  ripen 
this  feeling  prematurely,  and  then  to  keep  it  morbidly  active.  This 
is  the  cause  of  its  appearing  two  or  three  years  earlier  in  the  city 
than  in  the  country,  and  several  years  younger  even  there  than  un- 
thwarted  nature  would  develop  it.  A  city  is  no  place  to  bring  up 
children.  It  is  a  hot-bed  for  all  the  passions,  ripening  all  the  fac- 
ulties too  early,  but  hastening  their  decay  in  even  greater  propor- 

*  Every  laborer  will  bear  me  witness,  that  these  feelings  are  more  active 
when  they  do  7iot  work  than  when  they  do — on  a  Sabbath  evening,  for  example, 
than  on  other  evenings.  Hence,  doubtless,  the  custom  of  selecting  Sabbath  even- 
ings for  courtship. 


i 


MODERN   FEMALE   EDUCATION.  85 

tion.  Were  these  and  other  causes  of  its  premature  development 
done  away,  it  would  not  probably  appear  till  between  the 
twentieth  and  twenty-fifth  year,  and  then  be  five  years  longer  in 
ripening  up  to  a  maturity  sufficient  for  marriage,  and,  by  this  time, 
the  judgment  would  be  sufficiently  matured  to  make  a  proper  se- 
lection. 

Theatres,  and  theatrical  dancing,  also  inflame  Amativeness,  and 
are  "  the  wide  gate"  of  "  the  broad  road"  of  moral  impurity.  Fash- 
ionable music  is  another,  especially  the  verses  set  to  it,  being  mostly 
love-sick  ditties,  or  sentimental  odes,  breathing  this  tender  passion 
in  its  most  melting  and  bewitching  strains.  Improper  prints  often 
do  immense  injury  in  this  respect,  as  do  also  balls,  parties,  annuals, 
newspaper  articles,  exceptionable  works,  &c.  &c. 

MODERN   FEMALE   EDUCATION. 

But,  perhaps,  nothing  tends  to  develop  or  inflame  this  passion  at 
all  to  be  compared  with  modern  female  education.  It  really  does 
seem  as  though  the  one  main  object  of  the  education  of  fashionable 
females,  was  to  excite  and  gratify  Ihe  Amativeness  of  fashionable 
gentlemen — to  enable  them  to  get  a  dashing  beau,  and  a  rich 
husband.  Most  of  our  fashionable  boarding-schools  are  public 
curses  j*  for,  they  make  their  pupils  mere  parlor  toys  and  senseless 
chatterers,  yet  miserably  poor  wives  and  mothers.  Not  a  thousand 
miles  from  Troy,  N.  Y.,  is  a  mother  school  of  this  class,  the 
baneful  influences  of  which  will  long  remain  to  curse,  not  its  own 
sex  merely,  but  the  other  also,  with  fashionable  wives  and  weakly 
mothers.  These  schools  teach  the  graces  and  accomplishments 
mainly,  which  are  only  polite  names  for  beaux-catching,  cap-setting, 
coquetry,  and  such  Wke  fashionable  attainments.  They  only  white- 
wash the  out-side  of  these  rouge-painted,  tight-laced  sepulchres, 
but  efface  almost  every  element  of  the  true  woman.  They  teach 
her  to  screw  her  waist  into  artificial  forms,  and  her  face  into  ar- 
tificial smiles,  and  to  learn  to  say  soft  things  very  softly.    They 

*  I  am  gratified  to  be  able  to  except  the  schools  of  Rev.  Mr.  Avery,  ofDanvers, 
Mass.;  Mrs.  Burrill,  of  South  Boston ;  and  Miss.  Lyon's  Mount  Holyoke  Seminary, 
near  Northampton,  Mass.  There  are  doubtless  others,  yet  they  are  "  Jew  and  far 
between," — too  few  to  require  any  important  modification  of  these  strictures  oa 
female  seminaries  as  a  class. 

8 


86  THE    CHIEF   END   OF   FASHIONBLE   WOMAN. 

inculcate  the  sentiment  that  "  the  chief  end  of  woman  is  to"  please 
the  men,  and  pander  to  their  depraved  appetites ;  that  to  engage 
personally  in  domestic  duties,  is  a  direct  violation  of  all  good  breed- 
ing, and  even  down  right  vulgarity ;  that  a  lady  must  know  how 
to  draw,  embroider,  sing,  write  letters,  but  nothing  farther ;  that  she 
must  express  as  much  "  mischief"  (Amativeness)  in  her  eye  as 
possible,  and  aim  at  making  conquests,  rather  than  at  fitting  herself 
to  become  a  wife  and  mother ;  that  dress,  and  show,  and  fashion, 
and  splendid  style,  must  supersede  all  other  considerations ;  that 
extravagance  is  a  virtue,  and  economy  obsolete ;  that  making  morn- 
ing calls  and  fashionable  parties,  and  telling  "polite  lies,  (that  is, 
pretending  to  be  very  glad  to  see  persons  whom  they  dislike,  and 
pressing  them  to  "  call  again,"  when  they  hate  the  very  sight  of 
them,)  together  with  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  art  of  making 
love  and  playing  the  coquet,  and  such  like  fashionable  flumery, 
constitute  the  main  duty  of  woman.  A  recent  English  work  de- 
voted to  teaching  ladies  manners,  occupied  some  fifteen  pages  in 
teaching  them  how  to  get  into  a  carriage,  so  as  to  show  just  enough, 
but  none  too  much,  of  their  handsome  ancles,  feet,  &c.  &c.  &c.  &c. 
&c.  &c. ;  and  a  recent  American  work  dedicatad  to  the  fair  sex, 
eccupies  several  pages  in  pointing  out  the  infinite  importance  of 
leaving  a  blank  place  on  the  third  page  of  a  letter  for  the  wafer j 
"  Et  id  omne  genus  /" 

If  there  be  any  one  thing  in  civilized  society  more  utterly  desti- 
tute of  common  sense,  and  evincing  more  consummate  folly ;  or,  if 
there  be  any  thing  more  totally  at  war  with  the  designs  and  ar- 
rangements of  nature,  than  any  other,  it  is  the  modern  fashionable 
method  of  conducting  female  education.  What  is  the  nature  of 
woman,  as  indicated  by  .her  phrenological  developments  1  and  in 
what  respects  does  her  fashionable  education  correspond  with  it,  or, 
rather,  in  what  point  does  it  not  outrage  and  violate  that  nature  1 
If  sufficient  space  were  left,  it  would  be  of  great  service  to  show 
just  what  the  phrenological  character  of  woman  is,  and  what  her 
education  should  be  to  adapt  her  to  it ;  and  also  to  contrast  that 
education  with  the  one  now  dealt  out  to  her  by  her  lords  and  mas- 
ters— fashionable  men,  or  rather  dandles  and  libertines.  But  as  there 
is  not  sufficient  space  left,  I  must  again  refer  the  reader  to  my 
work  on  that  subject. 

In  view  of  these  evils,  one  gentleman  of  this  city  said — 
"  I  would    sooner  let  my  daughter    run  wild,  than    receive  a 


ADVICE    TO  WOMAN.  87 

modern  fashionable  education ;"  and  another,  whose  name,  if  given, 
would  be  at  once  recognised  by  almost  every  school-boy  in  the 
United  States,  "  Though  I  would  not  go  to  that  extent,  yet  I  would 
sooner  see  my  daughters  get  their  living  by  begging,  or  follow  them 
to  their  graves  to-morrow,  than  brought  up  fashionably."  To  this 
latter  sentiment,  I  heartily  respond ;  and,  I  pray  God  that  neither 
my  daughters  nor  sisters  may  be  fashionably  educated.  Over 
no  evil  do  I  mourn  more— no  crime  do  I  deplore  more — than  the 
perversion  of  woman's  nature  by  modern  education.  Though 
deeply  interested  in  the  cause  of  Temperance,  yet  it  would  give  me 
ten  times  the  pleasure  to  see  woman  properly  educated,  and  placed 
in  her  proper  sphere,  than  to  see  every  drunkard  in  Christendom  re- 
formed ;  for,  the  latter  would  benefit  the  few,  but  the  former,  all 
mankind — the  latter  would  relieve  only  a  part  of  the  present  gene- 
ration from  a  cruel  bondage,  but  the  former  would  deliver  the  half 
of  our  race,  together  with  all  future  generations,  from  a  thralldom 
more  tyrannical,  and  a  condition  more  pitiable,  than  any  other  now  or 
ever  endured  by  man.  And  in  this  fruitful  field  will  I  labor  and 
die.*  I  call  upon  woman  to  pause,  and  consider  the  oppressive 
evils  under  which  she  groans  and  dies,  to  .rise  and  shake  off  the 
chains,  and  follow  the  dictates  of  her  nature ;  to  assert  and  main- 
tain her  independence  ;  to  rise  from  her  abject  servitude,!  ^i^d  as- 
sert and  maintain  her  rights,  and  her  freedom,  and  he  herself.  I 
know  hundreds  of  women  who  allow  their  husbands,  as  it  were,  to 
drag  them  through  life  by  the  hair  of  their  heads,  on  account  of 
their  children  ;  and,  taking  woman  as  a  class,  even  in  these  United 
States,  her  sufferings  no  tongue  can  tell,  and.  none  but  looman  can 
endure.  But  I  must  stop ;  for  Ifeel  and  think  on  this  subject  more 
than  my  limits  allow  me  to  express ;  but,  if  my  life  be  spared,  I  in- 
tend to  probe  this  subject  to  the  bottom,  and  tell  woman,  in  the 
name  of  Phrenology,  what  she  is  by  nature,  and  should  be  by  prac- 
tice and  station. 

*  As  soon  as  I  can  command  the  time,  I  intend  to  publish,  in  a  neat  little  book, 
a  Ladies  Edition  of  this  Work,  which,  besides  being  free  from  all  expressions 
and  allusions  to  which  even  prudish  fastidiousness  can  object,  will  be  expressly 
adapted  to  woman  in  the  matter  of  marriage  and  education,  showing  her  how  she 
should  be  educated  to  become  a  wife  and  matron,  and  then  how  to  choose  and 
obtain  a  suitable  husband. 

t  For  years,  the  fact  that  Self-Esteem  is  small  in  nearly  all  women,  and  Firm- 
ness rather  feeble,  surprised  me ;  but  Phrenology  soon  opened  my  eyes  to  tho 
true  situation  of  women,— that  of  ahiect  slavery  to  a  dozen  masters— to  the  fash- 


MARRY   YOUR  FIRST   LOVE 


MARRY   YOUR   FIRST   LOVE.* 


This  is  the  most  important  direction  of  all.  On  pp.  74-80,  will 
be  found  one  cogent  reason  for  it;  namely,  that  interruptions 
in  love  sear  and  benumb  the  element  of  love.  I  do  not  say 
that  you  cannot  love  a  second  time ;  but,  I  do  say,  that  Jirst  love 
experiences  a  tenderness,  a  purity,  an  unreservedness,  an  exquisite- 
ness,  a  devotedness,  and  a  poetry  belonging  to  no  subsequent  at- 
tachment. "  Love,  like  life,  has  no  second  spring."  Though  a 
second  attachment  may  be  accompanied  by  high  moral  feeling,  and 
a  devotedness  to  the  object  loved ;  yet,  let  love  be  checked  or 
blighted  in  its  first  pure  emotion,  and  the  beauty  of  its  spring  is 
irrecoverably  withered  and  lost.  It  may  yet  retain  the  glory  of  its 
summer,  but  the  dew  of  its  youth  has  vanished,  never  to  return. 
The  fruits  of  its  autumn  may  be  enjoyed,  but  the  flower  of  its 
primrose  has  faded  away,  never  to  blossom  again. 

When  the  Bible,  that  book  of  human  nature  as  well  as  of  good 
morals,  would  illustrate  God's  love  for  his  children  by  the  strongest 
and  most  tender  of  human  emotions,  it  employs  the  term  "  first 
love ;"  because  love  is  the  strongest  of  human  passions,  and  first 
love  is  the  purest,  strongest  kind  of  love.  It  glows  with  a  disin- 
terestedness and  devotedness  which  appertain  to  no  subsequent  at- 
tachment. It  is  more  Platonic  and  less  animal  than  any  other. 
In  it,  Amativeness,  as  such,  is  not  once  thought  of.  Personal 
charms  appear  as  nothing  when  compared  with  the  superior  beau- 
ties of  the  mind  and  heart.  It  also  unites  with  it  a  feeling  of  sa- 
credness  which  appertains  to  no  other  love.  Perfectly  satisfied 
with  each  other,  neither  bestows  one  iota  of  love  upon  any  other, 
and  both  regard  a  change  of  objects  as  profanity  and  moral  treason 

ions,  which  make  her  pinch  her  feet  and  screw  in  her  waist  till  she  can  have  no 
peace  of  her  life ;  a  slave  to  man,  and  especially  to  the  worst  class  of  men — the 
genteel  class ;  and  a  slave  to  the  artificial  wants  of  man,  in  the  family  and  out 
of  it ;  a  slave  as  Tega.rds  property  ;  for,  as  a  wife,  she  is  allowed  to  hold  none  in- 
dependently; a  slave  in  almost  every  form  in  which  it  is  possible  for  man  to 
command  or  woman  to  obey. 

*  First  love,  as  employed  here  and  elsewhere  in  this  work,  has  no  reference 
to  that  green  boys-and-girls'  love  often  experienced  by  children  just  entering 
their  teens,  especially  when  the  causes  specified  in  the  text  have  developed  this 
faculty  prematurely  ;  but  it  refers  to  the  first  strong,  reciprocal  attachment, 
founded  in  esteem,  and  formed  after  the  parties  arrive  at  an  age  sufficient  to  ex- 
perience the  full  power  of  love. 


MUTUAL  LOVE  CONSTITUTES  MARRIAGE.  89 

m  their  worst  forms.  It  is  only  after  this  first  love  has  been  inter- 
rupted, that  either  party  can  once  indulge  even  an  impure  feeling 
towards  another.  Not  only  does  the  formation  of  a  relation  so 
tender,  erect  an  impregnable  rampart  against  this  vice,  but  the  very 
anticipation  of  it  guards  the  heart  of  youth  against  destructive  hab- 
its and  impure  passions.  That  young  man  is  safe,  though  sur- 
rounded with  the  temptations  even  of  a  Joseph,  whose  love  is  recip- 
rocated, and  whose  vows  are  plighted.  As  long  as  his  heart  is 
bound  up  in  its  first  bundle  of  love  and  devotedness — as  long  as 
his  affections  remain  reciprocated  and  uninterrupted — so  long  temp- 
tations cannot  take  effect.  His  heart  is  callous  to  the  charms 
of  others,  and  the  very  idea  of  bestowing  his  affections  upon  an- 
other is  abhorrent.  Much  more  so  is  animal  indulgence,  which  is 
morally  impossible. 

But,  let  this  first  love  be  broken  off,  and  the  flood-gates  of  pas- 
sion are  raised.  Temptations  now  flow  in  upon  him.  He  casts  an 
amative  eye  upon  every  passing  female,  and  indulges  unchaste  ima- 
ginations and  feelings.  Although  his  Conscientiousness  or  intellect 
may  prevent  actual  indulgence,  yet  temptations  now  take  effect,  and 
render  him  liable  to  err ;  whereas,  before,  they  had  no  power  to 
awaken  improper  thoughts  or  feelings. 

MUTUAL   LOVE   CONSTITUTES   MATRIMONY. 

In  what  does  matrimony  consist  ?  In  some  one  thing  1  Or,  in 
many  things  1  In  mutual  love,  or  in  the  legal  ceremony,  or  in  both 
combined  ?  If  marriage  consists  in  human  law, — or,  rather,  just  so 
far  as  it  consists  in  law — it  does  not  and  cannot  consist  in  love  ; 
and  is,  therefore,  human  in  its  origin  and  character,  and  just  so  far 
should  human  law  be  relied  upon  to  create  and  perpetuate  mar- 
riage, and  punish  its  violation.  But  no  human  legislation  can  so 
guard  this  institution  but  that  it  may  be  broken  in  spirit,  though, 
perhaps,  acceded  to  in  form ;  for,  it  is  the  heart  which  this  institu- 
tion requires.  What  Would  any  woman  give  for  merely  a  nominal 
or  legal  husband,  just  to  live  with  and  provide  for  her,  bst  who  en- 
tertained not  one  spark  of  love  for  her,  or  whose  affections  were 
bestowed  upon  another  1  How  absurd,  how  preposterous  the  doctrine, 
that  the  obligations  of  marriage  derive  their  sacredness  from  legal, 
enactments  and  injunctions!  How  it  \\iQVd\\jprofanes  this  holy 
of  hoHes,  and  drags  down  this  heaven-born  institution  from  its  ori- 
8* 


90  THE   MARRIAGE   CEREMONY   TJNIMPORTANT. 

ginal,  divine  eleA'ation  to  the  level  of  a  merely  human  device !  Who 
will  dare  to  advocate  the  human  institution  of  marriage  1  Or,  who 
will  maintain  that  a  compliance  with  its  legal  requirements  strengthens, 
or  a  non-compliance,  weakens,  or  either  at  all  alters  the  matter  1  All 
must  admit  that  marriage  is  wholly  divine  in  its  origin  and  obliga- 
tion, and,  as  such,  above,  and  independent  of,  all  human  laws,  and 
consisting  entirely  in  reciprocal  and  connubial  love.  "  Whom  God 
hath  joined  together,  let  not  man  put  asunder."  The  Bible,  in  all 
its  allusions  to  marriage,  implies  and  asserts  that  its  obligations  de- 
rive ALL  their  value  and  sacredness  from  God.  Unless,  therefore, 
he  makes  our  marriage  laws,  marriage  cannot  consist  in  any  injunc- 
tions or  enactments  thrown  around  it  by  these  laws ;  and,  hence,  to 
maintain  that  he  imposes  these  obligations  by  means  of  human  law, 
is  next  to  blasphemy.  No  human  tribunal  or  legislature  can  in- 
crease or  decrease  their  obligations  one  jot  or  tittle.  If  so,  their  sa- 
credness vanishes  at  once,  because  this  makes  them  of  m>en,  where- 
as, now  they  are  of  God, 

But  HOW  does  God  "join  together"  two  congenial  spirits  so 
closely  as  to  make  of  twain  one  flesh  ?  By  ties  the  strongest,  most 
tender,  and  most  indissoluble  of  our  nature — ties  in  comparison  with 
which,  friendship  is  but  as  a  straw,  and  even  self-interest  but  as  a 
ijhred  of  flax  in  a  burning  candle.  This  tie  is  the  passion  of  love. 
This  element  of  our  nature,  and  this  alone,  constitutes  matrimony, 
and  as  it  was  implanted  hy  God,  matrimony  is  divine  in  its  origin 
and  obligations.  The  happy,  loving  pair  are  always  married  in 
heaven,  before  they  can  be  on  earth ;  for,  their  agreement  to  live 
together  in  nature's  holy  wedlock,  is  marriage,  with  all  its  rights 
and  privileges,  and  constitutes  them  husband  and  wife. 

I  repeat  the  simple,  single  point  at  issue,  namely,  that  the  mar- 
riage relations  are  divine  in  origin  and  obligations,  and  therefore, 
have  no  possible  connexion  with  the  marriage  ceremony,  but  are 
infinitely  above  all  human  enactments  ;  and  that,  maldng  marriage 
consist  in,  or  depend  upon,  human  law,  makes  it  human,  which 
completely  strips  it  of  all  those  high  and  holy  sensations  thrown 
around  it  by  basing  it  in  mutual  love.  Just  as  far  as  it  consists  in 
law,  just  so  far  is  its  purity  corrupted,  its  exalted  nature  debased, 
and  its  sacredness  converted  into  sacrilege  ! 

"  WTiat !"  says  an  objector,  "  would  you  then  annul  the  law  of 
marriage,  abrogate  the  legal  ceremony,  and  leave  man  to  his  own 
unbridled  desires  ?     Depraved  man  requires  all  the  restraints  of  hu- 


LOVE   SELF-PERPETUATING.  91 

man  law,  added  to  the  thunderings  of  divine  vengeance,  in  order  to 
make  him  faithful,  and  is  wofully  frail  and  faithless  at  that."  I  an- 
swer, that,  since  laws  have  been  enacted,  and  a  ceremony  instituted, 
it  may  perhaps  be  well  enough  to  obey  the  former  and  observe  the 
latter  as  a  form  merely,  but  human  law  cannot  touch  the  point  any 
more  than  it  can  regulate  the  appetite.  If  law  required  that  we 
should  be  hungry  at  particular  periods,  and  forbade  our  eating  at 
others,  would  this  affect  our  appetites  either  way  in  the  least,  or 
prevent  our  eating  ?  Of  course  not.  Nor  does  its  requirement,  that 
legalized  husbands  and  wives  should  love,  and  be  faithful  to,  each 
other,  have  the  least  influence  in  promoting  either.  If  those  who 
are  married  according  to  law,  love  each  other,  they  love  wholly  in- 
dependent of  legal  requirements,  but  if  they  do  not  love  each  other, 
no  human  law  can  either  create  attachment  or  weaken  enmity  ;  for, 
it  does  not  and  cannot  reach  the  case.  In  no  way  whatever,  either 
for  good  or  evil,  can  it  affect  those  feelings  of  the  heart  which 
have  been  shown  to  constitute  marriage. 

"  Of  course,  laws  do  no  harm,"  retorts  an  objector.  I  answer, 
that  relying  upon  law  to  effect  what  law  can  never  reach,  does  much 
more  injury  than  relying  upon  a  broken  reed  only  to  be  pierced  by 
it,  because  the  matter  concerned  is  so  all-important.  The  perpetuity 
of  love  nature  has  provided  for,  and  infinitely  better  than  man  can 
do,  and  therefore  man  need  not  feel  concerned  about  it.  Let  men  rely 
SOLELY  upon  the  affections  of  the  heart ;  for,  their  very  nature  is 
self-perpetuating.  They  need  no  law,  and  are  above  all  law.  Let 
them  but  be  properly  placed  at  first,  and  they  will  never  once  de-, 
sire  to  change  their  object ;  for,  the  more  we  love  an  object,  the 
more  we  wish  to  continue  loving  it,  and  the  longer  husbands  and 
wives  live  together  affectionately,  the  stronger  their  love.  Love  in- 
creases itself.  Hence,  we  no  more  need  a  law  requiring  husbands 
and  wives  to  love  each  other,  than  one  requiring  us  to  eat,  or  sleep, 
or  breathe ;  and  for  precisely  the  same  reason.  True  love  recoils 
from  a  change  of  objects  as  a  burning  nerve  shrinks  from  a  scorching 
fire.  Let  men  but  rely  upon  the  law  of  love  instead  of  upon  the 
laws  of  the  land,  and  they  wall  certainly  have  more  connubial  hap- 
piness, and  less  discords  and  petitions  for  divorces.  Nor  should  the 
law  ever  compel  two  to  live  together  who  do  not  love  each  other  j 
for,  it  thereby  only  compels  them  to  violate  the  seventh  command- 
ment.   Impotent  as  our  laws  are,  touching  marriage,  they  need  re- 


9:2  BREAKING   OFF   ATTACHMENTS    A    BREACH   OF   MARRIAGE. 

vising,  for  they  are  sadly  defective  and  cruelly  oppressive,  especially 
upon  woman,  whom  they  should  protect. 

The  inference,  therefore,  is  clear  and  conclusive,  that  those  whose 
legal  marriage  is  prompted  by  motives  of  property,  or  honor,  or  any 
consideration  other  than  mutual  love,  are  no  more  husbands  and 
wives  thanks  though  they  had  not  sworn  falsely  by  assenting  to  the 
marriage  ceremony.  Does-  their  nominally  assenting  to  a  mere 
Tnan-made  ceremony  make  them  husbands  and  wives  ?  It  simply 
legalizes  their  violation  of  the  seventh  commandment.  It  is  licensed 
licentiousness.  If  they  do  not  love  each  other,  they  cannot  possibly 
become  husbands  and  wives,  or  be  entitled  to  the  sacred  relations 
of  wedlock. 

So,  on  the  other  hand,  if  two  kindred  spirits  are  really  united  in 
the  bonds  of  true,  reciprocal  love,  whether  legally  married  or  not, 
they  are,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  man  and  wife,  and  entitled  to 
all  the  rights  of  wedlock.  If  they  have  reciprocated  the  pledge  of 
love,  and  agreed  to  live  together  as  husband  and  wife,  they  are 
married.  They  have  nothing  to  do  with  law,  or  law  with  them. 
It  is  a  matter  exclusively  their  ovm  ;  and,  for  proud  or  selfish  pa- 
rents, from  motives  of  property  or  family  distinctions,  to  interfere 
or  "  break  up  the  match,"  is  as  criminal  and  cruel  as  separating  a 
husband  and  wife ;  or,  rather,  it  is  separating  them.  It  is  as  direct 
and  palpable  a  violation  of  the  married  relations — for  it  is  the  very 
same  crime — as  putting  asunder  those  "  whom  God  hath  joined  to- 
gether. Ambitious  mothers,  selfish  fathers,  and  young  men  seek- 
ing to  marry  a  fortune,  may  bolt  at  this ;  but,  any  other  view  of 
marriage,  makes  it  a  merely  human  institution,  which  divests  it  of 
all  its  sacredness  and  dignity. 

Yea,  more !  For  a  young  man  to  court  a  young  woman,  and  excite 
her  to  love  till  her  affections  are  riveted,  and  then  (from  sinister  mo- 
tives, such  as,  to  marry  one  richer,  or  more  handsome,)  to  leave  her, 
and  try  elsewhere,  is  the  very  same  crime  as  to  divorce  her  from  all 
that  she  holds  dear  on  earth — to  root  up  and  pull  out  her  imbedded 
affections,  and  to  tear  her  from  her  rightful  husband.  So,  also,  for 
a  young  woman  to  play  the  coquet,  and  sport  with  the  sincere  af- 
fections of  an  honest  and  devoted  young  man,*  is  one  of  the  high- 
est crimes  that  human  nature  can  commit.  Better  murder  him  in 
hody  too,  as  she  does  in  soul  and  morals.    There  is  no  possible  way 

*  If  she  be  only  coquetting  a  male  coquette,  the  crime  and  injury  are  mutual, 
and  the  accounts  square,  for  each  is  equally  guilty. 


ONE  LOVE ONE   MARRIAGE.  93 

of  escaping  these  momentous  inferences.  No  wonder,  therefore, 
that  so  heinous  a  crime  as  separating  man  and  wife,  should  result 
in  all  those  wide-spread  and  terrible  evils  attributed  to  interrupted 
love,  pp.  74r-80.  The  punishment  does  not  exceed  the  crime. 
Young  men  and  women !  Let  these  things  sink  deeply  into  your 
hearts !  Pause,  and  reflect !  and,  in  every  step  you  take  towards 
loving  and  marrying,  remember  that  mutual  love  constitutes  matri- 
mony J  and,  that  interrupting  love  is  separating  man  and  wife  ! 
Let  me,  then,  be  distinctly  understood  as  maintaining- 

1.  That  MUTUAL  LOVE  constitutes  matrimony  : 

2.  That  breaking  off  this  love  is  a  breach  of  marriage  : 

3.  That  FIRST  love  pre-eminently  constitutes  marriage,  because 

stronger,  more  tender,  and  more  Platonic  than  any  subsequent 
attachment  can  be : 

4.  That  interruptions  in  love,  or  courting  and  winning  the  affec- 

tions without  marrying,  is  the  direct  cause  of  licentionsness,  by 
being  a  breach  of  the  marriage  covenant ;  and 

5.  That  the  order  of  nature,  as  pointed  out  by  Phrenology,  is 

ONE  LOVE,  ONE  MARRIAGE,  AND  ONLY  ONE. 

One  evidence  that  second  marriages  are  contrary  to  the  laws  of 
our  social  nature,  is  the  fact,  that  almost  all  step-parents  and  step- 
children disagree.  Now,  what  law  has  been  broken,  to  induce  this 
penalty  ?  The  law  of  marriage  ;  and  this  is  one  of  the  ways  in 
which  the  breach  punishes  itself.  Is  it  not  much  more  in  accord- 
ance with  our  natural  feelings,  especially  those  of  mothers,  that 
children  should  be  brought  up  by  their  own,  parent  1  The  analysis 
of  Philoprogenitiveness  (p.  10)  shows  why  it  is  that  step-parents, 
as  a  general  thing,  cannot  bestow  all  the  love  and  attention  upon 
step-children  that  they  can  upon  their  own.  This  partiality,  so  na- 
tural, is  soon  detected  by  the  children,  and  causes  unpleasantness 
all  around. 

Another  proof  of  this  point  is,  that  second  marriage  is  more  a 
matter  of  business.  "  I'll  give  you  a  home,  if  you'll  take  care  of 
my  children." — "  It's  a  bargain"  is  the  way  most  second  matches 
are  made.  There  is  little  of  the  poetry  of  first-love,  and  little  of 
the  coyness  and  shrinking  diffidence  which  characterize  the  first 
attachment.  Still,  these  remarks  apply  almost  equally  to  a  second 
attachment,  as  to  second  marriage. 


94  SICKNESS  AND  DEATH   IN   THE   PRIME   OF   LIFE   IS   WRONG. 

I  grant,  that,  in  case  a  companion  dies,  marrying  again  may  be 
a  lesser  evil  than  living  unmarried,  and,  therefore,  preferable.  Se- 
cond marriages  are  like  a  dose  of  medicine,  bitter  to  the  taste  and 
painful  in  its  operation,  yet  a  lesser  evil  than  the  sickness.  A  second 
love  and  marriage,  are  directly  calculated  to  heal  the  lacerated  af- 
fections, (as  far  as  they  can  be  healed,)  and  make  up  the  breach,  and 
therefore  advisable,  but,  as  not  to  he  sick  is  better  than  to  take  medi- 
cine, so  not  to  have  a  companion  die,  is  better  than  for  either  to  be 
compelled  to  marry  again,  or  to  live  deprived  of  one.  But,  I  main- 
tain that  the  death  of  a  companion  need  not  and  should  not  occur  till 
too  late  to  marry  again.  The  -proof  of  this  startling  declaration  is, 
first,  that  every  physiological  law  of  our  nature — every  physical 
contrivance  and  adaptation  of  the  body — fully  establishes  the  inevita- 
ble conclusion,  that,  in  case  the  laws  of  life,  health,  and  physiology 
were  obeyed,  sickness  would  be  unknown,  and  death  would  occur 
only  after  the  body  was  literally  worn  out  with  old  age ;  and,  sec- 
ondly, that  sickness  and  death  are  merely  the  effects  of  their  ap- 
propriate causes,  and  governed  hj  fixed  laws,  and  therefore  within 
our  control.  If  life,  health,  sickness,  and  death,  be  not  caused  by 
the  action  of  the  laws  of  physiology,  then  this  part  of  nature's  ope- 
rations is  mere  chance  and  hap-hazard — a  result  as  absurd  in  itself 
as  it  is  derogatory  to  the  wisdom  of  the  God  of  nature.  But,  if 
sickness  and  death  be  governed  by  laws  of  cause  and  effect,  it  is 
self-evident,  that,  by  applying  the  appropriate  means  (which  are  in 
the  hands  of  ourselves,  our  parents,  and  mankind),  all  may  be 
healthy,  and  live  to  a  good  old  age  ;*  so  that  husbands  and  wives 
need  not  be  separated  from  each  other  or  from  their  children  by  death 
until  the  former  are  too  old  to  marry  again,  and  the  latter  old 
enough  to  provide  for  themselves,  (extraordinaries  of  course  except- 
ed.) This  renders  the  inference  clear  and  most  forcible,  that  all 
married  men  and  women  are  under  obligations  to  their  families  the 
most  imperious  and  sacred,  to  take  all  possible  care  of  their  health; 
and  to  avoid  all  exposures  calculated  to  shorten  life,  or  even  impair 

*  If  this  doctrine  be  deemed  heretical  or  chimerical,  I  answer,  1st,  that 
Charles  G.  Finney  advocates  it :  2dly,  that  Physiology  establishes  it  to  a  demon- 
stration :  and  3dly,  that  any  other  view  of  this  matter  substitutes  chance  in  the 
place  of  catise  and  effect.  It  is  high  time  for  mankind  to  know  that  sickness  and 
death,  in  the  prime  of  life,  are  merely  the  penalties  of  violated  physical  laws, 
and  therefore  wrong  ;  and  to  act  accordingly. 


CHOOSING   INTELLECTUALLY   FIRST,   AND   LOVING   AFTERWARD.      95 

health.  Their  duties  to  their  families  are  among  their  ^r^^  duties ; 
and,  that  branch  of  their  domestic  obhgations  which  regards  the 
preservation  of  their  health,  is  paramount  to  all  others  of  this  class; 
because  so  much  of  the  happiness  of  their  families  depends  upon 
their  life  and  health,  and  the  sufferings  caused  by  their  sickness  and 
death  are  excruciating  and  aggravated. 

It  should  be  added,  that  it  is  the  duty  of  parents  to  be  at  home  as 
much  as  possible,  and  in  the  bosom  of  their  families,  making  them 
glad  by  their  presence,  and  enjoying,  and  causing  them  to  enjoy, 
the  sweets  of  domestic  life.  The  moment  parents  enter  their  dwell- 
ings, they  should  banish  all  those  unpleasant  feelings  engendered 
by  crosses,  losses,  impositions,  vexations  in  business,  &c.,  and  place 
their  domestic  feelings  and  higher  sentiments  on  the  throne,  relax- 
ing, and,  perhaps,  even  playing  with  their  children.  How  often 
are  angry  or  unpleasant  feelings  carried  into  the  family  to  mar 
their  joys,  and  how  natural  to  pour  them  out  upon  the  innocent 
members  of  the  family,  not  because  they  have  done  any  thing 
wrong,  but  because  we  were  previously  in  anger.  When  anger 
has  been  excited,  how  natural  to  direct  it  to  those  about  us,  though 
entirely  innocent ;  but  how  unreasonable,  especially  if  they  be  an 
affectionate  wife  or  innocent  children. 

In  regard  to  marriage,  then,  the  order  of  nature,  as  pointed  out 
by  Phrenology,  is  unquestionably  this :  1st,  that  the  matrimonial 
instincts  or  feelings  should  not  appear  till  from  the  twentieth  to  the 
thirtieth  year :  2d,  that  true  love  requires  from  three  to  five  years 
to  ripen  into  a  preparation  for  marriage :  3d,  that,  by  this  time,  the 
moral  and  intellectual  faculties  will  generally  have  become  suffi- 
ciently matured  to  restrain  them,  or  else  to  select  the  proper  object 
upon  which  they  may  continue  for  life  in  virtuous  wedlock  :  and, 
4th,  that  then,  the  happy  pair,  hand  in  hand  and  heart  in  heart, 
should  ascend  the  acclivities  and  descend  the  declivities  of  life  to- 
gether, commingling  their  joys,  sorrows,  and  affections,  until  each 
becomes  too  old  to  marry  again ;  so  that  both  may  pay  the  com- 
mon debt  of  nature  nearly  together,  loving  and  marrying  once,  and 
but  once,  and  that /or  ever  ;  and  thus  combining  all  the  intellectu- 
ality of  a  mature  mind  with  all  the  poetry  of  first  love.  This  is 
marriage  in  full  fruition — marriage  as  it  came  from  the  hand  of 
Godj  and  is  indelibly  stamped  upon  the  nature  of  man. 


96  ■DIRECTIONS   TO  THE  MARRIED. 


DIRECTIONS  TO  THE  MARRIED  FOR  LIVING  TOGETHER  AFFECTIONATELY 
AND  HAPPILY,  AND  FOR  BIAKING  FAMILIES  HAPPY,  AND  NEIGHBOR- 
HOODS  AGREEABLE. 

Having  now  given  directions  for  choosing  suitable  companions 
for  life,  I  proceed  to  give  directions  to  the  married  for  living  to- 
gether affectionately  and  happily.  Having  tied  the  gordian  knot, 
you  naturally  ask,  "  How  can  we  intwine  and  strengthen  the  cords 
of  love,  and  prevent  roots  of  bitterness  from  springing  up  to  m.ar  or 
poison  domestic  happiness  ?  How  derive  the  most  enjoyment  from 
a  happy  choice,  or  'make  the  best  of  a  bad  bargain'?"  Phrenol- 
ogy answers : 

1.    excite   each   other's   FACULTIES   AGREEABLY. 

Every  faculty  has  its  pleasurable,  and  also  its  painful,  action; 
and,  as  happiness  is  one,  if  not  the  one,  great  end  of  creation,  let 
each  excite  the  faculties  of  the  other  agreeably,  and  avoid  exciting 
them  painfully — a  course  dictated  by  selfishness  as  well  as  by  love. 
The  following  principle  shows  how  to  do  this : — The  activity  of  any 
faculty  in  one,  naturally  excites  the  same  faculties  in  others  ;  and 
excites  them  pleasurably  or  painfully,  according  as  its  action  is 
painful  or  pleasurable.  Combativeness  in  one,  for  instance,  kindles 
Combativeness.in  others,  while  Benevolence  excites  Benevolence; 
Causality,  Causality,  &c.  Thus,  when  Kindness  does  you  a  favor, 
you  are  anxious  to  return  it,  and  are  rendered  more  obliging  to  all ; 
BenevoleiKie  in  him,  exciting  kindly  feelings  in  you ;  but,  being  ad- 
dressed in  an  angry,  imperative  tone,  kindles  your  own  anger  in 
return,  and  causes  in  you  a  spirit  of  resistance  and  resentment.  For 
example : 

Mr.  Sharp*  said,  angrily,  to  a  lad,  "  Go  along,  and  bring  me 
that  basket  yonder.  Be  quick,  or  I'll  flog  you !"  The  boy  went 
tardily  and  poutingly,  muttering  as  he  went.  "  Why  don't  you 
hurry  there,  you  idle  vagabond,  you?  Come,  be  quick,  or  I'll 
whip  your  lazy  hide  off  your  back,  you  saucy,  impudent  rascal 

*  I  employ  this  form  of  expression,  because  it  enables  me  to  personify  the 
organs,  and  thereby  to  embody  and  bring  the  full  force  of  the  idea  presented,  and 
the  principle  illustrated,  directly  before  the  mind  in  a  manner  more  tangible  and 
easily  remembered  than  any  other. 


EVERY  FACULTY   EXCITES   ITS   FELLOW.  97 

you,"  re-echoed  Mr.  Sharp,  still  more  imperatively.  The  boy 
went  still  more  slowly,  and  made  up  a  face  still  more  scornful ;  for 
which  Mr.  Sharp  flogged  him ;  and,  in  return,  the  hoy  conceived 
and  cherished  eternal  hatred  to  Mr.  Sharp,  and  eventually  sought 
and  obtained  the  long  desired  revenge.  But,  Mr.  Benign  said, 
kindly,  to  the  same  boy,  "  John,  will  you  please  run  and  bring  me 
that  basket  1"  "  Yes,  sir,"  said  John,  and  off  he  started  on  the 
run,  glad  to  do  the  good  old  man  a  favor. 

All  the  neighbors  of  Mr.  Contentious  cordially  hate  him,  because 
he  is  continually  contending  vdth,  and  blaming,  and  suing  them. 
His  Combativeness  manifested  towards  them,  has  excited  their  en- 
mity towards  him  so  as  to  cause  a  perpetual  warfare.  Hence, 
they  all  cherish  ill-vrill  against  him,  and  most  of  them  watch  every 
opportunity  to  injure  him,  and  he  seeks  to  be  revenged  on  them. 

But  every  neighbor  of  Mr.  Obliging  gladly  improves  every  op- 
portunity to  serve  him ;  his  neighborly  feelings  towards  them  hav- 
ing excited  their  better  feelings  not  only  towards  him,  but  even 
towards  each  other. 

Mr.  Justice  deals  fairly  with  all — asking  and  offering  but  one 
price ;  so  that  Mr.  Banter  never  tries  to  beat  him  down,  nor  thinks 
of  making  or  receiving  a  second  offer,  but  deals  fairly  with  him.  But, 
when  Mr.  Banter  deals  with  Mr.  Close,  he  stands  more  upon  a  six- 
pence than  it  is  worth,  or  than  he  does  for  a  dollar  when  dealing 
with  Mr.  Justice,  and  will  neither  sell  as  cheap  nor  give  as  much 
for  the  same  article  to  Mr.  Close  as  to  Mr.  Justice,  because  the 
Acquisitiveness  of  Mr.  Close  and  Mr.  Banter  each  excites  that  of 
the  other,  while  the  higher  faculties  of  Mr.  Justice  restrain  the  ac- 
tion of  this  Jewing  spirit  in  all  who  deal  vdth  him. 

As  Parson  Reverence  enters  the  sanctuary,  clothed  with  the 
spirit  of  devotion,  and  in  the  air  and  attitude  of  sanctity,  instantly 
a  solemn  feeling  pervades  the  whole  assembly,  so  that  even  the 
playing  boys  in  the  gallery  catch  the  pervading  spirit  of  solemnity, 
and  drop  their  sports.  But,  when  Parson  Gaity  enters  the  church, 
a  gay,  volatile  feeling  spreads  throughout  the  congregation,  and  the 
boys  laugh  aloud.  The  former  is  a  successful  preacher  of  right- 
eousness, and  has  been  instrumental  in  promoting  many  revivals  of 
religion  ;  while  Parson  Gaity  has  a  worldly,  fashionable  congrega- 
tion. Revivals  of  religion  beautifully  and  forcibly  illustrate  this 
principle  of  sympathy. 

9 


98      EVERY  FACULTY  DT  ONE  EXCITES  THE  SAME  IN  OTHERS. 

Mr.  Elegant  enters  into  the  company  of  Messrs.  Useful  and  Misses 
Plain,  and  at  once  a  feeling  of  refinement  and  elegance  infuses 
every  breast,  chastens  every  remark,  and  polishes  every  action  and 
feeling ;  but,  when  Mr.  Homespun  enters  the  company  of  Messrs. 
Wellbred  and  Misses  Genteel,  the  elevated  tone  of  feeling  that  be- 
fore pervaded  the  company,  is  lowered  as  eflfectually  and  percepta- 
bly  as  when  a  mass  of  ice  is  introduced  into  a  heated  atmosphere ; 
and  he  is  not  well  received  simply  because  he  interrupts  the  exercise 
of  refinement  and  good  taste. 

Mr.  Self-Esteem  swells  and  struts  past  you  in  the  natural  ex- 
pression of  pride  and  scorn,  and  instantly  your  own  self-sufficiency 
is  excited,  you  straighten  up  and  feel  that  you  are  as  good  as  Ae  is ; 
whereas,  but  for  this  manifestation  of  pride  on  his  part,  you  would 
not  once  have  thought  of  yourself — ^pride  and  scorn  in  another  ex 
citing  the  same  feelings  in  you. 

The  Messrs.  Mum  were  sitting  silently  in  a  room,  neither  hav* 
ing  a  word  to  say,  when  Mr.  Talkative  entered,  and  began  to  rat- 
ter away.  This  so  excited  the  Language  of  Messrs.  Mum,  that 
they  talked  incessantly,  so  that  there  was  not  room  to  put  in  a  word 
edgwise ;  whereas  neither  would  have  said  a  word  had  not  the 
Language  of  Mr.  Talkative  excited  Language  in  Messrs.  Mum. 

Mr.  Logical  Reason  began  to  discuss  and  expound  certain  im- 
portant philosophical  principles  to  Mr.  Business,  who,  though  he 
had  been  too.  busy  before  to  take  time  to  think  or  investigate,  saw 
their  force,  and  immediately  exclaimed,  "  How  true  that  is,  though 
I  never  thought  of  it  before !"  and  then  proceeded  to  show  how 
perfectly  the  principle  brought  to  view,  explained  what  he  had  often 
seen,  but  never  before  understood.  It  also  set  hira  to  thinking  upon 
other  subjects,  and  to  investigating  other  causes. 

Miss  Display  came  out  in  a  splendid,  new-fashioned  attire,  and 
almost  every  lady  in  town  was  set  on  fire  by  a  spirit  of  emulation, 
and  would  not  let  their  husbands  or  fathers  rest  till  they  too  could 
dress  like  her  ;  although,  unless  Miss  Display  had  indulged  her 
own  Approbativeness,  that  of  the  other  milliner-made  ladies  would 
not  have  been  excited. 

Mr.  Witty  threw  off  a  joke,  and  this  excited  the  risibles  of  Mr. 
Serious,  who,  in  return,  manufactured  another ;  whereas,  but  for 
Mr.  Witty's  influence,  the  face  of  Mr.  S.  would  still  have  remained 
as  long  as  ever. 


DIRECTIONS  FOR   CEMENTING   THE   AFFECTIONS.  99 

Mrs.  Timid,  while  in  a  church,  screamed  out  with  fright,  and 
nearly  all  in  the  house  were  instantly  electrified  with  fear,  but  for 
what,  they  did  not  know. 

In  1836,  Mr.  Hope  embarked  in  speculations  in  stock,  real  es- 
tate, mulberry  trees,  &c.,  and  counted  his  thousands  in  prospect, 
which  inspired  confidence  in  the  breasts  of  thousands  of  the  Messrs. 
Doubtful,  who  were  excited  by  his  spirit  and  followed  his  example. 

Mr.  Appetite  commenced  eating  his  breakfast  greedily,  when  in 
came  his  boy,  who  soon  cried  out  for  a  piece,  which  he  probably 
would  not  have  thought  of  for  hours  if  he  had  not  seen  his  father 
eating  so  greedily. 

I  now  appeal,  whether  this  principle  of  sympathi/,  this  feeling  as 
others  feel — this  spreading  of  the  emotions  from  heart  to  heart — is 
not  a  law  of  human  nature,  as  well  as  a  doctrine  of  Phrenology  ? 
whether  it  is  not  as  universal  and  as  uniform  as  the  nature  of  man, 
and  as  powerful  as  it  is  universal  ?  What  heart  is  so  adamantine  as 
not  to  experience  its  power,  or  be  swayed  by  its  influence  ?  But, 
of  all  others,  husbands  and  wives  are,  or  ought  to  be,  the  most  so. 
They  are  capable  of  deriving  the  greatest  happiness  from  its  proper 
application,  or  subjecting  themselves  to  the  greatest  suffering  from  its 
improper  exercise.  Every  day  and  hour,  this  principle  furnishes  them 
an  opportunity  to  exert  a  most  powerful  influence  over  each  other 
for  good  or  evil,  and  to  make  their  lives  most  happy,  or  else 
wretched  beyond  description  or  endurance. 

Let  us  now  apply  this  principle,  first  to  Courtship,*  or,  rather,  to 
the  formation  of  love,  and  the  cementing  of  the  affections,  and  then 
to  married  life.  How  can  this  principle  be  employed  to  cause  hus- 
bands and  wives  to  love  each  other  1  and,  then,  how  will  it  enable 
them  to  perpetuate  that  love  ? 

It  has  all  along  been  implied,  that  the  choosing  should  be 
done  intellectually,  and  before  the  parties  begin  to  love ;  and  that 
all  the  loving  should  be  done  after  marriage,  or,  what  is  the  same 
thing,  after  the  parties  have  mutually  agreed  to  become  husband 
and  wife.  After  they  have  made  their  choice  as  already  directed, 
they  should  employ  the  principle  above  mentioned  to  get  each  other 

*  I  employ  this  term,  not  because  it  conveys  my  precise  meaning,  but  because 
its  use  in  this  connexion  is  so  general.  I  mean  by  it,  the  blending  and  uniting 
of  the  affections,  although  it  is  generally  employed  to  express  the  fun  and  sport 
which  usually  accompany  flirtation.  Its  use  shows  how  lightly  so  grave  a  sub- 
lect  is  treated. 


100  HOW   TO   CEMENT   THE   AFFECTION. 

in  love ;  nor  is  there  the  least  danger  but  that  its  application  will 
enable  any  two  whose  organs  are  similar,  to  love  each  other  cor- 
dially and  most  devotedly.  To  illustrate  : — If  Approbativeness 
predominate  and  Causality  be  only  moderate,  you  may  flatter,  and 
if  the  brain  be  rather  small,  put  it  on  thickly.*  Praise  their  dress, 
features,  appearance  on  particular  occasions,  and  any  and  every 
thing  they  take  pride  in.  Take  much  notice  of  them,  and  keep 
continually  saying  something  to  tickle  their  vanity ;  for,  this  organ- 
ization will  bear  all  the  "  soft  soap"  you  can  administer.  When 
you  have  gained  this  organ,  you  have  got  the  "  bell-sheep,"  which 
all  the  other  faculties  will  blindly  follow  on  the  run.  But,  mark, 
if  Approbativeness  be  only  full  or  large,  with  Reason  and  Morality 
quite  as  large  or  larger,  and  the  head  of  a  good  size  and  well  de- 
veloped, "  5o/if-soap"  will  not  take,  but  will  only  sicken ;  for  Rea- 
son will  soon  penetrate  your  motive,  and  Morality  will  reverse  the 
other  faculties  against  you,  and  destroy  all  chance  of  gaining  the 
affections.  See  to  it,  that  you  really  esteem  those  vdth  this  organi- 
zation— esteem  them  not  for  their  dress,  beauty,  manners,  &c.,  but 
for  their  moral  'purity,  their  elevated  sentiments,  their  fine  feelings, 
and  their  intellectual  attainments.  As  they  estimate  themselves 
and  others,  not  by  a  standard  of  wealth,  dress,  beauty,  &c.,  but  by 
a  moral  and  intellectual  standard,  so  your  showing  them  that  you 
really  esteem  those  qualities  which  they  prize  so  highly,  will  cause 
them  to  perceive  that  your  tastes  harmonize  with  their's,  and  thus 
turn  their  leading  organs  in  your  favor,  and  unite  and  endear  them 
to  you.  To  gain  such  an  one,  your  own  moral  character  must  be 
pure  and  spotless. 

If  Benevolence  predominate  in  your  intended,  show  yourself 
kind,  not  to  your  intended  alone,  nor  in  little  matters  of  modern 
politeness,  but  as  an  habitual  feeling  of  your  soul,  always  gushing 
forth  spontaneously  at  the  call  of  want  or  suffering,  and  ready  to 
make  personal  sacrifices  to  do  good.  Be  philanthropic,  and  show 
yourself  deeply  interested  in  the  welfare  of  your  fellow-men.  This 
will  gratify  her  or  his  Benevolence,  and  bring  it  over  in  your  be- 
half, which  will  draw  the  other  faculties  along  with  it. 

*  The  morality  of  this  illustration  is  of  course  objectionable;  but,  as  I  have 
already  directed  the  reader  not  to  marry  a  bad  or  inferior  head,  such  as  this  is, 
this  will  of  course  be  regarded  as  an  illustration  merely  of  a  strong  case,  for  the 
purpose  of  presenting  the  principle  the  more  clearly  and  fully. 


DIRECTIONS   TO   THE   MARRIED.  101 

To  an  intended  who  has  large  intellectual  organs,  do  not  talk 
this  fashionable  nonsense,  or  words  without  ideas — this  chit-chat, 
or  small  talk — I  mean,  the  polite  tete-a-tete  of  fashionable  young 
people ;  but,  converse  intellectually  upon  sensible  subjects ;  evince 
good  sense  and  sound  judgment  in  all  you  say  and  do ;  present 
ideas,  and  exhibit  intellect.  This  will  gratify  their  intellects,  and 
lay  a  deep,  intellectual  basis  for  mutual  love,  as  well  as  go  far  to- 
wards exciting  it. 

If  your  intended  be  pious  and  devout,  be  religious  yourself,  (not 
feign  to  be,  and  join  the  church  to  get  married,  as  many  do,)  and 
your  religious  feelings  will  strike  a  chord  that  will  thrill  through 
her  w^hole  soul,  kindhng  an  irresistible  flame  of  mutual  love. 

If  your  intended  be  a  timid  damsel,  do  not  frighten  her ;  for,  this 
will  drive  away  every  vestige  of  lurking  affection,  and  turn  her  fac- 
ulties against  you ;  but  be  gentle  and  soothing,  and  offer  her  all 
the  protection  in  your  power,  causing  her  to  feel  safe  under  your 
wing  ;  and  she  will  hover  under  it,  and  love  you  devotedly  for  the 
care  you  bestow  upon  her. 

If  Ideality  be  large,  show  refinement  and  good  taste,  and  avoid 
all  grossness  and  improper  allusions ;  for,  nothing  will  more  effect- 
ually array  her  against  you  than  either  impropriety  or  vulgarity,  or 
even  inelegance.  Descant  on  the  exquisite  and  sentimental,  on 
poetry  and  oratory,  and  expatiate  on  the  beauties  of  nature  and  art, 
and  especially  of  natural  sce^iery.  If  Order  be  also  large,  see  to  it, 
that  your  person  be  neat,  apparel  nice,  and  every  trace  of  the 
slovenly  removed.  If  the  object  of  your  love  have  this  organ  large, 
you  also  should  have  it  large,  or  not  marry — (see  p.  35) ;  but  if 
you  have  it  large,  this  manifestation  of  refinement  and  good  taste 
will  be  natural  to  you,  as  will  that  of  all  those  you  require  to  man- 
ifest ;  so  that  there  is  no  occasion  for  being  hypocritical. 

But,  since  it  is  the  affections  mainly  that  you  w^ish  to  enlist, 
show  yourself  affectionate  and  tender.  As  like  always  begets  like, 
whatever  faculty  is  active  in  you,  will  be  excited  in  them ;  therefore, 
your  Friendship  and  Love,  as  they  beam  forth  from  your  eyes,  sof- 
ten your  countenance,  burn  on  your  lips,  escape  through  the  soft 
and  tender  tones  of  your  voice,  light  up  your  countenance  with  the 
smile  of  love  or  impress  the  kiss  of  affection,  imbue  your  whole 
soul,  and  are  imbodied  in  every  look,  word,  and  action,  will  as  sure- 
ly find  way  to  their  hearts  as  the  river  to  the  ocean,  and  kindle  in 
them  a  reciprocity  of  love.  By  these  and  othex  similar  applications 
*9 


102  MEANS   OF  PERPETUATING   LOVE. 

of  this  principle,  the  disengaged  affections  of  almost  any  one  can 
be  secured,  especially  if  the  organs  of  hoth  be  similar ;  for,  the 
command  which  Phrenology  thus  gives  over  the  feelings,  will,  and 
even  judgment  of  mankind,  is  almost  unlimited  * 

Having  shown  you  how  to  commence  ingratiating  yourself  into 
the  affections  of  your  intended, — (on  p.  47,  you  have  been  told 
how  to  get  yourself  in  love  with  your  intended,)' — I  proceed  to  the 
most  important  department  of  this  whole  subject,  as  well  as  the 
most  important  matter  connected  with  marriage,  namely, 


THE  MEANS  OF  PERPETUATING  LOVE. 

To  select  a  suitable  companion  (provided  the  difficulty  o{ finding 
one  be  not  great,)  is  comparatively  easy,  and  getting  in  love  is  all 
down-hill,  while  to  get  your  intended  in  love  wath  you,  has  just 
been  shown  to  be  an  easy  matter.  But,  to  perpetuate  this  love — 
this  is  the  most  difficult  of  all,  and  the  most  rare.  It  is  even  re- 
garded as  a  matter  of  little  importance,  and  the  germ  of  love  is  left 
either  to  grow,  or  else  to  wither  and  die,  according  to  circumstances. 
The  wedding  over — ^the  honey-moon  past — a  neighboring  city 
visited  and  a  few  rides  and  rambles  taken,  excursions  and  visits 
made,  and  soft  words  and  looks  exchanged,  that  intoxication  of 
love  which  they  have  thus  far  indulged,  begins  to  satiate  and  induce 
reaction ;  partly,  because  founded  too  much  on  personal  charms, 
and  too  animal  in  its  character,  and  partly,  because  it  is  not  cher- 
ished by  proper  means.  Little  petty  difficulties  then  spring  up,  and, 
by  and  by,  a  sour  feeling,  a  cross  look,  a  tart  remark,  are  exchanged, 
which  too  often  increase  till  both  are  heartily  sick  of  their  bargain, 
and  wish  themselves  in  Texas,  and  their  companions  still  worse  off. 
Now,  much  of  this  originates  in  this  getting  in  love  before  making 
their  choice  intellectually,  and  then  in  their  being  too  amorous  and 
enthusiastic  in  their  love  at  first.  The  excess  of  any  faculty  brings 
on  re-action ;  and  the  greater  the  excess,  the  greater  its  re-action. 
The  final  result,  especially  as  regards  the  unfortunate  wife,  is,  that 

*  This  principle,  of  itself,  independently  of  its  application  to  courtship,  is  in- 
valuable as  a  means  of  operating  on  the  tninds  of  men  ;  and,  in  my  work  on  the 
application  of  Phrenology  to  Education,  I  shall  carry  it  out  more  fully,  esnocially 
as  regards  its  application  to  the  training  and  government  of  chi^ohsw 
See  also  my  work  on  Phrenology,  p.  425. 


ADAPT  YOURSELF   TO  YOTTR   COMPANION'S   DEVELOPMENTS.        103 

she  loses  all  ambition,  and  settles  down  into  an  intermediate  state 
between  life  and  death — a  purgatory,  in  which  she  neither  enjoys 
life  nor  cares  for  death — and  all  from  not  beginning  married  life 
aright. 

How,  then,  should  it  be  begun?  How  can  the  love  of  the 
"honey-moon"  be  rendered  'perpetual!  How  can  it  always  be 
made  to  retain  the  freshness  of  its  spring,  and  the  glory  of  summer  1 
Phrenology  kindly  answers.  It  says,  and  in  the  language  of 
J^ature^ 


ADAPT  YOURSELF  TO  THE  PHRENOLOGICAL  DEVELOPMENTS  OF  YOUR 
COMPANION. 

Thus,  if  Hope  be  large  in  the  husband,  but  small  in  the  wife,  he 
magnifies  every  prospect,  and  under-rates  difficulties  and  dangers ; 
but  she,  especially  if  her  Cautiousness  be  large,  looks  at  them  in  a 
light  directly  opposite  ;  she  fearing,  and  perhaps  fretting  ;  he  hop- 
ing and  rejoicing.  If  Anger  be  large  or  active  in  either  or  both, 
each  will  be  inclined  to  blame  the  other  for  this  difference  of  views ; 
whereas,  knowing  its  cause,  (namely,  the  difference  of  their  devel- 
opments,) will  teach  him,  that  his  large  Hope  has  over-rated  the 
prospect ;  and  her,  that  her  despondency  and  fear  were  occasioned 
by  her  small  Hope  and  large  Cautiousness,  and  not  by  any  impend- 
ing evil ;  and  adapting  themselves  to  each  other's  developments, 
will  cause  each  to  concede  a  little,  and  thus  heal  the  breach.  The 
husband,  instead  of  chiding  his  wife  for  her  groundless  fears,  should 
encourage  her,  and  the  wife  should  not  place  herself  in  opposition 
to  the  hopes  and  efforts  of  her  husband,  though  they  be  exagger- 
ated, but  express  her  opinion  and  make  suggestions,  and  then  aid 
him  what  she  can.  Thus  should  the  intellects  of  each  correct  the 
failings  of  the  other,  and,  make  allowance  for  each  other's  errone- 
ous views,  mutually  conceding  a  little,  till  both  come  nearly  to- 
gether, and  unite  in  a  correct  judgment. 

When  Causality  is  called  into  requisition,  if  it  be  large  in  the 
one  and  small  in  the  other,  the  latter  should  cheerfully  accede  to 
the  decisions  of  the  former,  provided  the  knowledge  and  experience 
of  both,  as  to  the  matter  in  hand,  be  equal. 

If  Ideality  be  larger  in  the  wife  than  in  the  husband,  in  all  mat- 
ters of  taste,  let  her  decision  govern  the  choice ;  and,  if  Order  be 
also  large,  see  to  it,  that,  on  entering  the  house,  you  clean  your  feet, 


104  ASCERTAIN   AND   ADAPT   YOURSELVES   TO 

and  do  not  carelessly  make  a  grease  spot,  or  soil  or  displace  any 
thing  about  the  house,  lest  you  excite  her  anger,  or  permanently 
sour  her  temper.  In  other  words,  do  what  will  gratify  this  faculty 
as  much  as  possible,  and  offend  it  as  little  as  may  be.  And  let  the 
wife  remember,  that  if  this  organ  and  that  of  Ideality  be  both  very 
large  in  her,  she  is  liable  to  be  too  particular,  and  make  her  "  apple- 
pie  order"  cost  herself  and  family  more  than  it  comes  to. 

If  your  companion  be  frugal  and  saving,  do  not  wantonly  destroy 
even  a  paper-rag,  or  fragment  of  food,  or  incur  any  expense  that 
is  not  necessary,  but  take  pains  to  gratify  this  faculty  as  much  as  is 
consistent — remembering,  that  you  thereby  promote  the  happiness 
of  your  companion,  and  thus  indirectly  your  own. 

The  application  of  this  principle  will  be  found  a  sovereign  reme- 
dy— a  real  Panacea — for  all  differences  between  you.  Try  it. 
That  is,  ascertain  the  phrenological  developments  of  yourself  and 
your  companion,  and  then  both  adapt  yourselves  to  them,  by  acced- 
ing and  yielding  to  each  other  as  the  comparative  size  of  the 
organs  in  each  may  require,  and  depend  upon  it,  it  will  only  need 
an  obliging  disposition  in  you  both  to  heal  all  differences  that  may 
arise  from  the  causes  referred  to,  and  all  others.  Thus,  you  become 
individually  acquainted  with  your  own  character  and  that  of  each 
other :  a  knowledge  indispensably  necessary  to  enable  you  both  to 
know  the  true  cause  of  difference,  and  the  only  effectual  remedy. 

If  you  ask,  "  How  does  this  principle  direct  me  to  conduct  when 
my  companion  becomes  angry  ?     Phrenology  answers : 

Do  not  get  angry  yourself ;  for  this,  instead  of  quelling  his  or  her 
anger,  will  only  excite  it  still  more,  and  raise  it  into  a  perfect  hur- 
ricane of  fury;  but,  just  remember,  it  is  only  the  momentary  workings 
of  excited  Combativeness.  Say  nothing  till  your  companion  be- 
comes cool,  and  then  always  address  the  higher  sentiments.  This 
will  produce  repentance  and  reform ;  but  blaming  the  person,  will 
only  make  matters  worse,  and  render  you  both  the  more  unhappy. 
"  A  soft  answer  tumeth  away  wrath,  but  grievous  words  stir  up 
strife."  "  Leave  off  contention  before  it  be  meddled  with."  Let 
your  own  moral  sentiments  dictate  all  your  conduct  towards  them, 
and  this  will  excite  their  better  feelings  towards  you,  and  render 
you  both  infinitely  more  happy  than  the  opposite  course. 

Besides,  your  companion  may  be  fretful  or  disagreeable,  because 
"Worn  down  by  labor,  care,  or  anxiety  in  business,  or  feeble  or  fe- 


THE  PHRENOLOGICAL  DEVELOPMENTS  OF  YOUR  COMPANION.   105 

vered  in  body.  Physical  indisposition  usually  excites  the  animal 
propensities,  producing  peevishness,  irritability,  a  sour  temper,  un- 
kind remarks,  &c.  Such  should  be  doctored,  not  scolded — should 
be  borne  with  and  pitied,  not  blamed.  Remember  your  oion  fail- 
ings, and  make  liberal  allowance  for  those  of  your  companion.  Try 
the  mild,  persuasive  course.  Avoid  collision ;  and,  on  points  of  dis 
agreement,  "  agree  to  disagree."  Endure  what  you  cannot  cure, 
and  where  you  cannot  attain  perfect  harmony  of  feeling,  at  least 
strive  for  peace ;  and,  if  you  cannot  live  together  perfectly  happy, 
live  as  happily  as  possible ;  and,  at  all  events,  never,  on  any  account, 
allow  a  harsh  remark  to  pass  between  those  whose  relations  are  so 
sacred  as  those  of  man  and  wife.  Nor  will  this  be  the  case  where 
true  love  exists,  unless  caused  by  that  fevered,  irritated  state  of  the 
body  already  mentioned ;  for,  there  is  something  in  the  very  nature 
of  love  calculated  to  break  down  and  subdue  all  minor  points  of 
disagreement,  overlook  defects,  place  the  favorable  qualities  in  their 
most  exalted  light,  and  produce  a  forbearing,  forgiving  spirit.  And, 
if  those  who  are  married  do  not  possess  this  spirit,  and  pursue  this 
forbearing  course,  they  do  not  really  love  each  other, — and  one  of 
them,  if  not  both,  has  been  in  love  before. 

Another  important  suggestion  is,  to  be  careful  about  giving  of- 
fence in  small  matters.  You  cannot  be  too  particular  about  little 
things.  It  is  the  "  little  foxes  that  spoil  the  vines."  So  exceedingly 
tender  is  the  plant  of  connubial  love,  and  so  susceptible  of  being 
lacerated,  that  trifles  impede  its  growth  and  imbitter  its  fruits.  A 
single  tart  remark,  or  unkind  tone  of  voice,  will  penetrate  the  sus- 
ceptible heart  of  a  wife  who  loves  you,  and  render  her  most  wretch- 
ed ;  whereas,  if  she  did  not  love  thus  devoutly,  her  feelings  would 
not  be  thus  easily  wounded.  "  A  word  to  the  wise  is  sufficient;"  and 
in  this  matter,  "  he  that  is  wise,  is  wiseybr  himself,"  as  well  as  foi 
his  companion. 


GRATIFY   EACH  OTHER's  FACULTIES. 

That  is,  if  your  companion  have  any  predilections  in  regard  to 
food,  dress,  habits,  friends,  &c.,  not  only  should  you  pursue  the  in- 
dulgent course,  but  you  should  assist  in  procuring  the  desired  in- 
dulgences. True,  you  should  not  go  beyond  the  bounds  of  reason, 
or  violate  the  conscience,  or  indulge  any  positively  injurious  habit ; 


106  GRATIFY   EACH  OTHER's  FACULTIES. 

but,  in  non-essentials,  and  in  matters  of  gratification  merely,  oblige 
and  aid  your  companion  as  far  as  possible.  If  your  wife  insist  oi 
lacing  your  daughter  tight,  or  on  any  thing  else  that  is  wrong  or 
hurtful  in  itself,  it  is  your  duty  to  resist  such  wrong,  though  it  may 
place  you  in  opposition  to  each  other;  but,  if  she  relish  any  little 
dehcacy  in  diet,  &c.  gratify  her  appetite  as  often  as  you  can.  If 
she  fancy  a  particular  dress,  do  your  best  to  obtain  it ;  if  she  love  a 
particular  book,  or  study,  or  pursuit,  or  amusement,  not  injurious  in 
itself,  do  what  you  can  to  obtain  it  for  her ;  but,  never  compromise 
moral  principle. 

In  like  manner,  wives,  also,  can  often  gratify  their  husbands  by 
cooking  some  favorite  dish,  or  decorating  a  room,  or  playing  or 
singing  a  favorite  piece  of  music,  &c.  &c. 

Let  husbands  and  wives  take  pleasant  rides,  rural  excursions  and 
rambles,  agreeable  promenades,  &c.,  and  make  visits  together  to 
their  friends,  as  often  as  possible ;  and,  hold  frequent  conversations 
on  subjects  of  interest  or  importance  to  both,  freely  exchange  views 
and  feelings,  ask  and  receive  advice ;  and,  above  all  things,  be  open 
and  frank.  If  you  have  committed  errors,  confess  them  and  beg 
pardon,  and  let  there  be  no  item  of  business,  no  hidden  corner  m 
the  heart  of  either,  into  which  the  other  is  not  always  freely  admit- 
ted. Scarcely  any  thing  is  more  destructive  of  love  than  conceal 
ment  or  dissembling. 

Another  method  by  which  the  smoldering  embers  of  love  may 
be  re-kindled,  and  new  fuel  added  to  the  fire,  after  its  first  fierce 
flames  have  subsided,  is,  to  read  to,  and  entertain  and  instruct  each 
other.  When  love  has  become  an  old  story,  let  the  husband  (after 
supper,  while  his  frugal  wife  is  sewing  or  attending  to  her  domestic 
duties,  putting  the  children  to  bed,  &c.),  read  to  her  from  some  inter- 
esting work,  or  explain  something  that  will  store  her  mind  with  useful 
knowledge,  enlarge  her  range  of  thought,  &c.,  and  he  will  kindle  in 
her  breast  a  feeling  of  gratitude  that  will  redouble  her  love,  and 
make  her  still  more  anxious  to  be  in  his  company.  Make  valuable 
suggestions,  and  aid  her  all  you  can  in  cultivating  and  exercising 
her  intellect ;  and,  as  you  come  in  to  your  meals,  tell  her  the  news 
of  the  day,  as  well  as  matters  of  interest  that  may  have  happened 
to  yourself  while  absent.  Especially  be  kind  to  her  about  the  house, 
in  seeing  that  she  has  good  wood  prepared  at  her  hand,  abundance 
of  water,  and  all  the  materials  and  conveniences  required  in  the 
family  in  good  order. 


BE  FAMILIAR  AND  AFFECTIONATE  TO  YOUR  CHILDREN.    107 

Be  kind  and  affectionate  to  the  children  also,  and  amuse  them, 
and  even  play  with  them ;  for,  as  the  mother  loves  her  children 
most  devotedly,  nothing  will  gratify  her  more,  or  more  effectually 
promote  her  love,  than  seeing  her  children  caressed.  To  make 
much  of  your  children,  is  to  make  much  of  your  wife ;  nor  is  it  in- 
compatible with  the  dignity  of  parents  to  play  \vith  and  amuse  their 
children.  Indeed,  the  relations  between  parents  and  children  should 
be  of  the  most  familiar  and  intimate  character,  and  calculated  to 
endear  them  to  each  other.  Austerity  and  authority  in  parents,  is 
tyranny  in  its  worst  form.  Be  familiar  with  your  children,  and,  as 
early  as  possible,  let  them  become  cheerful  and  welcome  social 
friends  in  the  family  circle. 

But,  there  are  some  things  that  should  not  be  done.  Husbands 
and  wives  should  never  oppose  each  other  in  regard  to  the  govern- 
ment of  their  children.  Let  there  be  a  mutual  understanding  and 
agreement  between  them  touching  this  point,  and  let  a  plan  be 
concerted  hefore-hand,  so  that  the  feelings  of  neither  may  be  wound- 
ed by  the  interference  of  the  other.* 

By  doing  or  avoiding  these  and  a  thousand  similar  things,  may 
love  be  cherished  and  fostered  till  it  takes  deep  root  in  the  hearts  of 
both,  and  extends  its  fibres  into  every  nook  and  corner  of  your  souls, 
and  imbues  every  look,  word,  and  action  with  its  soft  and  endear- 
ing influence.  Practice  these  things,  and  those  who  even  dislike 
each  other  at  first,  (by  thus  removing  the  cause,)  may  live  together 
comfortably ;  and,  two  who  do  not  positively  cherish  ill-will  for 
each  other,  may  render  themselves  affectionate  and  happy.f 

*  When  I  come  to  publish  that  part  of  my  work  on  the  application  of  Phre- 
nology to  Education  in  which  the  Government  and  Management  of  Children  is 
treated  of,  parents  will  doubtless  find  in  it  a  directory,  by  which  both  may  and 
should  be  governed,  and  thus  secure  harmony  and  concert  of  action  in  this  most 
important  department  of  family  arrangements. 

■f  There  is  another  cause  and  remedy  for  disagreement  between  husbands  and 
wives,  mention  of  which,  however  important  in  itself,  might  offend,  and  therefore 
T  pass  it,  with  the  remark,  that  I  am  preparing  another  work  on  a  similar  sub- 
ject, to  be  entitled  "  The  Causes  and  Remedies  of  perverted  Amativeness," 
which,  besides  giving  suitable  warnings  to  the  young,  and  disclosing  an  easy  and 
efficient  remedy  for  morbid  or  powerful  Amativeness,  will  point  out  one  cause 
of  disagreement  between  husbands  and  wives,  certainly  not  less  prolific  of  discord 
and  unfaithfulness  than  all  others  united,  together  with  its  easy  and  effectual 
remedy,  as  well  as  a  perfect  cure  for  both  jealousy  and  unfaithfulness.  Tb« 
pamphlet  will  contain  about  40  pages. 


108  RENDERING  NEIGHBORHOODS  AGREEABLE. 


RENDERING  NEIGHBORHOODS  AGREEABLE. 

A  single  remark,  in  regard  to  rendering  neighborhoods  agreeaUe, 
and  I  close.  Next  to  an  affectionate  family,  an  agreeable  neigh- 
borhood and  good  society  become  objects  of  desire,  because  calcu- 
lated to  promote  happiness.  A  contentious,  tattling  neighborhood, 
where  each  is  backbiting  his  neighbor,  or  indulging  unkind  feelings, 
is  exceedingly  annoying,  besides  souring  the  temper  and  lowering 
the  tone  of  moral  feeling.  The  amount  and  prevalence  of  neigh- 
borhood scandal,  is  really  surprising ;  nor  are  religious  denomina- 
tions wholly  exempt  from  its  contaminating  and  unholy  influence. 
This  ought  not  so  to  be.  So  far  from  it,  the  relations  of  neighbor- 
hoods should, he  of  the  most  friendly  and  accommodating  character. 
Let  village  scandal  be  frowned  down  by  every  respectable  citizen, 
and  let  tattlers  be  regarded  as  quite  as  bad  as  the  one  slandered. 
They  are  usually  even  worse,  and  slander  others  because  they  know 
that  they  themselves  are  guilty,  and  in  order  to  screen  their  own  faults 
by  charging  them  upon  their  neighbors.  Disregard  them,  there- 
fore, and  let  their  spleen,  as  it  enters  one  ear,  pass  out  at  the  other. 

One  of  the  best  means  of  promoting  good  feelings  among  neigh- 
bors is,  to  manifest  and  excite  public  spirit,  to  form  literary  and  other 
societies,  be  free  to  borrow,  and  glad  to  lend,  (but  always  prompt 
to  return,  and  to  pay  damages,)  and,  above  all,  to  form  associations 
or  clubs,  for  the  purchase  of  such  articles  as  are  required  in  fa- 
milies. Thus :  let  a  dozen  or  more  heads  of  families  unite  in 
purchasing  a  cargo  of  coal,  a  piece  of  broadcloth,  an  assortment  of 
pieces  of  muslin,  or  calico,  or  cambric,  or  silk,  or  a  hogshead  of 
sugar,  &c.,  each  paying  his  share  for  what  he  takes  after  they  are 
divided ;  and  this,  besides  saving  nearly  half  their  expense,  will 
excite  a  help-one-another  feeling,  and  bind  them  together  in  the 
bonds  of  fellowship.  Let  the  members  of  each  family  make  fre- 
quent visits,  and,  especially,  let  the  "  upper-crust" — the  aristocrats, 
those  who  are  too  good  to  mingle  vnth.  or  marry  the  rest  of  man- 
kind— live  on  their  pride ;  that  is,  let  them  alone,  and  they  will 
soon  see  their  error  and  be  induced  to  unite  in  endeavors  to  promote 
good  feeling  and  become  useful  members  of  society. 

That  this  work  may  make  more  and  better  wives  and  husbands, 
and  also  improve  the  social  and  domestic  condition  of  man,  is  the 
object  of  its  publication,  and  the  ardent  prayer  of  its  Author. 


AMER.  PHREN.  JOURNAL,  Vol.  V.,  No3.  9,  10,  11  &  12. 


HEREDITARY  DESCENT: 


ITS 


ILLUSTRATED  AND  APPLIED  TO  THE 


IMPHOYEMENT    OF    MANKIND; 

WITH 

HINTS    TO    WOMAN; 

INCLUDING 

DIRECTIONS  FOR  FOEMING  lATRIMOIIAL  ALIIANCES 


so    A3    TO 


PRODUCE,  IN    OFFSPRING,   WHATEVER    PHYSICAL,   MENTAL,  OR 
MORAL  QUALITIES  MAY  BE  DESIRED  5 


TOGETHER    WITH 


PREVENTIVES  OF  HEREDITARY  TENDENCIES. 

BY   0.   S.  FOWLER, 

PRACTICAL     phrenologist;    ~ 

Editor  of  "  The  American  Phrenological  Journal;"   and  Author  of  "  Foioler''3 

Phrenology,"  "  Phrenology  applied  to  Education  and  Self- Improvement," 

do.  to  ^^  Matrimony  "  do.  to  "  Temperance,"  S^c. 


■"  Like  begets  like." — Man. 

"  And  God  said,  Let  the  earth  bring  forth  the  living  creature  after  his  kind,  and 
it  was  so." — Gen.  i.  24. 

"  Visiting  the  iniquity  of  the  fathers  upon  the  children  unto  the  third  and  fourth  gen- 
eration of  ihem  that  hale  me,  and  showing  mercy  unto  thousands  of  them  that  love  me 
and  keep  my  commandments." — The  Decalogue. 

"  Like  mother,  like  daughter." — Man. 


NEW   YORK 


O.  S.  &  L.  N.  FOWLER,  in  Clinton  Hall,  131  Nassau  Street. 
Philadelphia,  Colon's  Publication  Office,  203^  Chestnut  Street;  Boston,  Saxton  tfe 
Pierce's  Phrenological  Depot,  133J  Washington  Street,  and  Jordan  &  Co.,  Vl\  do.  ; 
Rochester,  N.I.,  R  L.  Adams,  Democrat  Office  ;  Syracuse,  J.  A.  Hopkms,  and  Hall 
&  Co  ;  Sackelt's  Harbor,  Dr.  Kimball  5  Cincinnati,  O.,  Dr.  Curtis  ;  Danville,  Ky. 
E.  A.  Smith. 

1843. 


To  all  who  have  formed,  or  may  form,  Matrimonial 
Alliances,  or  become  Parents,  as  well  as  to  every 
lover  of  nature,  especially  in  her  most  important 
and  beautiful  operations,  this  work  is  respectfully 
dedicated,  by  a  servant  of  man — 

THE  AUTHOR. 
131  Nassau  Street,  New  YorJc,  Sept.  1843. 


Entered,  according  to  Aet  of  Congress,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1843, 

By  O.  S.  fowler, 

in  the  Clerk's  OfEce  of  the  District  Court  of  Massachusetts. 


PREFACE. 


Though  the  sun  of  science  has  dawned,  and  is  now  shining 
with  full  effulgence,  upon  Geology,  Agriculture,  Chemistry, 
Botany,  Conchology,  Natural  History,  Physiology,  Anthropology, 
Sec,  enlightening  what  was  before  obscured,  dispelling  the  clouds 
of  ignorance  and  superstition,  Improving  mechanics  and  the  arts, 
and  shedding  on  man  a  flood  of  happiness,  both  in  their  acquisi- 
tion and  application,  yet  a  sister  science,  and  that  the  most  inter- 
esting and  important  of  the  group  ;  that  of  parentage,  and  the 
means  of  thereby  improving  the  race,  remains  enshrouded  in 
Egyptian  darkness.  How  long  shall  this  darkness  be  tolerated, 
and  even  fostered  ?  How  long  shall  man  cOTitinue  his  researches 
and  discoveries  in  mechanics,  agriculture,  the  arts  and  science?, 
&,c.  &ic.,  and  yet  leave  this  by  far  the  richest  field  of  philosophy  and 
human  improvement  wholly  unoccupied,  or  entered  only  after  it 
has  been  overrun  with  noxious  weeds  and  briers,  which  no 
amount  of  labor  can  more  than  partially  subdue  ?  So  far  as  re- 
gards the  intellectual  and  moral  improvement  of  mankind,  by 
investigating  and  applying  the  laws  of  hereditary  descent,  an 
almost  total  nonentity  exists.  Cornbe,  in  his  "  Constitution  of 
Man,"  has  presented  this  subject,  and  urged  its  importance,  yet 
he  has  given  us  but  a  glimpse  merely  of  the  laws  which  govern 
this  department  of  nature,  and  omitted  all  specijic  directions  for 
applying  them  to  the  production  of  desired  qualities  in  offspring. 

But  has  not  the  time  now  fully  come  for  collecting  and  dissemi- 
nating light  on  this  subject  ?  Has  not  its  application,  by  the 
farmer,  to  the  improvement  of  his  stock,  forced  home  and  gene- 
ralized the  conviction  that  it  can  be  employed  so  as  to  produce, 
in  man,  personal  beauty,  physical  health  and  strength,  and  high 
mtellectuai  and  moral    attainments,  &;c.  &;c.,  and  that  with  as 


4  PREFACE. 

much  greater  advantage  as  man  is  above  the  brute  ?  The  con- 
viction is  beconaing  universal  (the  learned  Blacksmith  to  the  con- 
trary notwithstanding),  that  the  disposition  and  mental  powers  of 
mankind,  are  innate — are  born,  not  created  by  education,  and 
that  the  human  mind,  instead  of  being  a  blank  on  which  educa- 
tion and  circumstances  write  the  whole  character,  has  an  inherent 
constitution  and  character  of  its  own,  and  that  often  in  the  very 
teeth  of  education.  A  still  small  voice — the  voice  of  God  and  of 
truth,  has  enlisted  attention,  excited  an  interest,  and  .gained  the 
public  ear.  To  augment  this  rising  interest,  and  to  aid  parents, 
as  parents,  in  the  discharge  of  this  their  most  solemn  and  eventful 
duty,  is  the  design  of  the  author  in  penning  this  work,  and  to  suc- 
ceed in  this  cause  of  God  and  humanity,  so  near  his  heart,  so 
engrossing  to  his  head,  will  consummate  the  highest  and  the 
greatest  object  and  desire  of  his  life. 

That  its  style  and  composition  may  be  faulty,  because  compiled 
in  freat  haste  and  in  the  midst  of  professional  engagements 
peculiarly  arduous  and  almost  unremitting,  is  readily  confessed,  but 
that  its  subject  matter  will  bear  criticism,  he  fully  believes,  because 
all  liis  facts  are  facts,  and  because  he  has  been  guided  by  the  lights 
of  Phrenology  and  Physiology.  Without  these  lights  and  land- 
marks, especially  that  of  the  former  science — this  science  of  man 
and  of  the  mind — no  one,  however  learned  or  talented,  can  do 
this  subiect  justice.  Walker,  though  he  may  possibly  write  well 
on  the  propagation  of  animals,  and  has  said  many  good  things 
about  the  transmission  of  merely  physical  qualities,  yet,  when  he 
comes  to  the  transmission  of  mental  and  moral  qualities,  which,  to 
iTjan,  are  the  mam  items  of  interest,  is  sadly  at  fault — is  grop- 
ino-  his  way  in  total  darkness — the  blind  leading  the  blind.  But  a 
Phrenologist,  and  especially  a  ractitioner  of  this  science,  is  not 
only  guided  by  a  nomenclature  of  the  mind  and  a  map  of  its 
]X)wers  incomparably  superior  to  all  others,  but  he  can  also  trace 
clearly,  and  read  legibly,  the  resemblances  and  the  differences 
between  parents  and  their  children,  by  means  of  their  phrenological 
developments.  None  but  a  Phrenologist,  none  but  a  skilful 
PRACTICAL,  Phrenologist,  is  at  all  capable  of  doing  this  subjeet 
justice.  He  can,  and  one  of  the  principal  merits  of  this  work 
consists  in  the  fact,  that  its  author  has  practised  phrenology  for 
more  than  ten  years,  in  nearly  every  State  in  the  Union,  aiwi 


PREFACE.  5 

been  called  upon  to  examine  the  heads  of  parents  and  their 
children  hy  thousands.  By  having  one  parent  and  a  child  or  two, 
he  has  often  excited  astonishment  and  drawn  tears  by  his  descrip- 
tion of  the  other  parent,  perhaps  deceased  for  twenty  years ;  nor 
have  any  of  these  facilities  for  preparing  himself  to  write  this  work, 
been  lost.  All  have  been  treasured  up  and  brought  to  bear  on 
this,  to  him,  all  engrossing  subject. 

If  any  apology  be  deemed  necessary  for  his  having  published  a 
hasty  edition  of  this  work,  it  is  to  be  found  in  the  overwhelming 
importance  of  its  subject  matter.  If  he  had  waited  to  perfect 
the  first  edition,  it  would  never  have  seen  the  light,  for  his  profes- 
sional labors  absolutely  preclude  the  possibility  of  his  devoting 
much  time  to  it  at  present.  Still,  with  this  skeleton  before  him, 
which  he  can,  from  time  to  time,  fill  up  with  facts  arranged  under 
their  separate  heads,  he  can  improve  at  his  leisure,  and  by  the  criti- 
cisms of  friends  and  the  strictures  of  enemies,  he  hopes  eventually 
greatly  to  enlarge  and  improve.  Doth  its  style  and  its  matter. 

THE  AUTHOR. 

N.  B.  As  FACTS  of  this  kind  are  the  main  items  of  value, 
and  as  they  are  so  abundant  as  to  be  within  the  observation  and 
memory  of  every  reader,  the  author  solicits  the  communication  of 
striking  and  well  authenticated  facts  of  this  class,  especially  from 
Phrenologists  and  from  mothers,  particularly  those  facts  which 
evince  changes  in  children  of  different  ages,  analogous  to  those  to 
which  the  parents,  during  the  augmentation  of  their  families,  were 
subject.  Mothers,  especially,  who  can  trace  their  own  peculiari- 
ties of  feeling  in  the  dispositions  of  their  children,  will  do  good  by 
relating  their  own  experience,  as  guides  and  warnings  to  those 
'who  are  inexperienced  in  this  matter. 

(Xr°  For  Contents,  see  the  end  of  the  work. 


'    1* 


HEREDITARY  DESCENT. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  SUBJECT— ITS   IMPORTANCE. 

SECTION   I. 

THE  PROGENY  RESEMBLE  THEIR  PARENTS. 

"  Aud  God  said  unto  them,  Be  fruitful,  and  multiply,  and  replenish  the  earth." 

Man  dies.  Animals,  trees,  vegetables,  and  all  that  lives 
and  grows,  die,  and  moulder  back  to  dust. 

To  man,  this  arrangement  or  institution  of  death,  is  cer- 
tainly most  beneficial.  Governed  by  inflexible  laws,  every 
violation  of  which  causes  pain,  often  most  excruciating,  and 
continually  liable,  through  ignorance  or  sinful  indulgence,  to 
break  them,  and  thus  to  induce  their  dreadful  penalty,  unless 
death  came  to  his  relief,  the  augmentation  and  aggravation 
of  suffering  almost  certain,  in  the  course  of  ages,  to  accumu- 
late upon  him,  would  render  him  so  inconceivably  miserable, 
as  to  extort  the  agonizing  prayer  that  the  rocks  and  the 
mountains  would  fall  upon  him,  or  that  dark  oblivion  would 
annihilate  soul  and  body  together.  From  a  condition  so 
absolutely  horrible,  death  is  our  kind  deliverer;  and  instead 
of  being  looked  upon  with  dread,  is  in  fact,  when  it  comes  in 
its  season,  a  blessing — a  boon  equalled  only  by  life  itself — an 
institution  planned  and  ordained  by  infinite  Wisdom  and 
Goodness  united,  and  directed  to  the  highest  good  of  man. 

It  also  allows  an  infinitely  greater  number  of  human  beings 
to  enjoy  the  blessings  of  life,  and  to  prepare  themselves  for  a 
happy  eternity  than  the  earth  could  otherwise  contain,  and 
in  every  conceivable  point  of  view,  converts  our  earth,  other- 
wise one  great  field  of  anguish,  into  a  state  highly  conducive 
to  happiness. 


O  HEREDITARY   DESCENT — ITS    LAWS    AND   FACTS. 

Reproduction.  Parentage  secures  uniforinity. 

But  let  death  pursue  its  course  for  a  single  generation  only, 
"without  some  counter  arrangement  of  reproduction^  and  our 
earth  would  be  depopulated;  man,  and  every  living  thing 
annihilated,  and  all  the  pleasures  connected  with  life,  buried 
in  dark  oblivion ;  because,  in  no  one  instance  does  the  great 
Architect  of  the  universe,  bring  man,  animals,  trees,  vegeta- 
bles, or  any  thing  that  lives  and  grows,  into  being  by  a  direct 
act  of  creative  power;  but  in  all  instances  of  multiplication, 
of  whatever  kind,  he  employs  the  intervention  of  parentage 
as  a  means — as  the  only  means — of  reproduction.  And  in 
110  department  of  the  Creator's  works  is  infinite  wisdom  and 
goodness  displayed  to  better  advantage,  than  in  this  arrange- 
ment of  parentage.  By  its  instrumentality,  an  agreeable 
diversity,  and  yet  a  general  uniformity,  are  secured.  But  for 
this  uniformity,  that  is,  if  one  horse  had  one  foot,  another  a 
thousand,  and  others  more  or  less  as  it  happened:  if  some 
human  beings  had  heads,  others  none ;  some  a  heart  and 
eyes,  others  neither ;  some  one  muscle  and  others  another ; 
some  the  faculty  of  reason,  others  not;  some  that  of  affec- 
tion or  appetite,  and  others  none:  if  some  had  the  faculty  for 
perceiving  colors,  or  relishing  the  beauties  of  nature,  and 
others  were  destitute  of  these  qualities,  &c.  &c.,  our  world 
would  have  been  a  perfect  bedlam — would  have  been  old 
chaos,  "all  confusion  worse  confounded" — a  perfect  Babel, 
not  in  language  only,  but  in  every  conceivable  point  of  view. 
But  this  arrangement  gives  to  every  member  of  the  human 
family  some  development  of  every  organ,  enough,  at  least,  to 
perceive  the  relations  of  every  faculty,  so  that  all  possess  the 
same  primary  powers,  ihe  same  fundamental  constitution. 

It  also  allows  an  agreeable  diversity  of  form,  character,  and 
propensity;  some  being  born  with  one  faculty  stronger  than 
another.  Though  every  man  has  a  face,  a  nose,  eyes,  a 
mouth,  cheeks,  &c.,  yet  in  some  they  are  larger,  longer,  fuller, 
&c.  &c.,  so  as  to  produce  that  endless  diversity  of  the  human 
countenance,  along  with  that  general  sameness,  by  which  it 
is  characterized,  so  that  none  need  be  mistaken  for  another. 

Another  exquisitely  beautiful  institution  growing  out  of 
this  arrangement  of  parentage,  and  depending  upon  it,  or, 
rather,  formed  by  it,  is  that  of  connubial,  parental  and  Jilial 


CHILDREN    RESEIMRLE    THEIR    PARENTS. 


Connubial  love.  The  arrang'emeiits  of  parentage  most  beautiful. 

love.  But  for  this  plan  of  parentage,  the  relations  of  hus- 
bands and  wives  to  each  other,  of  parents  to  their  children, 
and  of  children  to  their  parents,  and  all  the  heaven-born 
pleasures  of  the  family,  would  have  had  no  existence.  Let  all 
the  relations  of  husband  and  wife,  and  of  parents  and  chil- 
dren be  blotted  out;  let  man  be  as  the  ostrich,  "hardened 
against  her  3^oung ;"  let  families  be  disbanded;  let  kindred 
be  unknown ;  let  there  be  no  children  to  love,  please,  provide 
for  and  educate ;  none  to  soften  the  pillow  of  age,  or  soothe 
and  cheer  the  descent  to  the  grave:  no  parents  to  love,  vene- 
rate, and  pattern  after,  and  how  solitary  and  soulless  would 
existence  be  rendered;  how  vast  the  hiatus  left;  how  blank, 
how  scattered,  how  revolutionized  our  world!  Few  ends, 
few  charms  would  be  left ;  the  sun  of  most  of  our  joys  would 
be  set  in  darkness,  and  our  eartii  would  not  be  worth  a  wish. 
But  the  filial  and  parental  relations,  how  beautiful,  how  per- 
fect throughout !  Parents  living  in  and  for  their  children, 
and  children  nestling  under  the  kind  wings  of  parental  fond- 
ness; tender  infancy,  sportive,  happy  childhood,  and  blooming 
youth,  shedding  their  happy,  cheerful  influences  all  around — 
oh  !  is  not  this  arrangement  of  parentage  worthy  of  a  God  I 
This  banished,  and  connubial  love — thou  "  holy  of  holies" 
of  the  human  heart ;  thou  queen  of  our  earth ;  thou  life  and 
Boul  of  woman  ;  thou  glorious  son  of  our  nature  ;  thou  first- 
born, thou  only  remnant,  of  paradise  ;  thou  paradise  thy- 
self; thou  most  exalted  and  heavenly  emotion  of  the  hum.an 
eoul — oh  whither  art  thou  fled  !  Gone  forever  !  An  Angel 
gone  !  The  veil  of  the  human  heart  "  rent  in  sunder,"  and 
thick  darkness  resting  upon  man  ! 

But  no  !  Thanks  to  our  merciful  God,  he  hath  engrafted 
CONNUBIAL  LOVE  upou  the  nature  of  man  ;  and  most  delicious 
are  its  fruits  !  The  gold  of  Opher,  the  nectar  of  Eden,  the 
honors  of  the  world,  all  earthly  blessings,  vanish  at  thy  ap- 
proach, or  rather,  cluster  around  and  adorn  thee — are  flowers 
in  the  garland  of  thy  loveliness  !  Oh  "  Thou  Fount  of  every 
blessing,"  ungrateful  as  we  mortals  are,  we  thank  thee,  we 
love  thee,  at  least  for  this  thy  crowning  blessing  to  man. 

In  short,  every  departm.ent  of  this  parental  and  filial  ar- 
rangement, is  infinitely  beautiful  and  perfect  in  itself,  and 


10  HEREDITARY   DESCENT — ITS   LAWS   AND   FACTS. 

Reproduction.  Things  reproduce  after  their  kind. 

most  delightful  to  man — is  the  workmanship  of  a  God.  Let 
man  receive  this  heavenly  "coal  from  off  the  holy  altar"  of 
his  nature,  improve  the  gift,  and  derive  from  it  that  full  flood 
of  happiness,  that  cluster  of  blessings,  which  it  was  designed 
to  impart. 

Reproduction,  then,  and  ,hy  means  of  parentage,  is  the 
source  or  means  of  life.  "And  God  said.  Let  the  earth 
bring  forth  grass,  the  herb  yielding  seed,  and  the  fruit-tree 
yielding  fruit  after  his  kind,  whose  seed  is  in  itself,  upon  the 
earth:  and  it  was  so.  And  God  said.  Let  the  waters  bring 
forth  abundantly  the  moving  creature  that  hath  life,  and 
fowl  that  may  fly  above  the  earth  in  the  open  firmament  of 
heaven.  And  God  created  great  whaleSj  and  every  living 
creature  that  moveth,  which  the  waters  brought  forth  abund- 
antly, after  their  kind,  and  every  winged  fowl  after  his  kind : 
and  God  saw  that  it  was  good.  And  God  blessed  them,  say- 
ing, Be  fruitful,  and  multiply,  and  fill  the  waters  in  the  seas ; 
and  let  fowl  multiply  in  the  earth.  And  God  said,  Let  the 
earth  bring  forth  the  living  creature  after  his  kind,  cattle,  and 
creeping  thing,  and  beast  of  the  earth  after  his  kind:  and  it 
was  so.  And  God  made  tlie  beast  of  the  earth  after  his  kindp 
and  cattle  after  their  kind,  and  every  thing  that  creepeth 
upon  the  earth  after  his  kind  :  and  God  saw  that  it  was  good. 
So  God  created  man  in  his  own  image;  in  the  image  of  God 
created  he  him ;  male  and  female  created  he  them.  And 
God  blessed  them ;  and  God  said  imto  them.  Be  fruitful, 
and  multiply,  and  replenish  the  earth." — Gen.  i. 

Thus  it  is,  that  every  thing  which  lives  and  grows,  not 
only  reproduces,  but  "brings  forth  after  its  kind."  The 
product  of  the  oak,  is  an  acorn,  which  grows  and  becomes 
another  oak,  to  produce,  in  its  turn,  other  acorns,  and  they, 
other  oaks  ;  but  no  other  tree  or  fruit.  Wheat  reproduces 
wheat;  corn,  corn ;  clover,  clover;  sheep,  sheep ;  cattle,  cat- 
tle ;  and  man,  man.  But  for  this  law  that  the  offspring  shall 
resemble  its  parent,  the  farmer  might  plant  corn  and  reap 
stones  or  apples — might  sow  stones  and  raise  cattle — might 
sow  any  thing  or  nothing  and  raise  any  thing,  as  it  hap- 
pened, and  the  hnman  offspring  would  be  as  likely  to  be 
cattle,  trees,  or  stones,  as  human  beings,  having  fixed  char«u> 


CHILDREN    RESEMBLE    THEIR    PARENTS.  11 

The  work.  Facts  our  guide. 

ters  and  specific  capabilities.  But  this  arrangement  of  "  each 
after  its  kind,^''  not  only  causes  each  generation  of  every 
herb,  plant,  tree  and  animal,  through  all  past  and  coming 
time,  to  resemble  its  first,  original  sire,  but  it  also  causes  the 
oifspring  of  man  to  be  man,  and  not  only  to  be  man,  but  to 
be  endowed  with  fixed  and  physical,  mental,  and  moral  na- 
tures, and  still  more,  to  inherit  the  peculiarities  even,  and  all 
the  constitutional  peculiarities,  of  their  parents.  The  mi- 
nuteness and  perfect  accuracy  of  the  transfer  of  the  qualities 
of  parents  to  their  children,  are  truly  astonishing ;  and  the 
object  of  this  treatise  is  to  show  how  and  ivherein  children 
resemble  their  parents,  and  to  point  out  those  laws  which 
govern  hereditary  influences.  It  will  consist  mainly  of  facts 
in  proof  and  illustration  of  those  laws  which  govern  the 
transmission  of  physical  and  mental  qualities  and  peculiari- 
ties from  parents  to  their  children,  through  successive  gene- 
rations, with  directions,  especially  to  mothers,  for  applying 
these  principles  to  the  physical,  intellectual  and  moral  im- 
provement of  mankind,  and  to  the  production,  in  offspring, 
of  whatever  qualities  may  be  desired.  And,  as  nothing  but 
FACTS  can  conduct  us  safely  through  this  unexplored  region, 
this  work  will  consist  mainly  of  facts  of  this  class,  mostly 
recorded  for  the  first  time,  drawn  from  the  parental  history 
of  families  and  individuals  remarkable  for  their  physical  or 
intellectual  peculiarities,  and  especially  from  our  pilgrim  an- 
cestors and  their  descendants,  showing  that  the  mental  and 
physical  qualities  of  particular  families  of  the  former,  their 
forms  of  body  and  face;  their  tastes,  talents,  propensities, 
modes  of  thinking  and  acting;  their  intellectual  and  other 
peculiarities,  have  descended  throughout  the  whole  line  of 
their  progeny,  and  remain  stamped  even  upon  the  present 
generation. 

Other  materials  for  enriching  the  pages  of  this  work,  will 
be  drawn  both  from  parental  histories  of  persons  remarkable 
for  talents,  or  moral  worth,  or  vicious  inclinations  ;  and  also 
from  our  prisons,  penitentiaries,  poor-houses,  and  asylums  for 
the  deaf,  dumb,  blind,  insane,  diseased,  &c.  &c.;  as  well  as 
from  that  wide  range  of  personal  experience  thrown  open  to 
the  author  by  his  extensive  professional  practice. 


12  HEREDITARY   DESCENT ITS    LAWS   AND   FACTS. 

Difficulties.  Hereditary  laws. 

That  the  mvestigation  of  this  subject  is  not  unattended 
with  difficulties,  is  readily  admitted;  first,  in  consequence  of 
the  fastidiousness  generally  thrown  around  it;  and,  secondly, 
because  of  the  great  variety  of  causes  brought  into  operation 
in  this  matter,  some  of  which  appear  to  conflict  with  others, 
and  others  still,  to  blend  ;  so  that  it  requires  a  truly  philo- 
sophical mind,  and  of  the  highest  order,  properly  to  inves- 
tigate this  subject.  And  then  again,  many  whims,  many 
prejudices  are  to  be  encountered,  and  many  things  are  given 
as  facts  which  are  not  facts.  But  amidst  all  these  diffi- 
culties, the  author  has  one  safe  guide — the  developments. 
Wherever  they  can  be  observed  in  both  parents  and  children, 
we  may  rest  assured  of  the  correctness  of  the  results  that 
follow. 

As  to  the  alleged  im'pro'priety  connected  with  these  inves- 
tigations, I  have  but  one  thing  to  say — Those  who  are  so 
very  extra  delicate  and  refined  that  they  cannot  investigate 
this  subject  without  a  blush,  should,  in  all  conscience,  be  too 
delicate  and  modest  to  marry.  Do  not  "  strain  at  the  gnat 
and  swallow  the  camel."  If  true  modesty  need  not  be 
offended  by  marriage,  it  certainly  need  not  blush  to  learn  the 
duties  and  relations  necessarily  connected  with,  and  growing 
out  ofj  that  marriage.     "  To  the  pure,  all  things  are  pure." 


SECTION  II. 

REPRODUCTION  GOVERNED  BY  LAWS  OF  CAUSE  AND  EFFECT. 

"  Like  begets  like." 

In  pursuing  these  inquiries,  Ave  have  one  unerring  land- 
mark ;  one  safe  and  sure  guide,  on  which  implicit  reliance 
maybe  placed;  namely,  that  this  department  of  nature,  in 
common  with  all  her  other  works,  is  governed  by  the  action 
of  certain  fixed  and  invariable  lukvfs. — that  cause  and  effect 
reign  universal,  and  operate  in  producing  every  great,  every 
minute,  quality,  in  every  child.  Else,  if  causes  are  not  em- 
ployed in  the  production  of  these  effects,  we  have  one  portion 


HEREDITARY   TRANSMISSIONS    CAUSE   AND   EFFECTS.  13 

Parents  the  causes.  Children  tlie  effects. 


of  nature,  and  that  the  most  interesting  and  important,  left 
to  chance — all  chaos  and  confusion.  If  the  arrangement  of 
cause  and  effect  be  valuable  in  any  one  department  of  God's 
dominions,  it  certainly  is  valuable  in  this.  If  it  be  the  best 
system  for  the  government  of  nature  in  general,  it  certainly 
must,  and  for  the  same  reason,  be  so  for  this ;  and  the  more 
so  because  of  the  paramount  importance  of  the  subject  itself. 
And  to  suppose  that  this  department  of  nature  is  left  to  the 
fate  of  chance,  and  7iot  governed  by  the  laws  of  cause  and 
effect,  is  to  "charge  God  foolishly" — is  to  suppose  anarchy 
and  dark  uncertainty  reign  over  the  most  important  part  of 
the  works  of  God.  The  idea  is  preposterous — is  blasphe- 
mous— is  utterly  at  war  with  the  facts  of  the  case,  for  chil- 
dren certainly  do  resemble  their  parents.  The  products  of 
parents  are  not  sometimes  one  thing  and  sometimes  another, 
but  they  have  the  same  anatomical  construction,  the  same 
form,  the  same  general  nature  and  disposition,  with  their 
parents.  In  short,  to  attempt  to  prove  that  children  resemble 
their  parents,  or  that  invariable  laws  of  cause  and  effect  gov- 
ern the  transmission  of  qualities  from  parents  to  their  chil- 
dren, is  like  attempting  to  jprove  that  two  and  two  make  four, 
or  that  a  part  is  less  than  the  whole,  or  that  two  things,  each 
like  a  third,  are  therefore  like  each  other,  or  like  trying  to 
establish,  by  argument,  what  is  already  self-evident— Xhdit 
fire  burns,  that  the  sun  shines,  that  we  live.  The  proposi- 
tion that  children  resemble  their  parents,  and  that  this  re- 
semblance is  governed  by  fixed  laws  of  cause  and  effect,  and 
that  the  mental  and  physical  qualities  of  parents  cause  those 
of  their  children,  is  too  obvious,  too  self-evident  to  require  or 
be  capable  of  proof.  No  sane  or  reflecting  mind  can  doubt 
it.  Every  man,  woman  or  child  that  observes  or  thinks, 
must  have  this  conclusion  irresistibly  forced  home  on  them. 
They  see,  they  feel,  they  know,  that  the  mental  and  physical 
qualities  of  children,  have  their  causes — that  these  causes  are 
the  same  qualities  in  their  parejits  ;  and  that  like  causes  in 
parents  produce  like  qualities  in  their  children,  but  that  the 
difference  in  the  constitutional  qualities  of  children,  is  caused 
by  differences  in  their  parents. 

2 


14  HEREDITARY   DESCENT — ITS   LAWS   AND   FACTS. 

All  cause  and  effect.  The  minuteness  of  this  resembleuice. 

Less  space  and  amplification  would  have  been  allotted  to 
the  above  truism,  had  not  a  most  important  inference  de- 
pended on,  and  grown  out  of  it — namely,  that  every  consti- 
tutional quality  of  the  child,  both  mental  and  physical,  has 
its  origin  and  direct  procuring  cause  in  the  similar  qualities 
of  the  parent ;  and  that  all  the  qualities  and  dispositions  of 
the  parent  are  transmitted  to  their  children.  This  matter  is 
not  shrouded  in  mystery,  is  not  left  to  uncertainty.  Not  only 
is  it  governed  by  irrevocable  laws,  but  every  condition  and 
quality  of  the  parent,  however  trivial  or  unobservable,  stamps 
its  impress  upon  the  child.  If  there  exist  a7iy  relations  of 
cause  and  effect  between  parents  and  their  children,  by  which 
the  former  transmit  any  qualities  to  the  latter,  then  all  is 
cause  and  effect — then  all  the  shades  and  phases  of  the  pa- 
rent's mind  and  character,  and  all  the  characteristics  of  their 
bodies,  will  be  stamped  upon  their  children.  Either  there 
are  710  causes  and  effects  in  this  matter,  or  else  all  is  cause 
and  effect,  and  all  the  most  minute  constitutional  peculiari- 
ties of  the  child,  are  caused  by  parental  influences.  Nature 
never  half  does  any  thing.  She  makes  clean  work,  or  does 
nothing.  She  does  not  give  a  part  of  our  original  nature 
in  obedience  to  certain  laws  of  transmission,  and  a  part, 
not ;  but  she  gives  all^  even  down  to  the  smallest  iota,  in 
obedience  to  these  laws. 

Let,  then,  this  important  truth,  that  children  resemble  their 
parents,  and  that  parentage  causes  all  the  innate  qualities  of 
mankind,  sink  deep  into  the  minds  of  parents.  Let  them 
remember  that  their  children  will  be  the  very  transfer,  or 
image  of  themselves  ;  reflected  in  all  their  shades  of  feeling 
and  phases  of  character;  inheriting  the  same  tastes;  gov- 
erned by  the  same  sentiments  and  passions ;  debased  by  the 
same  vices ;  ennobled  by  the  same  virtues ;  adorned  by  the 
same  charms  and  graces;  and  endowed  with  the  same  tal- 
ents and  intellectual  powers.  Remember,  also,  that  this 
if  transfer  is  wonderfully  mmw/e  and  specific;  and  that  your 
offspring  are  to  be  bone  oi  your  bone,  and  flesh  oi  your  flesh, 
mind  and  soul  of  your  mind  and  soul ;  good  or  great,  as  you 
are  good  or  great ;  and  happy  or  miserable,  as  you  are  happy 
or  miserable. 


LAWS    OF    REPRODUCTION.  15 

These  causes  observable  and  applicable.  Applied  to  animals. 

Nor  are  these  causes  beyond  either  our  knowledge  or  our 
control.  Both  the  antecedents  and  the  consequents — both 
the  causes  and  the  effects,  are  within  our  own  observation. 
Parents  can  certainly  take  cognizance  of  their  own  qualities 
and  conditions,  and  can  also  witness  the  effects  of  these 
qualities  and  conditions  on  their  children.  These  operations 
of  nature  are  not  hid  under  a  bushel,  but  are  in  full  view ; 
with  no  cloud,  no  veil,  no  dimness  to  obstruct  their  perfect 
vision  ;  and  with  every  possible  opportunity  to  study  these 
phenomena,  and  apply  these  laws.  Indeed,  how  can  they 
help  seeing  them  ?  how  avoid  putting  this  and  that  together, 
and  drawing  conclusions  7  No  intellectual  parent  can  have 
his  attention  turned  to  this  subject,  without  having  its  prin- 
ciples and  facts  forced  home  upon  him.  Men  study  and 
apply  analogous  principles  and  facts,  in  planting  corn  and 
sowing  wheat — in  selecting  particular  soils  for  particular 
crops ;  and  especially  in  improving  their  breed  of  cattle,  sheep, 
swine,  horses,  &c.  They  know  how  to  apply,  they  actually 
do  apply,  analogous  causes  to  the  production  of  fleet  horses 
and  of  draft  horses;  of  swine  that  will  fatten  easily  and 
have  little  bone ;  of  sheep  that  will  bear  fine  wool,  or  are  best 
fitted  for  the  table ;  of  poultry  that  will  fight,  or  fatten,  or 
reproduce  well ;  and  so  through  the  whole  range  of  domestic 
animals.  So  fully  do  they  understand,  and  so  certainly  do 
they  apply  these  laws,  that  they  can  predict  beforehand^  and 
with  perfect  certainty^  whether  the  foal  will  be  a  mule  or  a 
race  horse  ;  what  will  be  its  color,  and  even  its  movements  ; 
whether  the  lamb  will  be  black  or  white,  large  or  small, 
coarse  or  fine  woolled,  lean  or  easily  fattened ;  whether  the 
calf  will  be  a  short  horned  Durham,  or  any  other  breed 
having  fixed  qualities,  &;c.  Now,  those  same  laws  which 
govern  the  transmission  of  physical  qualities  from  sire  to 
scion  through  the  brute  creation,  also  govern  the  transmission 
of  physical  and  mental  qualiries  from  parents  to  children. 
Each  is  equally  tangible  and  observable ;  or,  if  there  be  any 
difference,  it  is  in  favor  of  the  human  offspring.  If  laws  gov- 
ern this  matter— and  this  has  been  already  demonstrated — 
and  if  man  can  study  and  apply  these  laws  to  the  produc- 
tion of  given  qualities  in  his  domestic  animals — and  this  is 


16  HEREDITARY    DESCENT — ITS    LAWS    AND   FACTS. 

The  qualities  of  children,  like  those  of  animals,  can  be  predicted  before  birth. 

a  matter  of  every  day  practice,  is  reduced  to  perfect  system — 
then  these  same  laws  can  both  be  ascertained  as  regards 
human  offspring,  and  applied  to  the  production,  in  them  alsO; 
of  whatever  physical  and  mental  qualities  may  be  desired. 
If  we  can  produce  speed,  or  strength,  or  bottom  in  a  horse,  or 
tendency  to  fatten  in  swine ;  fine  wool  in  sheep  ;  spirit  in  the 
game-cock,  the  qualities  for  producing  good  milk  or  beef  in 
cattle,  or  tameness,  or  kindness,  and  other  mental  qualities  in 
animals  ;  and  if  the  same  laws  of  parentage  govern  the 
transmission  of  both  physical  and  mental  qualities  from 
hum,an  parents  to  their  offspring,  which  no  reflecting  mind 
can  doubt,  then  these  same  laws  may  be  applied  so  as  to 
produce  not  only  physical  strength,  suppleness,  flesh,  and  a 
powerful  constitution,  but  also  so  as  to  produce  revenge,  or 
amiableness ;  pride,  or  humility;  intelligence,  or  stupidity; 
taste,  or  coarseness ;  mechanical,  or  mathematical,  or  politi- 
cal, or  reasoning,  or  any  other  powers  desired.  Nor  need 
any  more  doubt  hang  over  the  latter  results,  than  now  hang 
over  the  former.  As,  from  knowing  the  qualities  of  the  brute 
parents,  we  can  predict  the  qualities  of  animals  i^i^A  cer/am/i^ 
before  they  see  the  light,  so,  by  knowing  the  qualities  and 
conditions  of  the  hum,an  parentage,  can  we  predict,  and  with 
unerring  certainty,  the  future  form  of  body,  head,  face,  &c., 
and  all  the  intellectual  and  moral  qualities  of  children,  and 
all  before  they  see  the  light.  And  not  only  can  we  predict 
these  qualities  of  oflspring,  but  parents  can  so  unite,  as  to 
cause  their  oS'spring  to  inherit  whatever  physical,  or  mental, 
or  moral  qualities  may  be  desired — so  as  to  be  short  and 
stocky,  or  slim  and  long — as  to  be  consumptive  or  long-lived, 
healthy  or  scrofulous  ;  feeble  or  vigorous,  strong,  or  spry,  or 
deformed,  or  well  formed,  or  amiable,  or  pugnacious,  or  just, 
or  roguish,  or  ingenious,  or  musical,  or  witty,  or  acquisitive, 
or  timid,  or  courageous,  or  inventive,  or  communicative,  or 
poetical,  or  logical,  or  oratorical,  or  imaginative,  &c.  &c.  &.C., 
to  qualities  without  a  number,  and  down  through  all  their 
minutest  shades  and  phases.  And  he  who  doubts  this,  denies 
one  of  two  self-evident  truths — first,  that  laws  of  cause  and 
effect  govern  the  transmission  of  any  qualities  from  parentsi 
to  their  children ;  or,  secondly,  that  these  causes  are  v/ithin 


ADVANTAGES    OF    KNOWING   AND   APPLYING   THESE   LAWS.         17 
Human  improvemenl  can  be  carried  infinitely  beyond  thnl  of  animals. 

our  observation  and  application — to  doubt  either  of  which  is 
to  doubt  that  the  sun  shines,  or  bodies  fall. 

But  more.  That  very  important  advantages  can  be  de- 
rived from  efforts  to  improve  the  breed  of  animals,  is  a  mat- 
ter of  every  day's  experience  and  observation.  Above  two 
thousand  dollars  have  been  paid  for  a  single  Durham  calf, 
and  all  on  account  of  its  qualities  as  a  breeder  merely ;  and 
that  farmer  who  pays  no  attention  either  to  his  seed  or  to  his 
breeds  is  left  far  in  the  rear  of  other  farmers. 

But  the  advantages  to  be  derived  from  the  application 'of 
these  principles  to  the  improvement  of  wa?x,  are  as  much 
greater  than  those  capable  of  being  derived  from  their  appli- 
cation to  the  improvement  of  animals,  as  man  is  superior  to 
animals,  and  as  his  qualities  are  more  varied  and  positive 
than  theirs.  If  the  happiness  of  man  can  be  greatly  promoted 
by  improving  the  breed  of  his  domestic  amma/s,  how  much 
more  by  improving  his  oxon  breed  ?  As  much  more  as  his 
own  organization  and  destinies  are  higher  than  theirs — as 
much  more  as  the  number  of  qualities  is  greater,  and  the 
scale  of  improvement  runs  higher  in  him  than  in  them.  Their 
range  of  improvement  is  bounded  by  "strait  and  narrow" 
limits  ;  his,  scarcely  knows  any  bounds  :  they,  have  few 
qualities  to  be  compounded,  and  that  iQ,vif  are  mostly  physi- 
cal;  he,  has  not  only  a  much  greater  variety  of  jo/??/>szc«/ 
powers,  but  he  has  a  vast  range  of  mental  and  moral  qualities, 
not  only  susceptible  to  every  physical  improvement  made, 
but  also  themselves  capable  of  improvement.  As  two  or  three 
numbers  allow  but  few  changes  to  be  rung  on  them,  say  two 
or  three  letters  of  the  alphabet,  and  as  every  additional  letter 
allows  a  still  increasing  number  of  changes  to  be  rung,  or  of 
words  to  be  spelled,  till  the  twenty-six  letters  of  our  alphabet 
allow  a  number  of  changes  to  be  rung  that  will  require /or/y- 
one  figures  to  express — a  number  altogether  inconceivable  by 
man — so  the  still  greater  number  of  man's  phrenological  fac- 
ulties, especially  when  taken  in  conjunction  with  the  different 
temperaments  and  textures,  allow  a  number  of  changes,  (and 
in  this  case,  every  change  may  be  an  improveme^it^^  infinitely 
greater  than  those  alluded  to  above.      Not  that  all  these 

changes,  all  these  improvements,  can  be  rung  on  a  single 

2* 


18  HEREDITARY   DESCENT — ITS   LAWS   AND   FACTS. 

Appeal  to  parents.  Erroneous  views. 

indixndual,  but  they  can  be  rung  on  the  race;  and  ver}'^  many 
of  them  on  every  individnal  of  that  race;  for  who  can  calcu- 
late the  improvement  effected  when  but  a  single  organ  is 
improved?  all  its  combinations,  amounting  to  millions  of 
mental  operations,  being  thereby  improved,  both  in  him,  and 
in  his  descendants  to  the  latest  generations. 

And  now,  parents,  does  not  this  principle  hold  out  a  star 
of  promise  and  of  blessed  hope  ?  Can  you  see  fruit  like  this 
within  your  grasp,  and  not  reach  forth  your  hand  and  pluck 
it,  and  that,  too,  when  it  is  just  as  easy  as  to  pluck  these 
sour  grapes  that  many  now  compel  themselves  to  eat  through 
life?  The  destinies  of  your  offspring  are  completely  in  your 
hands  and  within  your  control.  Nay.  willing  or  unwilling, 
you  are  compelled  to  control  them,  or  else  not  to  enter  upon 
the  parental  relations  at  all.  There  is  a  necessity  in  the  case. 
Your  children  are  obliged,  in  their  mental  and  physical  con- 
stitution, to  be  what  you  are.  Can  you  take  a  look  into  the 
future,  and  behold  these  yet  unexisting  immortals,  and  re- 
member that  their  destinies  are  completely  at  your  mercy — 
and  that  you  cannot  possibly  escape  these  awfully  solemn 
responsibilities— and  then  close  again  your  eyes,  and  sleep 
over  these  momentous  consequences?  Can  you  even  allow 
yourselves  to  become  parents  thoughtlessly,  or  unwittingly, 
or  without  previously  arranging  these  causes  so  as  to  bring 
about  desired  results?     But  more  on  this  subject  hereafter. 


SECTION   III. 

EDUCATION  AND  PARENTAGE  CONTRASTED. 

Poeta  nascitur,  non  fit. 

The  oft  quoted,    and   generally   admitted   sentiment   ex- 
pressed in  the  stanzes,  , 

"  'T  is  education  forms  the  common  mind  ; 
Just  as  the  twig  is  bent,  the  tree 's  inclined," 

is  as  erroneous  as  it  is  generally  diffused.     The  sentiment 
should  be, 


RELATIVE   INFLUENCE    OF    PARENTAGE   AND   EDUCATION,  19 

The  original  constiiution  more  important  than  education. 

T'is  PARENTAGE  that  FORMS  the  common  mind, 
While  education  only  trains  it. 

That  early  education  and  training  exert  a  powerful  influ- 
ence for  good  or  for  evil  in  moulding  and  modifying  the 
character  and  shaping  the  conduct  of  childhood,  and  even 
through  life,  is  readily  admitted,  and  is  tacitlj^  implied  in 
every  effort  made  to  cultivate  the  intellect  or  improve  the 
morals  of  children  by  intellectual  discipline  or  moral  training. 
That  they  even  go  so  far  as  materially  to  strengthen  the 
faculties  thus  called  into  frequent  action,  and  enlarge  and 
invigorate  their  organs,  is  also  admitted,  and  has  been  estab- 
lished in  the  author's  work  on  "  Education  and  Self-Im- 
provement," but,  great  and  beneficial  as  are  the  power  and 
influence  of  early  education  and  discipline  in  subduing  un- 
ruly passions,  elevating  the  moral  sentiments,  and  strength- 
ening the  mind,  yet  those  of  parentage  are  far  greater. 
Though  children,  and  even  adults  of  but  feeble  moral  and 
intellectual  faculties,  may,  by  proper  intellectual  culture, 
moral  training,  and  virtuous  associations,  be  prevented  from 
becoming  vicious,  and  even  rendered  passable  in  intellect  and 
fair  in  morals,  yet  the  same  amount  of  culture,  applied  to  an 
organization  onginalii/  good,  will  yield  a  tenfold  harvest  of 
virtue  and  talent  to  the  subject,  and  of  happiness  to  all  con- 
cerned. The  not  very  elevated,  but  trite  and  perfectly  ap- 
plicable adage,  "  You  cannot  make  a  silk  purse,"  &c.,  im- 
plies that  to  render  culture  and  the  product  valuable,  we 
must  have  good  inate?'ials  with  which,  or  on  which  to  ope- 
rate— that  the  original,  inherent  constitution  must  be  good, 
in  order  to  render  efforts  at  education  available.  Though 
education  may  greatly  improve  a  youth,  and  enable  him  to 
do  what,  without  severe  training,  he  could  not  accomplish, 
yet  all  the  education  in  the  world  can  never  make  a  dog  a 
man  ;  nor  a  hyena,  a  lamb.  Though  a  young  oak  may  be 
trained  to  grow  straight  or  crooked,  tall  or  bushy,  &c.,  yet  it 
can  never  be  trained  to  grow  or  to  be  any  other  kind  of  tree, 
nor  an  animal,  nor  a  man.  It  may  be  planted  in  soil  rich  or 
barren,  so  as  to  become  thrifty  or  stinted  in  growth,  yet  it 
can  never  be  trained  to  become  any  thing  but  an  oak.     The 


20  HEREDITARY   DESCENT — ITS    LAWS   AND   FACTS. 

The  relative  influence  of  education  and  parentage  contrasted. 

influence  of  education  is  greatly  abridged  by  the  original 
constitution  of  the  person  or  thing  to  be  educated;  And  in 
order  to  exert  its  full  power,  and  shower  down  its  richest 
blessings — arid  they  are  rich  indeed — tTie  original  stock  must 
be  good  ;  and  the  better  this  stock,  the  more  beneficial  this 
education.  The  public  sentiment  is  wrong  in  paying  too 
much  attention,  relatively,  to  education,  and  too  little  to  the 
parentage,  or  the  original  stock.  "  These  things  ought  ye 
to  have  done,  but  not  to  leave  the  other  undone."  Cultivate 
corn  planted  on  a  barren  soil  with  ever  so  much  assiduity, 
and  the  crop  will  be  but  meagre.  The  rich  prairies  of  the 
west,  need  scarcely  the  least  cultivation,  yet  yield  abun- 
dantly ;  and  a  rich  soil  with  little  culture,  yields  a  much 
more  plentiful  harvest  than  a  barren  soil  well  cultivated. 
Many  deplore  their  want  of  education,  not  knowing  that 
innate  sense,  is  infinitely  superior  to  acquired  learning.  If 
a  youth  enter  college  a  saphead,  he  comes  out  a  leather- 
brains;  but  a  man  naturally  talented,  even  if  he  cannot  read, 
will  be  capable  of  managing  a  large  business  successfully, 
and  exerting  a  powerful  influence  in  society.  Sound  common 
sense,  or  what  is  the  same  thing,  superior  natural  abilities, 
weighed  in  the  balance  with  all  that  education  can  bestow, 
the  former  is  gold,  the  latter  feathers.  Education  with  supe- 
rior natural  abilities,  works  wonders  by  polishing  the  marble, 
but  you  must  first  have  the  marble  before  it  can  be  polished. 
All  the  education  in  the  world  cannot  create  talents,  nor 
impart  them  when  nature  has  not.  Poeta  nascitur,  non  Jit, 
a  poet  is  born,  not  made  one  by  education,  embodies  the 
experience  of  all  nations  and  all  ages.     The  sentiment, 

"  'Tis  education  forms  the  common  mind," 

is  imtrue,  unless  we  lay  the  stress  on  common  mind,  and 
allow  that  in  cases  where  parentage  has  given  no  special 
bias  to  the  mind,  but  left  it  common  place,  education  then 
gives  it  various  directions.  But  education  can  never  create 
GENIUS.  It  cannot  create  any  thing ;  above  all,  it  cannot 
make  a  constitutional  saphead  a  Shakspeare  or  a  Milton. 
Elihu  Burritt,  the  learned  blacksmith,  in  his  public  lectures, 
reverses  the  old  adage,   t  ceta  nascitur  non  fit^  and  says, 


EDUCATION   AND    PARENTAGE    CONTRASTED.  21 

Elihu  Burritt,  and  relatives. 

Poetafit,  non  nasciiur — says  a  poet  is  made  a  poet  by  educa- 
tion, and  not  bom  a  poet — says  that  the  human  mind  is  a 
sheet  of  blank  paper,  on  which  education  and  circumstances 
write  the  whole  character — that  every  man  can  make  himself 
a  Shakspeare,  a  Milton,  a  Bonaparte,  or  a  Kidd — that  all 
men  are  born  alike — that  in  the  original  constitution  of  a 
Webster  and  a  Franklin,  there  is  nothing  to  distinguish  them 
from  a  Billingsgate  culprit,  or  the  Amsterdam  idiot,  who 
knew  too  little  to  feed  himself;  and  by  implication,  that  he 
himself  owes  his  knowledge  of  fifty  languages,  and  of  all  the 
literary  lore  of  past  ages,  to  education.  Mistaken  Burritt ! 
Your  phrenological  developments  are  in  the  teeth  of  this 
assertion ;  for  where  is  the  man  with  such  developments  for 
acquiring  knowledge ;  and  who  was  your  grandfather  Hins- 
dale ?  Who  are  your  brothers  and  nephews  7  To  a  man, 
possessed  of  the  same  unquenchable  thirst  after  learning,  and 
the  same  ease  and  facility  in  acquiring  it.  So  that  your  own 
parental  history  gives  the  error  to  your  favorite  doctrine. 
What  originated  your  ruling  passion  for  books?  Poor,  very 
poor,  not  only  with  none  of  the  usual  enticements  or  facilities 
for  acquiring  education,  you  could  not  rest,  night  nor  day, 
without  yielding  obedience  to  this  desire  for  knowledge.  Was 
it  education  that  first  generated,  and  then  fanned  into  o  fierce 
Jlame — an  all  absorbing  passion,  this  love  of  languages,  and 
history,  and  facts  ?  No ;  it  was  borri  in  you,  and  constitu- 
ted an  original  portion  of  you,  a  proof  of  which  is  to  be 
found  in  the  fact,  that  no  where  in  the  whole  range  of  busts 
or  of  heads,  is  to  be  seen  an  equal  development  of  those 
organs  that  love  literature  and  science.  But  more  of  the 
learned  blacksmith  in  another  place. 

Not  that  I  would  diminish  aught  from  the  value  or  virtue 
of  education.  After  it  has  been  remodelled,  and  adapted  to 
the  nature  of  man,  let  it  be  sedulously  cultivated  ;  but  let  the 
original  germ  receive  the  first  and  the  special  attention,  be= 
eause  its  influence  is  primary  and  continues  through  luc% 


22  HEREDITARY   DESCENT — ITS   LAWS   AND   FACTS. 

1    Parental  responsibilily.  Where  reforms  must  commence. 


SECTION   IV. 

RESPONSIBILITY  OF  PARENTS. 

"  A  good  tree  cannot  bring  forth  evil  fruit,  neither  can  a  corrupt  tree  bring  forth  good 

fruit." — Bible. 

The  present  is  emphatically  an  age  of  reform.  The  ice 
of  the  dark  ages,  which  has  bound  the  river  of  society  and 
fettered  its  current  since  the  creation  of  Adam,  is  beginning 
to  break  up.  Mankind  are  freeing  themselves  from  the 
shackles  of  ages,  and  attempting  various  reforms  in  govern- 
ment, politics,  the  arts,  sciences,  religion,  morals,  temperance, 
&c.,  &c.,  and  with  partial  success,  but  none  of  the  reforms 
now  in  progress  can  extend  far  or  effect  much,  till  they  begin 
with  the  root  of  vice,  and  make  it  a  root  of  virtue — till  they 
commence  with  the  germ.  They  may  lop  off  a  few  of  the 
longest  branches  of  the  tree  of  sin  and  misery  which  now 
overshadow  mankind  ;  but  they  can  effect  no  more — can  go 
no  farther.  To  illustrate :  The  temperance  reform  would 
have  effected  little  if  it  had  not  made  drunken  parents  tempe- 
rate parents,  and  thus  the  parents  of  temperate  children  ;  for 
drinking  parents,  by  entailing  their  own  drinking  disposition 
upon  their  offspring,  would  have  made  drunkards  much  faster 
than  they  could  have  been  reformed  ;  and  made  them  consti- 
tutional drunkards — dyed  in  the  wool.,  and  almost  irreclaim- 
able. Though  the  moral  reform  efforts  now  in  progress,  may 
snatch  now  and  then  a  miserable  "  brand  from  the  burning," 
yet  a  hundred  to  one  will  be  thrown  into  this  "hell  upon 
earth,"  and  that  by  parents  as  parents.  It  is  parents,  by 
their  own  animal  indulgences,  and  that  before  their  children 
see  the  light,  that  plant  the  prolific  seeds  of  licentiousness  in 
the  otherwise  pure  breasts  of  their  unborn  infants,  which  de- 
velope  themselves  prematurely,  and  hurry  on  their  hapless 
victims  in  a  career  of  vice  most  sinful,  and  to  an  end  most 
horrible.  The  gallows  may  occasionally  end  the  life  of  some 
wicked  sinner,  or  the  prison  lock  up  a  few  thieves  and  com- 
batants,  while  ignorant  and  thoughtless  parents  go  on  to 
make  prison  birds  a  thousand  fold  faster,  and  that  too  when 


REFORMS   MUST    COMMENCE    WITH    PARENTS.  23 

Appeal  to  parents.  The  star  of  promise. 

opposite  results  might  just  as  well  be  obtained.  Efforts  un- 
tiring, and  the  best  adapted  possible,  may  be  made  to  infuse 
a  love  for  books  into  the  breasts  of  children,  but  these  efforts 
should  begin  ivith  parents^  and  while  becoming  parents,  in 
order  to  prepare  children  to  be  profited  by  them.  And  so 
with  all  other  reforms. 

Thoughtless  parent,  stop  and  consider  !  Remember  that 
you  give  that  original  impress  and  bias  to  your  children, 
which  must  form  (I  had  almost  said  create)  their  characters 
for  this  world,  and  continue  to  influence  them  from  the  cradle 
to  the  grave,  and  even  beyond  this  life;  for,  without  any 
question,  our  lives  here,  will  influence  us  hereafter,  and  pa- 
rentage, by  forming  the  main  elements  of  our  characters  here, 
will  do  much  to  control  them  throughout  the  endless  ages  of 
eternity  !  Oh  parents,  parents  !  parents  ! !  your  responsibili- 
ties as  parents,  are  immense — are  inconceivably  immense  ! 
Well  might  an  archangel  shrink  from  their  exercise.  And 
yet  parents  go  on  to  exercise  them  with  as  little  concern  as 
do  the  swine,  thinking,  like  them,  only  of  the  animal  indul- 
gence connected  therewith,  and  paying  less  attention  to  the 
future  qualities  of  their  offspring,  than  they  do  to  the  offspring 
of  their  beasts.  And  therefore  many  of  their  own  children 
are  greater  brutes,  in  all  but  shape,  than  are  their  dumb 
beasts. 

But  a  brighter  day  is  dawning  on  our  race.  The  star  of 
promise  is  just  peering  through  the  trees,  and  rising  above 
the  mountains.  That  star  of  promise  is — not  the  recent 
discoveries  in  science  and  the  arts,  for,  though  they  may 
improve  his  physical  condition,  yet  they  do  not  reach  the 
inner  man,  but  generally  feed,  and  thereby  re-invigorate,  his 
merely  animal  nature,  thus  greatly  augmenting  the  evil ; 
not  in  our  increased  efforts  in  securing  revivals,  and  forming 
Bible  classes  and  Sabbath  schools,  for  whatever  these  may 
do  for  his  immortal  soul,  they  do  precious  little  for  him  here, 
except  to  rivet  the  chains  of  some  religio-politico  sectarian 
doctrine  ;  not  in  the  recent  and  truly  valuable  improvements 
in  conducting  education,  for  though  they  may  help  to  modify 
the  character,  yet  they  do  not  form  it;  not  in  the  moral 
reform,  nor  the  temperance  reform,  nor  in  any  other  reform, 


24  HEREDITARY   DESCENT — ITS   LAWS   AND   FACTS. 

Its  importance.  Appeal  to  youth. 

for  though  they  may  save  a  few,  "  so  as  by  fire,"  yet  they 
do  not  begin  at  the  root — but  it  consists  in  the  increasing 
attention  just  beginning  to  be  paid  to  hereditary  influences. 
The  momentous  interests  thronging  around  this  subject,  are 
just  beginning,  like  a  distant  sound,  to  break  upon  the  public 
ear.  That  sound  will,  it  must,  wax  louder  and  louder,  until 
its  roar  becomes  deafening  and  terrific ;  swallowing  up  all 
other  sounds,  and  bearing  complete  sway  till  it  remodels  man 
physically,  intellectually,  and  morally.  No  intelligent  mind 
can  contemplate  this  subject  without  regarding  its  interests 
as  paramount  to  all  others.  A  little  longer,  and  its  claims 
will  be  generally  seen  and  felt,  and  its  laws  studied  and 
applied,  not  alone  to  the  general  improvement  of  mankind, 
but  to  the  production,  in  offspring,  oi  whatever  qualities,  both 
physical  and  mental,  may  be  desired. 

Then  will  new  generations  people  the  earth — generations 
of  meyi  and  loomen  having  all  that  is  great,  and  noble,  and 
good  in  man,  all  that  is  pure,  and  virtuous,  and  beautiful, 
and  angelic  in  woman,  with  little  of  that  physical  disease 
and  deformity,  and  few  and  far  between  of  those  more 
hideous  moral  blemishes  that  now  degrade  the  image  and 
disgrace  the  workmanship  of  God.  Then  shall  they  be  in- 
deed and  in  truth  the  "  image,"  and  reflect  likeness  of  their 
Maker,  and  be  the  worthy  sons  and  daughters  of  God  Al- 
mighty. Then,  but  not  till  then,  will  the  millennium  dawn 
upon  our  benighted  world  ;  then  shine  in  its  morning  glory 
and  beauty,  and  in  its  noonday,  power  and  eff"ulgence.  Then 
shall  God  be  honored,  and  man  be  perfectly  holy  and  incon- 
ceivably happy,  and  earth  be  paradise.  Would  that  I  could 
live  to  see  that  blessed  day;  but,  as  I  cannot,  let  my  humble, 
happy  lot  be  to  call  attention  to  this  transcendently  important 
subject.  Let  me  labor  to  show  parents  their  highest  duty 
and  their  greatest  privilege.  Let  me  arrest  the  attention  of 
gay  and  fashion-loving  youth,  now  rushing  headlong  and 
heedlessly  into  married  life,  and  becoming  the  parents  of  off"- 
spring  to  be  rendered  most  happy  or  most  miserable  by  their 
instrumentality.  Oh  thoughtless  youth  !  ye  who  look  upon 
love  and  marriage  as  a  pretty  plaything,  a  novel  pastime,  a 
funny  joke,  a  thing  of  to-day,  and  a  matter  of  course,  stop, 


RESPONSIBILITY    OF    PARENTS.  25 

The  great  importance  of  suitable  marriages  to  future  generations. 

I  beseech  you — stop  at  once!  Oh,  pause  and  consider  the 
immeasurable  responsibility  you  are  about  to  incur  !  Not 
only  reflect  on  the  effect  of  so  eventful  a  step,  on  your  own 
happiness  and  that  of  your  consort,  but  on  generations  yet 
unborn,  extending  down  the  entire  stream  of  time,  till  time 
itself  be  merged  into  the  boundless  ocean  of  eternity,  widening 
with  every  successive  generation,  in  the  ratio  of  the  increase 
«f  the  mighty  avalanche.  If  but  your  children  alone  were  to 
be  the  recipients  of  those  blessings  in  the  pov/er  of  parentage 
to  bestow,  or  the  victims  of  those  unutterable  woes  contained 
in  the  vials  of  its  wrath,  you  might  indeed  pause  and  trem- 
ble, in  view  of  the  terrific  extent  to  which  your  children, 
your  dearly  beloved  children — children  that  are  bone  of  your 
bone,  flesh  of  3^our  flesh,  and  idols  of  your  heart,  will  be 
aflected  thereby,  but  this  is  only  the  beginning  of  that  influ- 
ence. Thousands,  aye,  millions,  "  a  multitude  which  no 
•man  can  number,''''  are  to  issue  in  countless  throngs  from 
your  loins,  each  rising  up  to  call  you  blessed  or  accursed. 
In  proportion  as  so  momentous^  a  step  as  marrying  and  be- 
coming parents  is  necessarily  destined  to  affect  the  happiness 
and  the  misery  of  your  race,  in  that  proportion  should  they 
be  regarded  and  treated  as  steps  most  solemn  and  moment- 
otis,  to  you,  to  your  posterity,  and  to  the  latest  generations  of_ 
men.  Do  not,  then,  let  me  implore  you — do  not  make  light 
of  these  fearful  realities,  but  employ  all  the  means  thus  put 
into  your  hands,  of  yourself  enjoying  your  children,  and  of 
stamping  the  impress  of  moral  purity  and  intellectual  great- 
ness upon  your  posterity.  Remember  that  the  moral  and 
intellectual  character  and  qualities  of  your  children,  more 
than  any  other  event  or  thing  whatever,  is  to  affect  and 
augment  your  happiness  or  misery.  If  your  children  should 
be  sweet  and  lovely,  always  greeting  you  with  smiles  of  love 
and  kisses  of  affection,  ahvays  good  to  each  other  and  be- 
loved by  all  around  them,  making  the  family  glad  with  their 
presence,  blessing  society  with  their  virtues,  adorning  our 
nature  with  their  splendid  intellectual  endowments  and  at- 
tainments, and  disseminating  a  virtuous  and  a  happifying 
influence  over  all  around  them  through  life,  how  inconceiv- 
a^y  more  happy  will  you  be,  will  they  be,  will  ma7iki7id  be. 


26  HEREDITARY   DESCENT ITS    LAWS   AND   FACTS. 

The  necessity  of  learning  the  parental  duties  before  marriage. 

than  if  they  should  be  feeble  and  sickly,  requiring  continual 
nursing  and  the  greatest  care  and  anxiety,  lest  the  least  ad- 
verse wind  should  blow  them  into  eternity,  thus  rendering 
your  nights  sleepless  and  your  days  burdensome ;  or  than  if 
their  animal  passions  should  predominate,  and  they  be  sel- 
fish, disobedient,  and  ill  tempered  to  one  another  and  to  all 
around  them ;  or  thievish,  or  deceptive,  or  licentious,  a  curse 
to  their  parents,  and  a  pest  to  society,  to  end  their  days  in 
prison  or  on  the  gallows,  being  most  wretched  themselves, 
and  rendering  all  around  them  vicious  instead  of  virtuous, 
and  most  miserable  instead  of  most  happy  !  And  not  only 
this,  but  you  will  love  the  husband  that  begat  them,  or  the 
wife  that  bore  them,  more  and  more  in  proportion  as  their 
children  give  you  pleasure,  or  less  and  less  as  they  cause  yoii 
pain,  till  love  itself  may  be  changed  into  hatred,  and  the 
sweetest  nectar  become  the  bitterest  gall.^ 

Consider  all  this  before  you  take  that  eventful  step,  and 
cut  the  prolific  thread  on  which  hang  suspended  consequences 
so  momentous.  And  not  only  consider,  but,  if  you  still 
resolve  to  assume  these  teeming  responsibilities,  first  learn 
your 'parental  duties.  First  inform'  yourself  what  conditions 
in  yourself  and  in  a  companion,  will  secure  those  qualities  in 
your  children  which  you  may  desire ;  and  then  choose  your 
consort  with  special  reference  to  his  or  her  qualities  or  capa- 
bilities as  a  parent.  Do  not  allow  yourself  to  get  in  love, 
and  to-rush  headlong  into  marriage,  till  you  know  for  certain 
what  influences,  parental  especially,  and  educational  secon- 

*  The  fact  that  Amativeness,  or  connubial  love,  Philoprogenitiveiresp, 
or  parental  love,  and  Union  for  Life,  the  faculty  that  binds  husband  and 
wife  inseparably  together,  and  for  life,  are  located  side  by  side,  tlie  former 
partly  encircling  the  latter,  besides  being  highly  interesting  in  a  philo- 
sophical point  of  vieWj  shows  ivhy  it  is  that  children  become  "the  dear 
pledges  of  connubial  love  "  between  their  parents — why  they  so  greatly 
promote  and  augment  this  love — ivJiy  a  husband  loves  a  wife  the  better 
for  her  bearing  him  children,  and  still  better  in  proportion  as  he  loves 
those  children ;  and  also  ivhy  he  loves  her  the  less,  and  perhaps  even  dis- 
likes her,  if  she  be  barren,  (and  these  remarks  apply  equally  to  woman,) 
namely,  because  connubial  love  and  parental  love  are  located  side  by  side, 
so  that  the  action  of  either,  greatly  promotes  that  of  the  other. 


QUALITIES    OF   A   PARENT    AND    CONSORT    CONTRASTED.  27 

A  good  parent  and  poor  companion  belter  than  a  good  companion  and  poor  parent. 

darily,  the  partner  of  your  choice  will  have  upon  the  children 
of  your  love — the  idols  of  your  yet  undeveloped  affections. 

If  the" question  be  asked,  Which  shall  have  the  preference, 
superior  qualities  as  a  parent,  with  inferior  ones  as  a  com- 
panion, or  the  qualities  requisite  for  a  good  companion,  with 
inferior  capabilities  as  a  parent, — I  answer,  that  when  the 
two  are  not  united,  (though  they  generally  go  hand  in  hand,) 
1  think  the  former  should  have  the  preference,  because  a 
greater  amount  of  happiness,  if  not  to  you,  at  least  to  your 
posterity,  depends  upon  it.     The  latter  might  possibly  render 
you  personally  the  more  happy,  (though  even  this  is  doubt- 
ful,) wMiile  the  latter  is  to  affect  all  your  posterity.     But  if 
you  determine  on  marrying  a  companion  who  is  not  capable 
of  transmitting  healthy  bodies,  strong  intellects,  or  high  moral 
feelings  to  your  offspring,  you  should  then  not  become  pa- 
rents ;    for  you  have  no  right  to  entail  physical  diseases  or 
moral  blemishes  upon  posterity.     You  are  not  obliged  to  be- 
come parents ;    but  if  you  do,  it  is  your  imperious  duty  to 
render  your  offspring  happy.     You  have  no  right  to  render 
them  miserable,  as  sickly  bodies,  or  bad  moral  predispositions 
certainly  will  render  them,  any  more  than  you  have  a  right 
to  burn  off  their  hands,  or  mutilate  their  bodies,  or  cut  off 
their  feet  or  head,  after  they  are  born.     If  parents  have  no 
right  to  inflict  pain  upon  their  children  after  they  are  born, 
they  certainly  have  no  right  to  put  them  into  a  condition  before 
birth  which  will  cause  them  to  suffer  through  life.     And  if 
parents  are  under  a  moral  obligation  to  their  children  to  do 
all  in  their  power  for  their  physical  and  moral  welfare — if  he 
"  that  provideth  not  for  his  own  household  is  worse  than  an 
infidel,"  how  imperious,  how  overwhelming  the  duty  of  pa- 
rents to  exert  all  those  parental  influences  put  into  their 
hands,  to  render  their  children  healthy,  handsome,  intellec- 
tual and  moral.     Are  not  the  moral  duties  and  relations  of 
parents  to  their  children  as  imperious  and  binding  before 
birth  as  after  7    Are  they  not  evidently  as  much  more  so  as 
their  influence  over  their  destinies  is  more  powerful  before 
than  after?     Strange  that  parents  should  think  so  much  of 
their  duties  to  their  children  after  they  have  left  their  moth- 
er's arms,  but  think  so  little  of  duties  vastly  more  important, 


28  HEREDITARY   DESCENT — ITS   LAWS   AND   FACTS. 

Early  impressions.  On  the  choice  of  a  joint  partner, 

because  so  much  more  intimately  connected  with  their  virtue 
and  well  being. 

Much  stress  is  laid  on  early  impressions,  because  they  are 
regarded  as  so  much  more  deep  and  lasting  than  subsequent 
ones.  True.  All  right.  But  apply  this  same  rule  to  the 
impressions  made  before  birth.  Let  us  state  the  problem 
"  by  the  rule  of  three."  If  parents  owe  an  immense  sum  of 
moral  duty  to  their  children  during  infancy  and  childhood, 
because  impressions  then  made  upon  their  minds  are  so  du- 
rable and  efficacious,  how  much  greater  that  duty  to  these 
same  children  before  birth,  because  the  impressions  then 
made  are  necessarily  inwrought  with  their  very  nature,  and 
make  up  their  constitutional  predispositions  ?  And  is  it  not 
passing  strange  that  parents  have  strained  at  this  gnat  of 
their  duty,  but  swallowed  that  camel  iDhole,  without  once 
knowing  that  they  owed  their  unborn  any  duty? 

And  if  parents  owe  this  duty  to  their  children,  both  before 
birth  as  well  as  after,  does  not  that  duty  extend  still  farther 
back,  and  embrace  the  choice  of  q.  joint  partner.  That  great 
and  highly  beneficial  influences  can  be  exerted  upon  children 
by  parents,  by  keeping  themselves  in  a  proper  physiological 
condition,  will  hereafter  be  seen  in  a  chapter  on  the  differ- 
ences in  the  children  of  the  same  parents,  these  differences 
tallying  exactly  with  the  changes  that  occurred  to  the  parents 
during  the  increase  of  their  families ;  but  even  these  influ- 
ences, however  great  and  beneficial,  are  far  inferior  to  those 
that  may  be  exerted  by  making  the  proper  choice  of  a  joint 
parent.  This  is  the  foundation  of  the  whole  subject — the  root 
of  the  whole  matter.  The  condition  of  the  parents  while 
becoming  parents,  may  be  the  trunk,  and  educational  influ- 
ences the  branches,  of  the  tree  of  life,  while  the  constitutional 
faculties  and  the  conduct  and  feelings  of  mankind  are  the 
fruit ;  but  as  the  nature  of  the  root  nor  only  governs  the 
nature  of  the  tree,  but  also  determines  the  character  and 
qualities  of  its  fruit,  so  the  constltutiorial  qualities  of  the  pa- 
rents lie  at  the  bottom  of  this  whole  matter,  and  are  the  joW- 
mary  causes  of  the  talents  and  dispositions  of  children, 
"Make  the  tree  good,  and  then  will  the  fruit  be  good  also." 
First  choose  a  companion  having  a  high  moral,  strong  iutel- 


THE    LINEAGE    OF   A    COMPANION.  29 

Find  out  ihe  hereditary  descent  of  a  companion  before  marriage. 

■  <n"'  "— ""^  ' 

lectual,  and  powerful  physical  organization,  and  your  chil- 
dren will  inherit  them. 

One  of  the  best  indications  of  the  qualities  of  a  man  or 
woman  as  a  parent,  is  the  qualities  of  his  or  her  parents  and 
grandparents.  The  maxim,  "Like  mother,  like  daughter," 
though  not  infallible,  will  seldom  mislead  you.  But  can- 
didates for  matrimony  never  once  think  of  inquiring  into  the 
•parental  qualities  of  their  future  partner  in  parentage  as  well 
as  in  love,  though  they  do  think  of  inquiring  whether  they 
are  to  inherit  a  paltry  imtrimomj.  If  a  young  lady  inherit 
qualities  as  a  parent  of  the  highest  order,  but  no  dollars  and 
cents,  a  hundred  others  that  have  a  paltry  patrimony,  if  it  be 
even  but  a  hundred  dollars,  though  utterly  unfit  to  become  a 
parent,  or  even  a  wife,  are  preferred  before  her.  A  ^'■oung 
woman,  one  or  both  of  whose  parents  are  consumptive,  or 
scrofulous,  or  miserly,  or  ugly  tempered,  will  be  taken  just 
as  quick,  (no  quicker,  for  no  attention  whatever  is  paid  to 
this  point,)  as  one  from  a  stock  that  live  to  the  age  of  a 
hundred,  and  are  noted  for  their  talents  and  their  virtues. 
Strange,  but  no  more  strange  than  true  ! 

Shall  parents  be  deemed  worthy  to  enjoy  the  blessings  of  a 
parent,  unless  they  apply  the  same  principles  of  parentage 
that  they  now  apply  to  the  improvement  of  stock,  to  a  far 
higher  and  nobler  purpose  %  Certainly  not ;  nor  idiU  they 
enjoy  them,  unless,  perchance,  they  shimhle  on  them.  Shall 
the  pedigree  of  a  horse  be  required  to  be  traced  back  for  fifty 
generations,  through  as  many  sires  remarkable  for  beauty,  or 
for  strength,  or  for  speed,  before  you  will  allow  him  to  sire  a 
farm  horse,  and  will  you  make  no  inquiries  about  the  lineage 
of  a  bosom  companion^  and  the  prospective  father  or  mother 
of  your  own  children  ?  This  is  penny  wise  and  pound  fool- 
ish, with  a  vengeance.  It  is  wisdom  in  temporal  matters, 
but  it  is  the  most  consummate  folly  in  matters  of  eternal 
mGinent.  When  will  men  learn  wisdom  7  When  learn  to 
live  ?  When  appreciate  and  fulfil  their  destiny  ?  When 
will  ministers  of  our  holy  religion,  and  the  reputed  in- 
tellectual as  well  as  moral  leaders  of  mankind,  preach  pf>- 
rental  duty  and  hereditary  descent,  along  with  original  sin  ? 
Not  till  sectarianism  relaxes  its  all  powerful  grasp,  and  allows 

3* 


30  HEREDITARY   DESCENT — ITS    LAWS   AND   FACTS. 

Duty  of  clergymen  to  preach  hereditary  descent. 

them  to  think  untrarnelled,  and  to  speak  unawed.  They 
will  be  the  very  last  to  preach  the  doctrine  of  the  parental 
relations  and  obligations,  whereas  they  should  be  the  very 
first.  I  put  it  to  the  community,  I  put  it  to  them  direct,  both 
as  individuals  and  as  collective  bodies,  what  doctrines  and 
duties  they  now  preach  are  more  important  or  useful  than 
this  very  doctrine  now  advocated?  "Oh  but,"  say  they, 
"  our  mission  is  Christ  crucified,  and  that  onlijy  Then  con- 
fine yourselves  to  that  "  only,''^  and  do  not  i^retend  to  be  the 
intellectual  leaders  of  mankind.  I  would  that  clergymen 
were  not  considered  more  than  they  are — namely,  mere  min- 
isters of  the  gosjjel^  or  rather  of  the  sects^  and  not  literary 
savans.  The  people  look  to  them  to  do  most  of  their  thinking, 
whereas  they  "  are  ministers  of  the  gospel  (of  sects)  only," 
and  obliged  to  think  in  the  traces,  and  to  be  liampered  with 
theological  schools  and  theological  dogmas.  If  they  would 
but  preach  the  doctrines  and  facts  of  hereditary  descent,  or 
the  duties  owed  by  parents  as  parents  to  their  descendants, 
and  instruct  parents  and  young  people  in  the  discharge  of 
these  duties,  as  well  as  urge  them  home,  with  all  the  sound- 
ness and  solemnity  of  the  isubject  itself,  and  of  their  sacer- 
dotal office,  (and  surely  none  of  the  duties  they  preach  are 
more  important  in  themselves,  or  more  momentous  in  their 
consequences,)  they  would  at  least  add  greatly  to  their  use- 
fulness. The  people  look  to  them  for  instructions  as  to  their 
duty,  and  as  to  their  ivhole  duty ;  and  as  this  is  never  once 
mentioned,  they  of  course  infer  that  it  does  not  come  within 
the  range  of  their  moral  obligations.  If  they  know  not  the 
facts  of  this  subject,  let  them  iearn  ;  but  if  they  do  know  ths 
importance  of  the  momentous  moral  duties  owed  by  parents, 
as  parents,  to  their  children,  though  they  have  placed  them- 
selves as  "  watchmen  on  the  walls  of  Zion,"  yet  they  are 
"  dumb  dogs"  that  do  not  bark,  and  should  resign  their  sa- 
cred commission. 

Oh!  if  clergymen  would  but  study  and  preach  this  doe- 
trine  of  the  parental  influences,  and  instruct  parents  and 
■young  people  in  relation  to  this  solemn  moral  duty,  they 
would  then  wield  their  tremendous  influence  with  equal 
and  most  delightful   effect,   and   set  a  moral    reformation 


THIS    SUBJECT    TREATED   WITH    INATTENTION.  31 


Neglect  of  physicians,  lawyers  and  merchants. 


on  foot,  would  soon  remodel  society,  and  almost  banish  crime 
and  vice. 

I  repeat  it ;  the  duty  which  parents  owe,  as  parents,  to 
their  children,  is  a  moral  duty,  is  one  of  the  highest  moral 
duties  man  owes  to  his  fellow  man,  and  even  to  his  God  ^ 
for  how  can  we  love  the  Lord  our  God  with  all  our  heart, 
and  with  all  our  mind,  and  with  all  our  strength,  while  we 
are  blasting  the  images  of  God  with  a  blighting  curse,  which 
will  torment  them  with  physical  suifering  through  life,  or 
imprint  moral  blemishes  on  their  natures  which  are  almost 
certain  to  become  hideous  moral  deformities  to  abide  upon 
them  forever  1  How  can  we  love  our  neighbor  as  ourselves, 
(and  in  the  sense  of  the  word  here  meant,  surely  children  are 
our  nearest  neighbors,)  when  we  curse  them  as  effectually  as 
if  we  beat  out  their  brains,  or  made  them  drunkards  or 
debauchees '?  These  parental  duties,  then,  being  imperious 
moral  duties,  and  of  the  highest  grade,  why  should  they  not 
be  preached?-  Can  clergymen  do  their  whole  duty  and  not 
preach  them?  But,  alas  !  they  will  not.  They  will  proba- 
bly be  the  very  last,  even  to  admit  them,  much  less  to  preach 
them. 

Then  who  icill?  Who  stand  up  for  God  and  humanity  in 
tliis  war  with  evil  at  its  root?  Doctors  should,  but  will  not. 
Their  business  is  to  cure  diseases,  not  to  forestall  them — to 
dose  out  pounds  of  cures  (kills)  instead  of  ounces  of  preven- 
tion by  sowing  correct  physiological  seed  in  the  department 
over  which  they  preside. 

And  as  to  lawyers,  they  are  too  busy  taking  pay  for  telling 
lies,  and  scrambling  over  one  another  and  their  fellow  men, 
to  give  subjects  like  these,  so  totally  foreign  to  their  calling, 
a  moment's  attention.  Merchants  are  too  busy  turning  cop- 
pers, and  the  rich,  in  playing  the  fool — young  women  in 
catching  husbands,  and  married  women  in  cooking  dinner 
and  tending  badies,  to  hear  my  voice. 

But  there  is  a  small,  a  select  band,  Gideon's  chosen  few, 
culled  out  by  test  after  test,  who  will  blow  the  trumpet  of 
reform  with  one  hand,  and  distribute  information  with  the 
CEther.  To  such,  I  commend  this  work.  Take  it ;  circulate 
it ;   urge  it  upon  every  parent,  upon  every  young  man  and 


32  HEREDITARY   DESCENT — ITS   LAWS   AND   FACTS. 

Let  information  be  disseminated. 

young  woman,  especially  upon  those  unmarried  women  who 
are  on  the  qui  vivi  to  catch  a  beau  or  to  secure  a  husband. 
Let  young  women  be  remonstrated  with,  and  persuaded  to 
learn  their  duties  as  mothers,  before  they  dare  cast  the  first 
look  of  love,  or  even  deck  thpir  persons  so  as  to  appear  attrac- 
tive. Give  this  work  to  the  four  winds.  A  better  service 
cannot  be  rendered  to  mankind,  than  extending  its  circula- 
tion. Let  it  be  the  boon  companion  of  every  parent,  and  of 
all  wh6  contemplate  marriage.  Let  other  and  abler  works 
be  prepared,  and  circulated  throughout  Christendom.  Let  the 
whole  human  race,  from  Behring's  straits  to  Cape  Horn,  and 

"  From  Greenland's  icy  mountain, 
To  India's  coral  strand," 

be  roused  to  the  importance  of  learning  and  obeying  those 
laws  which  govern  the  transmission  of  physical,  intellectual, 
and  moral  qualities  from  parents  to  their  descendants,  down 
to  the  remotest  generations.  Then  shall  the  garden  of  Eden 
cover  the  whole  earth,  and  render  holy  and  happy  all  the 
nations  and  individuals  that  inhabit  it. 

But  having  thus  far  dwelt  quite  long  enough,  perhaps  too 
long,  upon  the  outskirts  and  impo7^tance  of  our  subject,  let  us 
proceed  directly  to  an  examination  of  the  subject  itself — to 
hereditary  facts ^  and  the  laws  that  govern  them. 

In  prosecuting  this  subject,  let  us  first  examine  mankind 
in  masses,  and  then  by  families,  and  see  whether  various 
forms  of  the  body  and  face,  various  diseases,  as  consumption, 
scrofula,  the  gout,  &c.,  various  mental  qualities,  as  insanitj-, 
appetite,  anger,  kindness,  poetry,  a  talent  for  mathematics, 
or  reasoning,  or  writing,  or  speaking,  &c.,  &c.,  are  or  are  not 
hereditary — do  or  do  not  descend  from  parents  to  children 
through  successive  generations,  as  far  as  they  can  be  traced, 
and  thus  learn  first  our  parental  duties,  and  secondly  the 
conditions  requisite  for  becoming  parents,  and  the  means  of 
perfecting  ofl^spring. 


RACES   AND    MASSES.  33 


Man  now  what  he  has  always  been. 


CHAPTER   II. 

THE    CHARACTERISTICS    OF   RACES,   MASSES,   AND    NA- 
TIONS, IN  PART  HEREDITARY. 

SECTION   I. 

THE   COLORED  RACE. 

"And  their  brethren,  among  all  the  families  of  Issachar,  were  valiant  men  of  might." 

That  man  is  now  what  he  was  in  the  beginning,  and  has 
been  ever  since,  as  far  as  both  his  physical  form  and  organi- 
sation are  concerned — that  he  had  from  the  first,  hands,  feet, 
eyes,  mouth,  lungs,  bones,  and  muscles,  and  the  same  number 
and  general  form  of  each  just  as  he  now  has — that  he  had 
the  same  propensities  and  moral  faculties  then  that  he  now 
has,  the  same  power  of  reason,  the  same  primary  sentiments 
of  justice,  of  kindness,  and  of  worship,  the  same  appetite  for 
food,  the  same  domestic  feelings,  the  primary  faculties  of 
resistance,  fear,  love  of  money,  love  of  power,  and  passion 
for  glory,  the  same  fundamental  powers  of  observation,  re- 
collection of  shape,  of  places,  of  events,  of  colors,  &c. — will 
not  probably  be  questioned  by  any  one  other  than  a  mere 
hypothetical  theorizer.  As  far  back  as  we  have  any  history 
of  him,  whether  sacred  or  profane,  his  constitutional  and 
02^iginal  qualities  have  been  what  they  now  are.  Slight 
changes,  induced  by  climate  and  circumstances,  appear  in 
different  races  and  ages,  but  at  heart,  all  appear  to  have  been 
the  same.  And  the  fact  is  most  singular,  that  even  now, 
among  the  different  races,  and  nations,  and  tribes  of  men, 
notwithstanding  all  the  changes  to  which  for  ages  they  may 
have  been  subjected- — that  different  forms  of  government,  and 
opposite  modes  of  education,  and  circumstances  every  way 
conflicting,  have,  from  time  immemorial,  exerted  their  utmost 
power  to  effect  a  radical  change— yet  the  oneness  of  our  race 
is  most  apparent.  The  avenues  to  the  human  heart  are  the 
same  in  all  All  nations  and  races  bow  subdued  at  the  shrine 
of  beauty  ;  all  yield  to  the  power  of  love  ;  all  love  their  chil- 
dren; all  eat;  all  scramble  after  property;  all  have  a  religion 


34  HEREDITARY   DESCENT — ITS   LAWS   AND   FACTS. 

Races  differ.  The  African  race.  A  fact. 

of  some  kind ;  all  feed  and  shelter  the  benighted  stranger ; 
all  have  ideas  to  express,  and  express  them,  and  that  by  lan- 
guages, the  frame-work  and  fundamental  elem^ents  of  which 
arealike;  all  sleep;  all  decorate  themselves;  all  are  subdued 
by  kindness,  and  angered  by  abuse ;  so  much  so,  that  he 
who  has  learned  human  nature  once,  need  not  learn  it  again. 

Yet,  though  the  fundamentals  of  our  race  are  the  same  in 
all  portions  of  the  earth,  different  races  and  nations  evince 
lesser  differences  in  propensity  and  intellect,  and  even  in  the 
color  of  their  hair,  skin,  &c.  Though  all  have  muscles, 
brains,  &c.,  yet  the  texture  of  some  races  is  fine,  of  others 
coarse.  And  there  are  differences  in  the  tone  and  character 
of  different  races.  The  colored  race  is  characterized  quite  as 
much  by  the  tone  of  their  feelings,  the  peculiarities  of  their 
intellects  and  expressions,  as  by  the  color  of  their  skin. 
Their  movements,  their  mode  of  walking,  their  tones  and 
laugh,  are  as  difierent  from  those  of  white  men,  as  are  their 
noses,  or  eyes,  or  lips.  So  of  other  races.  The  Indian  has 
an  Indian  character  born  in  him,  and  lying  back  of  all  edu- 
cational influences ;  and  so  of  other  races,  and  of  nations. 

But  more  particularly.  The  color  of  the  colored  race  is 
certainly  congenital.  It  is  horn  in  them^  and  forms  a  part  of 
them.  All  climes,  all  ages,  bear  the  mark.  Education  can- 
not reach  it,  for  it  is  hereditary,  and  caused  solely  by  parental 
influences. 

A  fact  bearing  on  this  point.  Two  white  parents  in  New 
Jersey,  were  very  much  astonished  to  find  in  their  child  un- 
equivocal marks  of  the  African  race  and  blood.  It  had  the 
flat  nose,  thick  lips,  curly  hair,  and  dark  skin,  of  a  mulatto, 
so  unequivocal,  that  strong  suspicions  were  entertained  of  the 
mother's  unfaithfulness.  The  father  was  thrown  into  a  state 
of  mind  bordering  on  derangement,  and  suffered  beyond  en- 
durance, first  by  suspicions  of  the  incontinency  of  a  wife 
whom  he  loved  most  dearly,  and  on  whom  he  doted;  and 
secondly,  by  the  reproaches  of  his  neighbors.  His  wife  pro- 
tested her  innocence  in  terms  so  strong  and  solemn,  that  he 
was  finally  led  to  believe  in  her  integrity.  Still,  no  explana- 
tion of  the  phenomenon  appeared.  At  length  he  sailed  for 
France,  and  visited  a  town  on  its  frontiers  where  her  family 


THE    COLORED    RACE.  35 


Mulatloes.  The  African  head. 

had  resided  for  several  generations,  and  found,  to  his  joy, 
that  his  wife's  great  grajidfather  was  an  African.  And  yet 
no  traces  of  the  colored  race  had  appeared  between  this 
child's  great  grandfather,  and  this  great  great  grandson,  of 
the  fifth  generation.  This  shows  that  the  'physical  charac- 
teristics of  the  race  still  remained,  and  though  they  run 
under  ground  for  five  generations,  yet  that  they  at  length 
come  to  the  surface. 

In  all  mulattoes,  the  physical  characteristics  of  the  colored 
race  appear  visible,  but  become  less  and  still  less  so  in  pro- 
portion as  the  parentage  is  less  and  less  colored.  Hence,  by 
looking  at  a  mulatto,  a  pretty  accurate  estimate  can  be  formed 
of  the  proportions  of  his  parentage.  And  I  am  prepared, 
from  extensive  observation,  to  add,  that  the  phre7iological 
developmefits  of  mulattoes  approach  more  and  more  towards 
the  European  type  of  head,  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of 
European  blood  that  flows  in  their  veins. 

That  there  is  a  European  head  and  an  African  head,  as 
well  as  an  Indian  head  and  a  Tartar  head,  is  evident  to  any 
one  who  will  take  the  trouble  to  learn  the  location  and  func- 
tions of  organs.  The  African  head  is  longer  from  the  root  of 
tlie  nose  to  both  Philoprogenitiveness  and  to  Self-Esteem, 
than  the  European,  longer  and  higher  in  the  crown,  but  not 
as  wide.  And  this  is  the  case  with  the  heads  of  colored 
children,  as  well  as  with  those  of  colored  adults.  In  harmony 
with  this  greater  development  of  Self-Esteem  and  Approba- 
tiveness  in  them  than  in  the  Caucasian  race,  they  are  pro- 
verbially polite  and  urbane,  and  hence  make  excellent  wait- 
ers ;  are  fond  of  ornament  and  show  ;  love  to  swell,  and  are 
noted  for  feeling  large  and  swaggering.  In  harmony  with 
their  greater  development  of  Philoprogenitiveness,  they  malse 
our  best  nurses,  as  far  as  fondness  and  patience  with  children 
are  concerned,  and  evince  a  most  passionate  attachment  to 
their  children,  and  the  strongest  attachment  to  friends.  Ac- 
quisitiveness, Secretiveness,  and  Cautiousness  are  also  gener- 
ally large ;  Language  and  the  Perceptive  Faculties  strong, 
eaid  Causality  less."^ 

•  It  is  but  due  to  the  race  here  to  observe,  that  the  intellectual  organs 
<tf  colored  children  are  much  better  than  those  of  colored  adults,  and  very 


S6  HEREDITARY   DESCENT — ITS   LAWS   AND   FACTS. 

The  nose  of  Africans.  Their  love  of  music. 

I  repeat,  then,  not  only  have  the  diiferent  races  different 
heads  in  their  general  outlines,  but  the  more  of  the  negro 
parentage  a  mulatto  has,  the  more  Avill  his  general  type  of 
head  partake  of  that  of  the  race,  and  vice  vei^sa.  Taken  in 
the  gross,  Creoles  have  generally  better  heads  than  those  of 
pure  African  blood,  but  not  as  good  as  Caucasians. 

Another  hereditary  difference  between  the  Caucasian  and 
the  African  races,  is  this  : — Every  Caucasian  who  has  no 
colored  blood  in  him,  will  have  a  division  in  the  gristle  at  the 
end  of  the  nose,  showing  a  partition  of  that  gristle,  or  a  hol- 
low^ to  the  touch,  at  the  end  of  the  nose  ;  but  every  one  who 
has  the  least  African  blood  in  him,  will  have  no  separation, 
the  gristle  showing  no  division  between  its  two  sides.  This 
is,  of  course,  hereditary. 

Another  hereditary  difference  v/ill  be  found  in  their  mus- 
cles being  inserted  at  points  of  the  bones  different  from  the 
insertion  of  the  muscles  of  the  Caucasian  race ;  and  this 
causes  that  peculiarity  in  their  gait,  motions,  &c.,  alluded  to 
above. 

But  still  more.  Though  colored  people  love  music,  3^et  the 
diaracter  of  their  songs  is  peculiar,  so  that  a  practised  ear 
can  discriminate  between  an  African  tune  and  other  tunes. 
They  love  their  friends,  but  this  love  has  a  tone  in  it  differing 
from  that  of  Caucasians.  So  they  talk,  and  talk  much,  but 
they  construct  their  sentences  in  a  manner  differing  from  our 
own,  and  also  employ  a  different  class  of  words.  In  short, 
they  seem  to  have  a  cast  of  mind  and  tone  of  feeling,  includ- 
ing intonations  and  gesticulations,  differing  materially  from 
our  own  race.  The  fact  is,  there  is  an  organization  and  a 
texture,  both  physical  and  phrenological,  peculiar  to  the 
race,  and  which  characterizes  that  race  in  all  its  ramifications 
and  crosses,  and  which  owes  its  cause  to  parentage^  and  de- 
scends from  sire  to  son,  from  generation  to  generation,  and 
which  will  last  as  long  as  the  race  lasts. 

little  if  any  inferior  to  those  of  the  whites,  but  that  their  inferior  Causality 
is  doululess  owing,  in  part,  to  its  want  of  culture.  Still,  the  characteris- 
tics of  a  colored  child's  forehead,  are  prodigious  Language,  Individu- 
ality, and  Eventuality,  full  Comparison,  and  less  Causality,  relatively, 
thau  is  generally  found  in  the  children  of  Caucasian  parents. 


THE    INDIAN   RACE.  37 


Tht-ir  independence.  Their  eloquence. 

SECTION  II. 

THE  INDIAN  RACE. 

"  Lo  the  untutored  Indian, 
Sees  God  in  clouds,  and  hears  him  in  the  wind." 

The  Indian  race,  also,  has  its  hereditary  peculiarities,  both 
physical  and  mental.  Its  copper  color,  its  high  cheek  bones, 
wide  mouth,  straight  black  hair,  prominent  bones,  and  sunken 
eye,  while  they  characterize  the  race,  also  descend  from 
parents  to  children,  both  in  the  Indian  race  when  unmixed, 
and  also  in  all  its  crosses.  And  not  only  are  these  and  other 
physical  peculiarities  unquestionably  hereditary,  caused  hy 
parentage^  but  tjie  straight  coarse  hair  of  the  Indian  does  not 
contrast  with  the  always  curly  hair  of  the  African,  more 
strikingly  than  does  the  free,  independent  spirit  oi  the  one, 
contrast  with  the  easily  subdued  spirit  of  the  other.  Make  a 
slave  of  an  Indian  !  Who  ever  heard  of  such  a  thing?  If  it 
were  at  all  possible  to  subdue  thera,  think  you  that  Caucasian 
cupidity  would  not  long  ago  have  done  so,  and  chased  them 
with  the  lasso  through  their  native  forests,  as  they  now  chase 
the  cattle  and  horses  of  South  America?  But  the  love  of 
freedom,  and  the  fierce  spirit  that  dies  sooner  than  submit  to 
servitude,  are  borm  in  the  American  race,  as  is  also  grati- 
tude for  favors,  and  revenge  for  wrongs.  Take  the  young 
papoose  from  its  mother  at  its  birth,  and  let  him  never  be 
cognizant  of  the  Indian  feelings  and  character,  except  such 
as  parentage  implants  in  his  nature,  and  think  you  he  would 
be  any  thing  but  an  Indian.  I  grant  that  education  may 
gradually  modify  these  qualities,  but  they  will  be  Indian  in 
the  grain,  dyed  in  the  wool,  and  Indian  forever. 

The  Indian  is  always  eloquent,  but  he  is  not  forgiving. 
He  is  fond  of  the  chase,  but  he  is  not  fond  of  philosophy. 
He  observes  the  stars,  and  predicts  the  weather,  but  he  will 
not  confine  himself  to  books  ;  and  though  you  "  beat  him  in 
a  mortar  with  a  pestle,"  yet  he  is  an  Indian  still. 

By  civihzing  and  educating  Indian  parents,  you  will  with- 
out doubt  be  able  to  make  additional  improvements  in  the 
children,  and,  in  a  series  of  generations,  to  civilize  and  adorn 

4 


38  HEREDITARY   DESCENT — ITS    LAWS    AND   FACTS. 

Papoose  heads.  The  Jews. 

the  race,  but  his  still  predominant  Destructiveness  will  render 
him  revengeful  and  vindictive,  his  powerful  Secretiveness 
^nd  Cautiousness,  crafty  and  cunning,  and  his  great  Percep- 
tive organs,  knowing  and  intelligent. 

I  have  seen  the  heads  of  many  papooses,  but  I  never  saw 
one  which  did  not  have  the  leading  developments  of  the 
Indian.  I  never  saw  an  Indian  head  on  a  negro  or  on  a 
Caucasian  body,  and  I  never  saw  an  Indian  body  with  a 
Caucasian  head.  A  very  few  papooses  have  Causality  some- 
what prominent,  as  will  be  seen  by  a  cast  of  Keokuk's  son, 
and  by  the  skulls  of  two  Sioux  children,  about  eight  years 
old,  in  my  collection,  3-et  the  v/hole  contour  of  these  heads  is 
Indian.  I  never  saw  a  papoose  in  v/hich  Cautiousness,  Se- 
cretiveness, a.nd  Destructiveness  were  not  predominant,  the 
whole  basillar  region  large,  and  the  head  low  and  flat,  which 
shows  that  Indian  qualities  are  hereditary,  because  found  in 
children  too  young  to  be  the  lesuli  oi  education.  M  education 
formed  the  Indian  character,  the  heads  of  papooses  v/ould 
nearly  resemble  those  of  other  races,  and  continue  to  become 
more  and  more  Indian  in  their  developments,  tlie  older  they 
grow,  and  the  longer  their  Indian  education  continued  to 
mould  their  characters.  Bnt,  as  Indian  children  have  Indian 
heads,  and  heads  as  essentially  Indian,  and  about,  as  strongly 
marked  with  the  Indian  characteristics,  as  adult  Indians,  and 
before  education  has  had  time  to  mould  them  very  much, 
the  inference  is  that  a  considerable  iiortion^  at  least,  of  this 
Indian  head  and  character,  is  Iter  editor  y. 


SECTION    III. 

THE  JEWS. 

"And  Abraham  was  ver}'  rich  in  catlle,  in  silver,  and  in  gold." — Gen.  xiil.  2. 

But  let  us  narrow  down  our  observation  still  more,  and 
take  up  the  descent  of  qualities  as  regards  nations.  And  one 
of  our  best  fields  of  inquiry  will  be  the  Jewish  nation,  first 
because  they  have  kept  themselves  distinct  as  a  nation  from 


THE    JEWS.  39 


Their  acquisitiveness.  Their  devotion.  Abraham. 

time  immemorial,  and  not  allowed  themselves  to  intermarry 
with  "  the  Gentiles ;"  and  partly  because  their  characteris- 
tics are  probably  more  strikingly  marked  than  those  of  any 
other  nation.  They  are  remarkable  first  for  their  love  of 
money:  secondly,  for  their  devotion  to  their  religion;  and 
tJiirdly,  for  their  general  intelligence.  Whoever  saw  a  Jew 
who  was  not  most  intent  on  the  acquisition  of  property,  and 
np  to  all  sorts  of  devices  in  order  to  acquire  it — a  real  Shy- 
lock,  making  money  his  idol,  and  succeeding  beyond  measure 
in  accumulating  wealth?  How  rarely  do  Jews  forsake  the 
religion  of  their  fathers,  or  fail  to  observe  the  passover,  or  eat 
the  flesh  of  swine?  And  how  universally  do  tliey  evince 
shrewdness  and  talent,  at  least  in  acquiring  property  ?  And 
are  not  our  best  historians  and  oriental  scholars,  Jews? 

What,  then,  were  the  original  characteristics  of  the  found- 
ers of  this  nation  ?  Had  they,  or  had  they  not,  those  quali- 
ties which  now  so  eminently  characterize  their  descendants? 
And  to  settle  these  points,  let  us  quote  from  the  Bible — "And 
Abram  took  Sarai  his  Avife,  and  Lot,  his  brother's  son,  and 
all  their  substance  which  they  had  gathered,"  thus  implying 
tliat  they  had  gathered  considerable,  and  were  unwilling  to 
le#ve  any  thing  behind,  though  they  were  going  from  Egypt 
to  Canaan.  Again — "And  Lot  also,  which  went  with  Abram, 
had  flocks,  and  herds,  and  tents.  And  the  land  was  not  able 
to  bear  them,  that  they  might  dwell  together;  for  their  sub- 
stance was  great,  so  that  they  could  not  dwell  together." — 
"And  when  Abram  heard  that  his  brother  was  taken  captive, 
he  armed  his  trained  servants,  born  in  his  own  house,  three 
hundred  and  eighteen,  and  pursued  them  unto  Dan.  And  he 
divided  himself  against  them,  he  and  his  servants,  by  night, 
and  smote  them."  This  conflict  was  undertaken,  first,  for 
his  kinsman,  (and  the  Jews  to  this  day  show  the  same  par- 
tiality to  their  kinsmen  that  Abraham  did  to  Lot,)  and  sec- 
ondly, to  restore  his  goods.  "And  he  said,  I  am  Abraham's 
servant.  And  the  Lord  hath  blessed  my  master  greatly,  and 
he  is  become  great :  and  he  hath  given  him  flocks,  and  herds, 
and  silver,  and  gold,  and  men-servants,  and  maid-servants, 
and  camels,  and  asses.  And  the  servant  brought  forth  jewels 
of  silver,  and  jewels  of  gold,  and  raiment." 


40  HEREDITARY   DESCENT — ITS   LAWS   AND   FACTS. 

Acquisitiveness  of  Isaac,  Jacob,  Laban,  and  Joseph. 


Isaac,  also,  evinced  the  same  love  of  riches,  and  was 
equally  successful  in  the  accumulation  of  wealth.  "And 
Isaac  waxed  great,  and  went  forward,  and  grew  until  he 
became  very  great :  for  he  had  possession  of  flocks,  and  pos- 
session of  herds,  and  great  store  of  servants."  The  blessing 
which  Isaac  pronounced  on  .Jacob,  is  also  in  point.  "  There- 
fore God  give  thee  of  the  dew  of  heaven,  and  the  fatness  of 
the  earth,  and  plenty  of  corn  and  v/ine."  In  blessing  Esau, 
he  again  mentions  the  fatness  of  the  earth. 

Laban,  a  descendant  from  Abraham's  brother,  also  showed 
the  same  acquisitive  spirit  in  making  Jacob  serve  him  seven 
years  in  order  to  obtain  Rachel,  his  cousin,  for  a  wife,  and 
then  deceiving  him  by  giving  him  Leah,  and  afterwards  re- 
quiring seven  years  more  of  service  in  order  to  obtain  the 
object  of  his  love.  Laban's  bantering  Jacob  to  stay  longer, 
and  Jacob's  shrewdness  and  acquisitiveness,  if  not  yankee 
cunning,  in  making  the  kind  of  bargains  that  he  did,  namely, 
for  all  the  speckled,  ring-streaked,  and  spotted,  and  his  pealing 
the  rods  and  laying  them  in  the  gutters  where  the  cattle  went 
to  drink,  so  that  the  great  body  of  the  young  cattle  and  sheep- 
might  be  speckled,  (see  Gen.  xxx.  27—43,)  are  directly  in 
point.  "And  Jacob  increased  exceedingly,  and  had  mu^h 
cattle,  and  maid-servants,  and  men-servants,  and  camels^^ 
and  asses." 

Not  only  did  Laban's  sons  show  the  same  acquisitive  spirit 
in  envying  Jacob,  but  Eachel  also  indulged  it  in  conjunction 
with  veneration,  a  quality  soon  to  be  mentioned,  in  stealing 
the  gods  of  her  own  father.* 

Joseph's  laying  up  the  corn  of  Egypt  in  such  vast  quanti- 
ties, was  but  another  and  most  beneficial  exercise  of  this 
same  faculty ;  and  then  again  his  buying  in  all  the  gold  and 
silver,  all  the  cattle  and  effects,  and  even  the  lands  and  lives 
of  the  Egyptians,  for  the  crown  of  Egypt,  shows  the  same 
faculty ;  and  so  did  also  his  putting  his  kinsmen  in  the 
fattest  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  the  rapid  increase  of  the 
Israelites  in  numbers  and  cattle  while  in  Egypt. 

♦  What  an  idea  that,  of  stealing  a  g-orf,  and  even  from  a  father,  and 
then  lying  to  hide  it! 


THE   JEWS.  41 


Their  Acquisitiveness.  Shylock. 

The  manner  in  which  the  children  of  Israel  left  Egypt, 
their  taking  with  them  the  whole  of  their  substance,  even 
"  very  much  cattle,"  and  then  their  borrowing  all  they  could 
of  the  Egyptians,  even  so  as  to  sjjoil  them,  (Ex.  xii.,)  shows 
that  they  were  not  a  whit  behind  their  predecessors  in  the 
matter  of  getting  property,  especially  gold,  silver,  and  jewel- 
ry, which  seem  especially  to  have  been  the  idol  of  this  people 
from  Abraham  to  the  present  day. 

The  children  of  Reuben  and  the  children  of  Gad's  having 
''  very  much  cattle  ;"~*  the  saving  of  all  the  "  silver,  and  gold, 
and  vessels  of  brass  and  iron,"  and  making  them  public 
property,  by  putting  them  "  into  the  treasury  of  the  house  of 
the  Lord,"f  Achan's  coveting  and  taking  a  "  goodly  Baby- 
lonish garment,  and  two  hundred  shekels  of  silver,  and  a 
wedge  of  gold  of  fifty  shekels  weight  ;"J  the  children  of  Is- 
rael's taking  "the  cattle  and  the  spoils  of  Ai  a  prey  unto 
iheniselves,"§  and  doing  the  same  by  thirty-one  other  king- 
doms and  cities,  namely,  killing  all  the  inhabitants,  but 
pillaging  all  the  metals,  goods,  and  cattle  they  contained  ;  |( 
Moses'  pursuing  the  same  course  with  the  kings  destroyed  on 
the  west  of  Jordan;  the  immense  treasures  given  by  David 
and  the  elders  of  Israel,  to  build  and  furnish  the  temple  of 
Solomon,  namely,  seventeen  thousand  talents  of  silver,  and 
eight  thousand  talents,  and  ten  thousand  drachms  of  gold,  and 
one  hundred  thousand  talents  of  iron,  the  immense  riches 
lavished  on  that  magnificent  edifice,  altogether  eclipsing 
every  building  of  modern  times, — all  these,  and  many  other 
incidents  mentioned  in  Scripture,  evince  a  most  extraordinary 
desire  and  capacity  to  acquire  and  hoard  up  property,  espe- 
cially gold,  silver,  jewelr}^,  precious  stones,  and  cattle.  In 
short,  did  ever  any  other  nation,  ancient  or  modern,  possess 
acquisitivenes  in  any  thing  like  the  degree  in  which  the  Bible 
represents  the  Jews  to  have  possessed  it  all  the  way  along 
down  from  Abram  and  his  nephew,  through  every  part  oi 
their  history,  even  down  to  the  present  time'?  Shakspeare's 
well  known  description  of  Shylock,  is  in  perfect  keeping  witU 

*  Num.  xxxii.  1.  f  Jdsh.  yi;  24*  J  do.  vii.  21.  do.  Tiii.  27; 

fl  Josh.  xi.  and  xii. 

4* 


42  HEREDITARY   DESCENT — ITS   LAWS   AND    FACTS. 

The  Rothschilds.  Girard.  Cohen.  Morse.  Chatham  street. 

the  Jewish  character,  both  as  it  was  then,  and  is  now.  Who 
are  the  richest  men  of  the  old  world  7  The  Rothschilds ;  and 
they  are  Jews.  Who  was  Stephen  Girard,  at  his  death  the 
richest  man  in  America  1  A  Jew.  Who  are  now  the  richest 
men  in  Baltimore'?  Probably  Cohen  &  Co.,  who  are  Jews. 
Mr.  Morse,  now  living  in  Philadelphia,  who  began  life  a 
street  pedlar  of  thread,  needles,  toys,  trinkets,  &c.,  and  is  now 
worth  several  millions,  is  also  a  Jew;  and  his  head  at  Ac- 
quisitiveness is  the  broadest,  I  think,  that  I  ever  saw.  One 
of  the  missionaries,  several  years  ago,  writes  that  in  passing 
through  the  Jewish  part  of  one  of  the  eastern  cities,  he  was 
beset,  entreated,  and  actually  compelled  to  purchase  of  them  ; 
and  a  man  now  can  hardly  go  through  Chatham  street,  New 
York  city,  which  is  occupied  almost  exclusively  by  Jews, 
ivithout  being  taken  by  the  arm  and  half  coaxed,  half  pushed 
into  a  store,  to  make  a  purchase;  or  if  he  stops  at  one  of 
their  mock  auction  stores,  and  bids  ten  cents  on  a  knife,  it  is 
knocked  off  to  him,  and  he  asked  to  go  into  the  back  room 
where  he  finds  a  thousand  items  or  more  struck  off  to  him, 
and  a  hundred  dollars  required  of  him,  and  he  threatened  till 
he  pays  all  he  has.  Probably  a  hundred  gouge-games  are 
practised  per  day,  upon  an  average,  in  Chatham  street  alone. 
Then  look  at  their  pawn-broker's  frauds,  their  usury,  and 
every  sort  of  device  resorted  to  for  making  money,  and  say 
if  they  are  not  the  worthy  sons  of  rich  Abraham,  and  the 
crafty  Jacob?  And  what  is  most  singular,  the  very  kinds  of 
property  which  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob  loved  and  ac- 
quired, namely,  gold,  silver,  precious  stones,  and  flocks,  the 
Jews  of  this  day  love  and  acquire,  except  that  instead  of 
sheep,  they  deal  in  woollens.  Jewelry,  which  doubtless  took 
its  name  from  the  fact  that  it  was  made  and  sold  mostly  by 
Jews,  is  to  modern  Jews,  what  gold,  silver,  and  costly  stones 
were  to  the  Israelites  of  old.  Who  can  look  upon  these  coin- 
cidences, and  not  be  compelled  to  say,  not  only  that  certain 
qualities  are  hereditary,  but  also  that  they  descend  from 
parents  to  children  for  thousands  of  generations,  in  direct  and 
continual  succession?  That  education  has  some  influence  in 
effecting  this  result,  I  do  not  doubt ;  but  the  closing  remarks 


THE   JEWS.  43 


Their  Inhabiliveness.  Desire  to  have  issue. 

of  the  last  chapter  will  apply  here  as  well  as  there,  and  to 
all  other  cases  in  which  this  objection  is  raised. 

The  mechanical  ingenuity  of  the  ancient  Jews,  especially 
as  seen  in  building  the  temple  and  carving  its  vessels,  is  in 
fine  keeping  with  the  mechanical  ingenuity  of  modern  Jews. 
I  have  seen  as  remarkable  developments  of  Constructiveness 
in  Jews,  as  I  ever  saw  in  any  head,  accompanied  with  a 
proportionate  development  of  this  faculty. 

The  Inhabitiveness  of  the  Jews,  both  ancient  and  modern, 
is  also  worthy  of  a  passing  remark.  Abraham's  buying  a 
burying  place  to  bury  Sarah  his  wife,  and  his  directing  his 
sons  to  bury  him  there  also  ;  the  burying  of  Isaac,  Rebecca 
and  Leah  there;  Jacob's  directing  that  he  be  buried  in  the 
same  family  tomb,  even  though  he  died  in  Egypt;  and  Jo- 
seph's charge  to  have  his  bones  buried  in  the  same  place, — is 
in  beautiful  keeping  with  the  extraordinary  love  of  the  Jews, 
throughout  their  whole  history,  of  their  native  land.  How 
often  is  th«  promised  land  referred  to*?  How  piieous  the 
lamentations  of  the  Jewish  captiv-es  for  the  land  of  Israel — 
''  By  the  rivers  of  Babylon,  there  we  sat  down,  yea,  we  wept 
when  we  remem.bered  Zion?"  How,  above  all  price,  did 
the  Jews  value  Jerusalem,  their  temple,  and  the  land  of  Ca- 
naan ?  And  even  to  this  day,  the  eye  of  every  descendant  of 
that  outcast  nation  is  turned  towards  Jerusalem,  with  the 
expectation  that  they,  as  their  descendants,  will  yet  inhabit 
the  promised  land.  In  other  words,  the  whole  nation  have 
evinced  great  Inhabitiveness;  and  I  have  never  yet  seen  a 
Jew  in  whom  this  organ  was  not  very  large.*" 

The  parcelling  out  of  the  land  of  Israel  to  each  tribe,  and 
giving  to  each  family  its  particular  share,  with  the  "law  in 
Israel"  that  it  should  remain  in  that  tribe  and  family  forever, 
under  all  contingences,  is  also  in  point. 

The  desire  of  the  Jews  to  have  an  issue,  is  wofthy  also  of 
remark,  in  Abraham  and  Sarah,  in  the  daughters  of  Lot,  in 
Isaac  and  Rebecca,  in  Jacob  and  Rachel,  and  in  all  the  race ; 
as  is  also  the  barrenness  of  Sarah,  Rebecca,  and  Rachel,  at 

•  This  trait  is  remarkably  strong  In  the  Indians,  and  may  possibly 
throw  some  light  on  the  identity  of  the  two  races. 


44  HEREDITARY   DESCENT — ITS   LAWS   AND   FACTS, 

The  hospitality  of  the  Jews.  Their  piety. 

least  till  they  were  old — all  from  the  same  stock,  or  from 
Abraham's  father.  They  also  insisted  on  marrying  none  but 
their  own  kin.   Gen.  xxiv.  4. 

The  hospitality  of  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  was  re- 
markable. Gen.  xviii.  1 — 8.  See  also  Gen.  xix.  1 — 3,  Lot's 
entertaining  the  angels.  See  Gen.  xxiv.  15 — 33,  where  Re- 
becca watered  the  camels  of  Abraham's  servant,  and  Laban's 
hospitality,  both  to  Abraham's  servant,  and  to  Jacob;  thB 
hospitality  of  the  old  man  mentioned  in  Judges  xix.,  all 
show  how  sacred  they  regarded  this  matter.  They  seem  to 
have  had  no  taverns,  but  to  have  entertained  one  another. 
Whether  modern  Jews  evince  this  quality,  is  left  for  those 
who  know  them  to  jtidge. 

Equally  remarkable,  also,  were  all  the  Jewish  progenitors, 
for  their  worship  of  God  and  religious  faith.  It  is  said  of 
Abraham,  "  and  there  he  builded  an  altar  unto  the  Lord, 
and  called  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord,"  wherever  he  took 
up  his  residence.  Indeed,  to  have  an  altar,  was  as  indispen- 
sable as  to  have  a  tent.  It  is  said  of  him,  "And  he  believed 
in  the  Lord,  and  he  counted  it  to  him  for  righteousness." 
See  Gen.  xv.  6,  and  indeed  the  whole  of  the  fifteenth  chapter. 
The  seventeenth  chapter  contains  an  account  of  his  scrupu- 
lous observance  of  circumcision.  See  also  Abraham's  prayer 
for  Sodom  in  the  eighteenth  chapter,  and  his  offering  up  his 
son  Isaac  in  the  twenty-second  chapter. 

Isaac  also  inherited,  or  at  least  possessed,  the  devout  spirit 
of  Abraham.  See  Gen.  xxvi.  25.  Jacob  also  evinced  the 
same  spirit.  See  Gen.  xxviii.  16 — 22.  See  also  Jacob's 
wrestling  with  the  angel.  Gen.  xxxii.,  and  his  building  altars 
in  Bethel  and  wherever  he  went.  See  Gen.  xxxv.  1 — 5,  and 
the  whole  of  the  chapter. 

Joseph's  piety  was  equally  conspicuous,  as  was  that  of 
Moses  and  Aaron,  and  of  the  whole  Jewish  nation,  modern  as 
well  as  ancient,  in  their  sacrifices,  their  ablutions,  observan- 
ces, &c,,  &c.,  and  even  now,  the  Jews  keep  the  passover  as 
strictly  as  ever,  and  adhere  to  their  religion  with  as  much 
tenacity  as  to  their  gold.  Veneration  is  usually  large  in  th« 
heads  of  Jews. 


THE    JEWS.  45 


Their  cunning.  Tiieir  Deslrucliveness. 

Abraham  evinced  much  cunning  and  large  Secreliveness, 
a  quality  strikingly  manifested  in  the  Jews  at  the  present  day, 
especially  in  their  underhanded  measures  to  acquire  property. 
Gen.  xii.  11—15,  18  and  19. 

The  same  cunning  was  shown  by  Rebecca  in  getting  Isaac 
to  bless  her  favorite  Jacob  instead  of  Esau,  and  by  Jacob  in 
buying  Esau's  birthright  by  taking  advantage  of  his  hunger. 
Isaac,  like  Abraham,  also  pretended  that  his  wife  was  his 
sister.  See  Gen.  xxiv.  7.  See  also  the  cunning  of  Rebecca 
in  getting  Isaac  to  send  Jacob  away  to  her  brother,  under 
pretence  of  his  getting  him  a  wife,  whereas  she  only  wanted 
to  place  him  beyond  the  power  of  Esau,  who  had  threatened 
to  kill  him.     See  Gen.  xxvii.  41 — 46. 

Laban,  also,  another  of  this  deceitful  race,  after  solemnly 
promising  Rachel  to  Jacob  for  a  wife,  deceived  him.  See 
Gen.  xxix.  22 — 26.  Rachel  likewise  evinced  the  same  quality, 
not  only  in  stealing  the  gods  of  her  own  father,  but  also  in 
hiding  them  under  her,  and  then  pretending  that  it  was  diffi- 
cult for  her  to  rise,  because  she  was  not  well.  The  Jews  cer- 
tainly come  honestly  by  their  instinctive  talent  for  deceiving. 
Gen.  xxxi.  30.  Jacob  also  showed  considerable  secretive- 
ness,  and  feigned  submission,  when  he  met  Esau  on  his  re- 
turn. Hence,  what  could  he  expect,  but  that  the  same  game 
of  deception  would  be  played  on  him,  that  was  played  by  hia 
•sons  in  their  selling  Joseph,  and  then  dipping  his  coat  in 
blood  and  sending  it  to  their  father.  All  along  down,  sacred 
and  profane  history  ascribe  this  quality  to  the  Jews. 

The  d<estruetiv>e  propensity  of  the  Jews  might  also  be 
traced  even  mare  conspicuously  from  Abraham,  who  put  five 
kings  and  all  their  armies  to  the  sword  at  once,  through 
Simeon  and  Levi,  who  so  fiercely  revenged  the  outrage  upon 
their  sister  Dinah,  and  all  the  battles  of  the  Israelites,  in 
which  tens  of  thousands,  and  sometimes  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands, fell  in  a  day ;  including  David,  a  man  of  war  and 
blood  from  his  youth,  to  the  most  horrible  manifestation  of 
this  passion  at  the  final  taking  of  Jerusalem.  (See  Josephus.) 
This  organ  is  prodigious  in  the  Jews  of  the  present  day,  and 
is  well  described  in  Shakspeare's  delineation  of  Shylook,  who 
was  beat  on  taking  .out  the  heart  of  his  mortal  enemy. 


46  HEREDITARY   DESCENT — ITS    LAWS   AND   FACTS. 

Jewish  physiognomy.  The  Chinese.  The  casts  of  eastern  nations. 

It  is  perhaps  worthy  of  remark,  that  the  Jews  all  have  a 
national  j)hysiogno7ny,  by  which  every  Jew  may  be  recog- 
nized as  a  Jew  at  the  first  glance.  (See  the  article  on  the 
Jews,  and  the  accompanying  drawing,  in  the  Phrenological 
Journal,  Vol.  V.,  No.  7.)  This  form  and  expression  of  face, 
is  of  course  hereditary.  Much  might  be  said  of  the  descent 
of  superior  talents,  wonderfully  retentive  memories,  and  ex- 
cellent literary  taste,  of  the  Jews.  But  enough,  at  least  for 
the  present. 


SECTION  IV. 

NATIOxNS  AND  MASSES,  GENERALLY. 

The  Chinese  are  noted  for  their  sameness,  both  of  character 
and  head.  To  a  phrenologist,  it  would  seem  as  if  all  their 
heads  were  cast  m  the  same  mould,  so  nearly  do  they  resem- 
ble each  other.  The  only  perceptible  difference,  is  to  be 
found  in  those  of  different  occupations.  But,  as  father  and 
son,  from  generation  to  generation,  follow  the  occupation 
of  their  forefathers,  the  p7'i7iciple  of  the  descent  of  qualities, 
is  still  sustained.  No  field  of  inquiry  "^vould  delight  me 
more,  than  the  examination  of  the  heads  of  the  various 
casts  in  eastern  nations;  in  order  to  determine,  first,  whether 
each  cast  had  its  own  particular  form  of  head,  of  which  there 
is  no  doubt ;  and  whether  the  children,  and  even  infants,  of 
these  casts,  have  the  heads  of  the  cast.  And  if  my  life  be 
spared,  I  intend  yet  to  make  them.  Will  not  phrenologists 
embrace  every  opportunity  of  prosecuting  these  inquiries? 
Will  not  that  able  and  truly  excellent  phrenologist,  Cubi  i 
Soler,  our  correspondent  in  Spain,  prosecute  these  inquiries 
still  further,  and  send  them  to  the  Journal  for  publication? 
Will  not  our  friend  Garrison,  of  the  West  Indies,  pursue  this 
subject  in  regard  to  the  Creoles  of  those  islands. 

What  the  phrenological  developments  of  the  Chinese  are, 
may  be  learned  from  Vol.  IV.  of  the  Journal,  in  the  series  of 
articles  headed  "The  Chinese."  But  they  are  introduced 
here  more  to  serve  as  the  basis  of  the  inference,  that  wheja 


THE   HEADS    OF    NATIONS   AND   MASSES.  ^7 

Anglo-Americans.  Hope  in  ihe  English  and  Americans. 

education  remains,  as  theirs  has,  unchanged,  for  ages,  it 
exerts  its  moulding  influence  on  the  parents,  to  bring  them 
up  to  a  uniform  standard  ;  and  this  operates  to  keep  the  race 
uniform  through  a  succession  of  ages.  Exactly  how  much 
is  to  be  attributed  to  education,  and  how  much  to  parentage, 
it  may  be  difficult  to  say,  but  the  proposition  is  self-evident, 
that  both  exert  an  influence. 

The  Anglo-American  head  aftords  a  striking  contrast  to 
this  uniformity  of  the  Chinese.  Though  the  primitive  stock 
is  English,  yet  the  American  head  difli'ers  materially  from  the 
English;  and  the  heads  of  dilierent  states  and  sections  differ. 
Blindfold  me,  and  submit  one  hundred  heads  from  the  several 
states,  and  if  I  sometimes  miss  as  to  the  state,  yet.  I  will  sel- 
dom mistake  a  southerner  for  a  yankee,  a  Virginian  for  a  Yer- 
monter,  a  Missourian  for  a  IS^ew  Yorker,  or  a  Pemisylvanian 
for  a  Marylander.  Of  course  I  refer  to  natives  of  the  several 
states,  whose  ancestors  were  also  natives.  The  children  of 
southerners  also  diifer  from  those  of  northerners.  Their 
organs  are  more  on  extremes^  the  large  organs  larger,  and  the 
small  organs  smaller;  Cautiousness  and  Approbativeness, 
when  large,  are  usually  very  large:  and  so  of  Benevolence, 
Destructiveness  and  Friendship. 

The  difference  in  the  development  of  Hope  between  John 
Bull  and  Uncle  Sam,  is  very  striking.-  Crossing  the  British 
lines,  makes  a  difference  of  fifty  per  cent  in  this  organ,  it 
being  the  greatest  on  the  south  side.  The  explanation  is 
doubtless  this.  Hope  is  more  highly  stimulated  in  this 
country  than  in  that.  Thus  the  organ  grovv^s  a  little  in  each 
parent,  and  the  law  of  parentage  retains  or  propagates  this 
growth.  The  next  generation  adds  a  little  m.ore  to  its  size  by 
cultivation,  and  parentage  retains  it  all,  and  hands  it  down 
to  the  third,  to  be  again  augmented  and  perpetuated.  In 
fact  this  law  is  the  true  secret  of  the  progress  of  both  nations 
and  the  race.  That  our  race,  on  the  whole,  has  improved 
and  is  improving,  in  morals  and  intelligence,  is  evident  to 
every  careful  observer.  The  moral  sentiments  are  exerting 
a  far  greater  influence  over  mankind  now,  than  for  ages  past; 
aaid  it  is  devoutly  to  be  hoped  that  future  ages  will  witness 
still  greater  improvements.     And  this  is  the  key  and  cause. 


48  HEREDITARY   DESCENT — ITS   LAWS   AND   FACTS. 

Education  improves.  Parentag-e  retains  this  improvement.         Danes,  &c. 

The  reforming  influences  now  abroad,  will  cause  the  moral 
and.  intellectual  organs  of  parents  to  grow,  and  this  will  se- 
cure an  additional  development  in  children,  and  this  will 
gradually  improve  the  race. 

I  would  not  make  education  every  thing,  as  Burritt  and 
the  old  metaphysicians  do  ;  neither  would  I  make  parentage 
everything.  But  let  both  be  united — education 'to  bring  up 
defective  organs,  and  then  parentage  to  perpetuate  this  in- 
crease for  another  addition.  The  joint  action  of  the  two  in 
improving  races,  and  nations,  and  families,  may  well  be 
compared  to  a  pump.  Education  raises  the  valuable  water 
as  far  as  one  generation — as  one  stroke — can  bring  it,  th« 
valve  (parentage)  then  closes  upon  it  and  holds  it.  Educa- 
tion then  carries  it  up  one  peg  higher,  and  parentage  again 
holds  it  there,  and  perpetuates  it  to  be  improved  in  generation 
after  generation.  Nor  is  man  any  where  near  the  top  of 
this  scale  of  human  improvement.  He  is  scarcely  above  the 
zero  of  the  thermometer,  and  on  a  scale  that  can  hardly  be 
said  to  have  a  limit.  And  if  this  treatise  contribute  to  the 
accomplishment  of  this  great  end — the  ultimate  improvement 
of  mankind,  the  great  object  of  its  author  will  be  answered.^ — 
But  to  return. 

The  heads  of  the  Danes  are  quite  in  keeping  with  the  Eng- 
lish head  generally.  The  French  head  is  plainly  discernibfe 
from  the  English,  even  in  childhood.  The  German  head  is 
also  unique,  presenting  large  Conscientiousness,  Causality, 
and  Acquisitiveness.  The  Welch  head  always  runs  far  out 
and  back  in  the  region  of  the  crown,  which  gives  love  of 
liberty;  and  it  was  this  which  made  them  forsake  their 
native  vales,  and  flee  to  the  Welch  mountains,  in  order  to 
enjoy  that  liberty.  And  their  hair  is  always  very  fine,  and 
their  skin  delicate.  The  dark  skin,  eyes,  and  hair  of  a  por- 
tion of  the  Caucasian  race,  namely,  the  French,  Spanish, 
Portuguese,  &c.,  is  entirely  hereditary,  and  is  always  found 
in  the  descendants  of  those  nations.  But  the  color  of  the 
eyes,  hair,  &c.,  of  the  English  nation,  varies  exeeeding^y, 
and  because  the  original  stock  of  the  nation  is  composed, 
partly  of  Danes,  partly  of  Normans,  partly  of  Romans,  ,§nd 
partly  of  the  original  stock  of  the  British  Islands. 


THE  FORM  AND  COUNTENANCE  HEREDITARY.         49 

Tlv  Chinese — French — Danes — English. 

CHAPTER   III. 

PHYSICAL   QUALITIES  HEREDITARY. 

SECTION  I. 

FORMS  OF  BODY  AND  FACE,  AND  THE  EXPRESSIONS  OF  COUN- 
TENANCE, HEREDITARY. 

Who  does  the  child  look  like  ? 

The  hieroglyphics  and  Hkenesses  handed  down  to  us  from 
past  ages,  show  that  as  to  the  present  general  forms  of  the 
body  and  face  of  man,  he  is  what  he  always  has  been — 
having  the  same  upright  posture,  the  same  general  aspect 
and  mein,  the  same  position  and  general  appearance  of  the 
nose,  eyes,  cheeks,  month,  chin,  hair,  body,  arms,  feet,  and 
the  same  general  physiognomy,  &c.  &c.  Nations  also  have 
a  peculiarity  in  the  forms  of  iheir  bodies,  and  in  the  expres- 
sions of  their  countenance,  by  which  those  descended  from 
them  can  generally  be  designated.  The  African  has  a  gen- 
eral form  and  physiognomy  by  which  he  may  be  recognized 
as  certainly  and  as  readily  as  by  the  color  of  the  skin.  So 
of  the  Indian  ;  so  of  the  Chinese ;  so  of  the  Hindoo ;  so  of 
each  race  and  of  most  nations. 

Again  ;  nations  that  are  unmixed,  have  a  uniform  color  of 
hair,  skin,  and  eyes,  and  a  sameness  of  countenance,  as  is 
fseen  in  the  Chinese,  the  French,  Italian,  «fec.  Who  ever  saw 
a  Spaniard  with  red  hair  or  blue  eyes,  or  with  any  thing  but 
dark  hair  or  eyes  ?  But  the  English  have  the  red  hair  so 
common  to  the  Danes  Avho  overran  England  and  partly 
populated  her,  the  dark  e3res  and  hair  of  the  Norman  race, 
and  every  variety  of  color  derived  from  their  compounds, 
and  probably  from  other  sources.  The  variety  in  the  Eng- 
HsliL,  countenance — some  having  the  bold,  prominent,  striking 
physiognomy  of  the  Romans,  some  the  stern,  rough  features 
c^  the  Scotch,  and  others  other  features  strikingly  analogous 
to  the  physiognomy  of  other  nations  known  to  have  inter- 
mingled with  them — is  doubtless  owing  to  the  action  of 
similar  causes. 

5 


50  PHYSICAL    QUALITIES   HEREDITARY. 

Family  likenesses.  7^he  Rogers  family  red  hairtd.  VVehster. 

But  to  come  down  to  families.  What  is  more  common 
than  to  hear  the  remark — "  This  child  looks  like  its  father  or 
its  aunt,  or  takes  after  its  mother,  or  uncle,  or  one  of  its  grand 
parents."  The  fact  that  there  are  family  likenesses,  family 
physiognomies,  family  forms  of  body  and  head,  will  not  be 
disputed  by  any  close  observer  of  parents  and  children.  Es- 
pecially will  every  woman  recognize  the  truth  of  the  remark 
that  children  always  resemble  one  or  the  other  of  their  pa- 
rents, uncles,  aunts,  cousins,  or  grand  parents,  for  woman 
notices  these  resemblances,  and  is  forever  talking  about  them. 
Let  the  portraits  of  grand  parents,  and  great  grand  parents 
be  placed  at  the  head  of  those  of  their  descendants  for  seve- 
ral generations,  and  the  resemblance  of  all  the  latter  to  one  or 
other  of  the  ancestors,  will  be  manifest.  If  one  ancestor 
have  red  hair,  red  hair  will  break  out  every  now  and  then  in 
every  generation,  and  be  more  and  more  common  in  propor- 
tion to  the  strength  of  that  ancestor's  constitution.  John 
Rogers,  the  martyr,  who  had  "nine  small  children  and  one 
at  the  breast,"  had  red  hair,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  painting  of 
him  now  in  Cambridge,  Mass.,  and  nearly  all  the  Rogerses  in 
this  country,  most  of  whom  are  his  descendants,  have  red  or 
light  hair  also,  or  whiskers,  and  the  sanguine  temperament. 
He  evidently  had  a  powerful  constitution,  and  it  is  remarka- 
ble that  the  great  majority  of  his  descendants  should  inherit 
his  .red  hair  and  sanguine  temperament;  the  races  into  which 
they  have  intermarried,  having  exerted  a  much  less  influ- 
ence on  the  color  of  the  hair  of  his  descendants  than  he  has 
done.  Let  the  reader  observe,  first,  the  number  of  red  or  light 
haired  or  whiskered  Rogerses  in  the  commtpiily,  and  secondly, 
the  religious  zeal  or  else  the  reforming  spirit  of  those  bearing 
this  name.  A  lineal  descendant  of  John  Rogers  now  lives  in 
Boston,  and  has  red  hair. 

So  if  some  conspicuous  ancestor  have  a  prominent  or  a 
Roman  nose,  or  a  projecting  chin,  or  full  or  sunken  cheek?, 
or  a  sunken  eye,  or  a  heavy  eyebrow,  or  a  high  or  a  retreat- 
ing forehead,  or  a  long  neck,  or  large  or  small  ears,  more  or 
less  of  his  descendants  will  have  the  same.  Take  the  eye- 
brow of  Daniel  Webster.  Noah  Webster,  the  author,  had  a 
tuft  of  long,  thick,  coarse  eyebrows,  strikingly  analogous  to 


THE   FORM    AND    COUNTENANCE    HEREDITARY.  51 


The  Hatch  family.  Franklin.  Foljfer.  Tappan. 

those  of  Daniel  Webster.  Prof.  Hale^  a  cousin  of  Daniel 
Webster,  has  a  similar  tnft,  and  so  has  a  sixteenth  cousin 
now  living  in  Philadelphia,  as  well  as  that  same  general  cast 
and  expression  of  face  and  forehead,  which  so  pre-eminently 
characterize  Daniel  Webster.  But  to  multipl}'-  words  on  this 
point  is  certainly  not  necessary,  for  the  observation  of  every 
one  having  tolerable  individuality,  is  certainly  with  me. 
And  every  close  observer  of  this  point,  will  be  struck  with 
the  wonderful  minuteness  of  this  transfer,  as  though  both 
father  and  son  and  grand  son,  were  daguerreotype  likenesses 
struck  from  the  same  original  at  difl^erent  times. 

But  farther.  The /orm5  of  body  in  parents,  are  also  trans- 
mitted. If  the  ancestor  be  lean  and  gaunt,  the  descendants 
will  be  so  also.  If  the  ancestor  be  thick  set,  round  shouldered, 
and  plump  in  person,  the  descendants  will  resemble  him; 
but  if  one  ancestor  be  short  and  another  tall,  or  one  fleshy  and 
the  other  slim,  some  of  the  descendants  will  resemble  one, 
and  some  the  other.  A  family  of  the  name  of  Hatch,  once 
lived  in  the  town  where  I  was  brought  up,  some  of  whom 
were  the  tallest  persons  I  almost  ever  saw,  and  very  slim  and 
gaunt.  Their  mother  was  also  tall.  One  of  the  sons  was  of 
ordinary  size  and  height,  but  a  daughter  of  this  son  had  the 
long  hand  and  limbs,  and  the  tall  figure  of  her  grand  father 
and  great  grand  mother,  and  another  had  not.  Another  son 
was  very  tall. 

Benjamin  Franklin  was  a  very  broad  shouldered  man,  and 
.yet  of  respectable  height,  and  Geo.  Folger,  of  Nantucket, 
who  is  a  Washingtonian  Lecturer  of  great  power,  has  the 
same  form  of  body,  and  especially  cast  efface,  that  busts  and 
paintings  of  Franklin  represent  him  to  have  had.  His  like- 
ness might  easily  be  mistaken  for  that  of  Franklin's  ;  for  it  is 
about  as  long  favored,  has  the  same  perpendicularity,  the 
same  squareness  of  forehead  at  its  upper  part,  and  the  same 
hollow  at  Eventuality  and  Individuality,  and  the  same  heavy 
eyebrows  and  sunken  eyes,  possessed  by  the  great  philosopher. 
They  are  related,  both  being  from  the  same  stock. 

The  Tappan  family,  Arthur  and  Lewis  of  New  York,  and 
John  of  Boston,  are  also  from  the  same  stock,  their  mother 
being  related  to  Franklin,  and  I  think  to  Folger,  and  a  most 


52  PHYSICAL    QUALITIES    HEREDITARY. 

A  grand  daughter  of  Franklin.  Lucretia  iVloit.  Levi  Woodbur>'. 

remarkable  woman.  The  likeness  of  John  Tappan,  both  to 
Franklin  and  to  the  Folger  family,  is  no  less  striking  than 
that  of  Geo.  Folger  mentioned  above.  His  head,  like  that  of 
Franklm,  is  massive,  prodigious  at  Firmness,  Cansality  and 
Conscientiousness,  less  at  Self-Esteem,  Individuality  and 
Eventuality,  and  large  at  Cautiousness  and  Acquisitiveness, 
qualities  that  shone  out  so  conspicuously  in  FrankHn. 
-  At  New  London,  in  lb37,  I  saw  a  grand  daughter  of 
Franklin,  in  whom  a  similar  form  of  body  was  manifest,  and 
whose  square  face  and  projecting  Causality,  closely  resembled 
that  of  her  grand  father.  Lucretia  Mott,  so  extensively  known 
as  a  Quaker  preacher,  and  a  woman  of  powerful  intellect,  is 
also  from  the  same  original  stock,  and  has  the  high,  broad, 
expansive  forehead,  square  face,  and  above  all,  the  projecting 
Causality  of  her  illustrious  kinsman.  Nor  have  1  any  doubt 
but  that  the  great  majority  of  the  Folger  family,  from  which 
Franklin  evidently  received  his  stamp  and  character,  and  also 
most  of  Franklin's  descendants,  possess  the  general  contour 
of  body  and  landmarks  of  the  face,  so  conspicuous  in  the 
bust  and  paintings  of  this  star  of  the  new  world.  All  the 
heads  of  this  family  that  I  have  measured,  have  been  very 
large ;  and  Franklin's  was  immense  ;  so  large  that  he  was 
obliged  to  have  his  hat  made  on  a  block  kept  expressly  for 
him  ;  and  hats  now  made  on  the  same  block,  (his  hatter  lived 
in  Germantown,  Pa.)  will  slip  over  a  head  measuring  twen- 
ty-three inches  in  circumference. 

Again.  Many  of  my  readers  doubtless  know  Levi  Wood- 
bur}'',  ex-Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  and  now  member  of 
Congress  from  New  Hampshire.  His  build  of  body,  and 
form  of  face,  are  remarkable-— large,  fleshy,  round,  and  amply 
developed  in  the  abdomen.  A  few  days  ago,  a  gentleman 
and  his  sister  called  on  me  for  an  examination,  and  gave 
their  names  as  Woodbury.  The  likeness  of  the  lady  to  Levi 
was  so  striking  that  I  immediately  recognized  it,  and  asked 
if  she  was  not  related  to  Lev]  Woodbury.  She  said  she 
was  a  cousin,  and  that  the  WoodbiuTS  who  descended  from 
their  ancestors,  (two  brothers,  Woodhurys,  who  came  over 
and  settled  in  Beverly,  Mass.,  of  whom  they  were  the  seventh 
generation,)  were  readily  recognized  by  the  Woodbury  looksj 


THE   FORM   AND    COUNTENANCE    HEREDITARY.  53 

'i'he  Woodbury  f'ainil/.  The  Webster  family. 

that  Levi  resembled  his  grand  father  Woodbury,  and  of 
course  her  grand  father,  whom  she  also  resembled.  Her  head 
measured  twenty-three  inches,  the  largest  female  head  I  ever 
measured.  She  was  large,  portly,  fleshy,  and  possessed  of 
a  strong  constitution,  resembling  her  cousin,  not  only  in  her 
general  form  of  body  and  face,  but  also  in  her  principal  devel- 
opments, namely,  prodigious  Benevolence,  small  Veneration 
and  Marvellousness,  large  Firmness,  Self-Esteem,  Acquisi- 
tiveness, Conscientiousness,  Amativeness,  Secretiveness,  and 
Causality,  and  a  head  of  great  power.  And  I  prophesy  great 
things  of  her  descendants.  She  remarked  that  the  Wood- 
burys  generally  had  large  families — another  hereditary  ten- 
dency. 

Her  brother,  the  gentleman  who  accompanied  her,  did  not 
resemble  the  Woodbury  family,  but  was  slim,  and  predisposed 
to  consumption — a  quality  that  had  appeared  in  one  of  his 
kinsmen  on  his  mother'' s  side.  No  Woodbury  that  takes  af- 
ter Levi  in  looks,  will  die  of  consumption,  and  all  will  live 
long. 

Li  1840,  a  gentleman  entered  my  office  whom  I  supposed 
to  be  Daniel  Webster,  and  to  whom  I  gave  my  hand  and 
called  him  Mr.  Webster.  On  inquiry,  he  proved  to  be  a  very 
distant  descendant  of  the  same  family,  both  being  from  the 
same  stock,  but  parting  four  generations  back.  He  was  ust 
about  the  same  height,  probably  not  varying  an  inch,  the 
same  portly,  commanding  look  and  carriage,  the  same  dignity 
and  slowness,  but  power,  the  same  tremendous  muscular  and 
vital  apparatus,  the  same  heavy  eyebrows,  dark  hair,  and 
form  of  forehead,  and  every  way  a  Webster.  He  remarked 
that  he  had  often  been  taken  for  Daniel  Webster.  He  was 
about  the  same  weight,  probably  not  varying  ten  pounds,  and 
had  the  same  sized  head,  lacking  but  a  quarter  of  an  inch ; 
his  being  twenty-four  inches,  and  Daniel's  being  a  quarter  of 
an  inch  larger.  And  on  examining  his  head,  I  found  his  orgatis 
every  way  like  those  of  Daniel  Webster,  excepting  that 
Self-Esteem  and  Concentrativeness  were  less,  and  Appro- 
bativeness  and  Conscientiousness  were  larger.  The  head  of 
Mr.  Webster,  the  Phrenologist,  is  also  very  large,  it  being 
twenty-three  inches  and   a   half;    and  I  doubt  whether   a, 


54  PHYSICAL    QUALITIES    HEREDITARY. 

The  Dwight  family.  A  large  father  and  small  mother. 


Webster  can  be  found,  or  any  relative  of  the  family  that  has 
this  Webster  contour  of  body,  without  having  a  great  head, 
and  great  physical  power  and  stamina.  E.  Webster,  the 
brother  of  Daniel,  who  died  many  years  ago,  at  Concord, 
N.  H.,  also  had  an  immense  head,  yet  looked  more  like  his 
mother. 

The  Rev.  Sereno  E.  Dwight,  grand  son  of  President  Dwight, 
relates  that  he  was  once  riding  on  horseback  with  a  friend 
in  a  mountainous  portion  of  New  Hampshire,  when  he  over- 
took an  old  man,  above  eighty,  also  on  horseback,  who  soon 
began  to  eye  him  very  sharply,  and  finally  turning  around 
and  staring  him  full  in  the  face,  asked  him  if  his  name  was 
not  Dwight,  and  he  a  son  of  Col.  Dwight.  He  told  him  no, 
but  he  was  his  great  grand  so?i,  and  that  his  grand  father  was 
Timothy  Dwight,  the  theologian.  Tlie  old  man  then  stated 
thai  some  sixty  years  before,  he  lived  in  the  family  of  Col. 
Dwight,  and  that,  when  he  left  it  for  the  wild  mountains  of 
New  Hampshire,  Timothy,  (afterwards  President,)  Dwight, 
was  in  his  cradle,  but  that  he  (Sereno  E.)  resembled  old  Col. 
Dwight  (his  great  grand  father)  so  perfectly,  both  in  conn- 
tenance,  tones  of  voice,  and  the  way  he  sat  in  the  saddle,  that 
he  ventured  to  call  him  a  Dwight.  This  Col.  Dwight  was 
a  large,  portly,  well  built,  finely  proportioned,  and  noble 
looking  man,  and  so  was  Timothy,  the  President  of  Yale 
College,  and  so  are  most  of  his  descendants. 

Parents  that  are  large,  generally  have  children  of  similar 
dimensions;  and  little  parents,  little  children.  1  know  a 
clergyman,  the  Kev.  Mr.  L.,  a  large,  athletic,  noble  looking, 
powerful  man,  having  a  head  the  size  of  V/ebsters,  and  the 
reasoning  organs  even  more  amply  developed,  who  married 
rather  a  small  woman,  whose  first  born  was  , so  very  large, 
that  its  small  mother  could  uot  give  birth  to  it  without  tak- 
ing her  own  life.  It  had  the  same  prodigious  head,  broad 
shoulders,  high  forehead,  and  general  looks  of  its  father. 
Yery  large  men  should  not,  for  this  reason,  marry  very  small 
women.  A  point  as  important  as  this,  should  not  be  over- 
looked;  1  mean,  wlierc  extremes  occur.  Still,  as  far  as  this 
l>oint  18  concerned,  small  men  may  marry  either  large  wo- 
ijnen  or  small  ones,  which  ever  they  prefer  in  other  respects. 


THE   FORM   AND   COUNTENANCE   HEREDITARY.  55 

Giants.  The  Howe  family.  Inference. 

We  also  read  of  giants,  and  of  the  sons  of  giants,  and  even 
of  races  of  giants.  The  Patagonian  Indians  of  South  Amer- 
ica, are  said  to  be  a  race  of  giants  ;  and  a  race  of  very  small 
men  has  recently  been  discovered  in  Africa. 

From  the  above  facts,  the  inference  that  very  small  persons 
should  not  marry  those  that  are  very  small,  is  obvious,  lest 
their  offspring  be  still  more  diminutive.  But  more  of  this 
hereafter,  when  we  come  to  show  what  organizations  should 
and  should  not  marry. 

This  principle  is  still  farther  illustrated  by  the  form  of  the 
mouth,  and  the  size  and  shape  of  the  front  upper  teeth,  in  a 
family  by  the  name  of  Howe,  the  one  mentioned  in  the 
American  Preceptor  as  having  been  taken  in  the  old  French 
war,  by  the  Indians,  at  fort  Hinsdale,  in  company  with  Hil- 
kiah  Grout,  Benjamin  Gaffield,  and  others,  and  taken  to 
Canada.  The  Squire  Howe  there  mentioned  as  the  little 
boy  who  was  knocked  oif  the  sacks  with  the  tomahawks, 
while  sitting  on  them  to  rest,  by  which  deep  indentations 
were  made  in  his  head,  which  he  carried  to  his  grave ;  had 
very  large,  wide,  long,  projecting  front  upper  teeth.  Most, 
I  believe  all  his  children,  had  the  same  characteristic,  and 
many  of  his  grand  children. 

Another  Howe  mark  is  a  great  projection  at  the  root  of  the 
nose,  embracing  the  organs  of  Individuality,  Eventuality, 
Locality,  Comparison,  Form,  and  Size,  and  prominence  of 
features.     Tlie  family  are  also  fond  of  reading. 

But  why  multiply  words  in  proof  or  illustration  of  a  point 
so  perfectly  obvious  as  our  proposition  that  the  forms  of  the 
face  and  body  are  hereditary,  and  are  strikingly  analogous 
wherever  the  looks  of  ancestors  and  descendants  can  be  com- 
pared— a  point  so  common,  so  self-evident,  to  all  wlio  will 
examine  it.  I  ask  again,  if  every  peculiarity  in  the  forms  of 
either  body  or  face  in  the  parent,  is  not  hereditary?  From 
Avhat  source  do  offspring  derive  their  looks  and  shape? 
From  parents,  of  course.  And  if  the  p?^o'mment  characteris- 
tics of  form  are  hereditary,  all  is  hereditary.  If  parentage 
gives  a  part  of  the  looks,  it  gives  them  all;  so  that  every 
shape  and  all  the  peculiarities  of  form  in  the  child,  have  their 
«ause  and  origin  in  parentage. 


56  PHYSICAL    QUALITIES    HEREDITARY. 

Mrs.  Horton's  flaxen  lock  of  hair. 

SECTION   II. 

MARKS  AND  EXCRESCENCES   HEREDITARY. 

"  There  was  at  Gath  a  man  of  great  stature,  whose  fingers  and  toes  were  four  and 
twenty,  six  on  each  hand,  and  six  on  each  foot :  and  he  also  was  the  sou  of  the  giant. "■"— 
1  Chron.  xx.  6. 

In  October,  1842,  while  making  professional  examinations 
in  the  family  of  Mr.  Horton,  who  resides  about  a  mile  east  of 
Pawtucket,  Mass.,  I  discovered  on  Mrs.  H.  a  lock  of  hair,  not 
gray,  nor  quite  white,  but  of  a  flaxen  color,  diflering  entirely 
from  the  color  of  the  rest  of  her  hair,  a  strip  about  an  inch 
wide,  growing  on  the  portion  of  the  head  directly  above  the 
forehead,  for  which  I  was  unable  to  account.  On  examining 
her  eldest  daughter,  I  observed  a  similar  lock,  and  in  the 
same  place,  the  perfect  image  of  that  of  her  mother.  I  of 
course  remarked  it,  and  asked  if  it  was  hereditary.  The 
mother  then  stated  that  her  mother  had  the  same  light  strip 
of  hair,  and  in  the  same  place  :  that  her  grmid  father^  on  her 
mother's  side,  also  had  it ;  and  that  her  great  grand  father 
had  the  same  mark,  and  in  the  same  place ;  that  of  her 
uncles  and  aunts  on  her  mother's  side,  several,  1  think  eight  in 
twelve  had  it,  and  the  others  not ;  that  those  who  had  it,  lived 
longer,  on  an  average,  than  those  who  had  it  not;  and  that 
her  great  grand  father  who  had  it,  lived  to  be  over  a  hundred 
years  old  ;  showing  that  those  who  had  it,  took  their  quali- 
ties of  long  life  from  the  same  ancestor  from  whom  they 
inherited  the  mark.  In  other  words,  those  who  had  the 
mark,  partook  most  of  the  other  properties  of  that  family 
from  whom  they  derived  the  mark.  In  harmony  with  a  law 
of  hereditary  descent  liereafter  to  be  more  fully  presented,  the 
daughter  which  had  this  mark,  also  had  the  physical  char- 
acteristics, and  especially  the  developments,  resembling  those 
of  the  mother,  namely,  large  Self-Esteem  and  Firmness^,  qual- 
ities not  often  found  conspicuous  in  woman,  large  Construc- 
tiveness  and  Causality,  and  prodigious  Benevplence,  with 
the  same  vital  apparatus  and  general  aspect  of  countenance. 
The  children  that  had  not  this  mark,  resembled  the  father, 
bolh  in  their  phrenological  developments  and  in  their  consti- 


MARKS    AND    EXCRESCENCES    HEREDITARY.  h7 

Paynter.  Porcupine  men.  Expression  of  liio  cyo. 

tiUion.  Several  of  the  mental  peculiarities  of  the  mother 
were  said  to  characterize  this  daughter  that  had  the  mark, 
and  several  of  those  of  the  father^  were  related  as  belonging 
to  the  children  in  whom  it  was  not  foimd.  But  more  on  this 
last  point  hereafter. 

In  examining  the  head  of  Mr.  Paynter,  who  now  lives  in 
Newtown,  L.  I.,  I  found  several  excrescences  or  wens,  that 
were  evidently  inserted  between  the  difierent  portions  of  the 
scalp,  and  movable.  Turning  to  examine  the  head  of  his 
daughter,  I  found  that  she  had  similar  ones.  On  inquiring 
still  farther,  I  found  that  one  of  his  'parents  had  them,  (the 
mother,  I  thiuk,)  and  one  was  just  making  its  appeaiance 
on  a  grand  davghter.  In  every  case,  they  were  not  observ- 
able in  childhood,  and  appeared  at  about  the  same  age  in  all. 

Stepping  into  the  barber's  shop  No.  2  Beeknjan  street, 
New  York,  some  conversation  was  had  in  regard  to  a  wen 
on  the  head  of  a  gentleman  who  had  just  been  shaved.  I 
asked  him  if  either  of  his  parents  had  these  wens.  He  said 
no,  biLt  his  wide  had  them.  I  asked  then  if  he  was  consid- 
ered to  resemble  that  uncle.  He  answered,  "Yes,  very  • 
much  :  I  am  taken  for  him  often."  He  was  about  sixty. — 
In  several  other  instances,  I  have  found  tlpese  wens  to  be 
hereditary,  and  traced  them  for  four  and  five  generations,  in 
the  manner  stated  above. 

The  famous  and  wonderful  account  of  the  porcupine  men^ 
recorded  in  several  scientific  works,  whose  skin  presented 
bunches,  and  hairy  substances  growing  out  on  them  quite 
'analogous  to  the  quills  of  porcupines,  which  are  moved  so  as 
to  rustle  against  one  another  and  rattle,  when  their  owners 
were  excited,  can  be  referred  to  by  the  curious  or  the  scientific, 
as  in  point.  This  peculiarity  was  traced,  I  think,  in  five 
successive  generations. 

I  know  a  lady  who  had  a  peculiar  expression  of  the  ej^e 
when  she  laughed.  Three  of  her  sisters  had  the  same  ex- 
pression ;  two  of  ber  children  have  it,  and  two  of  her  grand 
children,  and  hence  are  often  said  to  lavgh  ont  of  their  eyes. 
This  lady,  and  at  least  two  of  her  sisters  and  one  son,  have 
a  spasmodic  twitching  or  drawing  of  the  eye,  which  is 
doubtless  owing  to  the  same  cause. 


58  PHYSICAL    QUALITIES    HEREDITARY. 

Short  leg^s.  Twenty- four  fingers  and  toes.  Fleshy  parents. 

Rev.  Mr.  Colver,  in  conversing  on  the  descent  of  family 
marks,  said  that  when  attending  some  rehgious  anniversary 
in  Termont,  he  was  invited  home  by  a  Mr.  Taylor,  whose 
body  was  full  sized  and  well  proportioned,  but  whose  legs 
were  only  about  a  foot  long.^  On  accompanying  him  home, 
he  found  two  young  ladies  and  a  son,  a  1  well  formed  as  to 
body,  and  good  looking  as  they  were  silting  in  a  chair,  but 
having  feet  and  legs  like  their  father's,  so  very  short  that 
Ihey  made  a  most  singular  appearance  about  the  house,  being 
only  about  four  feet  tall,  yet  the  body  full  length,  the  de- 
formity in  the  legs  being  like  that  of  their  father. 

There  is  a  family  by  the  name  of  Ilobart,  living  in  Mid- 
dlesex, Ontario  Co.,  N.  Y.,  many  of  whom  have  five  fingers 
and  a  thumb  on  each  hand,  and  six  toes  on  each  foot.  They 
trace  back  their  ancestors  for  several  generations,  till  their 
coming  from  England  to  this  country,  and  in  every  genera- 
tion, these  four  extra  appendages  appear,  sometimes  the  extra 
finger  sticking  straight  out,  at  others,  lying  beautifully  along 
by  the  side  of  the  rest.  ■  I  think  it  descends  mainly  in  the 
7imne  of  the  family,  or  on  the  side  of  the  fathers,  though 
some  of  the  female  members  of  the  fam.ily  have  it."^ 

Several  scientific  works  mention  similar  cases,  both  of  the 
existence  of  the  extra  fingers  and  toes,  and  of  their  being 
hereditary. 

It  would  be  easy  to  show  that  fleshy  parents  usually  have 
fat  children,  which,  when  grown,  also  become  corpulent; 
and  that  whole  families  are  large  and  fleshy,  while  others 
are  lean.  And  what  is  still  more  remarkable,  we  sometimes 
find  some  families,  generation  after  generation,  which  are 
small  and  slim  till  of  a  given  age,  and  then  within  a  short 
time,  flesh  up  and  become  really  corpulent.  I  have  known 
this  occur  to  parents  and  their  children  and  grand  children, 
caused,  beyond  question,  by  hereditary  influences. 

*  A  school  mate  of  mine,  wliile  kindling  a  fire,  having  occasion  to 
throw  down  tlie  toiijrs  near  tlie  feet  of  one  of  these  six  toed  race,  without 
knowing  the  nnmhor  of  his  toes,  said  to  him — "Take  care  of  your  toes, 
or  I'll  hurn  them  off."  "Then  you'll  have  quite  a  job,  for  I've  got  six  on 
each  foot,"  was  the  reply. 


GREAT    PHYSICAL    STRENGTH    HEREDITARY.  59 

William  H.  Brown.  The  Doughiss  family-. 

A  wide  mouth,  a  double  chin,  thick  or  thin  lips,  a  long  or 
a  short  chin,  high  and  narrow  cheek  bones,  large  or  small 
hands  and  feet,  will  often  be  found  to  descend  from  parents 
to  children,  and  so  down  to  many  generations.  The  grand 
daughter  of  Dr.  Franklin,  mentioned  above,  had  the  double 
chin  of  Franklin.  Asa  Fowler,  who  is  descended  from  an 
ancestor  noted  for  the  great  size  of  his  hands  and  feet,  though 
small  in  stature,  has  this  mark  of  his  ancestor  some  five 
generations  back,  in  a  striking  degree. 

The  mother  of  William  H.  Brown,  the  profile  cutter,  men- 
tioned on  page  298  of  "Phrenology  Proved,  Illustrated  and 
Applied,"  was  in  a  room  in  which  a  cat  had  been  shut  up, 
which  they  were  trying  to  kill.  The  animal  became  despe- 
rate, and  in  one  of  its  passes,  struck  its  claw  into  her  ear, 
and  tore  a  slit  down  through  the  lower  portion  of  it.  William 
H.  Brown  has  a  similar  mark,  which  he  will  at  any  time 
allow  any  one  to  observe  ;  and  so  has  a  son  of  his.  1  think 
this  occurred  some  three  months  before  his  birth.  At  all 
events,  he  will  tell  the  story  to  others  as  it  has  been  told  to 
him. 

Any  required  number  of  similar  facts,  establishing  the 
descent  of  physical  peculiarities,  might  be  presented,  but  I 
forbear,  as  doubtless  every  reader  will  be  able  to  recur 
to  those  which  have  transpired  within  their  own  observation; 
and  if  we  dwell  too  long  on  the  transmission  of  merely 
physical  peculiarities,  we  must  abridge  that  portion  of  the 
work  relating  to  the  transmission  of  mental  and  moral  quali- 
ties. '  . 


SECTION    III. 

GREAT  PHYSICAL   STRENGTH   HEREDITARY. 

As  physical  strength  depends  somewhat  upon  the  form  and 
size  of  the  body,  the  fact  that  the  latter  are  hereditary,  im- 
plies that  the  former  is  also  hereditary.  But  we  will  not 
rely  on  a  merely  hypotbetical  inference,  to  prove  this  propo- 
sition, but  will  resort  again  io  facts.     Quotations  from  Scrip- 


60  PHYSICAL    QUALITIES    HEREDITARY. 

Little.  A  strong  woman. 

ture  already  made,  show  that  great  physical  strength  de- 
scended from  father  to  son  in  the  races  of  giants,  along  with 
their  gigantic  stature.  Scottish  history,  especially  the  his- 
tory of  the  various  clans,  and  more  particularly  that  of  the 
Douglasses^  shows  that  for  hundreds  of  years,  this  tribe  has 
been  remarkable  for  physical  strength.  In  war,  some  Doug-> 
lass  performs  some  almost  superhuman  feat  of  strength  ;  and 
in  peace,  a  Douglass  always  excels  in  those  games  of  wrest- 
ling, throwing  heavy  weights,  leaping,  lifting,  &c.,  &c.,  com- 
mon in  that  country  ;  and  most  of  the  Douglasses  1  have 
seen  in  this  country,  are  remarkable  for  the  same  quality. 

It  is  related  of  Mr.  Little,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  New- 
buryport,  that  he  carried  one  of  the  heavy  coulter  ploughs  of 
that  day,  two.  miles  on  his  back,  without  stopping.  So  re- 
markable was  this  exhibition  of  strength,  that  our  ancestors 
deemed  it  worthy  of  being  handed  down,  so  that  it  is  told  of 
him  to  this  day.  If  our  ancestors,  who  were  so  much  stronger 
than  their  puny,  feeble  descendants  of  the  present  day,  deem- 
ed it  remarkable,  surely  it  must  have  been  unparalleled  in 
our  day. 

In  the  old  E^evolntionary  war,  while  the  British  soldiers 
were  quartered  in  Boston,  rivalry  existed  between  them  and 
the  Americans,  as  to  which  could  produce  the  strongest  man 
and  the  greatest  wrestler.  England  sent  forth  her  Goliah^ 
and  the  Americans  selected  one  of  the  descendants  of  this 
very  plough-carrying  Little,  and  he  proved  a  David,  beating 
the  English  champion  with  ease  in  every  attempt.  Men 
came  from  all  parts  to  wrestle  with  him,  because  he  became 
so  renowned  for  throwing  all  antagonists. 

He  also  had  a  sister  who  was  very  strong.  One  day  she 
bantered  a  gentleman  who  called  to  wrestle  with  her  brother, 
telling  him  that  she  could  throw  him,  but  he  would  not  ac- 
cept her  challenge.  Leaving  the  room  under  pretence  of 
going  to  call  her  brother,  she  put  on  men's  clothes,  and  com- 
ing in  another  way,  had  a  wrestle  with  him,  and  floored  him 
repeatedly,  when  catching  him  up  by  his  clothes,  she  pitched 
him  out  doors'  Others  of  this  family,  both  before  and  since, 
h5ive  inherited  the  same  tremendous  power  of  muscle,  besides 
all  being  of  great  size. 


GREAT    PHYSICAL    STRENGTH    HEREDITARY.  61 

Joiiaihan  Fowler.  An  Irish  bully. 


Jonathan  Fowler,  of  Coventry,  Conn.,*  an  ancestor  of  the 
author,  was  a  man  of  extraordmary  strength.  He  was  a 
modest,  peaceable,  religious  niati,  and  never  would  fight,  yet 
he  would  wrestle  if  pressed  into  it;  and  as  to  lifting  or  la- 
boring, he  had  no  equal.  Men  came  hundreds  of  miles  to 
wrestle  with  him,  (a  practice  then  very  common,  and  re- 
garded as  a  trial  of  that  physical  strength  which  our  fore- 
fathers cultivated  and  prized  so  highly.)  but  he  never  found 
the  man  who  could  lay  him  down :  while  he  put  all  on  their 
backs  who  engaged  with  him. 

An  Irish  bully,  who  thought  he  could  whip  any  thing  that 
came  along,  hearing  that  he  was  "the  Napoleon"  of  wrest- 
lers, travelled  from  Boston  to  Connecticut  on  purpose  to  fight 
him.  His  rap  at  the  door  was  answered  by  Fowler's  sister, 
who  informed  him  that  her  brother  never  fought,  though  he 
sometimes  wrestled.  This  disappointed  him,  but  he  still 
determined  io  provoke  Fowler  to  a  fight.  At  length  the  sister 
pointed  out  her  bt6iher  as  coming  dowA  the  road.  The 
Irishman  met  him,  and  challenged  him  to  fight.  Fowler 
declined,  telling  him  he  would  wrestle,  but  that  it  was  against 
his  principles  to  fight.  The  Irishman  told  him  he  had  come 
all  this  distance  to  have  "d.  fight^  and  a  fight  he  would  Jtave, 
calling  him  a  coward,  &c.  in  order  to  provoke  him.  Fowler 
still  declining,  the  Irishman  told  him  he  Vv^ould  inake  him 
fight,  in  self-defence  if  in  no  other  \vay,  and  then  wrung  his 
nose.  Fowler  was  perfectly  cool,  and  bore  all  patiently,  but 
the  bully  waxed  hotter  and  hotter,  till  finally  taking  ofi"  his 
coat,  he  made  at  Fowler,  determined  to  knock  him  down. 
As  he  came  up,  Fowler  caught  him  by  the  shoulder,  and  be- 
ing longer-limbed  than  the  Irishman,  he  held  him  with  one 
hand  as  if  in  a  vice,  just  far  enough  oft'  to  prevent  his  doing 
any  damage,  while  he  snapped  him  in  the  face  with  his 
thumb  and  finger  till  the  bully  cried  enough,  when  Fowler 
let  go,  telling  him  to  go  back  to  Boston  and  tell  his  friends^ 
not  that  Fov/ler  whipped  him,  but  that  he  snapped  him. 

*  In  Barber's  Statistics  of  Connecticut,  under  the  head  Guilford,  the 
rxider  will  find  the  name  of  John  Fowler  on  the  list  of  the  founders  of 
the  town,  about  1645.  This  Jonathan  Fowler  was  doubtless  his  descend 
ant.     Guilford  was  also  the  native  place  of  the  author's  father. 

6 


62  PHYSICAL    QUALITIES    HEREDITARY. 

Fowler's  wrestling  abilities.  Rescuing  a  comrade. 

Another  man  came  to  wrestle,  and  just  as  they  were  about 
to  commence,  Fowler  says,  "  come,  let  us  take  something  to 
drink  first,-,'  ^nd  going,  (^wnQeUa^,^k%o<iked -out  ^l^e  bijngtO-, 
an  untapped  cider  barrel,  ancrcatcii^g  hold  of  each  end  wi*th 
one  hand,  lifted  it  to  his  mouth  and  drank  from  it,  and  set  it 
down  again,  as  one  would  drink  from  a  gallon  keg,  without 
once  touching  it  except  with  his  hands  and  mouth,  telling 
the  other  to  help  himself.  His  opponent  seeing  this,  gave  up 
beat,  and  retired. 

In  the  old  French  v/ar,  some  of  the  American  soldiers  had 
violated  some  English  marshal  law,  of  which  they  were  ig- 
norant, and  had  been  sentenced  to  run  the  gauntlet.  This 
greatly  incensed  the  Americans,  who  regarded  their  country- 
men as  innocent.  Fowler  and  another  of  fearless  spirit  and 
powerful  muscle,  determined  on  rescuing  them  ;  and  as  all 
hands  had  been  mustered  and  a  great  crowd  had  assembled 
to  witness  the  chastisement,  all  crowding  up  eager  to  see  the 
spectacle,  these  two  sons  of  Hercules  rushed  into  the  dense 
crowd,  at  two  different  points,  and  pushing  aside  those  that 
stood  in  their  way,  each  caught  up  his  man  under  one  arm, 
and  with  the  other,  parted  the  crowd,  till  they  got  them  out 
of  it  and  liberated  them.  The  strength  put  forth  in  parting 
the  crowd,  is  described  as  wonderful. 

But  this  is  not  all.  The  following  bear  story  is  told  o(  him, 
and  so  told,  and  backed  up  by  such  vouchers,  that  not  a 
doubt  of  its  truth  need  be  entertained.  The  painting  of  him 
mentioned  in  the  following  extract,  and  the  identical  bear- 
skin, 'Siwdi  that  a  very  large  one,  with  the  original  pine  knot, 
have  been  recently  seen  in  the  royal  gallery  in  Gi'eat  Britain 
by  a  friend  of  one  branch  of  the  Fowler  family,  and  can 
doubtless  now  be  seen  by  any  one  who  v/ill  take  the  trouble 
to  inquire  it  out.  The  painting  represents  Fowler  as  grasp- 
ing the  bear  with  one  arm  and  camjing  it  on  his  hip,  as  he 
actually  did  carry  it  into  the  village,  and  is  headed,  "  Jona- 
than Fowler,  the  Giant  of  America."  Unless  a  most  ex- 
traordinary feat  of  strength  and  valor  had  been  performed,  it 
would  never  have  reached  the  ears  of  the  king  of  England,  nor 
if  it  had,  would  it  have  been  deemed  worthy  of  a  historical 
paintiug.     Tne  existence  of  the  painting  and  of  the  skin  of 


GREAT    PHYSICAL    STRENGTH    HEREDTTAEY.  63 

An  interesting  bear  slory. 

the  bear  and  pine  knot,  and  the  fact  that  this  identical  story, 
without  any  material  variation,  is  in  the  mouth  of  every  old 
man  in  New  England  and  in  most  parts  of  the  West,  (for  I 
never  tell  this  story  in  my  lecture  on  hereditary  descent  with- 
out hearing  of  somebody  who  has  heard  it,)  and  told  too,  of 
Jonathan  Fowler,  of  Conn.,  may  be  relied  upon  as  unques- 
tionable vouchers  of  its  truth.  But  to  the  story,  which  is 
copied  from  the  Vermont  Republican  of  Sept.  29th,  1817, 
originally  taken  from  the  Hartford  Times. 

"  The  history  of  Gen.  Putnam  and  the  wolf  are  too  well 
known  to  need  any  elucidation.  The  writer  of  his  life,  Da- 
vid Humphreys,  has  fully  delineated  the  heroism  and  cour- 
age of  that  veteran,  and  the  many  bold  and  daring  enter- 
prizes  which  characterized  it.  in  war  and  peace.  About  the 
same  time,  as  bold  and  daring  an  attempt  to  destroy  another 
savage  monster  of»tfce  forest  was  undertaken  and  accomplish- 
ed by  Mr.  Jonathan  Fowler,  of  Coventry.  As  this  uncom- 
mon act  of  bravery  has  never  appeared  in  print,  I  will  give 
a.  short  narrative  of  the  affair,  so  that  the  youthful  part  of 
the  community  may  see  what  feats  of  valor  their  forefathers 
were  capable  of  performing.  Mr.  Fowler,  being  on  a  visit  to 
East  Windsor,  between  seventy  and  eighty  years  ago,  and 
walking  out  one  day  with  several  of  his  friends,  they  were 
suddenly  surprised  by  a  huge  bear,  who  rushed  upon  them 
from  his  place  of  concealment.  His  associates,  like  a  band 
of  choice  modern  Pettipaug  spirits,  fled  without  trying  to 
make  the  least  opposition.  The  bear  came  up  to  Mr.  Fow- 
ler, who,  although  a  man  of  great  bodily  vigor,  yet  rather 
inclined  to  corpulency,  did  not  happen  to  be  quite  so  nimble 
footed  as  his  brave  friends  were.  Finding  that  he  should 
soon  be  overtaken,  and  determining  not  to  be  attacked  in  the 
rear,  very  resolutely  faced  about  just  as  the  bear  rose  on  his 
hind  legs,  to  give  the  sweet  Indian  hug. 

"  He,  at  this  instant,  with  that  degree  of  courage  which 
was  ever  a  prevailing  characteristic  of  our  forefathers,  seized 
the  bear  by  the  throat  with  one  hand,  and  held  him  oft.  In 
the  scuffle  which  ensued,  the  bear  had  partly  got  him  down, 
while  he  begged  his  friends  to  get  a  club  and  kill  the  bear, 
but,  like  fixed  statues,   they  remained  insensible  to  his  en- 


64  PHYSICAL    QUALITIES    HEREDITARY. 

His  painting.  Seymour  Fowler  and  the  eagle. 

treaties.  At  this  time  the  old  proverb,  "  fortune  favors  the 
brave,"  was  completely  verified,  for,  happening  to  cast  his 
eyes  around,  he  espied  a  pine  knot  on  the  ground  near  him, 
which,  with  one  hand  he  reached  and  took,  while  the  other 
was  fast  hold  of  the  bear's  throat,  and  with  it  very  deliberate- 
ly beat  out  his  brains.  His  brave  companions,  after  being 
fully  satisfied  that  the  dead  bear  would  not  hurt  them,  ven- 
tured to  come  to  the  spot. 

"  His  Majesty,  the  king  of  England,  was  so  highly  pleased 
with  one  of  his  subjects  performing  so  great  a  feat  of  valor, 
that  he  ordered  him  to  be  drawn  in  the  act  of  killing  the 
bear  in  one  of  the  rooms  of  his  palace,  where  he  remains  to 
this  day. — He  was  nearly  seven  feet  high,  and  Aveighed 
about  three  hundred  pounds.  Though  very  large,  he  was 
not  fat,  most  of  his  flesh  being  muscle. 

"  The  following  anecdote  of  his  great  grand  son,  Seymour 
Fowler,  of  Coventry,  will  show  that  the  courage  of  Jonathan 
Fowler  has,  in  a  great  degree,  descended  unimpaired  to  one 
of  his  posterity.  Seymour  Fowler,  the  young  man  above 
alluded  to,  about  twenty  years  of  age,  being  in  July  last  in 
the  State  of  Ohio,  he,  in  company  with  several  others,  went 
to  Lake  Erie,  for  the  purpose  of  bathing ;  and  on  arriving  at 
the  water's  edge,  they  perceived  something  of  the  feathered 
kind  about  fifty  rods  from  the  shore,  upon  the  surface  of  the 
water.  As  none  of  the  company  could  swim  except  Fowler, 
they  very  prudently  advised  him  not  to  go  out  to  it ;  but  he 
being  determined  to  see  what  it  was,  stripped  off  his  clothes 
and  swam  within  about  a  rod  of  it.  and  finding  it  to  be  a 
monstrous  great  eagle,  thought  of  trying  to  regain  the  shore, 
without  further  molesting  his  kingly  majesty. 

"  He  accordingly  swam  for  the  shore  with  all  speed,  but 
the  eagle,  in  his  turn,  pursued  his  unwelcome  intruder. — 
Finding  he  should  soon  be  overtaken,  and  determining,  as 
his  predecessor  had  done  before  liim,  not  to  be  attacked  in  the 
rear,  he  resolutely  faced  about.  The  eagle  finding  he  had  got 
as  high  mettled  stuff' as  his  own  to  deal  with,  turned  over  on 
his  back  in  a  fighting  posture,  with  his  talons  spread  and 
erect,  the  bigness  of  a  man's  hand.  Fortunately  for  Fowler, 
he  happened  to  take  a  walking  slick  in  his  hand  at  the  time 


GREAT    PHYSICAL    STRENGTH   HEREDITARY.  65 

The  Fowlers  generally  strong. 

of  his  going  into  the  water,  and  probably  it  was  the  means 
of  saving  his  hfe.  After  being  in  the  water  for  nearly  an 
hour  in  close  combat  with  the  eagle,  and  finding  his  strength 
pretty  nigh  exhausted,  and  that  he  struck  at  him  in  vain,  he 
determined  to  make  one  more  desperate  attempt  at  the  eagle's 
hfe,  or  perish  in  the  attempt.  He  accordingly  rose  out  of  the 
water  as  far  as  he  could,  and  just  as  the  eagle  was  drawing 
himself  up  in  order  to  fix  his  talons  into  his  body,  he  aimed 
a  deadly  blow  at  his  head.  He  was  so  fortunate  as  to  hit 
him  on  the  head  and  stun  him,  so  that  taking  hold  of  one  of 
his  wings,  he  with  great  difficulty  drew  him  on  shore,  amidst 
tiie  shouts  and  acclamations  of  his  companions.  The  extent 
of  this  monster  of  the  feathered  race,  from  one  wing  to  the 
other,  was  eight  feet  and  six  and  a  half  inches;  and  some  of 
the  quills,  which  are  now  in  Coventry,  measure  nearly  one 
inch  in  circumference." 

This  bear  story  is  a  freemason's  mark  by  which  all  the 
descendants  of  this  Jonathan  Fowler,  in  whatever  part  of  the 
country  they  are  to  be  found,  recognize  each  other;  any  one 
of  them  who  can  tell  this  bear  story  of  one  of  their  ances- 
tors, being  regarded  as  genuine;  others,  not. 

The  eagle  story  I  never  heard  till  I  saw  it  a  few  days  ago 
in  the  connection  quoted  above ;  but  Seymour  Fowler's 
swimming  out  into  the  lake  a  mile,  and  then  remaining  so 
long  in  the  water,  shows  that  he  was  the  worthy  descendant 
of  the  "  giant  of  America."  And  I  have  heard  of  Fowlers  in 
all  parts  of  the  country,  in  Vermont,  in  New  Hampshire,  near 
Ogdensburg,  N.  Y.,  and  scattered  throughout  the  state,  in 
Massachusetts,  in  Mame,  in  the  far  west,  and  in  Canada, 
particularly  near  Brantford,  U.  C,  and  also  in  Bradford 
county.  Pa.,  who  descended  from  this  stock,  and  almost  to  a 
man,  are  strong  bodied,  hard  working,  stout  built  men.  Eli- 
phalet  Fowler,  my  grand  father's  brother,  was  a  tory,  (the 
only  Fowler  tory  I  ever  heard  of,  for  they  are  generally  gr6at 
lovers  of  popular  liberty^')  and  of  course  was  banished  to 
Canada.  I  visited  his  descendants  in  1840,  and  found  that 
the  old  man  was  reputed,  in  his  day,  the  strongest  man  of 
those  parts,  whether  for  lifting  or  for  wrestling,  or  for  hard 

6* 


66  PHYSICAL    QtJALITIES    HEREDITARY. 

The  author's  experience. 

work.  The  same  quality  of  strength  also  appertains  to  his 
sons,  and  to  his  grand  sons.  My  father's  family  was  brought 
up  in  Pompey,  Onondaga,  county,  N.  Y.  ;  and  some  of  the 
old  settlers,  who  knew  and  had  worked  with  my  uncle  Levi 
Fowler,  remarked  of  him  that  he  was  acknowledged  to  pile 
more  logs,  and  clear  off  more  fallow,  in  a  given  time,  than 
any  other  man  in  Pompey.  My  father  has  been  a  very 
strong,  or  at  least  a  remarkably  tough  man  ;  and  the  same  is 
true  of  my  cousins  Curtis,  in  Owego,  N.  Y.  I  saw  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Fowler  family  in  Bradford  county.  Pa.,  who  in- 
formed me  that  the  same  quality  of  physical  strength  also 
characterized  that  branch  of  this  family. 

Though  I  inherited  a  consrimptive  tendency  from  my 
mother,  and  have  been  an  invalid  since  fifteen,  yet  I  am 
able  to  perform  an  amount  of  mental  labor  and  of  speaking 
which  would  kill  any  but  a  descendant  of  "the  giant."  I 
have  lectured  to  crowded  houses,  in  close  rooms,  every  even- 
ing in  the  week.  Sabbath  evening  (on  temperance)  included, 
and  I  seldom  lecture  much  less  than  two  hours,  and  usually 
longer,  and  in  a  highly  energetic  manner,  and  examine  heads 
all  day,  from  the  time  I  rise  in  the  morning  till  lecture  time, 
and  often  after  lectures  till  midnight,  and  have  followed  it 
for  ten  years,  and  am.  now  more  vigorous  than  when  I  began. 
When  I  am  not  talking  incessantly,  (and  I  always  speak 
loud,)  I  am  writing  characters  or  composing  my  works,  most 
of  which  have  been  written  after  the  exhausting  labors  of  the 
day  and  evening  just  enumerated.  And  even  now,  while 
writing  this  paragraph,  the  clock  has  struck  three  in  the 
morning.  For  four  months,  I  have  rarely  retiied  till  after 
twelve,  and  frequently  written  till  daylight.  All  tell  me  I 
am  killing  myself,  but  I  feel  no  signs  of  it,  and  I  see  none 
except  gray  looks.  I  am  probably  just  beginning  my  labors. 
Nor  do  I  know  scarcely  one  of  the  true  breed,  wlio  have  not 
an  astonishing  amount  of  wear  and  tear  in  them. 

If  any  apology  be  required  for  the  above  allusions  to  my- 
eolf  and  ancestors,  it  is,  that  they  come  fully  authenticated, 
are  in  point,  and  are  none  the  less  facts  or  worthy  of  record, 
because  I  and  mine  are  the  subject  of  them. 


OREAT    PHYSICAL    STRENGTH    HEREDITARY.  67 

The  Belgian  giant.  Feeble  parents  have  weakly  chiKlreii. 

Mons.  J.  A.  J.  Bihin,  who  was  exhibited  a  few  years  ago 
in  this  country,  measures  nearly  seven  feet  and  a  half  in 
height;  four  feet  and  two  inches  around  the  chest;  twenty- 
eight  inches  around  the  thigh,  and  twenty-two  inches  around 
the  calf  of  the  leg;  being,  throughout,  symmetrically  formed. 
His  weight  is  three  hundred  and  twenty  pounds. 

M.  Bihin  was  born  at  Spa,  in  Belgium,  Dec.  10,  1807.  His 
height,  at  birth,  he  says,  was  twenty-five  inches,  and  his 
weight  twenty-six  pounds.  At  twelve  years  of  age  his  height 
was  five  feet  ten  inches,  and  at  fourteen  it  was  over  six  feet. 
He  says  he  can  lift  from  the  ground,  with  his  hands,  eight 
hundred  pounds,  and  straighten  his  back,  when  stooping, 
under  a  weight  of  two  tons.  His  parents  were  both  stout 
built,  but  short;  but  his  grand  father^  on  his  father's  side, 
was  a  very  large  man,  nearly  his  size,  and  so  was  his  great 
grand  father,  and  both  very  stout.  This  the  author  learned 
from  his  own  mouth. 

I  have  met  with  similar  facts  touching  the  descent  of 
physical  strength  in  all  portions  of  the  country;  but  enough 
on  this  point.  Let  us  reverse  the  tables,  and  remark  that 
physical  weakness  and  debility,  as  well  as  muscular  strength, 
are  hereditary,  as  is  evident  from  the  fact  that  the  children  of 
most  feeble  parents  are  feeble,  and  die  young.  Reader,  hast 
thou  never  seen  a  sickly,  delicate  mother  have  children  too 
weak  to  be  borne,  or  so  fec-ble  that  every  possible  care  must 
be  taken  to  keep  soul  and  body  together,  lest  the  least  ad- 
verse wind  should  blow  them  asunder  7  Indeed,  how  rarely 
do  healthy  parents  have  sickly  children,  unless  rendered 
sickly  after  birth  ;  and  how  rarely  do  feeble  parents  rear 
their  children  7  And  when  they  do,  it  is  because  one  or  both 
the  parents  were  originally  strong  constitutioned,  and  re- 
tained and  propagated  that  primitive  stamp  in  spite  of  their 
disease.  That  law  which  governs  the  vegetable  kingdom, 
namely,  that  the  seed  must  be  gathered  from  the  largest  and 
finest  of  the  crop ;  that  the  sprouts  of  a  nurly  tree  are  them- 
selves nurly,  and  of  thrifty  ones,  thrifty;  that  principle  in 
the  descent  of  animals  which  Jacob  employed  in  putting  his 
pealed  rods  before  the  largest  and  fattest  of  the  cattle  only^ 


6S  PHYSICAL    QUALITIES    HEREDITARY. 

']'lie  Brevoort  fnmily.  Cases  of  longevity. 

(see  Gen.  xxx.  37 — 43,)  also  appertains  to  man.  Healthy 
parents  impart  health  to  their  children,  but  sickly  parents 
have  sickly,  puny,  pale,  whining  children,  that  die  young. 
But  the  proposed  limits  of  our  work  forbid  our  dwelling 
longer  on  this  point. 


SECTION  IV. 


LENGTH   OF  LIFE   HEREDITARY. 


"  And  Jacob  said  unto  Pharaoh.  The  days  of  the  years  of  my  pilgrimage  are  an  hun- 
dred and  thirty  years;  few  and  evil  have  the  days  of  the  years  of  my  life  been,  and 
Lave  not  attained  unto  the  days  of  the  years  of  the  life  of  my  fathers,  in  the  days  ot  their 

pilgrimage." — Gen.  xlvii.  9. 

That  some  families  are  long-lived,  and  others  short-lived, 
"in  all  their  generations,"  is  a  fact  so  notorious,  so  obvious 
to  all  who  will  take  the  trouble  to  make  observations,  that  it 
is  in  fact  forced  home  upon  the  cognizance  of  all,  so  that  it 
requires  little  proof,  and  little  illustration,  but  merely  to  have 
attention  called  to  this  subject.  The  papers  recently  recorded 
the  death  of  Henry  Brevoort,  of  the  Bowery,  New  York,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  one  hundred  and  four  years.  Most  of 
the  Brevoort  family  have  lived  to  be  very  old,  both  before 
him  and  since.  One  of  the  descendants  of  a  brother.  Com. 
Brevoort,  who  fought  under  Perry  on  Lake  Erie,  is  now  liv- 
ing in  Detroit,  Mich.,  and  is  an  old  man.  His  father  lived 
to  be  old ;  so  did  his  father's  brother,  and  indeed  most  of  the 
family. 

Alcott's  Teacher  of  Health  for  1843,  page  315,  in  an  article 
on  temperance  as  a  means  of  preserving  life,  gives  the  follow- 
ing valuable  facts  touching  the  descent  of  longevity  : — "  A 
woman  was  living,  quite  recently,  at  Glasgow,  Scotland, 
130  years  of  age.  For  a  century  she  had  not  felt  pain.  Her 
father  died  at  the  age  of  120,  and  her  grand  father  at  129 
years  of  age.  A  woman  died  in  the  west  of  England,  a  few- 
years  ago,  at  the  age  of  110,  leaving  450  descendants.  Tair- 
ville,  in  Shetland,  a  water  drinker,  lived  to  the  age  of  108. 


LENGTH    OF    LIFE    HEREDITARY.  69 

Old  Parr  aiiH  his  descpndriiils.  flJcDonald.  The  opium  taker. 

His  son  lived  longer  than  he,  and  his  grand  children  lived  to 
a  great  age." 

The  following  is  cut  from  a  newspaper,  and  is  inserted 
without  the  author's  endorsement,  for  he  has  not  examined 
the  antlienticity  of  the  facts  stated,  though  they  are  doubtless 
so  : — "  The  celebrated  Thomas  Parr  was  born  in  the  reign 
of  Henry  the  Fourth,  and  was  taken  to  London  by  Lord 
Arundel,  in  1635,  and  introduced  to  Charles  the  Second;  but 
the  change  of  situation  and  his  altered  mode  of  life,  particu- 
larly drinking  wine,  soon  proved  fatal  to  a  constitution  ac- 
customed t-o  more  abstemious  habits,  and  he  died  the  same 
year,  at  the  age  of  152.  One  of  Old  Parr's  sons  died  at  the 
age  of  109.  A  grand  son  died  aged  113;  and  Robert  Parr,  a 
.great  grand  son,  died  Sept.  21,  1757,  aged  124.  A  peculiar 
trait  in  the  character  of  these  four  generations  of  Parrs,  was 
their  temperate  habits." 

On  page  117  of  Dr.  Alcott's  Library  of  Health  for  1840, 
we  find  the  following: — "We  were  personally  acquainted 
with  the  late  Donald  McDonald,  of  quarrelsome  mpmory, 
who  was  sent  to  the  House  of  Correction  for  a  street  brawl, 
when  about  105  years  old.  At  the  age  of  108  he  enjoyed 
excellent  health,  notwithstanding  an  immoderate  use  of  to- 
bacco, and  a  proneness  to  get  absolutely  drunk  whenever  he 
had  an  opportunity.  The  father  of  Donald  lived  to  be  137, 
in  Scotland ;  and  no  one  knows  when  he  would  have  died, 
had  he  not  been  accidentally  killed." 

The  next  page  of  the  same  work  contains  the  following: — 
"A  former  neighbor  of  ours  died  at  the  age  of  80,  who  had 
taken  opium,  not  moderately,  but  immoderately,  at  least  forty 
years.  The  father  of  the  opium  taker  lived  to  the  age  of  97. 
When  he  died,  he  had  been  the  progenitor  of  19  children, 
105  grand  children.  155  great  grand  children,  and  four  of  the 
fifth  generation.  Many  of  his  children  reached  the  age  of 
80  or  90.  They  evidently  possessed  very  strong  constitutions, 
the  opium  taker  among  the  rest." 

Statements  like  the  above,  occur  very  frequently  in. news- 
papers, and  are  confirmed  by  every  day  observations.  Length 
of  life  appertains   to  the  great  majority  of  the  Woodbury 


70  PHYSICAL    QUALITIES    HEREDITARY. 

Length  of  life  hereditary.  Booth.  Kendal!. 

family,  to  which  allusion  has  already  been  made.  It  also 
appertains  to  the  Webster  family ;  the  fifth  ancestor  of  Daniel 
Webster  having  taken  a  wife  after  he  was  ninety.  Franklin 
lived  to  a  considerable  age ;  and  so  do  the  Folgers  and  the 
Tappans  already  mentioned.  Most  of  the  Fowler  family 
alluded  to  in  the  preceding  section,  are  long-lived.  Indeed, 
physical  strength  and  long  life  usually  accompany  each  other. 
So  abundant  are  facts  of  this  kind,  that  it  is  hardly  necessary 
to  particularize.  In  my  phrenological  examinations,  I  usually 
attempt  to  predict  the  age  of  the  grand  parent  after  whom 
the  person  examined  takes,  and  usually  come  within  five 
years  of  it.  I  even  venture  to  make  these  predictions  in  my 
public  lectures;  and  those  who  have  listened  to  my  exami- 
nations in  New  York,  in  Boston,  and  elsewhere,  will  bear  me 
witness  that  I  predict  the  age  of  nearly  every  one  who  comes 
forward,  and  seldom  err  more  than  five  years.  A  statistical 
record  of  these  cases  would  be  well  worth  reading,  and  would 
present  this  point  in  its  true  light.  I  will  insert  a  few  as 
samples. 

At  my  lecture  in  Boston  on  Hereditary  Descent,  Oct.  5, 
1843,  I  requested  a  gentleman  to  come  forward,  and  remark- 
ed that  his  grand  father,  on  his  father's  side,  lived  to  be  at 
least  ninety-five,  and  asked  him  what  the  fact  was.  He 
replied,  above  a  hundred.  The  reader  will  see  that  I  not 
-only  predicted  the  fact  that  his  ancestors  were  long-lived,  but 
I  told  which  ancestor.  I  saw  that  he  resembled  his  father, 
and  therefore  inferred  that  his  powerful  vital  apparatus  came 
through  him. 

Of  another  then  on  the  stage,  I  remarked  that  his  father 
probably  lived  to  be  eighty-five.  The  answer  was,  eighty- 
two,  and  then  died  of  gout,  which  afiiicted  him  about  sixty 
years. 

To  Mr.  Booth,  of  Portsmouth,  I  remarked  that  his  grand 
parents  on  one  side  lived  to  be  from  eight5r-five  to  ninety 
years  old.  He  said  that  some  of  them  exceeded  ninety,  and 
all  except  those  now  alive,  had  reached  eighty. 

To  W.  B.  Kendall,  of  Boston,  in  answer  to  his  question 
how  long  his  grand  parents  lived,  1  said,  they  were  second 


LENGTH    OF    LIFE    HEREDITARY.  71 

Horton.  A  clay's  practice.  General  practice. 

Methuselahs.     He  made  answer  that  his  grand  father  Ken- 
dall lived  to  be  one  hundred  and  one, 

I  said  to  Mr.  Horton,  merchant  in  Milk  street,   Boston, 
whose  firm  does  the  largest  business  but  one  in  the  city,  your 
ancestors  lived  to  be  nearly  one  hundred.     One  of  them  lived 
to  be  ninety-two.     The  two  last  occurred  on  the  evening  of 
Saturday,  Oct.  7th.     On  the  6th,  I  told  a  gentleman  that  his 
grand  parents  on  one  side,  (and  I  told  which,)  lived   to  be 
ninety-five  or  over.     He  said  the  grand  parent  I  specified, 
lived  to  be  one  hundred  and  two.     Of  another  gentleman's 
grand  parents  I  said,  one  of  them  lived  to  be  ninety-five.    One 
of  them  did  live  to  be  ninety-two.     Of  those  of  another  be- 
longing to  the  same  party,  I  predicted  ninety  :  above  eighty- 
seven  was  theanswer.     Of  another  of  the  party  1  said,  your 
mother  was  consumptive,  and  is  probably  dead.     She  died 
of  consumption  at  about  the  age  of  forty.     If  the  son  reaches 
that  age,  he  will  exceed  my  prediction  as  to  his  age. 
'  All  these  cases  occurred  within  three  days  ;  nor  are  these 
by  any  means  all,  but  they  are  selected  as  samples  merely  of 
what  is  continually  occurring  in  the  authors  phrenological 
practice.     Many  think  it  presumption  to  pretend  even  to  tell 
whether  the  parentage  of  persons  were  long-lived  or  short- 
lived, and  think  it  consummate  folly  to  pretend  to  tell  the 
number  of  years  that  parents  or  grand  parents  lived,  but  the 
fact  surprises  myself  that  I  scarcely  ever  vary  ten  years,  and 
usually  come  within  five.     True,  I  have  one  disadvantage, 
namely,  the  habits  of  these  ancestors  might  have  hastened  or 
lengthened    their  lives  ;    but  then   again,   those  habits    that 
shortened  their  lives)  weakened  the  constitutions  of  their  de- 
scendants, and  lessened  those  signs  or  indices  of  long  life  on 
which  I  predicated  these  results. 

By  the  same  indications  of  vitality  from  which  I  infer  the 
age  of  grand  parents,  I  infer  also  that  of  the  person  himself. 
Both  the  general  amount  of  vital  stamina  in  a  person  can  be 
ascertained,  and  about  the  rate  at  which  he  is  using  it,  and 
the  two  together  will  furnish  data  for  a  pretty  correct  pro- 
phecy as  to  about  the  age  which  the  person  examined  will 
reach.     If  he  have  a  great  supply  of  animal  life,  and  labor 


72  PHYSICAL    QUALITIES    HEREDITARY. 

Do  not  trifle  with  health.  Parents  and  children. 


about  hard  enough  to  work  it  up,  but  not  so  hard  as  to  ex- 
haust himself,  he  is  hkely  to  live  long.  If  he  be  indolent 
and  luxurious,  or  if  he  over-tax  himself,  he  will  die  the 
sooner.  True,  we  can  predict  neither  the  day  nor  the  hour 
when  the  person  examined  will  die,  for  if  he  should  tie  a 
stone  around  his  neck  and  throw  himself  into  the  sea,  or  if 
be  swallow  poison,  or  shoot  a  bullet  through  his  heart,  or 
chew  tobacco,  or  is  a  drunkard,  or  has  formed  habits  preju- 
dicial to  health,  he  will  not  be  likely  to  live  as  long  as  his 
ancestors  lived,  and  may  die  young,  though  they  lived  to  be 
old.  Let  no  one  presume  to  violate  the  laws  of  life  and 
health,  because  his  ancestors  were  long-lived,  and  think  his 
chance  for  life  therefore  good  ;  but  let  him  rather  cherish  the 
gift,  and  hand  down  to  posterity  constitutions  cjuite  as  strong 
as  that  he  received  from  his  predecessors."^  Besides,  our  race 
is  rapidly  degenerati7ig,  both  as  to  long  life  and  strength,  and 
also  in  power  of  intellect. 

The  converse  of  this  principle,  that  length  of  life  is  heredi- 
tary, is  also  true.  The  children  of  those  who  die  young, 
seldom  live  to  be  aged,  except  where  a  grand  parent  lived  to 
be  aged,  or  a  parent's  death  was  caused  or  hastened  by  cli- 
mate, or  at  least  hastened  by  accident,  or  bad  habits,  or  ex- 
posure, or  carelessness,  or  some  violation  of  the  laws  of  life. 
Hence  it  is  that  feeble  families  are  apt  to  run  out,  and  that 
those  having  the  greatest  amount  of  vital  stamina,  become 
proportionally  the  more  numerous — a  wise  arrangement 
surely,  and  one  that  must  soon  sweep  many  of  the  families 
of  the  present  day  into  dark  oblivion. 

Life  insurance  offices  always  inquire  about  the  ages  of 
parents  and  grand  parents,  and  charge  less  the  longer  their 
life;  but  as  this  doctrine  is  closely  allied  to  that  of  the  last 
section,  as  well  as  to  the  one  that  follows,  and  so  easy  to  be 
observed,  let  us  pass  to  the  inquiry  whether  diseases  are  or 
are  not  hereditary. 

*  "For  in  jiKigirig  (ndvihing)  another,  thou  condemnest  also  thyself," 
«  But  the  servant  that  knoweth  his  master's  will  (the  laws  of  life)  and 
doeth  it  not,  tiie  same  shall  be  beaten  with  many  stripes." 


CONSUMPTION    HEREDITARY.  73 

'I'lie  cliildfen  of  consumptive  parents  inlierit  the  disease.  Two  cases. 

CHAPTER    IV. 

DISEASES   HEREDITARY. 
SECTION  I. 

CONSUMPTION   HEREDITARY. 

Having  shown  that  length  of  hfe,  or  the  period  at  which 
death  naturally  occurs,  is  hereditary,  that  is,  that  the  children 
of  long-lived  ancestors,  other  things  being  the  same,  will  live 
proportionally  longer  than  those  born  of  short-lived'^arents 
and  grand  parents,  and  that  other  physical  peculiarities  de- 
scend from  parents  to  children,  let  us  proceed  to  investigate 
the  influence  of  diseases  in  parents  upon  the  life  and  health 
of  their  ofl:spring.  And  in  prosecuting  this  subject,  it  should 
first  be  remarked  that  consumption  is  hereditary.  The  evi- 
dence of  this  proposition  is  within  the  observation  of  every 
one  Avho  will  open  his  eyes  upon  \\\e  facts  which  every  where 
abound  in  proof  and  illustration  of  it.  To  present  isolated 
facts  showing  that  the  children  of  consumptive  parents  and 
grand  parents  are  more  likely  to  be  consumptive  than  the 
oifspring  of  healthy  parents,  seems  to  be  almost  a  work  of 
supererogation,  because  the  fact  is  so  almost  universal  that 
few  exceptions  occur,  and  the  difficulty  is  to  select  from  the 
vast  number  of  melancholy  evidences  of  its  truth.  Where 
parents  are  consumptive,  it  is  rarely  that  the  children  and 
grand  children  are  not  so ;  and  when  they  are  not,  these  few 
exceptions  are  to  be  accounted  for  on  the  principle,  that  those 
who  are  not  consumptive,  take  after  a  parent  or  grand  parent 
who  was  not  afflicted  with  this  scourge  of  humanity. 

It  may  perhaps  be  in  place  to  cite  a  few  cases  as  illustra- 
tions merely  of  this  great  law  of  propagation.  A  gentleman 
in  Beverly,  Mass.,  buried  a  wife  and  ten  children,  all  of 
whom  fell  victims  to  this  fell  destroyer.  The  mother  of  Mrs.^ 
H.  died  of  consumption  at  about  twenty-five ;  Mrs.  H.  died 
at  about  twenty-three,  and  left  a  daughter  who  has  small 
hmgs,  great  mental  activity  and  nervous  excitability,  and  a 
scrofulous  affection,  which  is  now  generally  regarded  as  one 


74  DISEASES    HEREDITARY. 


Facts  in  the  author's  practice.  The  author's  own  case. 

form  of  conGiimption,  and  identical  with  it.  Not  a  day  occurs 
in  which,  in  my  professional  examinations,  I  do  not  say  of 
some  applicant,  "your  family  is  consumptive,"  and  I  gener- 
ally tell  on  which  side  the  consumptive  tendency  occurs. 
Two  examples  of  this  kind  have  occurred  this  very  day.  I 
said  to  a  gentleman,  "  Some  of  your  relatives  on  your  fath- 
er's side,  if  not  your  own  father,  have  died  of  consumption." 
lie  remarked  that  his  father  had  buried  every  one  of  his 
brothers  and  sisters  of  that  disease.  Of  a  lad  examined,  I 
said,  turning  to  his  mother,  "  you  or  your  family  are  con- 
sumptive, and  your  boy  v/ill  not  live  to  be  twenty,  unless 
you  turn  over  a  new  leaf  with  him."  The  remark  drew 
tears  into  the  mother's  eyes;  and  admitting  that  her  family 
were  consumptive,  she  e'agerly  inquired  how  it  could  be  pre- 
vented. I  gave  her  the  advice  that  will  be  found  in  the  next 
section — advice  which,  if  taken  in  season,  I  give  as  a  pana- 
cea to  every  one  at  all  consumptive:  Within  six  months,  I 
have  probably  made  a  similar  prediction  in  regard  to  one 
thousand  persons,  and  have  yet  to  commit  the  first  error  on 
this  point.  Sometimes,  at  first,  I  am  considered  wrong,  but 
a  little  reflection  always  recalls  some  near  blood  relation  who 
is  in  a  consumption,  or  has  died  of  it. 

The  mother  of  the  author  died  of  this  disease,  at  the  age 
of  thirty-six;  but  her  otherwise  strong  constitution  withstood 
its  action  for  seven  years  after  it  was  seated.  Some  ten  years 
ago,  a  daughter  of  my  mother's  brother  died  of  this  disease, 
and  within  a  year  it  has  carried  a  beloved  aunt  to  her  "long 
home."  At  the  age  of  fifteen,  the  author  was  attacked  with 
an  affection  of  the  lungs,  which  brought  him  very  low,  and 
resisted  the  treatment  of  medicine,  but  yielded  to  that  of  diet, 
(sweetened  buttermilk  mainly,  and  a  syrup  recommended  by 
a  neighborhood  doctress.)  Three  years  afterwards  it  was 
brought  on  by  attending  evening  singing  schools  while  af- 
flicted with  a  severe  cold  ;  and  returned  again  Vv'hile  1  wa'is 
in  college,  so  as  to  compel  me  to  fall  back  a  year.  And  when 
T  commenced  praciisiiig  phrenology,  my  lungs  were  so  tender 
that  I  could  not  endure  to  be  in  a  room  warmed  by  coal, 
because  the  gas  irritated  my  lungs  so  much.  My  voice  was 
also  too  feeble  to  be  heard  by  a  large  audience.     It  should  be 


CONSUMPTION    HEREDITARY.  7b 

Actual  disease  hereditar}'.  Former  error  on  this  subject. 

___^ • — 

added,  that  I  take  after  my  rnotlier,  probably  more  than  after 
my  father;  and  the  nile  will  be  found  general,  that  if  a  child 
looks  like,  or  takes  his  general  form  of  body,  face,  and  head, 
from  a  parent  who  is  consumptive,  or  whose  kindred  are 
subject  to  this  disease,  this  child  also  will  be  subject  to  it. 
But  if  he  resemble,  in  looks  and  character,  another  parent 
who  is  long-lived,  he  also  may  expect  to  be  long-lived,  yet 
should  remember  that  his  children  are  again  liable  to  con- 
sumption. Hence,  if  any  reader  finds  that  he  or  she  takes 
after  a  parent  or  a  family  members  of  which  occasionally 
drop  off  by  this  disease,  let  them  beware,  and  sedulously 
employ  the  advice  given  in  the  section  following. 

Until  recently,  the  doctrine  has  obtained,  that  the  child 
derives  no  actual  disease  from  the  parent,  only  a  tendency  or 
2)redisj)osition  towards  it — that,  for  example,  parents  who  had 
diseased  lungs,  did  not  actually  transmit  diseased  lungs  to 
their  offspring,  but  only  lungs  that  were  small  and  feeble, 
without  any  actual  disease  seated  on  them.  But  recent  dis- 
coveries, especially  those  made  by  Louis,  a  French  physi- 
cian of  celebrity,  go  far  to  prove  that  actual  disease  is  trans- 
mitted. He  claims  to  have  found  tubercles  in  the  lungs  of 
infants  at  hirth.  If  this  be  the  fact,  not  only  is  the  principle 
of  the  transmission  of  consumption  demonstrated^  but  the 
general  theory  will  also  be  established,  that  the  same  is  true 
of  the  gout,  apoplexy,  insanity,  &c.  &c.,  and  also  that  both 
virtuous  and  vicious  inclinations  are  transmitted — a  theory 
of  which  this  is  by  no  means  the  only  proof.  As  before  re- 
marked, the  mimitia  with  which  the  qualities,  and  all  the 
qualities  of  the  parents  are  found  stamped  on  their  offspring, 
is  certainly  most  extraordinary,  every  quality  of  both  being 
reflected  in  this  mirror  of  nature.  If  small  lungs  and  large 
lungs,  irritable  lungs  and  strong  lungs,  weak  and  strong,  and 
large  and  small  muscles,  large  and  small  bones,  &c.,  &c.,  are 
transmitted,  it  is  perfectly  analogous  to  suppose  that  even  a 
state  oi  disease  is  transmitted.  If,  as  already  ^een,  and  as  is 
completely  established  by  facts,  the  various  conditions  of  pa- 
rents are  transmitted  to  their  children,  what  reason  can  there 
be  why  actucd  disease  may  not  also  be  transmitted'? 


76  DISEASES    HEREDITARY. 

I'roof  derived  from  the  venereal  disease.  A  case. 

But  there  is  another  class  of  proofs  of  this  important  point. 
The  venereal  disease,  the  penalty  of  licentiousness,  is  cer- 
tainly hereditary — not  a  susceptibility  merely,  nor  a  p?~edispo~ 
sitio?i,  but  the  very  disease  itself,  in  its  distinctive  foiQU,  and 
in  all  its  virulence  of  character.  Not  nnfrequently  are  the 
children  of  licentious  parents  often  actually  rotten  v/ith  this 
terrible  disease  at  birth,*  and  the  most  pitiable  and  loathe- 
some  objects  imaginable,  and  before  it  is  possible  for  them  to 
be  afflicted  with  it  by  a^riy  means  other  than  by  hereditary 
influences.  Sometimes  they  lose  the  use  of  some  of  their 
limbs  for  life,  or  are  afflicted  with  abscesses,  or  have  their 
joints  all  drawn  out  of  shape,  from  this  cause.  I  know  a 
young  man,  the  son  of  a  virtuous  father  and  mother,  but  of  a 
mother  who  had  received  the  disease  from  a  previous  hus- 
band notoriously  licentious,  whose  hip  joints  were  drawn  out 
of  shape  most  horribly,  and  who  had  several  other  unequivo- 
cal marks  of  the  disease,  which  he  will  carry  to  his  grave. 
The  mother'' s  health  was  improved  thereby,  and  her  blood 
cleansed  from  the  poisonous  virus. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  detail  cases  of  this  character,  for 
they  are  too  numerous  and  too  striking  to  require  it,  but  it  is 
necessary  to  warn  erring,  passionate  youth,  that  these  viola- 
tions of  the  law  of  chastity  and  morality,  are  certain  not  only 
to  corrupt  their  own  blood  and  taint  their  own  constitutions 
with  this  painful  and  loathesome  disease;  but  also  thereby  to 
be  "visited  upon  their  children,  and  children's  children,  unto 
the  third  and  fourth  generations."  Nor  can  they  escape;  for 
just  as  far  as  the  parent  is  affected  by  it,  (and  how  can  there 

*  "  A  case  lately  occurred  in  England,  as  we  learn  from  the  London 
Lancet,  in  which  the  contraction  of  syphilis,  immediately  after  marriage, 
or  the  cure  of  the  disea.«e  by  mercury,  or  both,  was  "visited  "  upon  sev- 
eral successive  children.  Though  born  small,  they  appeared  healthy  till 
five  or  six  weeks  after  birth,  wlien  they  all  became  affected  with  a  dis^ 
order  resembling  leprosy,  of  which  they  died.  It  should  be  observed, 
moreover,  that  the  mothernot  only  recovered  of  her  disease,  but  remained 
well  for  some  time  before  the  birth  of  her  first  child.— How  little  are 
people  aware  of  the  evil  conse(juences  of  transgression,  not  only  after, 
but  before  marriage  !  There  is  a  day  cOminjj  which  will  tell  a  tale  on 
this  subject,  calculated  to  make  the  world,  even  some  of  the  best  portions 
of  it,  tremble." — Teachtr  of  Health. 


CONSUMPTION    HEREDITARY.  77 

CoDSuniplive  persons  should  not  become  parents, 

be  indulgence  without  injuiy,)  just  so  far  will  the  "posterity, 
perhaps  for  many  generations  to  come,  also  be  affected.  As 
important  a  law  as  that  of  moral  purity,  cannot  be  violated 
without  incurring  proportionate  penalty,  inflicted  not  en  the 
offender  alone,  but  on  all  that  proceed  from  his  loins.  And 
there  is  probably  no  vice  miore  prolific  of  scrofula  and  con- 
sumption, (both  one  and  the  same  disease,)  than  this  viola- 
tion of  the  law  of  moral  purity.     Let  the  young  beware  ! 

But  to  return.  As  this  disease  is  certainly  hereditary,  and 
often  inflicts  scrofula  and  consumption  upon  the  progeny  of 
the  offender,  the  inference  that  consumption  is  also  heredi- 
tary— that,  in  common  with  the  disease  just  named,  actnal 
consvm/pi'ion  is  transmitted — not  a  tendency,  not  a  predispo- 
sition to  it  merely — is  at  least  founded  in  analogy.  Those 
therefore  who  are  consumptive,  especially  if  the  predisposi- 
tion is  any  Avay  marked,  should  not  marry^  or  marrying, 
should  not  become  parents,  lest  their  children  be  ushered  into 
existence  merely  to  bloom  and  to  be  cut  off  just  as  they  begin 
to  enjoy  life,  and  lest  your  own  hearts  be  rent  asunder 
by  the  bitterest  of  pangs — the  pangs  of  disappointed  parental 
love.  Or  perhaps  they  may  live  to  become  young  men  and 
v/omen,  and  to  form  connubial  attachments  only  to  be  blight- 
ed, and  thus  to  break  the  heart  of  an  innocent  victim  of  your 
own  folly.  Or  if  yourc'?r?i  children  are  not  thus  unfortunate, 
your  grand  children,  (unless  means  are  taken  to  prevent  it,) 
will  be  alm-ost  certain  to  be  torn  from  the  pleasures  of  life, 
just  as  the^y  are  beginning  fairly  to  enter  upon  them,  and  to 
break  the  hearts  of  parents  and  those  who  have  beconie  en- 
deared to  them.  This  matter  can  be  calculated  beforehand, 
and  the  air.ount  of  tte  consumptive  liability  determined,  with 
certainty  ;  and  if  that  liability  be  considerable,  parents  should 
abstain,  not  from  the  pleasures  of  beconiing  parents,  but  from 
tlie  pains.  Parents  should  consult  their  own  highest  happi- 
ness in  this  matter,  and  that  is,  if  a  part  or  all  cf  their  chil- 
dren are  likely  to  die.  not  to  become  parents,  not  to  com.mit 
infanticide,  not  to  entail  a  blighting  curse  on  those  they  v/ill 
love  so  dearly  ;  for  in  seeking  their  oiv7i  highest  good,  they 
thereby  seek  that  of  their  offspring;  because  those  conditions 

7* 


78  DISEASES    HEREDITARY. 


Coiisumpiive  families  lalentecl.  Cou.sumption  may  be  comracied. 

that  make  either  happy  or  miserable,  make  the  other  propor- 
tionally so. 

It  should,  however,  be  added,  that  if  the  probabilities  are 
ill  favor  of  healthy  offspring,  then  they  are  at  liberty,  nay, 
commanded,  to  "multiply  and  replenish  the  earth."  And 
these  probabilities  are  greatly  increased  where  the  consump- 
tive parent  is  I'ising  above  the  tendency,  rather  than  sinking 
beneath  it.  If  the  tendency  be  very  considerable,  yet  if  by 
following  the  advice  soon  to  be  given,  or  by  any  other  means, 
the  parent  be  actually  obviating  this  tendency,  the  danger  is 
far  less  than  if  he  be  equally  afflicted  with  it,  and  becoming 
still  more  so  by  the  disease  groiciiig-  upon  him. 

If  the  parent  have  that  tendency,  yet  not  so  much  but  that, 
with  proper  care  on  his  part  and  on  that  of  the  children,  the 
tendency  may  be  arrested,  the  children  will  be  even  the 
gainers  5  for,  all  the  consumptive  families  I  have  ever  seen, 
have  been  unusually  talented.  Indeed,  it  is  the  predominance 
of  the  brain  and  nervous  temperament  over  the  vital,  which 
constitutes  the  consumptive  tendency.  Now  if  the  vital  ap- 
paratus can  be  so  cultivated  as  not  to  allow  the  mental  to 
break  it  down,  this  extra  development  of  the  mental  appa- 
ratus will  only  augment  the  talents. 

It  should  be  added,  that  consumption  may  be  contracted 
ill  a  parent  not  constitutionally  predisposed  to  it;  and  then 
be  transmitted,  so  that  his  children  will  be  predisposed  to  it. 
But  this  is  far  mor-e  favorable  to  the  child  than  if  it  has  de- 
scended for  several  generations.  It  may  be  contracted  in  one 
generation,  (this  is  my  own  case,  it  being  traced  back  no 
farther  than  my  mother  and  her  sisters.)  and  either  arrested 
in  the  next,  so  that  the  race  may  be  restored,  or  it  may  be 
augmented  in  the  second,  and  handed  down  thus  increased 
to  the  next  generation,  and  so  on.  And  every  parent  is 
bound  to  do  what  he  can  to  arrest  its  progress,  and  lessen 
the  evil  in  those  that  come  after  him.  By  pursuing  this 
course,  it  might  soon  be  banished  from  any  family,  hovv'ever 
predisposed.  Those  who  cannot  both  v/ithstand  the  tendency 
tlieraselves,  and  impart  to  their  children  suflicient  vital  stam- 
itia  to  lessen  the  tendency  in  them,  or  at  least  to  arrest  its 
farther  progress,  should  not  become  parents. 


CONSUMPTION    HEREDITARY. 


Extract  from  Sir  James  Clark. 


After  writing  the ,  above,  in  conversing  with  Dr.  Allen,  of 
Lowell,  on  this  point,  he  called  ray  attention  to  the  following 
remarks  on  this  subject  by  Sir  James  Clark,  physician  to 
the  Queen  of  England  and  her  mother — as  high  medical 
authority  as  can  be  quoted.  It  is  inserted  not  so  much  be- 
cause the  fact  that  consumption  is  hereditary  requires  proof, 
but  because  it  contains  many  valuable  suggestions  in  regard 
to  the  transmission  of  this  disease,  which,  besides  being  val- 
uable in  themselves,  harmonize  with  suggestions  made  in  the 
preceding  pages. 

THE  CAUSES  OF  TUBERCULOUS  CACHEXIA. 

^^  Hereditary  Origin. — That  pulmonary  consumption  is  an 
hereditary  disease — in  other  words,  that  the  tuberculous  con- 
stitution is  transmitted  from  parent  to  child,  is  a  fact  not  to  be 
controverted ;  indeed,  I  regard  it  as  one  of  the  best  established 
points  in  the  etiology  of  the  disease.  A  parent  laboring  under 
tuberculous  cachexia,  entails  on  his  offspring  a  disposition 
to  the  same  affection,  proportioned  in  general  to  the  degree 
of  disease  under  which  he  labors.  Examples  of  this  fact  are 
constantly  met  with  in  families  of  consumptive  parents, 
where  we  find  the  tuberculous  constitution  much  more 
strongly  marked  in  general  in  the  younger,  than  'in  the  elder 
children.  We  even  occasionally  meet  with  families  in  which 
the  elder  children  are  healthy,  and  the  younger  are  the  sub- 
jects of  tuberculous  disease  ;  the  health  of  the  parents  having 
been  deteriorated  during  the  increase  of  their  family.  There 
are,  no  doubt,  exceptions  to  this  observation,  depending  on 
circumstances  beyond  onr  cognizance,  but  frequently  admit- 
ting of  explanation  in  the  state  of  the  parent's  health. 

"  It  has  been  questioned  whether  the  child  is  more  disposed 
to  the  diseases  of  the  father  or  to  those  of  the  mother ;  and  I 
believe  the  majority  of  authors  agree  in  favor  of  the  former. 
Professor  Nasse,  of  Bonn,  however,  in  his  excellent  essay  on 
tuberculous  disease,  is  of  opinion  that  the  hereditary  disposi- 
tion is  more  frequently  derived  from  the  mother.  The  point 
is  very  difficult  of  decision.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the 
child  may  inherit  the  constitution  of  either  or  both  parents  ; 
on  some  occasions  we  see  that  of  the  father,  in  others,  that 
of  the  mother  predominating  in  different  children  of  the  same 
family.  It  has  also  been  remarked,  and  the  observation  ap 
pears  to  be  correct,  that  the  more  a  child  resembles  the  parent 
in  external  lineaments,  the  more  certainly  will  a  disposition 
to  the  diseases  of  that  parent  prevail. 


80  _       DISEASES    HEREDITARY. 

Tuberculous  disease  in  ofi'sprii.g  may  be  produced  by  various  causes. 

'■  F-iit  a  State  of  tiibercnlons  cachexia  is  not  the  only  morbid 
condition  of  the  parent  which  entails  the  tuberculous  predis- 
])osition  on  the  children;  there  are  several  diseases  which 
have  this  effect,  the  most  important  of  which  are  a  disordered 
state  of  the  digestive  organs,  gout,  cutaneous  diseases,  the 
injurious  influence  of  mercury  on  the  system,  debility  from 
disease,  age,  &c. ; — in  short,  a  deteriorated  state  of  health  in. 
the  parent'  from  any  cause,  to  a  degree  sufficient  to  produce 
a  state  of  cachexia,  may  give  rise  to  the  scrofulous  constitu- 
tion in  the  offspring. 

■•  However  various  may  be  the  causes  of  the  cachectic  state 
of  the  parents,  its  effect  is  almost  constantly  manifested  in 
the  children,  by  their  evincing  a  predisposition  to  tubercu- 
lous disease.  This  is  a  very  important  circumstance  in  the 
history  of  consumption,  and  is  highly  deserving  attentive 
consideration.  In  ascribing  tuberculous  disease  in  the  off- 
spring to  an  unhealthy  state  of  the  parent,  I  may  appear 
disposed  to  generalize  too  much  ;  but  my  opinion  is  not 
grounded  upon  superficial  observation,  or  formed  V\Aithout 
mature  reflection  ;  and  I  am  persuaded  that  when  the  subject 
is  ca]eful!y  investigated  by  others,  my  views  will  be  found 
correct.  We  have  frequent  opV^ortunities  of  noticing  a  strong 
disposition  to  scrofula  in  tlie  children  of  those  who  enjoy 
what  is  usually  termed  good  health,  and  in  whose  families 
no  scrofulous  taint  can  be  traced  ;  whereas,  according  to  my 
observation,  we  never  see  the  parents  in  an  unhealthy  state, 
whatever  may  be  its  nature,  without  finding,  at  the  same 
time,  that  their  children  are  strongly  predisposed  to  tuber- 
culous disease. 

"Of  all  diseases,  I  consider  dyspepsia  the  most  fertile  source 
of  caciiexia  of  every  form, — for  this  plain  reason,  that  a 
healthy  condition  of  the  digestive  organs,  and  a  due  perform- 
ance of  their  functions,  are  essential  to  the  assimilation  of 
food,  and  consequently  to  the  supply  of  healthy  nutriment. 
'j'he  adjusting  powers  of  the  system  do  much  to  correct  a 
disordered  condition  of  the  diiTereht  functions  concerned  in 
the  process  of  assimilation  and  nulrition;  but  health  cannot 
be  long  preserved  when  any  one  of  these  iixiportant  functions 
is  material ly  deranged. 

"A  cachectic  state  may  also  originate  in  derangement  of  the 
various  secretory  and  excretory  functions,  particularly  that 
condition  of  them  in  which  the  effete  matter  is  imperfectly 
carried  off';  and  as  this  derangement  very  generally  accom- 
panies dyspepsia,  it  accelerates  its  deteriorating  influence. 

"  There  arc  doubtless  other  circumstances  in  the  state  of  the 
parents'  health  capable  of  giving  rise  to  the  strumous  diathesis 


CONSUMPTION    HEREDITARY.  81 

Parents  sometimes  healthy  while  the  children  are  cniisumptive. 

in  their  offspring,  which  are  not  so  evident  as  those  whicli  I 
have  noticed;  but  there  can  be  httle  question  of  their  intin- 
ence,  as  we  often  see  children  presenting  the  characters  of 
the  strumous  diathesis  at  the  earliest  age,  while  their  parents 
are  in  the  enjoyinent  of  good  health,  and  free  from  all  ap- 
pearances of  tuberculous  or  other  disease,  constitutional  or 
local.  Remarkable  examples  of  this  kind  have  come  under 
my  observation,  where  whole  families  have  fallen  victims  to 
tuberculous  consumption,  while  the  parents  themselves  en- 
joyed good  health  to  an  advanced  age,  and  were  unable  to 
trace  the  existence  of  the  disease  in  their  families  for  genera- 
tions back.  An  imperfect  development  or  a  feeble  state  of 
the  organs  of  generation,  has  been  considered  a  cause  of 
scrofula  in  the  offspring; — any  thing  which  interferes  with 
the  act  of  conception,  or  with  the  nourishment  of  the  foetus 
in  Otero, — such  as  a  disordered  state  of  the  mother's  health, 
depressing  passions,  a  sedentary  or  unhealthy  mode  of  life, — 
or  whatever  induces  imperfect  nutrition  in  the  mother  during 
pregnancy,  may  lead  to  such  a  result;  and  this  may  even 
explain  why  one  child  is  predisposed  to  the  disease,  while  the 
other  children  of  the  same  family  are  exempt. 

"  In  the  present  state  of  our  knowledge,  it  is  not  possible  to 
determine  the  various  circumstances  in  the  health  of  the 
parent  which  may  give  rise  to  the  scrofulous  disposition  in 
the  child,  much  less  to  explain  their  mode  of  operation  :  I 
rather  allude  to  them  as  subjects  deserving  the  investigation  of 
the  general  pathologist  and  practical  physician.  That  tuber- 
culous disease  can  generally  be  traced  to  an  hereditary  origin, 
that  is,  to  a  deteriorated  state  of  health  in  the  parent,  will 
not  be  disputed  by  any  medical  observer  who  has  attentively 
considered  the  subject ;  but  there  may  be  a  difference  of  opin- 
ion as  to  the  particular  condition  of  the  parent  which  induces 
the  tuberculous  constitution  in  the  offspring,  and  also  as  to 
the  degree  in  which  this  constitution  may  exist  in  the  child 
at  birth.  Having  stated  my  opinion  respecting  the  former,  I 
shall  now  give  my  views  respecting  the  latter  of  these  condi- 
tions. 

"  1.  We  have  seen,  (p.  130,)  that,  although  it  is  a  rare  oc- 
currence, the  child  at  birth  niay  present  tubercles  in  one  or 
more  of  its  organs. 

"2.  The  next  degree  of  herediiary  disease  is  that  in  which 
the  infant  is  afflicted  with  tuberculous  cachexia, — a  state 
which  requires  very  slight  exciting  causes  to  determine  the 
deposition  of  tuberculous  matter  in  some  organ.  The  chiU 
jdren  of  consumptive  parents  are  not  unfrequently  born  in 
this  state,  and  often  die  of  tuberculous  diiSease  during  the  pe- 
riod of  infancy. 


82  DISEASES    HEREDITARY. 


Furiliei  views  of  Dr.  Clark.  Preventives  of  consumption. 

"3.  Again,  the  child  presents  all  the  characters  of  the  tu- 
berculous or  scrofulous  constitution,  and  without  care,  gradu- 
ally lapses  into  a  state  of  tuberculous  cachexia,  and  dies  of 
tuberculous  disease.  The  greater  number  of  scrofulous  and 
consumptive  cases,  which  we  meet  with  in  childhood  and 
youtli  are  referable  to  this  degree  of  hereditary  predisposition. 

"4.  In  another  class  of  cases,  the  child  merely  shows  a 
predisposition  to  those  functional  derangements  which  gene- 
rate the  tuberculous  constitution:  more  especially  to  that  form 
of  dyspepsia  {strtiniQiis  dyspepski)  to  which  I  have  already 
referred,  as  capable  of  generating  the  tuberculous  cachexia, 
and  consequently  of  giving  rise  to  every  form  of  tuberculous 
or  strinnous  disease.  The  cases  of  predisposition  to  consump- 
tion which  come  under  this  class  are,  according  to  my  obser- 
vation, the  olfspring^f  parents  who  have  labored  under  dys- 
pepsia, gout,  cutaneous  and  other  diseases  not  of  a  tuberculous 
nature.  They  constitute  the  most  numerous  and  the  most 
remediable  of  the  degrees  of  hereditary  disease  ;  and  yet  their 
nature  is  generally  the  least  understood. 

"  I  would  beg  to  solicit  the  attention  of  the  profession  to  the 
deteriorated  health  of  the  parent  as  the  origin  of  tuberculous 
disease:  an  acquaintance  with  the  various  derangements  in 
the  health  of  the  parent,  and  the  mode  and  degree  in  which 
these  are  manifested  in  the  constitution  of  their  offspring,  is 
requisite  to  enable  us  to  obviate  them,  and  thereby  to  correct 
the  hereditary  predisposition. 

"An  opinion  is  entertained  that  one  generation  sometimes 
escapes  hereditary  tuberculous  disease,  while  the  immediately 
preceding  and  succeeding  generations  are  the  subjects  of  it. 
This  is  not  a  very  common  occurrence,  and  when  properly 
investigated,  would,  I  have  no  doubt,  admit  of  a  satisfactory 
explanation,  v/ithout  supposing  that  the  disease  lay  dormant 
in  one  veneration  to  manifest  itself  in  the  next. 


SECTION   II. 

PREVENTIVES  OF  CONSUMPTION. 

"  An  ounce  of  prevention  is  worth  a  pound  of  cure." 

The  idea  that  consumption,  when  once  fairly  seated,  is 
incurable,  prevails  to  a  most  pernicious  extent,  but  of  late  it 
is  beginning  to  be  controverted.  And  well  it  may;  for  it  is 
no  more  incurable  than  many  other  diseases.     The  cause  of 


PREVENTIVES    OF    CONSUMPTION.  83 

How  to  cure  consumption.  Medicines  only  aids. 

its  having  been  treated  so  iinsuecessfnlly,  is  twofold ;  first, 
the  physiological  state  which  induces  and  accompanies  it, 
has  not  been  fully  understood  :  and  secondly,  it  can  be  cured, 
not  by  medicines,  and  especially  not  by  poisons  and  deple- 
tions, which  reduce  the  tone  of  the  system  when  it  requires 
to  be  strengthened,  but  by  remedies  of  a  mental  Siud  pfii/siQ- 
logical  application.  Medicines  do  not  reach  the  case,  and 
cannot  of  themselves  effect  a  cure.''^  Judiciously  applied, 
they  may  become  aids  merely,  but  should  never  be  relied 
upon  as  cvres.  The  7'einedie9  should  be,  ai)^,  exercise^  and 
s/ee/j,  nature's  great  restoratives,  while  medicines  should  be 
secondary  matters.  And  this  simple  principle  explains  the 
cause  of  the  lamentable  fact,  that  con^rnption  is  so  seldom 
cured.  Tt  has  been  treated  medically^  whereas  it  should  be 
XxediieA  j}^i^ysiologically.  The  patient  is  dosed  with  apotheca- 
ries' drugs  sufficient  to  kill  a  well  man,  whereas  he  should 
take  much  air,  recreation,  exercise,  and  sleep,  and  little 
medicine,  and  that  very  sim.ple  in  its  action. 

But  in  order  to  arre  consumption,  v^e  must  first  undevstand 
its  cause,  and  then  endeavor  to  counteract  that  cause.  In 
regard  to  its  cause,  then,  I  remark,  that  in  persons  predis- 
posed to  this  disease,  I  find  amost  active  brain,  and  great 
heat,  and  strictures,  if  not  pain,  in  the  head,  with  superior 
natural  abilities,  accompanied  with  cold  hands  and  feet,  and 
a  most  excitable  temperament.  In  short,  the  predisposition 
to  consumption  consists  in  the  predominance  of  the  nervous 
temperament,  and  the  feebleness  of  the  vital  apparatus.  In 
general,  those  who  are  subject  to  it,  will  be  tall,  or  at  least 
slim,  narrow  chested,  of  small  stature,  and  light  complexion, 
and  liable  to  fall  in  between  the  arms,  or  at  least  at  the  side's 
of  the  chest,  just  inwardly  of  the  union  of  the  arms  and  body. 
They  also  incline  to  sit  in  a  stooping  posture,  so  as  to  form  a 

*  From  experience  Jincl  observation,  I  am  convinfed  that  decidedly  tl:e 
he.st  remedy  or  agent  for  the  cure  of  consumption,  now  in  use,  is  "Shkr- 
woop's  Magnetic  Pills  and  Plaster."  Besides  being  the  best  reme- 
dies I  know  of  for  dyspepsia,  which  in  the  preceding  section  was  shown 
often  to  hasten,  and  even  to  induce  consumption,  they  act  directly  upon 
the  diseased  parts,  'awA  impart  that  magnetism  which  reiuvigorates  and 
restores  them,  the  absence  of  which  causes  the  disease. 


84  DISEASES   HEREDITARY. 

Indications  of  consumption.  Cold  limbs  and  a  hcl  head. 

double  arch,  one  by  bending  the  body  from  the  hip  joint  to 
the  neck,  and  the  other  by  bringing  the  shoulders  near  to- 
gether. This  posture  is  assumed  because  the  lungs  and  the 
internal  organs  generally,  are  small,  and  therefore  the  other 
parts  bend  in  each  way  upon  them,  and  yet  nothing  is  as 
directly  calculated  to  increase  the  consumptive  tendency  as 
this  posture.  Consumptive  patients  also  usually  have  light 
and  very  fine  and  soft  hair ;  a  fine,  soft,  delicate  skin ;  long 
limbs;  long,  slim  fingers,  with  long,  rounding  nails;  a  long, 
small  neck ;  sharp  features  ;  a  sunken  cheek,  especially 
where  the  pole  of  the  lungs  is  located,  that  is,  outward  from 
the  end  of  the  nose  ;  long  face  ;  sharp  phrenological  organs, 
and  a  highly  intellectual  cast  of  mind,  with  a  strong  desire 
to  read  and  study,  especially  nights.  The  excess  of  their 
nervous  temperament  usually  renders  them  wakeful  nights, 
their  minds  being  in  too  excited  a  state  to  sleep.  Hence  they 
are  fond  of  sitting  up  late  nights  and  studying,  and  of  lying  in 
bed  late  mornings,  because,  when  awake,  they  enjoy  life  so 
much  that  they  are  loth  to  go  to  sleep,  and  this  exalted  ac- 
tion fatigues  them  so  much,  that  they  become  very  tired,  and 
hence  when  asleep,  they  are  unwilling  to  rise  early. 

Cold  hands  and  feet^  and  consequently  a  hot  head,  are  the 
incipient  stages  of  consumption.  As  long  as  the  circulation 
can  be  kept  uniform — as  long  as  the  hands  and  feet  can  be 
kept  warm,  and  the  head  cool — there  is  no  danger  of  con- 
sumption ;  but  whenever  the  circulation  becomes  partial,  or 
as  soon  as  it  begins  to  concentrate  in  the  head,  and  retire 
from  the  hands  and  feet,  and  consequently  from  the  surface 
generally,  the  skin  is  left  exposed  to  the  influences  of  changes 
in  the  atmosphere,  and  colds  ensue.  If  the  circulation  were 
vigorous  at  the  surface,  these  changes  in  the  weather  would 
be  resisted  thereby,  so  that  the  pores  of  the  skin  would  not 
become  contracted  by  them ;  but  when  the  blood  is  mostly 
engrossed  by  the  head,  the  skin  is  of  course  robbed ;  and 
being  left  unprotected  by  heat,  its  pores  are  closed  by  a  cool 
breeze  or  a  change  of  the  weather  from  warm  to  cold,  and 
the  waste  or  corrupt  matter  thrown  ofl^  by  the  skin  through 
these  pores.  Is  ot  course  retained  in  the  system,  to  augment, 
and  even  to  engender  disease.     A  large  proportion  of  the 


PREVENTIVES    OF    CONSUMPTION. 


Importance  of  free  circulation  at  the  sirrfaee.  Halhing. 

diseases  of  a  northern  climate,  originate  in  colds,  and  are 
developed  by  them,  consumption  in  a  pre-eminent  degree. 
As  long,  therefore,  as  the  extremities  can  be  kept  warm,  and 
the  skin  clean  and  active  by  a  vigorous  circulation,  colds 
will  be  resisted,  and  this  disease  warded  off.  But  as  soon  as 
the  hands  and  feet  become  cold,  and  the  skin  is  like  "  goose 
flesh,"  "  know  thou  tliat"  consumption  "  draweth  nigh,  and 
is  even  at  the  door,"  unless  thou  restore  the  circulation  at  the 
surface,  and  keep  thy  hands  and  feet  warm. 

It  will  be  seen,  then,  that  whatever  tends  to  retard  the 
circulation  at  the  surface,  such  as  sedentary  pursuits,  con- 
finement within  doors,  severe  application  to, study,  an  impure 
skiU;  a  changeable  atmosphere,  habitual  sewing,  &c.,  are 
directly  calculated  to  hasten  consumption  when  commenced, 
to  develope  it  when  latent,  and  even  to  engender  it;  and  also 
that  whatever  tends  to  pi'omofe  the  circulation,  such  as  fresh 
air,  vigorous  exercise,  abundant  sleep,  a  warm  cliiTiate,  &c., 
are  preventives  of  the  disease. 

To  keep  the  skin  clean  and  active,  then,  is  the  first,  as 
well  as. the  mam  preventive  of  consumption.  And  this  can 
be  done  by  the  application  of  cold  water  and  friction^  more 
effectually  than  by  any  other  means.  To  every  one  at  all 
predisposed  to  consumption,  ther^,  I  say  with  great  emphasis, 
bathe  often.  Employ  the  cold  shoioer  bath  every  morning  in 
getting  out  of  bed,  summer  and  winter,  in  preference  to  all 
other  kinds  of  bath,  and  at  least  the  hand  bath^  when  the 
shower  bath  cannot  be  had.  Especially  do  not  omit  it  in 
cold  weather,  for  it  is  then  that  you  need  it  the  most,  the 
natural  tendency  of  cold  weather  being  to  drive  the  blood  in 
upon  the  heart  and  head,  and  of  warm  weather,  to  bring  it  to 
the  surface.  And  the  colder  the  water  the  better,  for  the 
colder  it  is,  the  more  it  excites  the  skin,  and  the  greater  the 
reaction  produced.  Even  if  there  be  ice  in  the  water,  in  case 
you  wash  and  rub  off  hastily,  it  will  throw  the  skin  into  a 
delightful  glow,  and  electrify  and  warm  up  the  whole  sys- 
tem. Warm  water  should  rarely  be  used.  The  warm  bath 
may  sometimes  be  employed  when  the  patient  is  considerably 
reduced,  yet  even  that  should  be  followed  by  the  shower 


§g'  DISEASES    HEREDITARY. 


Friction  of  the  skin.  Keep  ilie  ieet  warm. 


bath,  SO  as  to  close  the  pores  far  enough  to  stop  copious  per- 
spiration. 

But  in  all  cases  of  bathing,  friction  should  be  added.  As 
instruments  of  friction,  the  coarse  crash  towel  is  one  of  the 
best  and  most  convenient;  the  fiesh  brush,  as  stiff  an  one  as 
can  well  be  borne,  and  applied  briskly,  is  excellent ;  and  the 
hair  glove  will  be  foiipd  still  better.  Those  made  by  John- 
son, of  Boston,  I  use  daily,  and  can  bear  testimony  to  their 
virtues. 

Let.  the  consumptive  invalid  remember,  that  no  internal 
remedies  can  at  all  compare  with  the  external  ones  here 
recommended  ;  aiid  that  without  these  external  ones,  inter- 
nal ones  are  of  little  ava.il,  besides  being  almost  certain  to  do 
more  or  less  injury.  This  remedy  strikes  at  the  root  of  the 
evil ;  that,  only  at  its  branches. 

Closely  allied  to  this  direction,  is  that  of  warming  the  feet, 
either  by  the  fire,  or  by  walking,  or  by  washing  them  in  hot 
or  cold  water  at  night.  Never  retire  with  cold  feet,  but  take 
all  possible  pains  to  keep  them  warm.  Do  not  be  afraid  of 
washing  them  in  cold  water  at  night.  Cold  water  is  not 
poisonous,  that  the  sight  of  it  need  be  much  feared.  Most 
persons  even  regard  it  ^.^  unhealthy]  whereas  nothing  is  better, 
both  for  the  consumptive  patient  and  for  those  v/ho  are 
healthy.  Many  colds  are  taken  and  consumptions  mduced, 
by  damp  or  wet  feet ;  but;  if  they  are  washed  often  in  cold 
water,  a  little  extra  water,  now  and  then,  in  the  form  of  wet 
feet,  will  do  no  injury.  Heating  the  feet  as  hot  as  can  be 
borne,  on  retiring,  while  it  is  one  of  the  best  cures  of  a  cold 
that  we  have,  and  is  analogous  to  soaking  them  in  hot  water, 
is  especially  calctilated  to  ward  off  consumption,  while  sleep- 
ing with  cold  feet  is  most  detrimental.  Avoid  that  at  what- 
ever sacrifice,  if  it  is  by  putting  heated  bricks  or  stones  to 
your  feet  in  the  night,  or  by  rubbing  or  dancing,  or  whatever 
means  will  promote  circulation  in  them. 

The  importance  of  the  direction  to  consumptive  patients, 
to  break  up  a  cold  as  soon  as'  possible^  is  so  obvious,  that  it 
requires  barely  to  be  named.  However  consumptive  the 
tendency  of  a  person  is,  if  he  can  but  avoid  colds^  he  is  safe ; 
and  so  he  is  if  he  can  break  tJtem  vp  soon.     But  if  they  are 


PREVENTIVES    OF    CONSUMPTION.  87 

Colds  should  be  broken  up.  How  to  <<o  this.  Keep  ihe  head  cool. 

allowed  to  progress,  with  occasional  additions,  for  weeks  and 
months,  they  will  run  those  into  consumption  who  are  not 
thus  predisposed.  Beware  of  colds ^  and  break  ihem  i/p  rs 
soon  as  possible. 

The  most  efficacious  means  of  breaking  up  colds,  is  per- 
spiration.  This  may  be  induced  by  drinking  large  quantities 
of  cold  water,  or  even  ice  water  ;  by  soaking  the  feel  in  hot 
water,  and  then  heating  them  by  the  fire;  by  exercising  suffi- 
ciently to  throw  you  into  a  sweat;  by  taking  the  warm  bath, 
or  still  better,  the  vapor  bath,  or  the  shower  bath  while  the 
fever  is  on  ;  by  drinking  hot  herb  teas,  as  horehound,  boneset, 
wormwood,  or  by  using  a  syrup  made  of  any  bitter  herbs, 
with  molasses  ;  by  nsing  the  "  composition"  of  Dr.  Thomp- 
son, which  is  one  of  the  very  best  sudorifics  in  use ;  by  put- 
ting hot  bricks  to  the  feet,  wrapped  in  wet  cloths ;  or  by  any 
other  means  which  will  open  the  pores,  the  stoppage  of  which 
causes  the  disease  in  question.  Do  not  neglect  colds,  but  do 
not  stuff  them.  Do  not  take  additional  colds.  And  one  of 
the  chief  virtues  of  the  cold  bath  recommended  above,  is  that 
it  prevents  colds.  It  is  hardly  possible  for  one  who  uses  the 
bath  daily,  to  catch  cold.  For  ten  years,  I  have  taken  the 
bath  nearly  every  morning,  save  about  four  intermissions, 
and  these  were  followed,  in  every  instance,  with  severe  colds. 

Wetting  the  head  will  generally  be  found  to  exert  a  bene- 
ficial influence,  by  carrying  off  the  surplus  heat  or  fever 
collected  there  by  the  over-action  of  the  brain,  while  night 
reading  and  study,  and  indeed  all  intense  application  of  the 
mind,  will  be  found  injurious.  The  object  should  be  to  keep 
the  head  cool  and  the/ee^  warm.  Cold  water  applied  to  cold 
feet,  will  warm  them,  just  as  running  out  into  the  snow 
barefooted  starts  the  circulation  and  warms  the  feetj  while 
the  same  application  to  the  head,  cools  it,  by  carrying  off"  all 
inflammation,  and  substituting  healthy  action  in  its  stead. 
Where  it  does  not  occasion  a  cold  in  the  head,  it  will  be 
"beneficial. 

Proper  or  improper  tr^/)areZ  also  does  much  to  accelerate  or 
retard  the  approach  of  this  disease.  Too  much  clothing,  by 
preventing  the  escape  of  the  corrupt  matter  thrown  out  of  the 
system  throiigh  the  skin,  and  confining  it  around  the  person, 


DISEASES    HEREDITARY. 


Venlilation  important.  Evils  of  hot  rooms. 

keeps  much  corruption  in  the  system  that  would  otherwise 
escape,  and  is  thus  highly  injurious ;  and  so  is  insufficient 
clothin^,  by  leaving  the  skin  too  much  exposed  to  the  influ- 
ence of  atmospheric  changes.  Still,  this  matter  is  influenced 
by  habit  and  climate  so  almost  entirely,  that  no  specific  rules 
can  be  given,  except  that  of  weaving  silk  or  craj)e  next  1o  or 
near  the  skin,  which  will  exert  a'most  beneficial  influence, 
because  being  a  non-conductor,  it  retains  the  heat  and  re- 
fuses admission  to  the  cold  more  effectually,  and  thns  pre- 
serves the  temperature  more  uniform,  than  any  other  article 
worn.  Woollen  is  next  best,  and  in  winter,  both  worn  near 
the  skin  will  be  beneficial,  and  one  should  be  kept  on  in 
warm  weather  as  well  as  in  cold. 

The  atmosphere  breathed  is  still  more  important.  Recent 
observations  have  settled  the  principle,  that  consumptive  in- 
valids require  abundance  of  fresh  air;  and  if  confined  to  a 
room,  it  must  be  frequently  ventilated.  Perhaps  nothing  is 
more  injurious  to  the  lungs,  or  more  directly  productive 
of  consumption,  than  impure  air  or  imperfect  ventilation. 
Though  its  effects  are  partially  deadened  by  habit,  so  as  to 
be  less  perceptible  and  sudden,  yet  it  is  sure  to  work  perma- 
nent mischief  to  the  lungs.  And  the  ventilation  of  the  bed- 
chamber, not  so  much  by  allowing  a  direct  draught  to  blow 
in,  :as  by  sleeping  in  a  large  room,  with  places  for  the  ingress 
and  the  egress  of  fresh  air,  is  a  matter  of  the  utmost  moment 
to  those  at  all  predisposed  to  consumption. 

Closely  allied  to  this  subject,  is  that  of  being  much  in 
rooms  rendered  warm  by  a  fire.  I  do  think  immense  mis- 
chief is  caused  by  our  keeping  our  rooms  too  uatm.  This 
burns  up  or  expels  much  of  the  oxygen  of  the  atmosphere, 
and  thus  deteriorates  and  vitiates  it  more  tlian  is  supposed. 
Thousands  on  thousands  of  women  have  been  thrown  into 
consumption,  by  sitting  and  sewing  in  a  warm  room,  who 
would  otherwise  have  escaped.  And  if  they  are  not  thrown 
into  it  immediately,  yet  the  seeds  of  it  are  planted,  to  be 
fostered  by  every  new  cold  or  exposure,  and  ultimately  to 
ripen  into  consumption,  and  be  propagated  to  generations  yel 
unborn.  Perhaps  no  one  thing  invites  consumption  more 
than  sewing;  and  when  aided  by  sitting  in  a  heated  atmoa^ 


PREVENTIVES   OF    CONSUMPTION.  89 

Sowing  injurious.  Tight  lacing-.  Hot  drinks. 

phere,  is  likely  even  to  cause  consumption  in  those  who  have 
no  hereditary  tendency  to  it,  and  is  sure  to  develops  it  in 
those  who  have.  And  I  shudder  for  future  generations, 
when  I  contemplate  the  vast  number  of  females,  of  all  ages, 
those  that  are  growing  rapidly,  those  that  are  naturally, 
healthy,  and  especially,  those  that  are  becoming  mothers,  who, 
sit  and  sew  continually,  day  after  day,  week  in  and  week 
out,  for  years  together,  or  who  work  at  various  manual  occu- 
pations equally  confining,  and  that  often  without  steppingr 
out  of  doors,  or  taking  the  least  exercise,  by  the  week  to- 
gether. And  all  to  procure  the  means  of  dressing  decently, 
that  is,  of  obtaining  jfesAio/i«Z>/e  attire^  or  making  fashionable 
attire  for  others.  I  do  regard  "  the  fashions"  as  most  per- 
nicious in  all  their  bearings  on  -society — as  a  curse  greater 
than  intemperance,  and  even  than  prostitution  itself,  and  not 
unfrequently  directly  causing  the  latter.  Strange  that  vir-^ 
tnous  and  intelligent  women  either  do  not  see  the  evil,  or 
seeing  it,  do  not  abandon  what  is  so  detrimental  even  to  life 
itself  ! 

But  above  all  things,  the  practice  of  lacing  tight  is  most 
pernicious  to  those  of  consumptive  habits.     By  cramping  the 
lungs,  especially  the  lower  portion,  it  keeps  them  almost  in  a 
state  of  inaction  ;  and  this  of  course  invites  disease.     The  «c- 
tio/i  of  every  organ  of  the  body  is  indispensable  to  its  health  ; 
and  its  inaction,  is  fatal  to  it ;  and  to  none  does  this  principle- 
apply  more  forcibly  than  to  the  lungs.     No  tongue  can  tell,  . 
no  arithmetic  can  number,  the  deaths  by  consumption  occa- 
sioned in  parents  and  propagated  to  their  children,  by  this  ac- . 
cursed  practice.     A  brawny  Irish  or  Dutch  lass,  may  lace 
tight  with  less  injury,  but  for  those  who  are  slim  and  small 
waisted  naturally,  that  is,  who  have  but  a  feeble  vital  appa- 
ratus at  best,  to  reduce  their  vitality  still  lower,  prevent  the 
free  circulation  of  the  blood,  and  confine  it  to  the  heart  and 
head,  and  girt  it  back  from  flowing  to  the  skin  and  limbs,  is 
to  commit  virtual  suicide,  by  inducing  a  disease  which  might 
otherwise  be  kept  at  bay. 

Drinking  hot  drinks,  and  especially  tea  and  coffee,  by  un- 
duly opening  the  pores  of  the  skin  and  thus  increasing  the  lia- 
bility to  take  colds,  as  well  as  by  stimulating  when  there  is 

.     8* 


90  '  DISEASES    HEREDITARY. 


Exercise.  Mngnetinm. 


already  too  much  action  in  the  system,  is  but  preparing  the 
way  for  consumption,  and  increasing  whatever  liabihty  to  it 
already  exists.  Cold  water  will  increase  the  circulation,  and 
augment  the  heat  of  the  system,  but  warm  drinks  induce 
perspiration,  and  this  greatly  diminishes  its  heat,  and  invites 
colds,  and  this  induces  consumption.  1  say  to  all  who  have 
any  hereditary  tendency  to  consumption,  drink  no  warm 
drinks,  and  especially,  never  drink  hot  lea  or  coffee  ;  for  you 
,  have  too  much  excitability  and  action  in  your  system  already, 
and  require  the  cooling  and  relaxing.    . 

Though  allusion  has  already  been  made  to  exercise,  its 
utility  in  preventing,  and   even   in  caring  consumption,  re- 
quires to  be  more  fully  presented.     The  importance  of  giving 
free  circulation  to  the  blood  at  the  extremities  and  surface, 
has  been  presented,  and  nothing — not  even  friction,  a  powerful 
accent  though  it  be — is  calculated  to  promote  this  circulation 
as  effectually  as  exercise,  and  in  the  open  air.     If,  then,  you 
find  your  circulation  becoming  partial,  and  your  blood  retir- 
irio'  from  your  hands  and  feet,  and  of  course  from  your  skin, 
change  your  course  of  life  iminediately,  and  take  all  the  ac- 
tive exercise  you  can   well   endure.     Yet  do  not   work   too 
hard.     The  great  fault  with  those  predisposed  to  consump- 
tion is,  that  they  carry  things  to  extremes.     When  they  work, 
it  is  with  all  their  might,  and  so  as  to  induce  immediate  ex- 
haustion, and  consequent  prostration  ;  and  so  with  recreation 
and  study,  and  all  their  desires  and  eiforts.      Take  every 
thing  in  moderation,  and  take  hold  so  that  you  can  hold  out. 
Gymnastic  and  calisthenic  exercises,  will  also  be  of  immense 
service.     Let  labor  and  rest  alternate  with  eating,  so  as  to  in- 
vigorate the   system  generally,  and   this  will  expel  from  it 
whatever  consumption  may  lurk  Mnthin  it.     Nor  will  the  best 
medicines  in  the  world  be  a  hundredth  part  .as  efficacious  r.s 
abundance  of  exercise,  rest,  and  fresh  air.     Doctor  very  little, 
but  do  all  in  your  power  to  reiavigorate  your  general  health. 

R-ubbing  the  chest  and  abdomen  with  the  hand,  especially 
a  healthy,  robust  person,  will  impart  new  life  to  the  feeble 
organs  within,  and  so  will  magnetizing  them,  or  magnetiz- 
ing the  poles  of  the  organs  in  the  face,  or  holding  the  head, 
combing  it,  &c.     Let  the  mothers  and  nurses  of  children 


PREVENTIVES   OF   COPf SUMPTION.  '  91 

'J'he  cold  bath.  Giving  cossumplive  childrrli  time  to  grow. 


whose  parents  are  at  all  inclined  to  consnmption,  nib  them 
a  great  deal  night  and  morning  whpn  they  are  dressed  or  un- 
dressed, and  also  employ  the  bath  phen  as  mentioned  above; 
yet  in  doing  so,  let  the  utmost  care  be  taken  to  do  it  quicldy, 
just  by  one  dash,  as  it  were,  and  then  follow  with  friction  so 
'  as  to  produce  reaction  and  warmth.  In  cold  weather,  let 
this  be  done  in  a  warm  room,  though  with  cold  water.  A 
gentleman  who  was  in  a  consumptive  decline,  was  cured  by 
being  taken  every  morning  in  the  winter,  down  io  the  river, 
and  having  a  hole  cut  in  the  ice  and  being  plunged  in  all 
over,  and  then  wrapped  up  warm  and  taken  in  his  sleigh  to 
his  hou.se;  and  Dr.  Bell,  of  Philadelphia,  recommends  the 
cold  bath  even  to  persons  far  advanced  in  consumption — a  re- 
commendation founded  in  the  nature  of  the  disease. 

If  a  child  be  in  any  danger  of  consumption,  let  it  never  be 
sent  to  school,  because  the  confinement  of  the  body  will  pre- 
vent that  circulation  of  the  blood  already  shown  to  be  indis- 
|>ensable,  and  increase  all  the  hereditary  tendencies  to  con- 
sumption, and  will  hasten  its  progress.  Let  all  the  children  of 
consumptive  parents  be  allowed  to  pay  or  to  work  all  tlie 
time  except  when  they  are  eating  or  Sleeping;  and  generally 
a  nap  in  the  middle  of  the  daywill.be  found  serviceable. 
Children  of  this  cast,  are  liable,  in  consequence  of  their  ex- 
cessive eerfibral  action,  to  play  very  hard,  and  thus  to  be- 
come greatly  fatigued,  which  may  be  turned  to  a  good  ac- 
count, by  inducing  the  habit  of  taking  a  nap  in  the  day  time. 
If  they  dislike  to  lose  the  time,  take  them  on  your  lap,  tell 
them  a  story,  and  hush  them  np,  and  they  will  soon  fall 
asleep. 

Especially  when  these  children  are  between  twelve  and 
twenty,  they  should  do  very  little  studying,  and  labor  no  more 
tthan  is  requisite  for  exercise,  but  be  allowed  merely  to  re- 
create and  groiD.  They  require  all  their  energies  for  growth, 
or  for  the  formation  and  consolidation  of  their  bodies  ;  and  to 
direct  these  energies  to  labor  and  study  as  such,  is  perma- 
jienfly  to  injure  both  mind  and  body.  Such  children  are 
usually  precocious,  and  should  be  kept  from  study,  rather 
than  sent  to  school  before  they  are  fully  grown.  The  great 
trouble  with  those  of  this  temperament  is,  that  they  over-do^ 


DISEASES    HEREDITARY. 


Tiike  them  i'rom  school. 


Jiiflaiing  the  lungs. 


and  thus  exhaust  their  energiesj  and  this  exhaustion  falls  of 
course  on  the  weakest  part.  Let  boys  who  are  predisposed 
•to  this  disease,  be  furnished  with  more  tools  than  books,  and 
be  encouraged  to  make  sleds  and  boxes,  to  fly  kites,  slide 
down  hill,  skate,  swim,  (but  never  allowed  to  stay  long  in  the 
water  at  a  time,)  ride,  work,  hunt,  fish,  climb,  race,  &c.  &.C., 
just  as  much, as  they  will.  The  more  the  better;  and  the 
more  they  love  to  read  and  excel  in  study,  the  worse,  for 
their  consumptive  tendency  is  sure  to  be  developed  thereby. 
I^et  no  young  man  thu^  predisposed,  ever  commence  fitting 
for  college  till  he  is  at  least  twenty,  and  usually  he  should  not 
begin  life  for  himself  till  he  is  nearly  thirty,  lest  he  drive 
business  so  forcibly  befqre  he  get  his  strength,  as  to  exhaust 
his  vita!  powers.  And  let  no  fears  be  entertained  that  such 
lads  will  be  inferior  in  talents  unless  they  are  kept  at  school; 
for,  as  already  remarkeji,  a  tendency  to  this  disease  consists 
in  too  great  mental  activity,  which  will  of  course  render  them 
more  intelligent  and  petter  scholars  without  their  going 
near  a  school,  than  pthers  v/ho  are  not  consumptive, 
though  they  are  kept  atjschool  continually.  Parents  are  too 
apt  to  forget  that  children  require  time  to  groio,  as  well  as 
time  to  learn  or  labor;  and  those  whose  parents  are  consump- 
tive, of  all  others,  requitp  this  time.  And  let  lads  of  this  descrip- 
tion never  be  put  into  a  store,  or  law  office,  where  they  are 
confined,  or  have  to  write,  but  put  them  on  to  the  farm.  And 
let  girls  of  this  habit  never  be  sent  to  learn  any  trade  requir- 
ing sitting  or  confinerpent,  nor  to  work  in  factories,  but 
let  them  rather  be  kitchpn  drudges — any  thing  that  will  im- 
prove their  health  and  prolong  their  lives. 

Another  preventive  of  consumption,  certainly  no  less  im- 
portant than  any  of  the  preceding,  is  the  full  and  frequent  in- 
flation  of  the  lungs  to  their  utmost  capacity.  That  is,  sit  or 
stand  straight,  throv/  the  chest  out  and  the  arms  back,  and 
and  then  draw  in  slowly  as  full  a  breath  as  possible,  and  hold 
it  in  for  some  time,  and  perhaps  strike  the  chest  gently,  or 
otherwise  as  you  can  endure  it,  so  as  to  propel  the  air  down 
into  all  the  little  air  cells  of  the  lungs,  in  order  to  stimulate 
them  to  action,  and  thus  prevent  adhesions  and  tubercles 
from  forming.     Sitting  and  standing  straight,  with  the  shoul- 


PKEVENTIVES   OF    CONSUMPTION.  93 

Rcimiiiiigi's  tube.  A  new  respinaor. 

ders  thrown  back  and  the  chest  thrown  forward,  is  most  im- 
portant, while  the  stooping  posture,  especially  if  at  the  same 
time  the  shoiilders  are  brought  forward,  is  most  injurious. 
Scarcely  any  thing  can  be  more  so;  for  this  posture,  by 
cramping  the  lungs,  prevents  their  being  filled  with  air,  and 
thus  preparing  the  blood  for  circulation,  and  tends  directly  to 
enfeeble  and  inflamo  them.     Beware  of  the  sirl  that  bend 


to' 


is 


forward.     She  is  liable  to  be  consumptive. - 

This  inflation  of  the  Inngs  should  occur  every  few  minutes 
during  the  day,  and  should  be  increased  by  compressing  the 
air  in  the  lungs,  especially  v/hen  speaking,  thus  forcing  the  air 
out  as  if  through  a  smaller  aperture,  and  increasing  the  dis- 
tinctness of  the  intonation,  and  augmenting  the  volume  of  the 
voice.  Heading  and  speaking  or  talking  loud,  and  also  sing- 
ing, will  be  found  excellent  to  exercise  and  streiigthen  the^ 
lungs;  especially  lei  children  of  consumptive  tendencies,  talk, 
hallo,  and  sing  all  they  please.  To  restrain  these  exercises,. 
is  to  augment  their  liability  to  consumption. 

The  wonderful  cures  effected  by  using  Rammagi's  tube, 
•were  effected  solely  by  applying  the  priiiciple  here  presented 
of  idiiating  the  lungs;  and  the  disposition  of  consumptive  pa- 
tients to  draw  long  breaths,  is  an  indication  that  this  infla- 
tion of  the  lungs  is  sought  by  nature  as  a  relief.  The  benefit 
derived  from  these  tubes,  does  not  accrue  from  drawing  the 
air  through  a  particularly  shaped  tube,  but  it  consists  in  the 
exercise  of  the  lungs  occasioned  by  its  use.  Now  since  yon 
can  get  this  exercise  even  more  effectually  and  frequently  by 
making  your  own  windpipe  into  a  tube  in  a  second,  and  with- 
out any  trouble,  you  should  apply  this  simple  remedy  forth- 
with and  frequently,  till  you  expand  and  strengthen  your 
lungs  sufficiently  to  throw  you  beyond  the  reach  of  danger. 

I  have  seen  a  simple  tube  made  by  boring  a  hole  in  the 
end  of  an  old  ever-pointed  pencil  case,  after  cutting  off  the 
pencil  part,  and  fixing  a  valve  so  that  you  could  draw  in  the 
breath  through  this  hole,  but  not  expel  it,  and  then  boring- 
another  smaller  hole  in  the  side  of  the  pencil  case  through 
which  to  expeUhe  air;  so  that  air  could  be  inhaled  faster 
than  expired,  by  the  use  of  which  the  lungs  are  filled  up  and 
Jtept  fillip  and  ith us  expanded,     I  have  known  the  chest  great- 


94  '  DISEASES    HERRLITAKY. 


Cnrrying  magnets.  Diet.  .lourne3'ing. 

]y  expanded  by  its  use  in  a  short  time.  Breathing  through 
any  snjall  hole,  will  answer  every  purpose. 

From  experiments  .recently  tried,  I  am  induced'  to  recom- 
mend carrying  magnets,  or  magnetized  steel  about  the  per- 
son, and  frequently  taking  shocks  from  the  electrical  or  gal- 
vanic battery,  or  else  being  insulated  and  charged  with  elec- 
tricity, as  being  calculated  to  supply  in  part  that  animal  elec- 
tricity, the  partial  exhaustion  of  which  accompanies  consump- 
tive tendencies. 

Much  might,  and  perhaps  should,  be  said  in  relation  to  the 
diet  most  beneficial  for  those  predisposed  to  consumption,  but 
there  is  only  room  to  say,  that  7io  stini^ilants  or  tonics  should 
Tdb  taken;  a  light,  cooling,  and  yet  nourishing  diet  should  be 
^elected,  all  condiments  and  stimulants  avoided,  and  if  the 
stomach  will  bear  milk,  take  it  freely,  for  it  will  quiet  the 
nerves  and  tend  to  induce  that  sleep  so  much  needed.  Rice, 
bread,  especially  coarse  or  brown  bread,  mealy  potatoes, 
fruit,  and  jellies  may  be  eaten,  but  less  meat,  little  cabbage, 
not  an  abundance  of  vegetables,  but  more  of  a  farinaceous  and 
fruit  diet.  Let  children  whose  parents  are  predisposed  to 
consumption,  be  literally  brought  up  on  bread  and  rnilk^  por- 
ridge, puddings  and  milk,  and  roasted  potatoes.  Eat  no  fat,  no 
"butter,  no  cakes,  and  no  more  in  quantity  than  your  stomach 
•can  fully  digest.     Better  eat  too  little  than  too  much. 

Journeys  are  often  recommended,  and  generally  prove  to 
he  beneficial  to  consumptive  invalids,  mainly,  however,  on 
■account  of  the  change  of  associations  they  give,  and  the  fresh 
air  and  exercise  they  afford.  A  residence  on  the  seashore  in 
summer,  is  usually  found  to  be  beneficial,  yet  sometimes  the 
sea  air  is  too  bracing,  and  stimulates  so  much  as  to  augment 
the  fever  which  accompanies,  or  rather  constitutes,  this  dis- 
ease, and  thereby  hastens  its  approach.  In  all  these  cases, 
the  consumptive  person  must  be  Jtis  oivn  jitdge  as  to  efiects. 
and  quantities,  as,  indeed,  in  nearly  all  the  preventives  pre- 
scribed above.  Any  one  of  them  may  be  taken  in  excess, 
and  then  becomes  positively  injurious.  But  whatever  injures,, 
gives  warning  of  the  evil  by  the  pain  that  accompanies  it. 
*Sing,  but  do  not. sing  so  as  to  prostrate  the  lungs  much. 
Bathe,  but  not  too  frequently,  to  produce  reaction.     Exercise 


PREVENTIVES    OF    CONSUMPTION.  95 

Sea  voyages.  A  southern  climate.  Advice. 


till  fatigued,  but  not  till  prostrated.  Sleep  abundantly,  but 
not  so  much  as  to  induce  heaviness,  and  always  rise  early. 
And  so  oi"  the  otliers.  Let  the  patient  notice  his  symptoms. 
and  govern  himself  accordingly.  > 

A  voyage  at  sea  is  often  recommended.  Andrew  Combe, 
the  author  of  "Combe's  Physiology,"  mentions  that  a  voyage 
to  the  Mediterranean,  by  keeping  him  just  sea-sick  enough 
to  produce  a  constant  but  gentle  perspiration,  equalized  his 
circulation,  and  restored  his  health,  or  rather,  warded  off  a 
consumplive  attack  which  had  well  nigh  proved  fatal. 

A  southern  climate  often  effects  cures,  and  on  the  same 
principle;  namely,  by  bringing  the  blood  to  the  surface.  Cold 
weather  drives  the  blood  m,  and  this  induces  cold  and  con- 
sumption ;  but  warm  \Ye?ii\\e,x  promotes  circulation,  brings 
the  blood  to  the  surface,  relieves  the  head  and  lungs,  changes 
the  tone  of  the  system,  and  averts  this  disease.  That  is,  a 
sea  voyage,  a  southern  climate,  exercise,  friction,  baths  of  all 
kinds,  abundance  of  sleep,  &c.,  all  strike  at  the  root  of  the 
cause  of  constimptiori,  and  reverse  that  cause ;  and  this  arrests 
its  further  progress,  and  thus  nature  effects  a  cure.^^' 

Let  these  directions  be  faithfully  followed,  and  I  am  fully 
persuaded  that  no  child,  however  consumptive  his  parents, 
need  die  of  this  disease.  Carry  out  these  principles,  and  all 
consumptive  tendencies  can  be  arrested,  and  this  fatal  disease 
could  soon  be  banished.  And  let  all  parents  Avho  are  thus 
predisposed,  practise  this  advice  faithfully  while  becoming 
parents,  so  as  to  obviate  the  tendency  in  their  children.  Let 
the  parents  of  children  at  all  in  danger  of  consumption,  or 
scrofula,  or  the  croup,  or  the  quinsy,  or  the  sore  throat — all 
but  different  forms  of  one  and  the  same  disease — employ  all 
these  preventives  upon  their  children,  lest  this  unrelenting- 

*  The  fact  is,  a  large  institution,  devoted  expressly  to  the  cure  and  pre- 
vention of  consumption  on  the  foregoing;  principles,  should  be  established, 
and  conducted,  not  by  medical  men,  for  they  do  not  and  never  will  un- 
deretand  this  disease,  till  they  read  nature  in  place  of  feoo/cs,  but  Physi- 
ologists. Doctors  have  exhausted  their  skill,  and  by  common  consent, 
failed  to  treat  it  successfully.  Let  it  now  be  taken  up  anew,  by  another 
cJass  of  naen,  and  if  its  cure  be  attempted  by  the  foregoing  and  other 
similar  means,  success  will  follow. 


96  DISEASES    HEREDITARY. 


Caulion  lo  young  women  and  mothers. 


disease  snatch  from  you  the  dearest  objects  of  your  love  wlien 
all  their  talents,  all  their  charms  are  first  budding  and  blos- 
soming into  womanhood,  or  ripening  into  manhood,  and  be- 
coming prepared  for  stations  of  usefulness  or  profit.  Follow 
these  prescriptions,  and  there  is  no  danger.  These  remedies 
will  expel  all  forms  of  this  untimely  disease  from  the  system, 
and  preserve  it  whole  and  sound  to  a  green  old  age.  Nor 
will  they  be  very  detrimental  to  those  who  are  robust,  and  in 
no  special  danger  of  falling  its  victims. 

A  single  word  to  tnothers  who  are  predisposed  to  consump- 
tion. Remember  that  your  vital  energies  are  but  feeble,  and 
therefore  that  you  have  by  no  means  a  superfrbundance  of  vi- 
tal stamina  to  spare.  You  may  not  be  able  to  impart  a  strong 
physical  constitution  to  your  offspring,  and  you  are  very  like- 
ly to  throw  yourself  into  a  premature  grave  by  Avithdrawing 
for  the  nourishment  of  your  children,  those  energies  which 
are  indispensable  to  preserve  your  own  life.  I  knov/  scores 
of  mothers  v/ho,  by  this  means  alone,  have  committed  both 
suicide  and  infanticide,  ignorantly,  to  be  sure,  but  none  the 
less  eiiectually  or  lamentably.  Many  of  the  young  women  of 
the  present  day,  will  die  just  as  surely  as  thejr  attempt  to  be- 
come mothers.  They  have  now  barely  sufficient  vitality 
to  keep  them  alive.  As  soon,  therefore,  as  they  come  to  with- 
draw from  this  small  supply,  an  amount  sufficient  to  nourish, 
give  birth  to,  and  nurse  an  infant,  they  exhaust  themselves 
so  completely,  that  disease,  taking  advantage  of  their  prostra- 
tion, attacks  some  fatal  part,  and  sweeps  them  into  the  grave, 
leaving  a  sickly  child  and  a  fond  father  to  mourn  her  death, 
and  soon  to  be  followed  by  the  former,  and  doublj;  to  bereave 
the  latter.  Let  none  dare  to  become  mothers,  who  have  not 
a  surplus  of  animal  energy  sufficient  to  produce  fine,  healthy 
children,  without  injuring  themselves.  But  more  on  a  kin- 
dred point  when  we  come  to  speak  of  the  conditions  of 
parents  as  influencing  the  mental  ajid  physical  qualities  of 
their  offspring. 


DISEASES    IN    GENERAL    HEREDITARY.  97 

"  King's  evil."  Dyspepsia.  l>r.  Beecher.  A  ring-worm. 


SECTION   III. 

DISEASES  IN   GENERAL  HEREDITARY. 

"  What  I  say  "  of  "  one,  1  say  "  of  "  all." 

We  have  occupied  too  much  space  in  establishing  the 
transmissibility  of  consumption,  and  pointing  out  its  preven- 
tives, to  allow  much  room  to  be  occupied  in  proving  that 
other  diseases,  such  as  the  gout,  king's  evil,  apoplexy,  dys- 
pepsia, cancerous  affections,  and  other  diseases,  are  heredi- 
tary, and  hence  group  our  remarks  in  regard  to  all  other 
diseases,  under  one  head.  Each  might  be  as  fully  demon- 
strated to  be  hereditary,  as  consumption  has  already  been  ; 
but  having  proved  the  great  principle  of  the  transmission  of 
one  prominent  disease,  the  inference  that  all  the  others  are 
equally  so,  follows  as  a  matter  of  course.  And  then  the 
great  fact  that  other  diseases  are  transmitted  as  frequently, 
and  in  cases  as  striking,  as  consumption,  is  one  which" must 
strike  every  intelligent  mind  as  a  law  of  nature.  Hence  a 
few  cases,  partly  by  way  of  proof,  and  partly  by  way  of 
illustration,  are  all  that  can  now  be  given. 

Take,  then,  the  scrofula,  or  "  king's  evil  " — so  called  from 
its  having  afflicted  the  royal  family  of  Great  Britain  from  time 
immemorial,  and  stated  in  the  court  journals  of  England  as 
the  reason  why  Queen  Victoria  did  not  nurse  her  own  chil- 
dren— or  the  erysipelas,  salt  rheum,  dyspepsia,  gout,  apo- 
plexy, &c.,  &c.,  down  to  almost  every  chronic  disease  that 
afflicts  mankind,  and  they  will  be  found  to  be  transmitted, 
and  to  follow  generation  after  generation,  breaking  out  every 
now  and  then  in  each,  and  scourging  whole  families,  as  far 
back  as  those  families  can  be  traced.  Dr.  Beecher  has  al- 
ways been  troubled  with  dyspepsia,  in  a  form  peculiarly 
malignant.  His  father,  Dea.  Beecher,  of  New  Haven,  Conn., 
was  afflicted  with  the  same  disease,  and  so  are  nearly  every 
one  of  his  children,  and  some  of  his  nephews  and  nieces. 

In  a  gentleman  Avho  recently  submitted  his  head  for  a 
phrenological  examination,  I  observed  a  ring- worm  on  the 
side  of  his  face,  which  almost  covered  it,  and  was  highly 

9 


98  DISEASES    HEHEDITARY. 


Eruption.      Near-sightedness.     Blindness.     Stammering'.     Gout  and  apoplexy. 

inflamed.  He  said  his  father  died  of  a  similar  one,  and  that 
several  other  blood  relations  of  his  father,  including  some  of 
his  brothers  also,  had  it. 

The  redness  and  eruption  on  my  own  face  is  hereditary. 
It  appears,  though  less  strongly  marked,  in  my  father  and 
uncle  and  aunt,  and  in  some  of  my  brothers,  sisters,  and 
cousins.  1  found  it  in  the  descendants  of  my  grand  father's 
brother,  in  Canada,  already  alluded  to,  and  in  a  very  distinct 
form.  They  and  we  parted  four  generations  back,  in  my 
great  grand  father. 

The  cross-eye,  or  near-sightedness,  also  appears  in  families, 
parents,  children,  cousins,  uncles,  aunts, &c.  nearly  all  wearing 
glasses  ;  and  if  I  recollect  aright,  the  result  of  Dr.  Howe's 
researches  proves  that  blindness  is  sometimes  hereditary, 
and  that  deafness  and  dumbness  are  very  often  transmitted. 
James  A.  Bullard,  Monticello,  Sullivan  county,  N.  Y.,  has 
eight  children,  four  of  whom  are  blind.  They  were  all  born 
with  perfect  eyes,  and  saw  well  till  they  arrived  at  the  age 
of  about  five  3^ears,  when  each  began  to  grow  blind,  and  at 
about  ten,  they  became  totally  blind.  The  parents  were 
not  blind,  but  an  aunt  was.  I  have  seen  hundreds  of  cases 
in  which  parents  have  transmitted  blindness,  or  weak  eyes, 
or  sore  eyes,  or  deafness,  or  impediments  in  speech,  or  some 
defect  in  the  voice  or  organs  of  speech,  or  some  physical  de* 
bility  or  deficiency,  which  was  found  in  both  parents  and 
children.  Joshua  Cofiin  furnished  to  the  author  the  foUow- 
.  ing : — The  grand  father  of  Daniel  Webster  had  an  impedi- 
ment in  his  speech  ;  that  is,  he  stuttered  badly.  Daniel's 
father  lisped  all  his  lifetime,  and  his  brother  Ezekiel  Webster 
was  never  able  to  speak  some  words  correctly,  though  he 
labored  hard  to  do  so. 

That  gout  and  apoplexy  are  hereditary,  is  also  a  fact  es- 
tablished by  universal  pbservaticn.  And  what'  is  more,  it 
usually  occurs  in  harmony  with  a  principle  stated  a  few 
pages  previously,  at  about  the  same  age  in  parents,  children, 
uncles,  nephews,  &c.  Let  me  add,  by  way  of  preventing 
apoplexy,  that  those  whose  blood  relations  are  afllicied  with 
it,  should  eat  less  and  loork  more,  and  above  all  things,  should 
avoid  all  alcoholic  drinks.     It  occurs  in  consequence  of  a 


INSANITY   HEREDITARY.  99 


Grahainism.  Cancers.  Insanity  caused  by  cerebral  inflammation. 

surplus  of  nutrition — a  surfeit  of  nourishment,  and  a  conse- 
quent clogging  of  the  wheels  of  life,  till  they  finally  stop  alto- 
gether. Grahamism  and  starvation  will  save  such ;  yet  to 
those  thus  predisposed,  this  is  the  bitterest  pill  that  can  be 
prescribed,  for  they  generally  love  the  good  things.  Beer  is 
often  their  favorite  drink,  yet  nothing  is  more  injurious. 
Special  attention  to  diet,  and  especially  the  Graham  diet,  will 
be  found  of  incalculable  value  to  all  afflicted  with  humors, 
fever  sores,  also  often  hereditary,  cancers,  pre-eminently  he- 
reditary, and  all  troubled  with  diseases  affecting  the  blood, 
or  growing  out  of  impure  blood. 


CHAPTER  V. 

MENTAL  DISEASES   HEREDITARY. 

SECTION   I. 
INSANITY    HEREDITARY. 

Having  established  the  principle,  that  physical  qualities 
are  hereditary,  and  that  the  same  is  also  true  of  physical 
diseases,  we  proceed  to  show  that  mental  diseases,  or  more 
properly  diseases  of  the  brain,  and  a  consequent  derangement 
of  its  functions,  are  hereditary.  The  great  truth  that  de- 
rangement of  mind,  insanity,  monomania,  and  all  kinds  of 
mental  alienation  and  hallucination,  depend  upon,  and  are 
caused  by,  a  disordered  brain,  should  never  be  lost  sight  of, 
neither  as  a  philosophical  truth,  nor  as  developing  the  means 
of  effecting  its  cure.  Lisanity  is  caused  by  an  inflammation 
of  the  brain,  and  can  be  cured  only  by  reducing  this  inflam-^ 
mation. 

Now  since  other  diseases,  consumption,  erysipelas,  &c., 
are  hereditary,  an  inflamed  brain,  and  consequent  derange- 
ment of  mind,  are  of  course  hereditary,  being  on  a  footing 
with  othev  diseases.  In  fact,  this  chapter  should  properly 
haye  forced  a  sjection  in  the  preceding  chapter,  ijisajiity  be- 


ICO  MENTAL    DISEASES    HEREDITARY. 

Brain  of  maniacs  diseased.  Madness  a  ph^'sical  malady, 

ing  as  much  a  disease  as  consumption,  or  any  other  disor- 
dered physical  function ;  but  was  introduced  into  a  separate 
chapter,  only  that  it  might  not,  at  first  sight,  startle  the 
reader  by  being  classed  among  physical  diseases. 

Dr.  Rush,  in  his  work  on  diseases  of  the  mind,  has  placed 
this  matter  in  its  true  light.     He  says,  page  16 — 

"Madness  has  been  placed  exclusively  in  the  mind.  I  object  to 
this  opinion,  1.  Because  the  mind  is  incapable  of  any  operations 
independently  of  impressions  communicated  to  it  through  the  me- 
dium of  the  body.  2.  Because  there  are  but  two  instances  upon 
record  of  the  brain  beins:  found  free  from  morbid  appearances  in 
persons  who  have  died  of  madness.  One  of  these  instances  is  re- 
lated by  Dr.  Stark,  the  other  by  Dr.  De  Haen.  They  probably 
arose  from  the  brain  being  diseased  beyond  that  grade  in  whieh 
inflammation  and  its  usual  consequences  take  place.  Did  cases  of 
madness  reside  exclusively  in  the  mind,  a  sound  state  of  the  brain, 
ought  to  occur  after  nearly  every  death  from  that  disease. 

"  I  object  to  it,  3,  because  there  are  no  instances  of  primary  affec- 
tions of  the  mind,  such  as  grief,  love,  anger,  or  despair,  producing! 
madness  until  they  had  induced  some  obvious  changes  in  the  body^ 
such  as  wakefulness,  a  full  or  frequent  pulse,  costiveness,  a  dry 
skin,  and  other  symptoms  of  bodily  indisposition. 

"1  know  it  has  been  said  in  favor  of  madness  being  an  ideal 
disease,  or  being  seated  primarily  in  the  mind,  that  sudden  impres- 
sions from  fear,  terror,  and  even  ridicule,  have  sometimes  cured  it. 
This  fe  true,  but  they  produce  their  efiects  only  by  the  healthy 
actions  they  induce  in  the  brain.  We  see  several  other  diseases,, 
particularly  hiccup,  headache,  and  even  fits  of  epilepsy,  which  are 
evidently  affections  of  the  body,  cured  in  the  same  way  by  im- 
pressions of  fear  and  terror  upon  the  mind. 

"  Having  rejected  the  abdominal  viscera,  the  nerves,  and  the 
mind,  as  the  primary  seats  of  madness,  I  shall  now  deliver  an  opin- 
ion, which  I  have  long  believed  and  taught  in  my  lectures,  and 
that  is,  that  the  cause  of  madness  is  seated  primarily  in  the  blood- 
vessels of  the  brain,  and  that  it  depends  upon  the  same  kind  of 
morbid  and  irregular  actions  that  constitute  other  arterial  diseases. 
There  is  nothing  specific  in  these  actions.  They  are  a  part  of  the 
unity  of  disease,  particularly  of  fever;  of  which  madness  is  a 
chronic  form,  affecting  that  part  of  the  brain  which  is  the  seat  of 
the  mind. 

"  My  reasons  for  believing  the  cause  of  madness  to  be  seated 
in  the  blood-vessels  of  the  brain  are  drawn, 

"  I.  From  its  remote  and  exciting  causes,  many  of  which  are 
die  same  with  those  wiiich  induce  fever  and  certain  diseases  of  thf^ 


INSANITY   HEREDITARY.  101 


Quolalloiis  from  Rush  conunut-d.  Dr.  Coxe. 

brain,  particularly  phrenitis,  apoplexy,  palsy,  and  epilepsy,  all  of 
which  are  admitted  to  have  their  seats  in  the  blood-vessels.  Of 
ihirty-six  dissections  ofllie  brains  of  persons  who  died  of  madness, 
Mr.  Pine]  says  he  could  perceive  no  difiisrence  between  the  inor- 
i)id  appearances  in  tliem,  and  in  llie  brains  of  persons  who  had 
died  of  apoplexy  and  epilepsy.  The  sameness  of  these  ajipear- 
ances,  however,  do  not  prove  that  all  those  diseases  occupy  the 
same  part  of  the  brain  ;  1  believe  they  do  not,  especially  in  their 
first  stages  they  become  difllise-fJ  over  the  whole  brain,  probably 
in  their  last  stages,  oj-  in  the  paroxysm  of  death.  Dr.  Johnson  of 
Exeter,  in  speaking  of  ilie  diseases  of  the  abdominal  viscera,  men- 
tions their  sympathy  uiih  each  other,  by  what  he  very  happily 
calls  '  an  intercommimicn  of  sensation.'  It  would  seem  as  if  a 
similar  intercommunion  took  jilace  between  all  the  diseases  of  the 
brain.  It  is  remaikable  they  all  discover,  in  every  part  of  the  brain, 
marks  of  a  morbid  state  of  the  blood-vessels. 

".!!.  From  t'le  ages  and  constitutions  of  persons  who  are  most 
subject  to  madness.  The  former  are  in  those  years  in  which 
acute  and  inflammatory  arterial  diseases  usually  affect  the  body, 
and  the  latter,  in  persons  who  labor  under  the  arterial  predisposi- 
tion. 

■^'III.    I  infer  that  madness  is  seated  in  the  blood-vessels, 

"  1.  From  its  symptoms,  These  are  a  sense  of  fulness,  and 
sometimes  pain  in  the  head  ;  wakefuhiess,  and  a  redness  of  the 
eyes,  such  as  precede  fever,  a  whitish  tongue,  a  dry  or  moist  skin, 
high  colored  urine,  a  frequent,  full,  or  tense  pulse,  or  a  pulse  mor- 
bidly slow  or  natural  as  to  frequency.  These  states  of  the  pulse 
occur  uniformly  in  recent  madness,  and  one  of  them,  that  is,  fre- 
quency, is  seldom  absent  in  its  chronic  state. 

"  1  have  taken  notice  of  the  presence  of  this  symptom  in  my 
Introductory  Lecture  upon  the  Study  of  Medical  Jurisprudence, 
in  which  1  have  mentioned  that  seven-eighths  of  all  the  deranged 
patients  in  tlie  Pennsylvania  Hospital  in  the  year  1811,  had  fre- 
quent pulses,  and  that  a  pardon  was  granted  to  a  criminal  by  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  in  the  year  1794,  who  was  sus- 
pected of  counterfeiting  madness,  in  consequence  of  its  having  been 
•declared  by  three  physicians  that  that  symptom  constituted  an  un- 
equivocal mark  of  intellectual  derangement. 

"  Tlie  connection  of  this  disease  with  the  state  of  the  pulse,  has 
been  further  demonstrated  by  a  most  satisfactory  experiment,  made 
by  Dr.  Coxe,  and  related  by  him  in  his  Practical  Observations 
upon  Insanity,  hlc  gave  digitalis  to  a  patient  who  was  in  a  furi- 
ous state  of  madness,  with  a  pulse  that  beat  SO  strokes  in  a  min- 
ute. As  soon  as  the  medicine  reduced  his  pulse  to  70,  he  became 
rational.  Upon  continuing  it,  bis  pulse  fell  to  50,  at  which  time 
he  became  melancholy.     An   additional  quantity  of  the  medicine 


102  MENTAL    DISEASES    HEREDITARY. 

Derangement  someiimes  an  eplileisiic.  lis  sviii|>i<>nis  l:ke  iho•^e  or  f.vrr 

reduced  it  to  40  strokes  in  a  minute,  which  nearly  suspended  his 
life.  He  was  finally  cured  by  lessening  the  doses  of  t!ie  medicine 
so  as  to  elevate  his  pulse  to  70  strokes  in  a  minute,  which  was 
probably  its  natural  state.  In  short,  there  is  not  a  single  symptom 
that  takes  place  in  an  ordinary- fever,  except  a  hot  skin,  that  does 
not  occur  in  the  acute  state  of  madness. 

"  IV.  From  its  alternating  with  sevend  diseases  which  are  evi- 
dently seated  in  the  blood-vessels.  Tliese  are  consumption,  rheu- 
matism, intermitting  and  i^uerperile  fever,  and  dropsy,  many  in- 
stances of  which  are  to  be  met  with  in  the  records  of  medicine. 

"  V.  From  its  blending  its  synsptonis  with  several  of  the  forms 
of  fever.  It  is  sometimes  attended  with  regular  inteiniissions,  and 
remissions.  1  have  once  seen  it  appear  with  j)rofuse  sv.eats,  such 
as  occur  in  certain  fevers,  in  a  niadman  in  the  Pennsylvania  Hos- 
pital. These  sweats,  when  discharged  from  liis  skin,  forn)ed  a  va- 
por resembling  a  thick  fog,  that  tilled  the  cell  in  which  he  uas 
confined,  to  such  a  decree  as  to  render  his  body  scarcely  visible. 

"  Again,  this  disease  sometimes  appears  in  a  typhus  form,  in 
which  it  is  attended  with  coldness,  a  feeble  pulse,  muttering  deli- 
rium, and  involuntary  discharges  of  fasces  and  urine.  But  it  now 
and  then  pervades  a  whole  country  in  tlje  form  of  an  epidemic. 
It  prevailed  in  this  way  in  England  in  the  years  1355  and  1373, 
and  in  France  and  Italy  in  the  year  1374,  and  Dr.  Wintringhau) 
mentions  its  frequent  occurrence  in  England,  in  the  year  1719. 

"A  striking  instance  of  the  union  of  madness  with  common  fe- 
ver is  mentioned  by  Lucian.  He  tells  us  that  a  violent  fever  once 
broke  out  at  Abdera,  which  terminated  by  hcemorrhages,  or  sweats, 
on  the  seventh  day.  During  the  continuance  of  this  fever  the  pa- 
tients affected  with  it,  repeated  passages  from  the  tragedy  of  An- 
dromeda with  great  vehemence,  both  in  their  sick  rooms  and  in 
the  public  streets.  This  mixture  of  fever  and  noadness  continued 
until  the  coming  on  of  cold  weather.  Lucian  ingeniously  and 
very  properly  ascribes  it  to  the  persons  afiected  having  heard  the 
famous  player  Archilaus  act  a  part  in  the  above  tragedy,  in  the 
middle  of  summer,  in  so  impressive  a  manner  that  it  excited  in 
thein  the  seeds  of  a  dormant  fever,  which  blended  itself  with  de- 
rangement, and  thus  produced,  very  naturally,  a  repetition  of  the 
ideas  and  sounds  that  excited  their  disease. 

"VI.  From  the  appearances  of  the  blood  which  is  drawn  in  tfjis 
disease  being  the  same  as  that  which  is  drav/n  in  certain  fevei-s. 
They  are,  inflammatory  buff,  yellow,  serum,  and  lotura  carnium. 

"  VII.  From  the  appearances  of  the  brain  after  death  fi'om 
madness.  These  are  nearly  the  same  as  after  death  from  phreni- 
tis,  apoplexy,  and  other  diseases  which  are  admitted  to  be  prima- 
ry affections  of  the  blood-vessels  of  the  brain.  1  shall  briefly  en- 
umerate them;  they  are,  1,  the  absence  of  cvery^  sign  of  disease. 


INSANITY    HEREDITARY.  103 

Other  proofs  thai  ma(hie.ss  is  caused  by  cerebral  disease. 

I  have  ascribed  this  lo  that  grade  of  suflbcated  excitement  which 
prevents  the  effusion  of  red  blood  into  the  serous  vessels.  We 
■observe  the  same  absence  of  the  marks  of  innaramation  after  seve- 
.  ral  other  violent  diseases.  Dr.  Stevens,  in  his  ini^^enlous  inaugural 
dissertation  published  in  181 1,  has  called  tliis  ajiparently  healthy 
appearance,  the  '  aiinatous '  state  of  inflammation.  Perhaps  it 
would  be  more  proper  to  call  it  the  'aimatous'  state  of  disease. 
It  is  possible  it  may  arise  in  recent  cases  of  madness  which  termi- 
nate fatally,  from  the  same  retrocession  of  the  blood  from  the 
brain  which  takes  place  from  the  face  and  external  surface  of  the 
body,  just  before  death.  But, 

"  2.  We  much  oftener  discover  in  the  brain,  after  death  from 
madness,  inflammation,  effusions  of  water  in  its  ventricles,  extra- 
vasation and  intravasation  of  blood  and  even  pus.  After  chronic 
madness,  we  discover  some  peculiar  appearances  which  have  nev- 
er been  met  with  in  any  other  disease  of  the  brain,  and  these  are 
a  preternatural  hardness,  and  dryness  in  all  its  parts.  Lieutaud 
mentions  it  often  with  the  epithets  of  '  durum,'  '  prasdurum,'  '  sic- 
cum,'  and  '  exsuccum.'  Morgagni  takes  notice  of  tliis  hardness 
likewise,  and  says  he  had  observed  it  in  the  cerebrum  in  persons 
in  whom  the  cerebellum  retained  its  natural  softness.  Dr.  Bailie 
and  Mr.  John  Hunter  have  remarked,  that  the  brain  in  this  state 
discovered  marks  of  elasticity  when  pressed  by  the  fingers.  Mr. 
Mickell  says  a  cube  of  six  lines  of  the  brain  of  a  maniac,  thus  in- 
durated, weighed  seven  drams,  whereas  a  cube  of  the  same  dimen- 
sion of  a  sound  brain  weighed  but  one  dram,  and  between  four  and 
six  grains.  1  have  ascribed  this  hardness,  dryness,  elasticity  and 
relative  weight  of  the  brain,  to  a  tendency  to  schirrus,such  as  suc- 
ceeds morbid  action  or  inflammation  in  glandular  parts  of  the  body, 
and  particularly  that  early  grade  of  it  which  occurs  in  the  liver, 
:and  which  is  known  by  the  name  of  hepitalgia.  The  brain  in  this 
oase  loses  its  mobility  so  as  lo  become  incapable  of  emitting  those 
tnotions  from  impressions  which  produce  the  operations  of  the 
mind; 

'•'  3,  We  sometimes  discover  preternatural  softness  in  the  brain, 
in  persons  who  die  of  madness,  similar  to  that  which  we  find  in 
other  viscera  from  common  and  febrile  diseases.  This  has  been 
observed  to  occur  most  frequently  in  the  kidneys  and  spleen.  The 
brain  in  this  case  partakes  of  its  textui'e  and  imbecility  in  infancy, 
and  hence  its  inability  to  receive  and  modify  the  impressions 
which  excite  thought  in  the  mind. 

"  4,  and  lastly.  We  sometinjes  discover  a  preternatural  enlarge- 
ment of  the  bones  of  the  head  from  madness,  and  sometimes  a  pre- 
ternatural reduction  of  their  thickness.  Of  916  maniacs,  whose 
heads  were  examined  after  death,  Dr.  Creighton  says  in  160  the 
skull  was  enlarged,  and  in  38  it  was  reduced  in  its  thickness. 


104  MENTAL   DISEASES   HEREDITARY. 

'J'iiis  c^iseased  stale  of  the  brain,  Ijereiliiary. 

Now  the  same  thing  succeeds  rheumatism,  and  many  other  febrile 
diseases  which  exert  their  action  in  the  neighborhood  of  bones. 

"  i  rijight  add  further,  under  this  head,  tiiat  the  morbid  appear- 
ances in  the  spleen,  liver,  and  stomach,  which  are  seen  after  death 
fiom  madness,  place  it  still  more  upon  a  footing  with  fevers  from  all 
its  causes,  and  particularly  from  koino-miasmatic  exhalations,  and  in 
a  more  especial  manner  when  lhf?y  affect  the  brain,  and  thereby 
i>nduce  primary,  or  idiopathic  ])hrenitis.  In  shon,  madness  is  to 
phrenitis,  what  pulmonary  consumption  is  to  pneumony,  that  is,  a 
chronic  state  of  an  acute  disease.  It  resembles  pulmonary  con- 
sumption further,  in  the  excitement  of  the  muscles,  and  in  the  ap- 
petite continuing  in  a  natural,  or  in  a  preternatural  state. 

"  Vill.  1  infer  madness  to  be  primarily  seated  in  th*^  blood- 
vessels, from  the  remedies  which  most  speedily  and  certainly  cure 
it,  being  exactly  the  same  as  those  which  cuie  fever  or  disease  in 
the  blood-vessels  from  othercauses,  and  in  other  parts  of  tlie  body. 
Tliey  will  be  noticed  in  their  proper  place. 

"  I  have  thus  mentioned  the  facts  and  arguments  which  prove 
uhat  is  commonly  called  madness  to  be  a  disease  of  the  blood-ves- 
sels of  the  brain.  All  the  other  and  inferior  forms  of  derangement, 
whether  of  the  memory,  the  will,  the  principle  of  faith,  the  pas- 
sions, and  the  moral  faculties,  1  believe  to  be  connected  more  or 
less  with  morbid  action  in  the  blood-vessels  of  the  brain,  or  heart, 
according  to  the  seats  of  those  faculties  of  the  mind. 

"  In  placing  the  primary  seat  of  madness  in  the  blood-vessels,  I 
would  by  no  means  confine  the  predisposition  to  it  exclusively  to 
them.  It  extends  to  the  nerves,  and  to  that  part  of  the  brain 
which  is  the  seat  of  the  mind,  both  of  \^hich,  when  preternatural  y 
iiritable,  communicate  more  promptly  deranged  action  to  the 
blood-vessels  of  the  brain.  I  have  called  the  union  of  this  diffused 
morbid  irritability,  the  phrenitic  predisposition.  It  is  from  the  con- 
stant presence  of  this  predisposition,  that  some  people  are  seldom 
affected  with  the  slightest  fever,  without  becoming  delirious  ;  and 
it  is  from  its  absence,  that  many  people  are  affected  with  fevers 
and  other  diseases  of  the  brain,  without  being  affected  with  de- 
rangement." 

.  The  teni'peroinent,  or  a  highly  susceptible  state  of  the 
wliole  system,  inclridijig  iLrriannriahiiity  of  llie  brain,  is  pro- 
Ijably  the  most  potent. cause  of  this  disease.  That  this  in- 
ffamraabilily  of  body  aiul  brain,  and  with  it  a  tendency  in 
the  brain  to  over-action — to  be  unduly  affected  by  trifles,  and 
to  great  impetuosity  and  enthusiasm,  while  it  is  established 
hy  the  same  great  principle  which  establishes  the  transmis- 
sion of  other  physical  diseases,  is  placed  beyond  a  doubt  by 


INSANITY   HEREDITARY.  105 

Derangement  of  Mr.  S.  and  his  daughter  in  the  moral  and  social  organs. 

an  array  of  facts  absolutely  overwhelming.  Like  the  sands 
of  the  sea,  they  are  really  innumerable.  Wherever  _you  see 
derangement,  unless  it  be  induced  by  spirituous  liquors  or  by 
some  powerful  and  long  continued  cause  of  excitement,  rely 
upon  it,  there  is  some  hereditary  tendency  which  is  here 
leaking  out.  I  grant  that  the  delirium  tremens,  one  form  of 
insanity,  is  often  induced  by  strong  drink,  and  that  some 
special  organs  may  at  times  act  so  powerfully  in  particular 
■cases,  as  to  throw  them  into  a  fevered  state.  That  is, 
there  are  other  procuring  causes  of  this  disease  besides  he- 
Teditary  influences. 

Some  of  the  members  of  a  family  on  Long  Island,  by  the 
name  of  S.,  were  deranged,  and  yet  uncommonly  talented. 
'One  of  the  daughters,  named  H.,  was  frequently  deranged  on 
•the  subject  of  religion,  and  in  regard  to  the  absence  of  her 
^husband.  If  her  husband  went  to  New  York,  she  insisted 
•on  accompanying  him ;  or  if  he  went  into  the  field,  she  would 
watch  him  till  he  was  out  of  sight,  and  then  look  every  few 
minutes  to  see  if  he  was  returning.  So  eagerly  did  she  cling 
to  him,  and  so  unwilling  was  she  to  have  him  out  of  her 
sight,  that  she  frequently  vexed  a  husband  who  was  scarcely^ 
ever  known  to  be  vexed  about  any  other  matter,  and  re- 
garded as  a  most  patient  and  forbearing  man.  She  was  also* 
subject  to  religious  depressions,  and  entertained  the  idea  that 
she  was  elected  to  be  damned,  and  that  there  was  no  mercy  for 
her.  When  about  to  be  afflicted  with  a  recurrence  of  these 
feelings,  she  would  go  about  the  house  with  her  hands  clasp- 
fid  upon  the  top  of  her  head,  complaining  of=  a  severe  pain 
there,  and  moaning  piteously,  and  wishing  she  was  dead, 
and  often  attempted  to  commit  suicide.  Her  friends  knew 
that  when  she  complained  of  this  pain,  it  was  necessary  ta 
watch  her  lest  slie  should  kill  herself.  Her  mental  sufferings 
induced  by  this  partial  derangement,  were  great  indeed;  and 
yet  she  was  a  superior  woman,  both  as  regards  general  intel- 
ligence and  the  management  of  household  matters.  She 
fdied  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight. 

One  of  her  daughters,  during  a  season  of  sickness,  was  full 
•of  her  conceits — fancying  that  the  whole  inside  of  her  was 
idead,  and  tbai  she  should  die  in  a  few  minutes — that  she 


106  MENTAL    DISEASES    HEREDITARY. 

Nearl}-  all  his  descendants  deranged,  down  to  the  fifth  generation. 


had  loathesome  vermin  on  various  parts  of  her  body,  and 
things  of  this  kind  without  number.  She  died  at  fifty-four 
of  the  cholera. 

One  of  her  sons,  some  five  years  ago,  became  afilicted  with 
dyspepsia,  and  could  not  be  persuaded  to  get  into  a  carriage, 
for  fear  he  should  fall  and  break  his  neck  ;  that  he  was  about 
to  ciie,  and  a  thousand  conceits  similar  to  those  of  his  mother 
and  grand  mother.  He  had  the  same  desire  to  be  all  the  time 
in  the  bosom  of  his  family  that  his  grand  mother  had,  and 
felt  all  on  nettles  if  absent  from  them. 

One  of  his  sisters,  another  grand  daughter  of  H.  S.,  the 
fir«t  one  mentioned,  was  for  a  long  time  so  nervous,  that  the 
least -noise,  or  a  rap  at  the  door,  or  the  least  thing,  would 
agitate  her  in  the  extreme.  She  also,  in  common  with  her 
grand  mother,  absolutely  refuses  to  be  absent  from  her  hus- 
band, hardly  an  hour,  and  often  feels  a  severe  pain  in  the  or- 
gan of  Union  for  Life,  which  her  whole  conduct  shows  to  be 
diseased.  Separation  from  her  children,  is  also  most  painful. 
;She  is,  moreover,  occasionally  subject  to  extreme  depression 
•of  spirits,  and  especially  to  that  sense  of  nnworthiness,  and 
being  in  the  way,  or  neglected,  or  not  wanted,  to  which  her 
grand  mother  was  subject. 

iHer  children,  again,  of  the  fourth  generation  from  this  de- 
ranged grand  mother,  are  also  the  most  sensitive  httle  beings 
imaginable,  crying  out  at  the  least  unpleasant  word  or  look, 
and  when  plaintive  music  is  sung;  and  also  moaning  pite- 
ously  when  not  with  their  mother,  or  crying  when  their 
father  leaves  the  room. 

Another  brother  evinces  tlie  same  tendency — is  all  on  net- 
lies  if  separated  from  his  family,  and  has  several  times 
threatened  to  kill  himself,  and  been  frequently  afilicted  with 
the  delirium  tremens,  occasioned  by  drink.  His  children  are 
extremely  susceptible.  Another  brother,  who  takes  after  kis 
Jather^  has  escaped,  yet  some  of  his  children  have  both  the 
high  order  of  talent,  and  also  the  phrenological  developments, 
of  their  grand  mother  H.  S. 

Another  brother,  by  a  second  husband,  manifested  derange-* 
ment  in  a  decided  form,  when  but  twelve  years  old,  which 
ultimately  ended  in  religious  derangement,  for  whioh  he  wasj 


INSANITY   HEREDITARY.  107 

Different  branches  of  ihis  family  similarly  affected. 

sent  to  the  insane  hospital  at  Hudson,  but  from  which,  how- 
ever, he  has  partially    ecovered. 

Another  son  of  the  H,  S.,  first  alluded  to,  after  having  been 
deranged  for  some  time,  died  suddenly  in  the  insane  hospital 
at  Hartford,  he  being  supposed  to  have  killed  himself;  and  a 
son  of  his  hung  himself  on  account  of  being  disappointed  in 
love,  and  another  son  has  of  late  evinced  marked  indications 
of  derangement. 

Another  son  of  this  H.  S.,  was  deranged  for  years  in  con- 
sequence of  being  obliged  to  pay  a  small  note  which  he  sup- 
posed cancelled,  and  for  years  refused  to  see  company,  but 
whenever  any  one  came  to  the  house,  he  would  hide  himself 
away  under  the  bed  or  in  the  closet,  fearing  the  constable 
would  come  and  take  him  off,  and  that  he  was  likely  to  come 
to  poverty — impressions  analogous  to  those  that  characterized 
his  brother  that  died  in  the  insane  hospital  at  Hartford,  men- 
tioned above.  A  daughter  of  his  is  exceedingly  sensitive, 
and  withal,  a  highly  intelligent  woman. 

Another  brother  had  a  similar  attack,  or  at  least,  extreme 
nervousness,  and  would  walk  the  floor  by  the  hour,  back  and 
forth,  wringing  his  hands  and  tvvristing  his  pocket  handker- 
chief as  if  in  great  distress  of  mind,  besides  being  at  all  times 
extremely  low  spirited. 

Another  brother  still,  was  similarly  afliicted  for  a  short 
time,  the  burden  of  his  derangement  being  money,  a  quality 
that  appertained  to  his  grand  father  on  his  mother's  side, 
that  is,-  to  the  father  oi  the  H.  S.  first  mentioned.  He  had 
his  whims,  And  was  partially  deranged  in  the  matter  of 
money. 

The  daughter  of  another  sister  of  this  family,  evinces  ex- 
treme sensitiveness  and  nervousness,  and  is  very  low  spirited. 
Her  Hope  is  small.  Cautiousness  prodigious,  and  tempera- 
ment most  excitable.  Her  sister,  another  grand  daughter  of 
the  H.  S.,  virtually  conunitted  suicide  deliberately  and  inten- 
tionally, by  eating  what  she  knew  and  designed  would  kill 
her.  This  she  did  from  grief  occasioned  by  the  absence  of 
her  husband,  and  his  not  writing  her.  She  felt  as  though 
she  was  in  the  way,  and  not  loved  by  him.  This  made  her 
desire  death,  and  she  took  a  course  to  produce  it. 


108  MENTAL   DISEASES    HEREDITARY. 

Another  grand  daughter  of  Mr.S.  Recapitulation. 

Another  sister  died  from  melancholy.  In  speaking  of  her, 
her  friends  remarked  that  she  got  into  "  a  strange  way." 
This  enumeration  embraces  nearly  every  one  of  the  descen- 
dants of  the  H.  S.  first  spoken  of. 

Again.  This  H.  S.  had  a  niece  who  was  courted  ten  year&j 
and  then  taken  advantage  of,  and  rendered  enciente.  Though 
her  guilty  paramour  was  compelled  to  marry  her,  yet  the 
grief,  melancholy,  and  mortification  occasioned  by  the  thought 
that  he  was  compelled  to  marry  her,  but  would  not  do  it  wil- 
lingly, caused  her  death  in  a  few  days  after  the  birth  of  her 
child,  which  was  hastened  by  the  mother's  grief.  Several 
other  members  of  this  family  have  their  peculiarities,  and  sa 
have  some  of  the  descendants  of  this  S.,  the  oldest  of  all, 
especially  those  descendants  from  a  hrother  of  the  H.  S.,  so- 
often  alluded  to.  One  of  them  is  a  judge,  and  the  whole  fam- 
ily are  regarded  as  eminently  talented.  Most  of  them  are 
also  long  lived. 

1  know  not  what  clearer  proofs  that  insanity  is  hereditary, 
could  be  adduced,  and  if  all  the  facts  could  be  stated  more  in 
detail^  the  case  would  be  still  stronger. 

To  recapitulate.  S.,  the  first  one  of  this  diseased  family, 
was  queer,  eccentric,  fussy,  fidgety,  and  partially  deranged 
on  the  matter  of  property,  fearing  he  should  come  to  poverty. 

Of  his  relatives,  nothing  is  known,  except  that  some  of  the 
descendants  of  one  of  his  grand  daughters,  are  a  little  crac/:- 
brained,  to  use  a  common  phrase. 

Belonging  to  the  second  generation,  was  this  H.  S.,  the  first 
and  main  one  mentioned,  who  was  deranged  on  the  subject  of 
religion,  and  on  the  social  organs,  and  her  sister's  daughter 
died  of  a  broken  heart,  or  unrequited  affection. 

Of  her  children,  or  the  third  generation,  one  was  very 
nervous,  another  died  in  the  insane  hospital  at  Hartford,  and 
four  others  were  occasionally  insane,  and  one  sound. 

Of  the  fourth  generation,  one  virtually  committed  suicide,one 
was  sent  to  the  lunatic  asylum  in  Hudson,  one  often  threat- 
ened to  commit  suicide,  and  something  less  than  a  score  are 
extremely  nervous,  and  about  half  deranged. 

And  finally,  the  infants  of  the  fifth  generation,  besides  be- 
ing most  se?nsitive,  show  an  intensity  of  feeling  and  a  power 


INSANITY   HEREDITARY.  109 


A  Irtcty  ill  Danvers.  The  Sewail  family.  An  anecdote. 

of  desire,  which  bid  fair  lo  develope  themselves  in  uUimate 
madness,  unless  the  principles  to  be  presented  in  the  next 
section,  are  put  into  vigorous  practice. 

While  making  professional  examinations  in  Danvers,  Mass. 
in  1841,  a  lady  brought  her  son  to  me  expressing  great  anx- 
iety lest  he  should  be  deranged,  and  giving  as  her  reason  that 
the  child's  father  died  of  derangement,  and  that  the  child's 
grand  mother  on  his  father's  side,  died  in  the  insane  hospital 
in  Charlestown,  Mass.  On  inquiring  still  further,  I  found  that 
some  of  the  uncles  and  aunts  of  the  boy,  on  his  father's  side, 
had  manifested  signs  of  derangement.  He  gave  decided  evi- 
dence of  precocity. 

Joshua  CofBn  in  a  letter  to  me  on  hereditary  descent,  writes 
as  follows : 

"  Henry  Sewail,  who  carae  to  this  country  in  1634,  was  a 
distinguished  man,  but  occasionally  subject  to  turns  of  de- 
rangement. In  every,  or  nearly  every  generation  from  that 
time  to  the  present,  seme  one  or  more  of  his  descendants 
have  been  affected  in  the  same  v/ay  ;  and  there  are  now  liv- 
ing in  N^'^***''''y  and  B***^^**y  several  lineal  descendants  of 
Jlenry  Sewail  partially  or  occasionally  deranged.  And  what 
is  a  little  remarkable,  they  are  affected  in  very  much  the 
same  manner.  They  are  eccentric,  odd,  peculiar,  but  always 
harmless,  though  crazy." 

An  anecdote  of  one  of  them,  will  serve  as  a  sample  of  the 
species  of  derangement  to  which  they  are  subject.  One  of 
them  was  impressed  with  the  idea  that  he  was  elected  to  be 
damned  eternally,  and  thought  that  ib.e  sooner  he  entered  upon 
his  doom,  the  better.  He  therefore  v\nshed  very  much  to  com- 
mit suicide,  and  yet  entertained  the  idea  that  it  was  wicked 
for  him  to  do  so.  He  therefore  devised  the  following  method 
of  making  way  with  him.self  without  incurring  guilt.  He 
thought  that  if  he  should  swim  out  into  the  water  just  as  far 
as  he  could  swim,  and  then  turn  round  and  be  drowned 
while  trying  to  save  himself  without  being  able  to  do  so,  he 
should  not  be  guilty,  because  he  was  trying  his  best  to  save 
himself.  He  tried  this  plan,  but,  unfortunately,  his  strength 
held  out  longer  than  he  expected,  and  brought  him  back  to 
the  shore. 

10 


110  MENTAL   DISEASES    HEREDITARY. 

The  Bartlett  family  g'enerally  nervous. 

Sometimes  they  would  shut  themselves  up  for  months,  ut- 
terly refusing  to  see  any  one,  and  pleading  as  an  excuse  thai 
they  were  unworthy  to  do  so.  The  derangement  seemed  to 
be  produced  by  small  Hope  and  Self-Esteem,  and  prodigious 
Conscientiousness  and  Cautiousness.  They  were  all  exceed- 
ingly pious.  Indeed,  their  derangement  seemed  to  be  a  reli-  ' 
gious  melancholy  induced  by  a  morbid  condition  of  the  mo- 
ral organs. 

A  very  pious  and  most  excellent  young  man  died  at  Am- 
herst College  about  the  year  1829,  exceedingly  low  spirited, 
and  evidently  of  religious  melancholy.  His  surname  was  the 
same  as  one  of  those  mentioned  by  Mr.  Coffin  in  the  passage 
quoted  above,  but  omitted  there  and  here  for  reasons  which 
the  reader  will  appreciate.  He  was  doubltess  a  descendant 
of  this  family. 

"  The  ancestors  of  another  family,"  says  Mr.  Coffin,  "  first 
settled  in  Newbury,  many  of  v/hose  descendants  haVe  been, 
and  still  are  distinguished  for  talents — having  strong  minds 
in  strong  bodies,  but  who  have,  for  many  generations,  been 
afflicted  with  a  nervous  irritability.  At  one  time  they  are 
elated,  at  another  time,  they  are  depressed  in  the  extreme,  by 
which  they  have  suffered  through  life.  I  could  narrate  a 
dozen  instances  which  have  occurred  in  nearly  as  many  bran- 
ches of  this  family,  which  would  corroborate  the  descent  of 
this  physical  peculiarity  from  generation  to  generation.  For 
instance : — The  maiden  name  of  my  grand  mother,  was  Sa- 
rah Bartlett,  a  woman  of  strong  mind,  great  firmness  and 
self-possession  when  obliged  to  act;  and  yet  one  of  the  most 
nervous  persons  imaginable.  She  would  sit  by  the  hour  to- 
gether, and  wring  her  hands  enough  almost  to  wring  them 
oiF,  plait  her  apron  into  narrow  plaits,  and  then  spread  it 
out  again,  and  repeat  this  process  for  the  hundredth  time. 
She  would  imagine  for  a  long  time  together  that  she  was  un- 
fit for  company,  because  she  did  not  know  enough,  and 
should  disgrace  herself  and  family ;  but  when  obliged  to  ap- 
pear in  company,  no  one  could  appear  to  better  advantage, 
or  do  herself  more  credit.  On  one  occasion,  when  company 
had  been  invited,  she  could  not  be  persuaded  to  join  them  oa 
account  of  these  gloomy,  unworthy  feelings,  till  some  one 


INSANITY    HEREDITARY.  Ill 

The  Coffins.  Mr.  S.  of  Syracuse,  and  his  ancestors  and  relatives. 

told  her  that  she  did  not  know  enough  to  appear  respectably, 
when  she  arose  with  great  dignity  and  majesty,  replying, 
'It's  false,'  and  walked  in  and  became  the  master  spirit  of 
the  occasion. 

^'She  has  a  large  number  of  descendants,  and  out  of  the 
whole,  I  do  not  know  of  one  who  does  not  inherit,  in  a  great- 
er or  less  degree,  this  same  nervous  temperament,  except 
some  of  them  by  the  name  of  Coffin.  The  peculiarities  of 
my  own  immediate  relations,  by  the  name  of  Coffin,"  (refer- 
ence is  here  made  to  the  same  nervous  excitability,)  "  in  that 
respect,  on  my  father's  side,  are  clearly  traced  to  my  grand 
mother  Bartlett." 

The  nervous  affection  mentioned  in  the  preceding  cases, 
is  evidently  a  lower  species  of  derangement,  as  indeed  are 
all  nervous  affections,  or  what  is  commonly  called  "the  hypo," 
"the  hysterics,"  ^' hypoehondriacis,"  "  the  spleen,''  &c.  &c., 
tliey  all  being  caused,  in  common  with  downright  madness, 
by  a  morbid  or  over-excited  or  diseased  condition  of  the  brain  ; 
and  the  degree  of  that  disease,  determines  the  degree  of  the 
nervous  affection  or  derangement. 

In  Syracuse,  in  Jan.  1843,  the  author,  in  examining  th^ 
head  of  Mr.  S.,  remarked  that  his  extreme  nervous  excitabil- 
ity, his  prodigious  Cautiousness  and  small  Hope,  would  sub- 
ject him  to  ups  and  downs — would  cause  him  to  be  sometimes 
in  the  garret,  and  then  in  the  cellar,  and  afflict  him  with  ex- 
treme melancholy.*  He  then  stated  that  most  of  the  mem- 
bers of  his  family,  as  far  as  he  could  trace  them,  were  simi- 
larly afflicted — that  his  father  committed  suicide,  and  so  did 
one  of  his  uncles ;  and  that  it  was  only  with  difficulty  that 
he  could  at  times  restrain  his  tendency  to  commit  suicide.  I 
then  asked  him  if  he  was  not  related  to  a  man  by  the  same 
surname  with  his,  who  formerly  resided  in  B.,  Vt.,  and  with 
whom,  some  ten  years  ago,  I  was  acquainted,  who  was  noted 
for  being  by  turns  severely  afflicted  with  melancholy.  He  said 
he  was  his  cousin.  He  traced  the  disease  back  to  his  grand 
father,  who  also  committed  suicide  ;  further  back  he  could  not 
go.     His  son  had  the  same  temperament,  and  small  Hope. 

*  A  condition  always  accompanying  smxill  Hope  and  an  excitable  tem- 
perament. 


112  MENTAL    DISEASES   HEREDITARY. 

A  case  in  Canada.  One  in  R.  I.  Two  brothers  near  Boston. 

In  Bnrford,  Canada  West,  in  Dec.  1840,  1  examined  the 
head  of  a  clergyman  considered  a  most  excellent  man,  who 
was  habitually  low  spirited.  He  said  that  his  father  and 
every  one  of  his  name  and  family,  as  far  as  he  knew  them, 
were  similarly  afflicted.  His  and  their  melancholy  took  a 
religions  turn. 

In  the  town  of  S.,  R.  I.,  T  examined  a  family  of  children 
having  as  fine  a  set  of  heads  as  1  almost  ever  saw,  v.'hich  I 
remarked  as  really  extraordinary.  The  mother  at  the  close 
asked  if  I  thought  them  any  way  predisposed  to  derangement. 
I  asked  her  if  either  parent  was  thus  predisposed.  She  said 
yes,  that  their  father  died  insane,  and  that  their  uncle  was 
then  confined  in  the  jail  at  P.  on  account  of  his  derangement. 
One  of  their  aunts  is  extremely  enthusiastic  in  whatever  she 
takes  an  interest,  and  has  her  hobbies,  now  abolition,  now^ 
phrenology,  now  education,  but  from  having  a  sup-erior  mo- 
ral and  intellectual  head,  her  hobbies  are  of  a  moral  and  phi- 
lanthropic cast;  still  they  are  hobbies,  and  she  rides  them  al- 
most to  death. 

I  examined  the  head  of  a  gentleman  near  Uri'ca,  N.  Y., 
some  of  whose  relatives  had  been  deranged,  and  he  was  oc- 
casionally beside  himself  He  had  a  superior  headj  but  Hope 
was  small,  and  Cautiousness  prodigious. 

Miss  Hunt,  female  physician  in  Boston,  relates  the  follow- 
ing. Two  twin  brothers,  residing  in  a  town  near  Boston, 
married  happily,  and  had  every  thing  in  common,  and  abun- 
dance of  the  comforts  of  life,  and  liad  always  kept  free  from 
debt,  and  been  noted  for  their  honesty.  One  of  them  fell 
crazy,  and  run  away  with  the  idea  that  he  was,  after  all, 
dishonest — that  he  was  deeply  in  debt,  (though  he  did  not 
owe  five  dollars  in  the  world.)  that  he  had  all  along  imposed 
upon  his  neighbors  by  pretending  to  be  honest  when  he  was 
not,  and  now  he  was  about  to  be  detected,  and  exposed,  and 
that  he  and  his  family  were  coming  to  poverty,  though  they 
liad  their  farm  paid  for,  a  large  dairy,  and  their  thousands  in 
the  bank. 

His  brother  was  so  nmch  grieved  and  mortified  at  this  that 
he  too  became  deranged,  and  on  precisely  the  same  point,  and 
their  families  were  rendered  the  most  miserable  families  im- 


INSANITY   HEREDITARY.  113 


'I"h(^ir  grand  father.  The  \V.  family.  Mrs.  C.  and  daughter. 

aginable.  The  brothers  insisted  on  being  together,  and 
talked  and  mourned  most  pitiously  over  their  imaginary  mis- 
fortunes ;  yet  this  only  aggravated  their  malady.  One  of 
them  had  been  dera^nged  on  the  same  point  before,  and  I 
think  a  cousin  had  been  sent  to  the  insane  hospital  at  Wor- 
•cester.  Both  parents  were  perfectly  healthy  in  body  and 
mind,  but  a  grand  father  was  deranged,  and  deranged  on  the 
same  pornt — the  apprehension  of  poverty. 

There  is  a  family  by  the  name  of  W.,  wealthy,  influential, 
:and  eminently  refined  and  moral,  one  member  of  which,  a 
young  man  of  about  twenty,  died  recently  of  derangement  in 
the  matter  of  appetite.  He  first  adopted  the  Graham  system, 
and  became  more  and  more  abstemious,  till  he  finally  refused 
to  eat  almost  every  thing.  Let  alon^,  he  would  not  have 
€aten  at  all ;  and  with  the  utmost  persuasion,  he  could  be  in- 
duced to  eat  no  more  than  half  a  cracker,  and  drink  half  a 
tumbler  of  milk  twice  a  day — he  conceiving  it  wrong  to  eat 
more.  He  had  a  splendid  head,  excepting  the  absence  of 
Hope  and  Amativeness,  and  the  predominence  of  Cautious- 
ness and  Conscientiousness.  When  his  physician  stood  over 
him,  he  could  get  down  enough  to  make  him  gain  nearly  a 
pound  per  day,  for  a  week,  but  he  died  ultimately  of  pure 
starvation  resulting  from  this  derangement. 

Though  this  tendency  was  derived  from  parentage,  and 
hirked  in  his  constitution,  yet  long-continued  and  severe  ap- 
plication to  study  (Conscientiousness,  the  reasoning  organs, 
and  the  mental  or  studying  temperament  being  pre-eminently 
developed,)  were  its  direct  procuring  cause,  and  were  mainly 
instrumental  in  bringing  it  out. 

His  mother  was  an  exceedingly  nervous  woman,  and  very 
odd  aod  eccentric,  and  so  were  all  his  aunts  on  his  mother's 
side.  Both  his  grand  parents,  and  their  brothers  and  sisters 
escaped,  and  were  sound  in  mind,  but  one  of  his  great  grand 
parents  was  similarly  afflicted- — the  disease  having  passed 
over  one  generation. 

Old  Mrs.  C,  a  neighbor  of  the  author's  father,  was  fre- 
quently deranged,  so  much  so  that  she  was  put  into  irons — a 
most  barbarous  practice.  One  of  her  sons  was  deranged. 
T    e  familv  were  unusually  intelligent. 


114  MENTAL    DISEASES    HERF-BITARy. 

Dr.  Jolinson.  'J'\\o  families  in  I'eiin.  •  A  case  of  twin  hroUicrs. 

This  son  married  a  woman  who  became  deranged  on  the 
subject  of  rehgion,  and  whose  brother,  a  most  excellent  and 
pious  man,  became  crazy  on  rehgions  subjects.  A  daughter 
was  quite  talented  and  a  most  sweet  and  lovely  girl- — a 
quahty  that  generally  accompanies  hereditary  derangement. 

Dr.  Johnson  inherited  from  his  father  that  exceedirlg  nerv- 
ousness and  most  oppressive  melancholy  which  follov/ed  him 
through  life,  and  almost  led  him  to  commit  suicide. 

"It  is  a  singular  fact  in  the  history  of  suicide,"  says  Dr. 
Rush,  in  his  work  on  "  Diseases  of  the  Mind,"  p.  134,  "that 
it  has  sometimes  been  hereditary  in  families.  There  are 
two  families  in  Pennsylvania,  in  which  three  of  their  re- 
spective branches  have  perished  by  their  own  hands,  in  the 
course  of  a  few  years.  Similar  instances  of  this  issue  of  fam- 
ily derangement,. are, to  be  met  with  in  other  countries." 

The  followjng;jfe.cts  are  from  the  work  by  Dr.  Rush  which 
has  been  alluded  to.   :  The  first  account  he. received  in  a  let-i; 
ter  from  Dr.  JV^ilUam?,,  p-f ,  Deerlield,  Mass.,  dat^xj,  JjJne  16;? 

1812.  .'   r»'>ppr^ftftrfof^«^'!"-  ..«■*/'.,    h\i 

"  Captains  C.  L.  and  J.  L.  were  twin  brothers  ;  and  so  great'" 
was  the  similarity- of  their  countenances  and   appearance,  that  iS  ' 
was  extremely  difficult  for  slran(;;ers  to  know   them   apart.     Even 
their   friends   were   often    deceived   by  them.     Their  habits  and 
manners  were   likewise  similar.     Many  ludicrous  stones  are  told 
of  people  mistaking  one  for  the  other. 

"  They  both  entered  the  American  revolutionary  army  at  the 
same  time.  Both  held  similar  commissions,  and  both  served  v/ith 
honor  during  the  war.  They  were  cheerful,  sociable,  and  in  every 
respect  gentlemen.  They  were  happy  in  their  families,  bavin(»; 
amiable  wives  and  children,  and  they  were  both  independent  in 
their  property.  Some  time  after  the  close  of  the  war,  Capt.  J. 
removed  to  the  state  of  Vermont,  while  Capt.  C.  remained  in 
GreeuSeld,  and  two  hundred  miles  frbm  his  brother.  Within  the 
course  of  three  years,  they  have  both  been  subject  to  turns  of  par- 
tial derangement,  but  by  no  means  rising  into  njatiia,  nor  sinking 
into  melancholy.  They  appeared  to  be  hin-rled  and  confused. in 
their  manners,  but  were  constantly  able  to  attend  to  their  business. 
About  two  years  ago,  Capt.  J.,  on  his  return  ii-om  the  general 
assembly  of  Vermont,  of  which  he  was  a  member,  was  found  in 
ins  chamber,  early  in  tiie  mornin'j;,  wiili  his  throat  cut,  by  his  own 
band,  from  ear  to  ear,  shortly  after  which  he  expired.  He  had 
lii^en  melancholy  a  i'ew   days  previous  to   this   fatal   catastrophe, 


INSANITY   HEREDITARY.  115 

A  man  who  wished  to  die  without  children.  Facts  in  abund.ince. 

and  had  complarned  of  indisposition  the  evening  previous  to  the 
event. 

"About  ten  days  ago,  Capt.C,  of  Greenfield,  discovered  signs 
■of  melancholy,  and  expressed  a  fear  that  lie  should  destroy  hirn- 
self.  Early  in  the  morning  of  June  5th,  he  got  up,  and  proposed 
to  his  wife  to  take  a  ride  with  hitn.  He  shaved  himself  as  usual, 
wiped  his  razor,  and  stepped  into  an  adjoining  room,  as  his  wife 
■supposed,  to  put  it  up.  Shortly  after  she  heard  a  noise  like  water 
or  blood  running  upon  the  floor.  She  hurried  into  the  roon),  but 
was  too  late  to  save  him.  He  had  cut  his  throat  with  his  razor, 
and  soon  afterwards  expired. 

"  The  mother  of  these  two  gentlemen,  an  aged  lady,  is  now  in 
a  state  of  derangement,  and  their  two  sisters,  the  only  survivors  of 
their  family,  have  been  subject,  for  several  years,  to  the  same 
-complaint.  .,  [, 

"  Insanity  generally  attacks  in  those  stages  of  life  in  which  it 
has  appeared  in  the  patient's  ancestors.  A  general  officer  v*'ho 
served  in  the  American  army  during  the  revolutionary  war,  once 
expressed  a  wish  to  a  brother  officer,  that  he  might  not  live  to  be 
old  ;  that  he  might  die  suddenly  ;  and  that  if  he  married,  he  might 
have  no  issue.  Upon  being  asked  the  reason  for  these  wishes,  he; 
said  he  was  descended  from  a  family  in  which  madness  had  some- 
times appeared  about  the  fiftieth  year  of  life,  and  that  he  did  not 
wish  to  incur  the  chance  of  inheriting,  and  propagating  it  to  a 
family  of  children.  Fie  was  gratified  in  all  his  three  wishes.  He 
fell  in  battle  between  the  tliirtieth  and  fortieth  years  of  his  age, 
and  he  left  no  issue,  although  he  had  been  married  several  years 
before  his  -death,  A  similar  instance  of  the  disease  appearing  at 
the  same  lime  of  life,  in  three  persons  of  the  same  family,  occurred 
under  my  notice  in  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital.  It  came  on  in  a 
father  and  two  of  his  sons  between  the  sixtieth  and  seventieth 
years  of  their  lives. 

"  Application  was  made,  some  years  ago,  for  the  adinisslon  of 
three  members  of  the  same  family  into  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital 
on  the  same  day.  I  have  attended  two  ladies,  one  of  whom  was 
the  fourth,  and  the  other  the  ninth,  of  their  respective  families, 
that  had  been  affected  with  this  disease  in  two  generations." 

These  facts,  and  thousands  of  similar  ones  which  might 
easily  be  recorded,  (and  every  reader's  observation  will  assure 
him  any  number  of  facts  of  this  class,  even  more  striking  than 
these,)  exist  every  where,  and  especially  are  observable  in  our 
"insane  asylums,  and  must  force  home  the  conviction  upon, 
^very  rational  mind,  that  a  predisposition  to  insanity  is  he- 
jeditary,  and  follows  down  in  the  direct  line  from  father  to 


116  MENTAL   DISEASES   HEREDITARY. 

This  disease  can  be  prevented.  Contracting'  marriages. 

son  and  grand  son,  as  far  as  it  can  be  traced.*  And  if  any 
additional  evidence  were  needed  to  strengthen  this  con- 
clusion, the  fact  that  other  diseases  are  hereditary,  furnishes 
that  evidence.  Other  quahties  are  hereditary,  and  so  is  this. 
And  in  the  name  of  science — of  that  law  by  which  children 
resemble  th«ir  parents — I  assure  all  those,  either  of  whose 
blood  relations  are  or  have  been  partially  or  wholly  deranged, 
that  they  also,  and  their  offsjoring  too,  are  in  danger  of  being 
similarly  afflicted.  The  descent  of  derangement,  like  that  of 
consumption,  or  looks,  is  a  law  of  our  nature^  and  they  must 
take  vigorous  precautionary  measures,  or  they  too  and  theirs, 
"in  an  evil  hour  when  they  think  not,"  will  be  overtaken 
by  it. 

But  this  disease  can  be  lirevented.  I  fully  believe  it  can  be 
warded  off  in  all  cases.  None  need  be  compelled  to  suffer  its 
dreadful  tortures.  At  least,  the  tendency  can  be  arrested,  and 
the  next  generation  rendered  less,  and  the  third  still  less,  lia- 
ble to  be  overtaken  by  it,  till  it  can  finally  be  expelled  from 
the  family. 

As  to  contracting  marriages  with  those  whose  ancestors  or 
relatives  are  subject  to  this  disease,  the  same  laws  govern 
this  matter  which  govern  the  other  diseases,  previously  men- 
tioned. If  they  are  rising  above  the  disease,  or  if  they  take 
after  the  parent  not  thus  predisposed,  there  is  less  danger. 
Or  if  they  resemble  those  subject  to  it,  provided  they  are 
uiimre  of  the  tendency,  employ  preventives,  and  avoid  those 
things  that  tend  to  induce  it,  and  above  all,  if,  when  they  .are 
sensible  that  their  feelings  are  unduly  exalted,  they  will  place 
their  I'eason  over  against  this  tendency,  and  remember  that 
these  feelings  are  not  real,  but  only  the  effects  of  undue  cere- 
bral excitement — are  a  disease  of  the  mind,  just  as  inflamma- 
tion is  that  of  the  body — they  certainly  can  govern  the  ship 
of  mind  by  the  helm  of  reason. 

*  Will  not  Dr.  Buttolph,  the  gifted  assistant  of  the  New  York  Ltmatic 
Afiylum  at  Uticn,  Dr.  Woodward,  and  others  connected  with  these  insti- 
tutions, make  extensive  inquiries,  and  record  the  results,  with  the  view 
of  seeing  what  proportion  of  all  the  lunatics  brought  to  their  a.'^yiums 
have  relations,  and  especially  ancestors,  that  are  or  have  been  deranged, 
and  deranged  on  the  same  points. 


PREVENTIVES    OF    INSANITY.  117 

Sufferings  of  ilie  insane.  Ciueliy  of  punishing  ihem. 


SECTION   II. 

PREVENTIVES  OF  INSANITY. 

''The  enjoyments  and  sufferings  of  the  mind,  far  exceed  those  of  the  body." 

Of  all  diseases  that  afllict  our  nature,  those  diseases  that 
^affect  the  mind,  are  the  most  grievous — are  crushing,  and 
absolutely  insupportable.  To  have  limb  after  Jimb  cut 
from  the  writhing  body,  most  excruciating  though  it  be, 
bears  no  comparison  to  that  horror  of  horrors  experienced 
"  when  wiwc/ '5  diseased."  How  often  have  those  in  this 
state  been  known  to  hold  their  hands  in  the  fire,  to  cut  and 
bite  their  fi^sh,  or  to  submit  to  amputation,  and  then  remark 
•that  these  things  were  diversions  when  compared  with  the 
indescribable  mental  anguish  they  endure  !  Well  may  the 
heart  of  every  philanthropist  beat  with  its  fullest  and  slrong- 
«st  pulsations  of  S5''mpathy.  in  view  of  the  anguish  experienced 
lay  the  raging,  bewildered  maniac;  and  well  may  government 
attempt  the  amelioration  of  those  thus  .afflicted,  by  erecting 
asylums  for  their  comfort  and  cure.  What  practice  is  so 
barbarous,  so  absolutely  horrible,  as  that  of  confining  the 
maniac,  perhaps  in  a  dungeon,  in  chains  or  the  strait  jacket, 
treating  him  as  if  he  were  criminal,  and  perhaps  scourging 
him  at  that !  He  is  sick,  not  criminal.  To  chastise  one  who 
is  sick  of  a  fever,  or  dying  of  consumption,  is  truly  horrible  ; 
but  to  chastise  a  maniac,  is  as  much  more  so  as  his  disease  is 
more  painful  than  all  others.  Ordinary  diseases  can  be  en- 
dured:  but  let  reason  be  dethroned,  let  self-possession  be 
swayed  from  its  moorings,  let  imaginary  demoxjs  torment,  and 
all  the  passions  be  thrown  into  tumultuous  uproar,  the  whole 
man  no  longer  himself,  and  -of  all  objects  of  commiseration, 
this  is  the  most  deserving.  And  it  should  rejoice  every  friend 
of  man,  that  remedies  of  this  disease  have,  of  late,  been  dis- 
covered, and  applied  with  success. 

But  to  p?-eve?it  a  disease,  is  still  better  than  to  cure  it ;  and 
the  author  pledges  himself,  that  the  following  prescriptions, 
faithfully  -adhered  to,  while  they  will  greatly  mitigate  this 
di-sease  after  it  is  once  seated,  will,  in  most  cases,  v/here.  it  is 


118  MENTAL    DISEASES    HEREDITARY. 

Reduce  the  cerebral  inflammation.  Deranged  persons  talented. 

hereditary,  if  not  in  all,  prevent  its  developing  itself  in  actual 
insanity. 

Both  to  prevent  and  also  to  cure  this  disease,  it  is  first 
necessary  that  we  understand  its  cause,  so  as  to  counteract. or 
obviate  it.  The  cause  of  insanity,  or  rather  inanity  itself, 
consists  in  the  excessive  excitability  and  over-action  of  the 
brain  and  nervous  system.  Its  jjreveiition,  therefore,  can  be 
effected  by  whatever  v/ill  prevent  this  excessive  action;  and 
its  cure  can  be  efiected  only  by  reducing  this  over-action. 
And  the  remark  is  too  obvious  to  require  more  than  its  mere 
presentation,  that  precisely  the  same  remedial  agents  should 
be  employed  to  reduce  this  morbid  inflammation  of  the  brain, 
that  are  now  employed  to  reduce  other  cases  of  inflammation; 
and  the  same  weans  by  which  tendencies  to  other  forms  of 
inflaniraation  may  be  prevented,  will  prevent  the  inflamma- 
tion of  the  brain,  and  its  consequent  derangement  of  mind. 
Lei  it  never  be  forgotten,  that  insanity  is  a  purely  physical 
disease — as  much  so  as  consumption,  or  cancerous  afliections, 
or  any  other  bodily  indisposition;  and  both  preventives  *nd 
cui'es,  to  be  eflectual,  must  be  calculated  to  prevent  or  reduce 
this  injlamniation. 

In  order  to  come  the  more  directly  at  both  the  cause  and 
the  prevention,  as  well  as  the  cure  oi'  ibis  disease,  allow  me 
to  call  attention  to  one  condition  which  always  accompanies 
derangement,  and  which  is  a  product  of  that  very  cerebral 
condition  which  causes  madness,  and  that  is,  superior  natu- 
ral abilities,  accompanied  with  feelings  the  most  intense  and 
susceptible  imaginable.  And  these  are  caused  by  that  same 
«xalt'?d  action  of  the  brain  by  which  derangement  is  caused. 
Consequently,  families  and  individuals  predisposed  to  de-- 
rangement,  are  always  eminently  talented,  and  possessed  of 
the  best  of  feelings.  It  is  the  very  flower  of  community  who 
are  aftlicted.  In  fact,  this  afliiction  is  only  the  very  excess 
of  that  talent  and  sensibility.  Do  superior  talents  depend 
upon  the  powerful  action  of  the  brain?  So  does  insanity,  only 
the  cerebral  action  is  still  greater.  As  but  a  narrow  line  sep- 
arates the  sublime  and  the  ridiculous,  so  but  a  step  divides 
the  highest  order  of  talents  from  madness.  Nor  can  a  sim- 
pleton well  be  crn/iy.     It  takes  a  prodigiotisly  smart  man  tO' 


PREVENTIVES    OF   INSANITY.  119 

. « 

Keep  chilflren  liable  to  dernngement  from  study.  Farming. 

become  deranged  ;  so  that  whoever  is  subject  to  derangement, 
is  "nobody's  fool." 

Hence,  then,  io  prevent  an  hereditary  tendency  to  insanity 
from  developing  itself,  it  is  necessary  only  to  prevent  this 
constitutional  excitability  of  the  brain  from  progressing  be- 
yond the  point  of  healthy  action.  And  to  do  this,  it  is  only 
necessary  to  divert  the  action  from  the  brain  to  some  other 
patt,  to  remove  exciting  causes  of  cerebral  action,  and  to  keep 
the  brain  as  quiescent  as  possible. 

To  illustrate.  Your  child  is  hereditarily  predisposed  to  in- 
sanity. You  will  see  this  predisposition  in  his  ecstasy  of 
feeling  when  pleased,  and  in  the  overwhelming  depth  of  his 
anguish  when  crossed ;  in  the  power  and  intensity  of  his  de- 
sires, in  his  haste  and  eagerness  about  every  thing,  and  in 
his  being  prodigiously  smart  and  acute.  And  this  is  the  er- 
ror. Parents  generally  try  to  ificrease  this  action,  by  plying 
them  with  study,  keeping  them  confined  at  school,  and  see- 
ing how  very  smart  they  can  make  them.  But  {he  preventive 
of  this  tendency  consists  in  pursuing  directly  the  opposite 
course.  This  highly  wrought  cerebral  action  requires  to  be 
diminished.  Study  is  directly  calculated  to  increase  it ;  so  is 
confinement ;  but  physical  exercise  is  calculated  to  divert  it 
from  the  brain  to  the  muscles.  Hence,  no  child  or  youth, 
either  of  whose  parents  or  relatives  are  subject  to  derange- 
ment, should  be  sent  to  school.  Nor  should  they,  for  the  same 
reason,  be  vexed  or  plagued,  or  excited  any  way,  but  they 
should  be  allowed  to  run  and  to  play  while  children,  to  re- 
create and  amuse  themselves,  and  be  happy  during  the  pe- 
riod of  youth,  and  should  not  enter  upon  the  cares  and  busi- 
ness of  life  till  fully  matured,  and  then  should  check  that 
boiling  energy  which  courses  through  their  veins. 

Of  all  occupations,  farming  is  the  most  suitable  for  them, 
as  the  labor  it  requires  diverts  the  energies  from  the  brain, 
and  works  ofif  that  excitement,  the  excess  of  which  constitutes 
this  malady.  With  nothing  to  do,  this  energy  accumulates, 
and  gathers  upon  the  most  susceptible  part,  the  brain,  and 
ends  in  derangement ;  but  open  the  valve  of  labor  for  its  es- 
cape, and  health  and  sanity  are  preserved.  I  enjoin  active 
physical  labor  upon   those  thus  predisposed.     Still,  I  would 


120  MENTAL   DISEASES    HEREDITARY. 

Much  sleep.  Avoid  excitement.  Abstemiousness. 

not  force  it  upon  children  thus  predisposed,  but  simply  en- 
courage them  to  work  as  much  as  they  please.  Play  is  bet- 
ter till  they  are  old  enough  to  be  ashamed  to  play ;  then  let 
them  work. 

Above  all,  let  them  sleep  much.  Put  them  in  bed  early, 
and  keep  them  from  being  excited  evenings.  Young  people 
thus  predisposed,  should  never  attend  balls  or  parties,  or  any 
exciting  scenes,  in  the  evening,  nor  read  novels;  but  they 
should  keep  cool  and  quiet.  Most  certainly  they  should  never 
play  cards,  or  any  other  exciting  games  of  chance,  nor  take 
alcoholic  stimulants  of  any  kind  or  degree,  not  even  wine  or 
cider  or  beer ;  and  it  v/ill  be  decidedly  best  for  them  to  avoid 
even  tea  and  coffee,  because  all  these  tend  to  augment  and 
develope  that  excessive  cerebral  action  from  which,  mainly, 
they  are  in  danger.  They  should  take  laxatives,  not  tonics— . 
what  will  diminish  their  excitability,  not  increa.se  it.  Alco- 
holic drinks  often  mfiwce  derangenient,  even  where  there  is  no 
hQ\:Q(\.il?iXY predisposition  to  it:  much  more,  then,  will  they 
develope  a  latent  susceptibility  already  existing. 

As  those  thus  predisposv°d,  cannot  be  too  temperate,  so  they 
are  in.  no  great  danger  of  being  too  abstemious.  Indeed,  stim- 
ulating meats  and  drinks,  are  doubtless  the  most  efncient 
agents  in  developing  latent  insanity  now  in  operation.  The 
simplest  diet  is  the  best.  Milk  being  productive  of  dulness, 
is  decidedly  beneficial.  Bread-stuffs  will  be  found  decidedly 
preferable  to  meats.  Indeed,  meat  should  be  wholly  avoided, 
because  it  is  a  powerful  stimulant.  It  heats  and  fevers  the 
blood,  oppresses  the  brain,  and  increases  the  tendency  mainly 
to  be  avoided.  Bread,  milk,  Indian  and  rye  puddings,  vege- 
tables, rice  fruit,  &c.  &c.,  should  constitute  the  diet  of  those 
thus  predisposed.  Of  course  from  spices,  mustards,  peppers, 
pickles,  vinegar,  and  condiments,  they  should  wholly  abstain. 
Excepting  alcoholic  drinks,  nothing  is  equally  pernicious. 
Only  those  things  should  be  taken  which  open  the  system, 
and  keep  it  cool.  Fruit  may  be  eaten  in  almost  any  quantity 
with  advant  age,  an  so  may  jellies,  if  not  preserves.  But 
unfortunately,  sweet  things  are  relished  by  such  less  than 
things  that  are  sour  and  hot,  such  as  pickles,  peppers,  &c. 
Eat  them,  but  they  will  hurt  you. 


PREVENTIVES    OF    INSANITY.  121 


Tlie  cold  batli.  Avoid  those  subjects  on  which  relatives  are  deranged. 

Analogous  to  a  cooling  diel  iu  its  sedative  influence,  is  cold 
water,  both  washing  and  bathing,  especially  the  shower  bath. 
Cold  water  is  certainly  cooling,  and  as  explained  in  the  last 
section  but  one,  is  pre-eminently  calculated  to  carry  off'  the 
superabundant  heat  of  the  system,  and  obviate  that  feverish 
tendency  which  constitutes  the  predisposition  to  be  avoided. 
And  I  do  tliink  nothing  will  be  found  more  beneficial  to  the 
insane  than  cold  water  applied  externally,  especially  to  the 
head,  and  taken  internally  in  copious  and  frequent  draughts. 
This  prescription  must  commend  itself  too  forcibly  to  tlie 
common  sense  of  the  reader,  to  recjuire  comment  or  defence. 

But  above  all  things,  let  those  thus  predisposed,  avoid 
those  subjects  on  which  their  relatives  or  ancestors  were  de- 
ranged. Thus,  one  of  the  topics  of  derangement  appertaining 
to  ttie  family  of  the  young  man  who  hung  himself  in  the 
summer  of  1S42,  mentioned  above,  on  account  of  his  having 
been  disappointed  in  a  love  matter,  was  the  social  affections. 
He  should  have  known  this.  He  should  therefore  have 
nipped  his  affections  in  the  bud,  unless  he  was  sure  of  their 
being  reciprocated,  and  consummated  by  marriage.  In  short, 
he  should  never  have  allowed  his  affections  to  become  en- 
gaged, till  he  M^as  sure  of  marriage — a  direction  suitable  for 
most  young  people,  but  doubly  so  to  those  thus  predisposed^ 
because  love  is  a  very  exciting  thing  any  how,  whereas  they 
require  peace  and  quiet.  Still,  unless  such  are  able  to  gov- 
ern their  love,  they  should  locate  their  affections,  though 
they  need  not  therefore  be  in  haste  to  marry.  Yet  if  the 
tendency  to  insanity  be  decidedly  marked,  it  is  not  right  to 
entail  so  loathsome  a 'disease  upon  posterity.  Such  may 
well  wish  the  wish  of  one  mentioned  in  the  preceding  pages, 
that  he  "  might  not  have  issue.''^  And  yet,  if  "his  own  health 
be  improving^  he  will  be  less  liable  to  entail  it  npon  his  chil- 
dren. A  companion  having  a  cool,  soothing  temperament, 
should  alone  be  chosen. 

But  the  most  efficacious  prevention,  after  all,  is  to  place  in- 
tellect on  the  throne,  and  to  bear  in  mind  that  this  hereditary 
tendency  exists,  and  when  the  feelings  become  powerfully 
awake  to  any  particular  subject,  remember  that  your  feelings 
are  constitutionally  too  active,  and  therefore  magnify  every 

11 


122        MORAL   AND    INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 
Self-government.  Recapilulalion. 

thing,  and  remembering  this,  will  enable  you  to  look  on  with 
intellectual  coolness  upon  the  bustling  tumult  of  raging 
passions,  as  upon  school-boys  at  play.  Thus,  if  the  predis- 
position be  to  melancholy,  remember  that  these  gloomy  feel- 
ings have  no  foundation  in  reality,  but  are  the  product  of 
your  own  organization  ;  that  but  for  this  hereditary  predis- 
position, the  same  circumstances  would  produce  opposite 
feelings  ;  that,  in  short,  all  your  trouble  is  self-made^  and 
without  foundation,  and  this  will  enable  you  to  dismiss  them. 
And  so  of  any  predisposition  that  may  beset  you.  True,  this 
will  require  much  self-government — a  quality  of  the  utmost 
importance  to  those  thus  predisposed,  and  yet,  from  the  very 
nature  of  their  disease,  so  very  rare — yet  it  will  amply  repay 
all  the  pains  taken  in  its  cultivation  ;  and  the  preceding  pre- 
scriptions will  do  much  to  mitigate,  and  finally  banish  from 
the  human  family,  so  terrible  a  scourge  of  ignorant,  suffering 
man. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

MORAL  AND  INTELLECTUAL  QUALITIES  TRANSMISSIBLE. 

SECTION   I. 

THE  MENTAL  QUALITIES   AS  THE  PHYSICAL— BOTH  LNNATE,  AND 
GOVERNED  BY  THE  SAME  LAWS  OF  TRANSMISSION. 

Wk  have  thus  far  s€en  clearly,  that  physical  qualities  are 
both  innate  diXidi  hereditary.  Nor  does  the  proof  thus  far  ad- 
duced in  support  of  this  position,  admit  of  the  least  doubt  or 
evasion  ;  for  it  amounts  to  complete  demonstration.  And  the 
more  so,  because  the  evidence  is  accumidative.  By  showing 
that  peculiarities  of  form  and  countenance  were  hereditary, 
the  way  was  prepared  for  showing  that  greatness  and  little- 
ness of  stature  were  hereditary ;  and  establishing  this, 
strengthened  the  inference  ihB.i  physical  strength  was  heredi- 
tary, and  also  reacted  on  both  the  preceding  points,  and  also 
•u  the  succeeding.     Establishing  these  points,  again  renders 


MENTAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE.  123 

The  argument  accumulative.         Previous  principles  our  base  lines  for  the  future. 

the  proof  that  diseases  are  hereditary,  much  more  conclusive 
than  it  would  be  without  such  preface.  Not,  however,  that 
either  of  the  points  thus  far  presented,  are  not  proved  separ- 
ately, and  without  that  accumulative  evidence  we  are  now 
presenting.  Each  has  been  shown  to  be  true  alone^  by  itself , 
and  independently  of  all  other  considerations,  yet  each  also 
reacts  upon  and  supports,  not  only  every  proposition  that 
precedes  it,  but  also  each  that  follows,  to  the  end  of  the  work. 
Thus,  having  proved  that  consumption  is  hereditary,  analogy 
teaches  that  other  diseases  are  on  a  footing  with  it,  and 
therefore  that  they  also  are  hereditary.  Nor  would  a  strictly 
logical  argument  require  us  to  prove  that  any  more  than  one 
disease  was  hereditary ;  for  the  inference  would  be  that  all 
other  chronic  diseases  are  equally  so.  But  we  have  done  more. 
We  have  proved  that  consumption  is  hereditary,  by  appeals 
to  facts  ;  and  this  double  proof  goes  both  backward  and  for- 
ward, and  renders  the  assurance  that  each  is  hereditary, 
doubly  sure.  And  the  same  is  true  of  each  point  thus  far 
presented;  so  that  the  whole,  taken  together,  forms  an  argu- 
mentative arch  absolutely  impregnable.  There  is  no  getting 
by  the  positions  thus  far  taken,  either  individually  or  collec- 
tively. 

Let  not  the  reader  suppose,  however,  for  a  moment,  that 
we  have  dwelt  thus  on  the  transmission  oi physical  qnoWiies, 
either  because  of  the  intrinsic  importance  of  this  department 
of  the  subject,  or  merely  in  order  to  demonstrate  the  trans- 
missibility  of  physical  qualities  or  of  diseases.  Were  this  the 
only,  or  even  the  main  object  of  the  preceding  pages,  they 
would  never  have  been  printed.  No;  but  we  have  proved 
that  physical  qualities,  diseases  and  insanity  included,  are 
hereditary,  mainly  in  order  to  prepare  the  way  for  what 
follows.  We  have  merely  been  laying  the  foundation,  that 
we  might  build  upon  it  our  subsequent  superstructure.  We 
have  been  thus  minute  and  particular  in  matters  that  are 
"known  and  read  of  all  men,"  that  we  might  demonstrate  a 
basis  from  which  to  proceed  to  the  unknown.  We  have 
demonstrated  these  propositions,  in  order  to  use  them  in 
proving  subsequent  ones.  As  the  astronomer,  in  measuring 
the  distances,  dimensions,  orbits,  &;.c.,  of  the  heavenly  bodies, 


124        MORAL    AND    INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 
The  same  laws  govern  tlic  transmission  of  bolli  the  mental  and  phjsical  qualilit's. 

is  obliged  to  fix  his  base  lines  on  the  earth — on  terra  Jirma, 
where  they  can  be  seen  and  measured — so  we  hg,ve  thus  far 
been  merely  laying  onr  base  lines — been  demonstrating  the 
transmissibility  o( physical  x\uz\\i\es,  and  showing  what  prin- 
ciples govern  this  transmissibility,  in  order  to  nse  these 
principles  in  prosecuting  our  investigations  as  to  the  trans- 
mission of  mental  and  moral  quahties.  Not  that  the  facts 
and  principles  thus  far  presented,  are  not  deeply  interesting 
and  highly  important  in  themselves^  and  the  lessons  they 
'teach,  calculated  to  augment  vastly  the  best  interests  of  raan- 
Ifind,  but  after  all,  tliey  have  been  demonstrated  mainly  so 
that  they  may  be  emploj^ed  in  investigating  the  laws  which 
•govern  the  transmission  of  Intelleclnal  and  moral  qualities. 
To  improve  man  physicall)^,  to  banish  disease  and  to  secure 
physical  health  and  animal  pleasure,  is  certainly  an  object 
most  desirable — as  much  more  desirable  than  the  improve- 
ment of  our  stock  of  cattle,  horses,  &c.,  as  man  is  superior  to 
the  brute  creation  ;  but  these,  immensely  important  as  they 
are,  are  trifles  in  themselves,  when  compared  with  the  im- 
provement of  the  'mind  and  morals  of  mankind — objects  as 
infinitely  superior  to  the  merely  johy steal  improvement  of 
mankind,  as  the  mind  and  soid  oi  man  are  higher  in  the 
scale  of  creation,  and  more  prolific  as  instruments  of  enjoy- 
ment and  suffering,  than  is  the  body.  I  grant  that  improving 
man  physically,  is  the  way  to  improve  him  mentally  and 
morally,  yet  I  am  presenting  the  relative  importance  of  each 
species  of  improvement,  as  contra-distinguished  from  that  of 
the  other. 

Bat  with  Avhat  emotions  should  we  proceed  to  the  investi- 
gation of  a  subject  so  all  important!  With  what  cautiousness 
should  we  proceed  ?  With  what  unwonted  eagerness,  with 
what  untiring  assiduity  and  patience,  shoi\jd  we  learn  this 
the  greatest  lesson  that  God  can  teach,  or  man  can  learn? 
And  may  "  that  Wisdom  which  cometh  from  above,"  so 
guide  the  pen  of  the  writer,  and  the  mind  of  the  reader,  that 
iio  error  may  creep  into  these  pages,  and  that  much  useful 
information  may  be  imparted  thereby. 

What,  then,  are  some  of  our  base  Unes^  our  fixed  land- 
marks, our  lights  to  guide  us  in  our  investigation  of  a  subject 


MENTAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE.  125 

Form  of  the  body  and  head  transmissible.  So  of  the  phrenological  organs. 

SO  almost  entirely  unexplored  ?  To  those  demonstrated  in  the 
preceding  pages  should  be  added,  one  derived  from  the  lights 
of  Phrenology  and  Physiology,  namely,  that  the  mental  qualU 
ties  are  as  the  physical — that  the  influence  of  each  recipro- 
cally affects  the  other,  and  that,  therefore,  to  improve  either, 
is  to  improve  the  other  also.  Man  is  a  physical  being,  as 
well  as  a  mental  and  a  moral  one ;  and  he  also  has  a  mental 
and  a  moral  nature,  as  well  as  a  physical  one.  Nor  are  these 
two  natures  strangers  to  each  other ;  but  they  are  nearly  re- 
lated each  to  the  other,  by  the  uniform  action  of  the  great 
laws  of  Phenology  and  Physiology ;  so  nearly,  that  the  con- 
ditions of  each,  exert  a  powerful  and  a  perfectly  reciprocal 
influence  upon  the  other.     As  is  either,  so  is  the  other. 

I  by  no  means  design  to  touch  the  mooted  question  of  ma- 
terialism. I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  the  physical  conditions 
control  the  mental  and  the  moral.  This  doctrine  1  do  not 
believe.  If  either  governs  the  other,  I  believe  the  mental  and 
the  moral  govern  the  physical ;  or  rather,  I  believe  there  are 
conditions  or  causes  lying  back  of  both,  and  which  govern 
both.  But  this  question,  be  it  decided  whichever  way  it 
may,  does  not  aflect  our  position,  that  the  conditions  of  each 
reciprocally  aflect  the  other ;  that  the  reciprocality  of  these 
reciprocal  influences  is  perfect,  and  that  each  is  as  the  other. 
The  tone,  and  texture,  and  organization  of  the  body,  are  as 
those  of  the  mind ;  and  vice  versa,  those  of  the  mind  are  as 
those  of  the  body.  The  laws  which  govern  the  one,  also 
govern  the  other ;  and  those  conditions  which  improve  either, 
also  improve  the  other. 

But  more.  A  close  similarity  exists  between  the  form,  of 
the  body,  or  the  looks  of  a  person,  and  the  tone  and  charac- 
teristics of  the  mind.  The  relation  is  this  : — The  form  and 
looks  of  the  body  depend  upon,  and  are  governed  by,  its 
structure;  and  this  same  structure  is  also  as  the  organization 
of  the  brain  and  nervous  system ;  and  they  are  as  the  quali- 
ties of  the  mind.  As  is  the  form,  so  is  the  structure ;  and  as 
is  the  structure,  so  are  the  mental  qualities.  And  there  are 
certain  shapes  of  body,  which  invariably  accompany  certain 
traits  of  character,  talents,  and  peculiarities.     I  believe,  for 

example,  that  the  original,  inherent  properties  of  the  mind, 
11* 


126        MORAX    AND    INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 
The  forms  of  all  bodies  adapted  to  their  natures. 

assume  particular  shapes  of  body — those  shapes  best  adapted 
to  its  manifestation  ;  that,  as  a  pepper  seed  and  a  kernel  of 
corn,  both  planted  together,  having  the  same  soil,  the  same 
sun,  rain,  covering,  and  culture,  each  abstracts  its  particular 
and  even  opposite  nature  and  nutriment  from  similar  condi- 
tions, and  the  products  of  each  assume  the  particular  quali- 
ties of  its  parent  from  the  same  soil,  sun,  and  showers,  so 
different  original,  innate,  mental  qualities  gather  around 
themselves,  both  before  and  after  birth,  particular  kinds  of 
matter,  and  assume  particular  shapes,  adapted  to  their  re- 
spective natures ;  hence  the  endless  diversity  seen  in  counte- 
nances, motions,  appearances,  size,  figure,  strength,  &c.  &c., 
of  mankind. 

I  have  elsewhere  shown  that  "  there  exists  a  oneness,  a 
harmony  of  construction,  between  every  portion  of  the  body 
and  every  other  portion,  the  phrenological  organs  included; 
that  this  principle  of  unity  applies  also  to  the  mind,  so  that 
the  general  characteristics  of  the  body  and  those  of  the  mind, 
harmonize  with  each  other ;  that  prominence  of  features,  in- 
dicates strongly  may^ked  points  of  character  ;  that  beauty  and 
proportion  of  body,  indicate  a  well-balanced  character  and 
fine  feelings ;  that  coarse  hair  always  accompanies  coarseness 
in  the  fibres  of  the  brain,  together  with  coarse,  harsh  feelings, 
but  that  a  delicately  organized  body,  indicates  and  accom- 
panies delicacy  of  feeling,  &c. ;  in  short,  that  there  is  a  unity 
of  character  running  through  the  whole  person,  mentally  and 
physically."  * 

I  do  not,  however,  design  here  to  show  lohat  shapes  of  the 
body  accompany  given  qualities  of  the  mind,  and  vice  versa; 
but  I  wish  merely  to  state  this  grfeat  law  of  our  being,  that 
the  texture  of  the  body  corresponds  with  the  tone  and  charac- 
ter of  the  mind ;  that  a  vulgar  soul  inhabits  a  vulgar  body, 
and  has  a  vulgar  expression  of  countenance  ;  but  that  a  re- 
fined mind  inhabits  a  delicately  organized  body,  and  gives  a 
refined,  sensible,  susceptible  expression  to  the  countenance, 

-*  See  Amorican  Phi-eiiolojfical  Journal,  in  a  ser'ips  of  articles  Iiendecl 
•"Practical  Phrenoloji;y."  See  also  page  3*2  of  the  author's  work  entitled 
*'  Practical  Phrenology,''  and  bound  in  with  "  Phrenology  Proved,"  &c. 


MENTAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE.  127 

If  physical  qualities  are  hereditary,  so  are  also  the  mental. 

and  a  corresponding  shape  to  the  body ;  and  so  of  every 
other  qimlity  and  characteristic  of  either  body  or  mind,  in- 
chiding  the  fact  that  changes  in  either,  produce  corresponding 
changes  in  the  other. 

And  now  for  the  inference.  We  have  demonstrated  the 
proposition,  that  i:)hysical  quahties  and  pecnharities  are  he- 
reditary^ and  that  all  of  them  are  hereditary.  Now,  since 
the  mental  qualities  are  as  the  physical,  and  since  the  physi- 
cal are,  beyond  all  question,  hereditary,  the  inference  that 
therefore  the  mental  qualities,  and  all  the  mental  qualities, 
from  faculties  the  most  powerful  and  energetic,  down  through 
all  the  shades  and  phases  of  character  and  disposition,  in- 
cluding all  the  diversity  of  tastes  and  talents  that  exist 
among  men,  are  hereditary,  except  what  modifications  are 
induced  by  education — that  is,  that  the  whole  of  the  basis  of 
character,  even  that  on  which  alone  education  can  operate, 
is  hereditary. 

But  more.  If  physical  qualities  are  hereditary,  and  the 
mental  are  also  hereditary,  because  connected  with  the  physi- 
cal, it  follows  that  those  same  laws  which  govern  the  trans- 
mission of  physical  qualities,  also  govern  that  of  the  intel- 
lectual and  moral.  Nor  need  there  be  the  least  doubt  as  to 
.this  point.  Flence,  to  improve  the  mental,  we  must  proceed 
precisely  as  we  do  to  improve  the  physical — must  employ  the 
same  means,  and  in  the  same  manner ;  and  th«  same  results 
will  crown  our  happy  labors. 

But  to  be  still  more  specific.  It  has  already  been  clearly 
showri,  that  the  texture  of  the  body,  and  also  the  foi^7n  or 
shape  of  both  the  body  and  head,  are  hereditary  ;  and  Phre- 
nology shows  that  certain  shapes  of  the  body,  and  especially 
of  the  head,  always  indicate,  accompany,  and  coincide  with, 
certain  shapes  of  the  head,  or  certain  phrenological  develop- 
ments. Hence,  since  certain  forms  of  the  head,  that  is,  since 
the  relative  size  of  certain  phenological  developments,  are 
hereditary,  and  since  these  developments  are  as  the  charac- 
ter, it  is  plain  that  those  traits  of  character  which  result  from 
these  developments,  are  also  hereditary.  That  is,  the  form 
of  the  head  being  hereditary,  arid  the  character  coinciding 
with  that  form,  therefore  the  primary  Tnental  qualities  are 


128       MORAL   AND   INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 
The  doctrine  ihal  Education  forms  the  common  mind,  conlroverted. 

hereditary.  We  have  already  seen,  for  instance,  that  the 
form  of  Franklin's  head,  which  is  peculiar,  and  in  perfect 
keeping  with  his  character,  is  found  in  the  Folger  family, 
(Franklin's  mother  being  a  Folger,)  and  also  in  Franklin's 
descendants.  Now  Phrenology  being  true,  this  descent  of 
the  forms  of  the  head,  or  what  is  the  same  thing,  of  the  rela- 
tive size  of  the  phrenological  organs,  proves  that  both  the 
original  powers  of  the  mind  themselves,  and  also  their  I'ela- 
tive  power  and  energy,  are  hereditary.  The  truth  of  Phre- 
nology being  admitted,  the  fact  of  the  descent  of  different 
forms  of  the  head  \s  forced  home  upon  every  observing  mind  ; 
and  this  establishes  the  descent  of  both  the  organs  and  the 
facidties,  and  also  of  the  proportionate  size  of  the  former,  and 
the  consequent  energy  of  the  latter.  Neither  doubt  nor  eva- 
sion find  any  place  in  this  argument,  or  rather,  in  this  uni- 
versal fact. 

We  have  dwelt  thus  long  upon  the  preceding  points,  partly 
because  of  their  intrinsic  merit  and  importance,  partly  be- 
cause of  their  linking  inseparably  together  the  preceding  and 
the  succeeding  portions  of  this  work,  and  partly  because  they 
completely  overthrow  the  doctrine  of  the  old  metaphysicians, 
that  of  "  the  Learned  Blacksmith"  included,  that  the  human 
miind  is  a  blank,  on  which  education  and  circumstance  write 
its  whole  character — that 

"  'Tis  Education  forms  the  common  mind  ;" 

that  neither  the  faculties  of  the  mind  nor  the  ideas,  are  innate, 
but  that  man  is  just  what  education  makes  him,  and  nothing 
more,  nor  less,  nor  different ;  that,  in  short,  children  derive  no 
primary  faculties,  no  peculiarities  of  mind,  no  mental,  no 
moral,  no  intellectual  elements  or  bias  whatever  from  their 
parents  as  parents,  or,  what  amounts  to  the  same  thing,  that 
no  part  of  the  disposition  or  the  powers  of  mankind,  are  he- 
reditary, and,  consequently,  that  parents  do  not  transmit  to 
their  children  any  hereditary  qualities  whatever,  which 
amounts  to  a  total  abrogation  of  the  doctrine  of  the  descent 
of  mental  qualities  from  parents  to  children — a  doctrine 
which  any  ragged  urchin  in  the  streets  should  be  ashamed 
not  to  know;  a  doctrine,  the  denial  of  which  argues  the  most 


MENTAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE.  129 

The  fallacy  of  this  doctrine,  as  advocated  Uy  Molt,  Hamilton,  and  Burritt,  exposed, 

consummate  bigotry  or  intellectual  obtuseness  in  such  men 
as  Dr.  Nott,  Dr.  Hamilton,  and  the  Learned  (ignorant  on 
this  point)  Blacksmith.*  How  is  it  jMssible  for  men  to  be 
so  wise  in  other  matters,  and  yet  so  foolish  in  this'?  How 
can  men  of  sense  and  intelligence  deny  the  doctrine,  that  the 
mental  qualities  of  parents  descend  to  their  children  7  How- 
ever sensible  they  may  be  in  other  matters,  they  are  simple- 
tons in  this.  However  learned  they  may  be  in  Grecian' lore, 
or  physical  philosophy,  or  the  healing  art,  they  are  ignora- 
muses in  this.  However  great  in  logic,  or  metaphysics,  or 
theology,  they  have  not  sufficient  intellect  to  perceive  a  law 
as  universal  as  the  law  of  gravity,  as  plain,  and  palpable, 
and  numerous  in  its  facts,  and  as  eminently  inductive,  as 
any  other  law  of  nature.  On  this  point — the  very  acme  of 
wisdom,  the  most  useful  and  beautifid  department  of  knowl- 
edge— they  are  bigoted  ignoramiUses,  and  behind  every  mother 
in  the  land  in  this  species  of  intelligence.  Suchmen  learned? 
Such  men  ivise?  If  learned,  they  are  also  ignorant,  and  that 
too  in  the  most  essential  and  the  most  common  department 
of  learning.  If  wise,  they  are  also  foolish.  They  have 
"dead  flies"  in  the  ointment  of  their  talents  and  learning; 
And  they  are  bigots  at  that,  for  nothing  but  learned  bigotry 
will  allow  any  man  to  maintain  such  palpable  absurdities, 
such  learned  monstrosities.  What !  Do  you,  Drs.  Hamilton 
and  Nott,  and  you,  Elihu  Burritt — do  you  indeed  believe  and 
teach,  that  the  mental  qualities  of  parents,  their  dispositions, 
propensities,  talents,  moral  and  religious  dispositions,  strength 
or  feebleness  of  intellect,  and  so  on  down  through  all  their 
infinite  shades  and  diversities  of  character,  are  not  heredi- 
tary— not  born  in  and  with  their  children  7  Do  not  descend 
from  parents  to  their  children,  and  are  all  the  result  of  educa- 
tion? Do  you  not  know  any  better?  Pray  then  what  do 
you  know  any  how  7  Are  you  indeed  so  soft,' so  simple? 
Would  you  not  call  him  a  learned  simpleton,  who,  however 
much  he  knew  of  history,   the  languages,   or  the  natural 

*  See  the  author's  "Answer  to  Dr.  Hamilton,  in  which  Dr.  Nott  is 
quoteil  ;  and  also  Strictures  on  a  Lecture  of  the  Learned  Blacksmith  on 
this  subject,  in  vol.  iv.  of  the  American  Phrenological  Journal. 


130       MORAL   AND    INTELLECTUAL   QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 
Benjamin  West.  'J'he  diirk  and  chicken.  Breathing.  Crying. 

sciences,  did  not  know  the  alphabet,  or  how  to  make  a  fire, 
or  wash  his  hands?  Or  him  a  book- worm  ignoramus,  who, 
though  he  knew  "  fifty  languages,"  added  to  all  the  learned 
lore  of  past  ages,  did  not  know  that  children  were  born  of 
parents  at  all,  or  how  they  entered  the  world,  or  that  their 
mental  faculties  were  hereditary  1 — Come,  come,  stop  your 
study  of  the  languages;  stop  inventing  your  stoves  and 
making  your  experiments  in  the  laboratory;  stop  amputating 
limbs,  teaching  students,  &c.,  and  go  and  learn  your  A  B  C's 
on  hereditary  descent,  from  matrons  and  sires.  Come,  go 
with  me,  and  I  will  show  you  that  persons  are  often  what 
they  are,  not  only  ivithout  education,  but,  to  quote  Dr.  Ham- 
ilton, "m  the  very  teeth''''  of  it.  Tell  me  that  Benjamin  West 
was  a  painter  because  he  was  taught  to  paint,  when  the  fact 
is,  that  he  was  reprimanded,  and  even  severely  punished, 
because  he  painted  ;  and  was  obliged  to  hide  his  paint  and 
paintings  in  his  father's  garret,  and  steal  away  unobserved 
to  follow  this  his  "  ruling  passion,"  strong  at  birth,  and  de- 
veloped to  be  a  master  pas^jon  when  but  six  years  old  7  Do 
you  really  mean  to  say,  that  the  young  duckling,  hatched  by 
the  hen,  seeks  the  water,  and  swims  dextrously  upon  it,  from 
the  first  wave  of  Ids  foot,  because  he  is  taught  to  seek  the 
water,  and  taught  how  to  swim?  That  the  chicken  hatched 
by  the  duck,  avoids  the  water,  because  it  is  taught  to  avoid 
it,  and  picks  up  its  food  in  consequence  of,  and  in  obedience 
to,  previous  instructions  7  Or  do  you  really  mean  to  main- 
tain that  the  infant,  at  birth,  cannot  breathe  till  it  is  taught 
to  breathe,  and  taught  horv  and  %Dhe7i  ?  That  it  cannot  draw 
nature's  nourishment  from  its  mother's  breast,  till  it  is  taught 
to  do  so,  and  taught  hoiv,  and  that  it  nurses  solely  because  it 
is  taught?  That  before  it  can  open  its  eyes  upon  surrounding 
objects,  it  must  first  be  taiiglit  the  laws  of  optics,  and  that  it 
sees  solely  because  it  is  taught  Jioiv  to  see,  and  could  not  see 
without  such  teaching?  Or  do  you  really  maintain  that  a 
child  cries  because  it  is  taught  to  cry,  and  shown  how^ 
(mothers,  of  course  if  you  will  only  not  teach  your  darlings 
to  cry,  th-ey  will  never  in  the  world  know  how  to  cry,  foy 

"'Tis  education"  teaches  a  child  to  cry,) 


MENTAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE.  131 

Emotions  generally,  thinking,  memory,  &c.,  intuitive  and  innate. 

and  that  it  could  not  cry  unless  taught  to  do  so  7  That  chil- 
dren, from  first  to  last,  hear  because  they  are  taught  the 
principles  of  acoustics,  and  cannot  hear  till  then?  That  they 
cannot  articulate  till  they  are  taught  how  7  That  no  child 
experiences  a  single  emotion  of  any  kind,  whether  of  anger, 
or  affection,  or  hunger,  or  heat,  or  cold,  or  pleasure,  or  fear, 
or  pride,  or  selfishness,  or  pity,  or  justice,  or  kindness,  or 
taste,  or  sexual  love,  or  any  other  emotion,  till  they  are 
taught  to  do  so  ;  and  that  they  do  so  solely  and  only  because 
they  are  educated  to  do  so  7  Do  you  indeed  maintain  that  no 
idea  can  be  formed  in  the  child's  mind,  till  it  is  taught  hmo 
to  form  a  thought,  or  is  educated  to  think?  Or  that  educa- 
tion creates  memory,  or  mechanical  genius,  or  a  talent  for 
poetry,  or  painting,  or  oratory,  or  learning  languages,  &c.  ? 
Then  this  self-same  education  must  really  be  a  greater  creator 
than  even  God  Almighty  himself  ! 

"  Oh  no,  we  do  not  mean  that  education  causes  children  to 
perform  these  and  other  operations  that  are  instinctive.'''' 

Then  pray  what  do  you  mean?  Either  you  do  not  mean 
ayiy  thing  at  all,  or  else  you  mean  that  appetite  (Alimentive- 
ness)  is  innate;  that  the  breathing  faculty  (the  phrenological 
organ  of  which  has  recently  been  discovered)  is  instinctive, 
or  what  amounts  to  the  same  thing,  is  innate  ;  and  so  of  an- 
ger (Combativeness,)  fear  (Cautiousness,)  affection  (Adhe- 
siveness,) love  (Araativeness,)  selfishness  (all  the  animal 
propensities  large,)  pride  (Self-Esteem,)  ambition  (Approba- 
tiveness,)  sense  of  justice  ((Jonscientiousness,)  the  religious 
sentiments  (the  m.oral  organs,)  the  laughing  propensity 
(Mirthfulness,)  the  talking  propensity  (Language,)  the  dis- 
position and  ability  to  think  (Causality,)  various  kinds  of 
memory  (the  intellectual  organs  generally,)  and  so  through 
all  his  i7istincts,  are  each  instinctive,  1|hat  is,  innate?  Grant- 
ed ;  for  that  expresses  our  doctrine  exactly.  If  hunger,  sen- 
sation, breathing,  seeing,  anger,  cryiiig,  laughing,  aifection, 
&c.,  are  instinctive,  and  therefore  innate,  so  is  talkativeness, 
taste,  kindness,  sense  of  justice,  ability  and  disposition  to 
think,  construct,  remember,  plan,  observe,  sing,  &c.  What 
broad  line  of  distinction  exists  between  these  mental  opera- 
tions?   None.     Is  one  instinctive?   So  are  all.     Is  one  the 


132       MORAL   AND    INTELLECTUAL   QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 
All  ihe  primary  faculties  innate.    These  must  exist  before  education  can  take  effect. 

result  of  education']  So  are  all.  One  is  natural;  so  are  all; 
and  if  natural,  also  hereditary,  and  hereditary  because  natu- 
ral, and  natural  because  hereditary.  The  fact  is,  that  to 
leave  these,  or  any  of  them,  to  education,  is  to  leave  them 
undone  altogether.  Nature  (the  Deity)  is  not  so  bungling  a 
workman  as  to  leave  things  as  indispensable  as  is  each  of 
these  functions,  to  education;  that  is,  to  leave  them  out  of 
man  altogether.  No:  man's  powers  are  all  innate;  that  is, 
all  instinctive^  all  intuitive.  Intuition,  innateness,  and  instinct, 
are  different  names  of  the  same  thing  ;  namely,  for  whatever 
is  keredita?y ;  and  are  all  appellations  belonging  to  every 
faculty  of  the  human  mind  ;  and  no  less  to  the  faculty  that 
breathes  or  eats,  than  to  that  which  thinks,  or  remembers,  or 
talks.  True,  education  may  direct  these  primary  powers  into 
different  channels — may  teach  the  faculty  or  the  instinct  of 
appetite,  both  one  and  the  same  in  substance,  to  eat  fruit,  or 
meat,  or  tobacco,  yet  the  eating  instinct,  or  the  facidty  of 
eating,  must  exist,  before  il  is  possible  to  teach  it.  How 
would  Dr.  Hamilton,  or  Dr.  Nott,  or  Elihu  Burritt,  go  to 
work  to  teach  a  child  to  see,  that  had  no  eyes  ;  or  to  hear, 
that  had  no  ears ;  or  to  talk,  that  had  no  mouth;  or  to  move,, 
that  had  no  muscles;  or  to  think,  that  had  no  Causality,  or 
no  original  primary  element  or  faculty  for  thinl^ing  ?  There 
must  be  a  faculty  back  of  all  education,  and  jtrior  to  all 
teaching,  before  education  can  have  any  material  whatever 
on  which  to  operate,  or  effect  the  least  iota.  Why  cannot 
Dr.  Nott  teach  a  dog  mathematics?  For  no  other  reason 
whatever,  except  that  ihe  dog  has  no  primitive  instinct,  or 
original /ac?^/^y,  capable  of  being  taught,  and  capable  of  per- 
ceiving mathematical  relations.  But  why  can  he  teach  his 
pupils  mathematics  or  logic?  For  no  other  reason  than  be- 
cause they  were  created  with  an  origincd,  intuitive  facidty ,  or 
power,  or  instinct,  capable  of  perceivingthese  relations.  Dr. 
Nott  says  he  can  make  every  boy  in  any  hundred  that  may 
be  selected,  brave.  Granted;  because  every  boy  in  a  hun- 
dred, and  in  a  million,  and  in  the  human  family,  has  more  or 
less  of  the  original  instinct,  or  faculty  of  Combativeness, 
capable  of  being  increased  by  cultivation  and  exercise. 
Though  the  duckling  can  swim  when  it  first  enters   the 


MENTAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE.  133 

INiilure  gives  every  primary  power — echuaiion  traius  il.  Clearing  nur  liack. 


watQr — though  the  robin  can  fly  the  first  time  it  le,ayes  its 
lofty  nest,  yet  the  former  can  swim  more  expertly,  and  the 
latter  fly  more  easily  and  dextrously,  from  having  practised, 
So,  although  the  power  of  thought,  or  the  faculty  of  reason, 
be  innate  or  instinctive,  yet  education,  culture,  and  practice 
greatly  increase  its  power,  its  correctness,  and  its  scope.  Yet 
education  can  only  train,  it  cannot  create  it.  So  of  every 
other  power  in  man,  both  mental  and  physical.  Nature, 
through  the  instrumentality  of  hereditary  descent,  imparts 
the  primillve  faadfy,  the  original  power,  of  doing  every  act, 
exercising  every  feeling,  and  thinking  every  thought,  that  it 
is  possible  for  njan  to  do,  to  exercise,  or  to  think ;  apd  those 
who  maintain  this  dogma  of  the  dark  ages,  the  utter  fallacy 
of  which  we  have  pointed  out,   "  know  not  what  they  do." 

If  some  readers  think  we  have  dwelt  too  long  on  a  point  so 
plain  that  "he  that  runs  may  read,"  let  them  remember  that 
if  an  error  so  glaring,  -so  entirely  subversive  of  the  whole 
doctrine  of  the  hereditary  descent  of  mental  qualities,  be 
maintained  by  Nott,  Burritt,  Hamilton,  and  a  host  of  others 
V7ho  exert  a  powerful  influence  over  tlie  popular  mind,  and 
spread  these  pernicious  errors  far  and  wide  in  their  lectures 
and  writings,  it  is  certainly  important,  and  high  time,  to 
counteract  these  errors,  and  to  overtlirow  a  doctrine  so  pal- 
pably absurd  as  the  doctrine  tibial  tlie  mental  qualities  are  not 
innate,  but  are  the  products  of  ediic.atioii  alone.  Especialljr, 
how  could  the  author  proceed  to  establish  the  doctrine  of  the 
innateness  and  descent  of  mental  qualities,  v/ithout  first 
'■^clearing  the  truck^^  of  such  rubbish  ?  How  can  I  build  my 
doctrine  of  the  hereditary  descent  of  mental  qualities,  on  the 
ground  pre-occupied  with  the  opposite  doctrine,  that  they  re- 
sult from  education,  .till  1  first  tear  down  this  doctrine?  And 
how  can  we  draw  those  infinitely  important  inferences  which 
are  to  follow,  Vv^ithout  basing  our  foundations  deep  in  the  first 
principles  of  the  nature  of  man  ']  I  trust  this  course  will  be 
found  warranted  by  the  superstructvu-e  we  are  thereby  pre- 
paring to  erect.  And  then,  again,  the  author  has  no  where 
seen  this  doctrine  of  the  imiateness  of  all  th€  faculties,  s'atisf 
factorily  established,  or  its  opposite  .doctrine  iCompletely  ovefsr 
thrown. 

12 


134        MORAL    AND    INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE, 
ALL  ihe  mental  powers  alike  liereditary.  Idiocy  and  superior  talents  hereditary. 

But  epongh.  We  proceed  to  show  by  facts,  that  the  intel- 
lectual and  moral  faculties  are  innate  and  hereditary,  (both 
the  same  in  reality,)  and  then  to  poiji^  out  some  of  the  laws 
•vvhich  govern  their  transmission. 

But  before  we  pass  to  the  consideration  of  this  matter,  it  is 
due  to  l^his  portion  of  our  subject  to  remark,  that  since  the 
menial  faquhies  are  hereditary,  they  are  all  hereditary.  All 
that  \'s,  j)rimary ,  original,  and  constitutional  in  man,  is  heredi- 
tary—\s  hereditary  because  it  is  constitutional,  and  constitu- 
tional because  it  is  hereditary.  Education  cannot  create  the 
first  germ,  cannot  impart  or  originate  the  least  thing.  It  can 
bring  out  gifts  that  are  hereditary ;  it  can  re-augment  and 
invigorate,  but  it  can  go  no  farther,  can  do  no  more.  Let  the 
true  office  of  hereditary  descent,  namely,  that  of  transmitting 
all  that  is  constitutional  in  man,  and  in  the  degree  of  energy 
in  which  the  parent  possesses  it,  be  assigned  to  it;  and  let 
also  the  true  office  of  education,  that  of  disciplining  and  re- 
augmenting  these  faculties,  preparatory  to  their  re-transmis- 
sion and  improvement,  be  assigned  to  it.  Let  neither  be 
driven  beyond  the  bounds  allotted  to  it  by  nature;  and  let 
both  education  and  parentage  go  hand  in  hand,  pa?'i  jjassn, 
pars  nobile  fratrum,  in  accomplishing  the  greatest  of  all 
works— that  of  improving  and  restoring  mankind,  and  pro- 
motmg  their  virtue  and  their  happiness.  And  wo  be  to  hin^ 
tyho  neglects  either  for  the  other. 


SECTION   II. 

IDIOCY  AND  SUPERIOR  TALENTS,  HEREDITARY. 

A  GENTLEMAN  wlio  is  conuected  with  D.  Fanshaw's  Bibla 
establishment  115  Nassau  street,  New  York  city,  relates  the 
fqllowing  :— "  Sorne  ten  years  ago,  in  Chester  connty,  Pa.,  I 
knew:  an  idiot,  sq  low  in  the  scale  of  organization,  that  he, 
pould  neither  talk  nor  laugh,  nor  even  cheiQ,  His  food  was 
gruel  exclusively,  which  was  poured  into  his  mouth,  and 
run  down  his  throat — he  riot  knowing  even  hoft}  to  svjallow- 


IDIOCY   AND    SUPERIOR    TALENTS    HEfeEOlTARt. 


l3l 


An  idiot  in  Pa.  Two  idiots  in  one  family,  and  three  in  another. 

He  made  but  two  noises,  one  a  kind  of  griuit,  which  signified 
that  he  was  hungry,  and  the  other  H  hurnnling  noise,  as  if  he 
wanted  to  sing.  When  he  heard  music,  he  would  lay  dowil 
on  the  floor  and  roll,  appearing  as  if  it  gave  him  pleasure; 
and  yet  he  manifested  no  other  sign  of  intelligence  except 
those  above  named.  His  fasces  passed  from  htm  without  re- 
straint. He  could  move  but  little.  He  had  a  brother  whd 
was  barely  able  to  take  care  of  himself.  His  father  evinced 
no  want  of  intellect,  but  his  mother  was  none  the  smartest; 
and  rather  a  butt  among  her  neighbors,  and  was  considered 
rather  fiat.  Her  sister  also  knew  just  enough  to  warm  hi!§ 
porridge  when  he  called  for  it  by  this  grunt,  and  pour  it 
down  his  throat;  and  this  was  all  she  did,  or  knew  how  to 
do.  Farther  particulars  I  could  not  learn,  though  these  facts 
argue  a  want  of  talent  in  one  grand  pm^ent,  the  deficiency 
not  being  as  conspicuous  in  the  mother,  as  in  her  sister  or  her 
sow." 

In  the  poor-house  in  Wilmington,  Del.,  in  1838,  I  saw  d 
mother  and  her  daughter,  both  idiots,  ahd  the  intellectual 
lobe  small  in  both,  and  alike  in  shape^  namely.  Individuality; 
Form,  and  Locality  somewhat  developed,  but  Causality 
Scarcely  larger  in  either  thaii  in  ah  orang  outang. 

My  brother,  L.  N.  Fowler,  has  the  drawings  of  several 
brothers,  by  the  name  of  Emerson,  who  were  so  completely 
idiotic,  that  they  had  not  done  the  least  thing  for  themselves^ 
though  some  of  them  were  sixty  years  old ;  and  did  not  eveii 
know  how  to  feed  themselves.  One  of  the  brothers  barely 
made  out  tb  take  care  of  himself;  the  other  three  were  total 
idiots.  The  parents  were  not  noted  either  for  talents  or  for 
the  want  of  them.  The  point  to  which  attention  is  mainly 
called,  is  that  there  was  some  most  unfavorable  condition  in 
the  parents,  which  resulted  in  the  idiocy  of  three  successive! 
Ichildreh. 

Mr.  Parker,^'  of  Parkersville,  Pa.,  in  conversing  on  heredi- 
tary descent,  said  that  he  had  children  come  tb  school  to  hini 
whom  he  could  noi  possibly  teach  to  read,  and  who,  though 
the  utmost  pains  were  lavished  on  them,  seemed  unable  td 

*  If  I  mistake  the  namt  of  my  authbi",  I  do  not  the/ad  statfeiEli 


136        MORAL    AND    INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 
What  eondiiions  in  parents  produce  idiocy  or  talents  in  children. 

learn  to  spell.  They  were  regarded  as  flats  hy  all  who 
knew  thera.  Both  parents  had  been  married  before,  and  had 
children  tolerably  intelligent-  yet  all  the  products  of  this 
imion  were' simpletons. 

There  is  a  point  connected  with  the  two  preceding  facts 
which  deserves  investigation,  namely,  what  conditions  there 
are  in  parents,  both  of  whom  are  tolerably  knowing,  that  can 
produce  idiocy.  That  there  are  such  conditions,  and  also 
conditions  of  an  opposite  character,  the  union  of  which  pro- 
duces talents  in  the  offspring  far  above  that  possessed  by 
either  parent  or  any  of  their  relatives,  is  obvious  to  all.  And 
similar  results  appertain  to  the  health  of  parents  and  children  ; 
some  children  being  weakly  while  both  parents  are  healthy, 
and  both  from  a  healthy  stock  ;  and  others  healthy  when 
both  parents  are  sickly.  These  conditions,  like  that  of  the 
colored  ancestor  and  his  descendant  of  the  fifth  generation, 
tnentioned  in  chap.  ii.  sec.  1,  may  have  run  under  ground 
for  several  generations,  or  there  may  be  conditions  in  the 
parents,  perhaps  disease,  or  fatigue,  or  excessive  labor,  or 
highly  favorable  conditions,  but  there  is  someth'mg  in  this 
point  worthy  of  being  investigated. 

Closely  allied  to  the  above,  is  a  principle  on  Avhich  it  is 
proposed  to  enlarge  hereafter,  but  which  deserves  to  be  at 
least  noticed  in  this  connection.  Eeference  is  had  to  the 
condition  of  parents,  especially  of  mothers,  as  influencing  the 
mental  properties  of  tlie  child.  Near  the  A.  factory,  R.  I.,  1 
was  called  to  examine  the  head  of  a  lad,  some  six  years  old, 
whose  organization  Was  quite  imperfect,  head  small,  counte- 
nance idiotic  in  expression,  and  unable  to  talk.  On  ques- 
tioning the  mother  as  to  her  situation  during  pregnancy,  she 
said  that  she  was  accustomed  to  sit  in  church  where  she 
could  not  well  help  looking  out  at  the  door,  (in  summer,) 
where  her  eye  rested  upon  an  idiot,  who  v/as  in  the  habrt  of 
coming  and  sitting  outside  during  service.  He  annoyed  her 
extremely,  and  yet  she  could  not  well  keep  her  eyes  off  from 
him.  Her  child  was  the  miniature  of  this  idiot,  not  only  in 
the  expression  of  its  countenance  and  in  all  its  motions,  but 
also  in  the  cast  or  character  of  its  idiocy. 


THE    SOCIAL   FACULTIES   HEHEDITARY.  137 

Talented  sons  have  lalcnied  mothers.  Amativeness  hereditary. 

I  saw  another  child  near  Adams,  N.  Y.,  rendered  idiotic 
])j  the  condition  of  the  mother  during  pregnancy ;  and  I 
have  seen  others  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  more  particular 
mention  of  some  of  which  will  be  made  hereafter. 

Thus  it  is  that  hereditary  influences  often  produce  idiocy. 
But  they  sometimes  produce  opposite  results.  Superior  natu- 
ral talents  are  generally,  probably  always,  hereditary.  To 
notice  isolated  cases  of  this  kind,  however,  is  not  the  design 
of  this  section,  it  being  reserved  for  one  on  the  descent  of 
specific  intellectual  faculties.  All  proposed  to  be  done  in  this, 
is.  to  show  that  the  general  tone  and  tenor  of  the  brain — the 
presence  and  the  absence  of  the  intellectual  lobe,  is  heredi- 
tary, abundant  proof  of  which  consists  in  the  fact,  that  all 
the  intellectual  m.en  of  whose  parentage  we  have  any  knowl- 
edge, were  the  sons  of  highly  talehted  mothers.  To  this 
general  fact  I  do  not  know  a  single  exception. 

Having  already  shown  that  physical  qualities  are  heredi- 
tary, the  preceding  doctrine  that  the  general  tone,  texture^ 
and  organization  of  the  brain  are  hereditary,  requires  little 
additional  proof,  because  the  physical  qualities  being  heredi- 
tary, the  texture  of  the  brain  included,  and  this  texture  being 
as  is  the  tone  and  power  of  the  intellect,  the  general  quantum 
or  deficiency  of  intellect  is  of  course  hereditary.  This  con- 
clusion, however,  will  not  be  left  to  rest  on  this  inferential 
basis  merely,  good  though  it  be,  but  will  hereafter  be  sup- 
ported by  facts^  showing  that  the  talents  given  by  certain 
organs  are  hereditary ;  that  is,  that  the  relative  energy  ot 
certain  organs  and  their  faculties,  is  hereditary. 


SECTION   III. 


AMATIVENESS  AND  THE  SOCIAL  FACULTIES   HEREDITARY. 

If  this  element  of  bur  nature  were  not  hereditary,  it  would 
not  be  likely  to  be  as  universally  developed  as  it  now  is,  noi: 
ever  as  prolific.  But  although  nearly  or  quite  every  member 
of  the  human  family  has  mor^  or  less  of  this  faculty,  yet, 
like  other  mental  aiid  moral  c\udliiiQs,  it  runs  hi  families ; 

12* 


138        MORAL    ANB    INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 

David  and  Soli'mon.  Royal  family- of  Ena:land.  Burr.  Edwards. 

and  not  only  in  families,  but  in  the  descendants  of  those 
families,  from  generation  to  generation.  Solomon  seems  to 
have  inherited  that  strong  passion,  wliich  induced  him  to 
have  so  many  wives  and  concubines,  from  his  father  David, 
who,  not  content  with  scores  of  wives  and  concubines,  con- 
ceived such  a  passion  for  the  wife  of  Uriah,  that  he  commit- 
ted actual  murder  in  order  to  indulge  it.  In  fact,  Abraham, 
Isaac,  Jacob,  Judah,  Tamar,  the  daughters  of  Lot,  and  the 
whole  race,  seem  to  have  inherited  and  propagated  this  pas- 
sion ill  an  especial  degree.  See  also  the  Bible  account  of  the 
kings  of  Israel  and  Judah  in  this  respect,  who  were  of  course 
lineal  descendants  of  David. 

The  royal  family  of  Great  Britain,  from  time  immemorial, 
have  been  notorious  for  the  poWer  of  this  passion,  as  well  as 
for  indulging  it,  of  which  its  rapid  augmentation  of  late  is  by 
no  means  a  solitary  example. 

Aaron  Burr  had  a  development  both  of  this  organ   and  of 
its  propensity,  in   a  degree  truly  wonderful— hardly  an  in- 
stance  being  on    record   equally  conspicuous.      His  uncle, 
Pierpont  Edwards,  was  nearly  his  equal,  and  not  only  so 
notorious,  that,  in  New  York,  where  he  flourished  at  the  bar 
above  half  a  century  ago,  even  now  his  name  is- coupled  with 
the  grossest  libertinism,  and  the  most  unbridled  profligacy, 
but  a  novel  was  vv^ritten  on  one  of  his  seductions.     Both  he 
and  his  nephew  made  their  boast  that  they  could  seduce  aw// 
woman,   hov/ever  virtuous,  to   whom   they  might  be  intro- 
duced ;    and  it  is  yet  within  the  recollection  of  rnost  of  my 
readers,  that  when   the  love-letters  of  Aaron   Eurr — expres- 
sions of  passion  from  ladies  of  the  highest  standing  in  the 
]a,nd — were  on  the  eve  of  being  published,  the  publisher  was 
threatened  with  death  from  several  quarters,  by  the  friends 
ef  ladies  whom  this  correspondence  would  expose.     It  is  said 
to  exceed  every  thing  of  the  kind  ever  read  or  heard  of;  and 
for  a^es  to  come,  will  the  name  of  Aaron  Eurr  be  associated 
with  seductions  the  most  artful  and  successful,  with  the  in- 
dul'Jence  of  sexual   passion  the  most  gross  and  unparalleled 
for  excess,  and  vv'ith  the  ruin  of  all  that  is  lovely  and  virtuous 
i-n  woman.     Long  may  it  be  ere  such  another  foul  enemy  of 
female  virtue  again  scourges  our  earth  ! 


THE    SOCIAL    FACULTIES    HEREDITARY.  139 

'J'he  fhildren  of  liarlois.  A  remarkable  c-asc.  ('Iiildron  in  alms-houses,  Ac. 

I  liave  met  with  several  relatives  of  this  notorious  sinner, 
and  found  the  same  gross  appetite  predominated  over  both 
reason  and  the  moral  sentiments.  It  can,  without  doubt,  he 
traced  farther  back  in  this  family,  and  in  other  branches — • 
but  enough  on  this  painful  case. 

I  examined  the  head  of  the  son  of  a  harlot  in  New  York, 
only  four  years  of  age,  and  found  the  organ  enormous,  and 
its  manifestation  in  proportion. 

More  than  a  himdred  years  ago,  a  man  run  away  with 
another  man's  wife,  icheri  he  was  ninety-five  years  old!  and 
that  too  when  he  had  four  wives  then  living.  Tiiis  same 
passion  can  be  traced  dov/n  for  six  generations,  and  will 
probably  be  traced  down  six  more,  in  a  degree  equally  sur- 
prising. The  fifth  lineal  descendant  is  said  to  spend  thou- 
sands of  dollars  on  kept  mistresses  annually,  though  married, 
and  now  probably  ^ixty  years  old  ;  and  all  of  his  sisters  be- 
came mothers  before  marriage,  besides  evincing  this  passion 
in  the  strongest  rnanner.  His  niece,  a  girl  only  thirteen 
years  old,  spent  a  few  weeks  in  his  family,  and  returned  to 
her  parents  a  mother  before  she  was  fourteen,  and  by  her 
own  cousin,  his  son,  then  not  fourteen.  All  the  male  mem- 
bers of  this  family,  and  many  of  the  females,  are  equally 
remarkable. 

I  have  been  struck  with  the  fact,  that  the  children  found 
in  our  alms-houses  and  houses  of  correction,  most  of  whose 
parents  were  licentious,  had  extreme!}^  large  Amativeness  ; 
and  I  have  yet  to  see  the  first  child  of  frail  women,  and  the 
first  illigitimate,  in  whom  this  organ  was  otherwise  than 
large.  But  enough  of  this  disgusting  picture,  with  the  single 
important  inference,  that  the  indulgence  of  parents  during 
the  gestation  of  the  mother,  is  directly  calculated  to  develope 
prematurely  a  beastly  animal  passion  in  the  unborn  infant, 
and  is  one  cause  of  the  alarming  prevalence  of  this  vice.  If, 
as  we  shall  hereafter  see,  the  state  of  parents,  while  becoming 
■  parents,  and  especially  that  of  the  mother,  influences  the 
child,  surely  the  indulgence  of  this  passion,  merely  for  the 
sake  of  the  animal  gratincatisn  afforded,  must  necessarily 
plant  the  seeds  of  vicious  indulgence  in  the  breast  of  the 
©therwise  pure  soul  of  the  unborn  infant,  to  be  ultimately 


140       MORAL    AND   INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TEANgMISSIBLE. 
Warning  to  parents.  Amativeness  in  talented  men. 

ripened  up  into  full  grown  licentiousness.  In  this  way  it  is, 
that  many  a  child  is  ruined  before  it  is  born^  and  that  too  by 
pious  parents—ruined  ignorantly,  I  grant,  but  none  the  less 
effectually.  What  is  more  common  than  to  see  the  children 
of  licentious  parents  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  their  predeces- 
sors ;  and  if  this  law  govern  the  children  of  sin,  it  equally 
governs  the  children  of  animal  parents. 

I  have  introduced  this  section  mainly  to  prepare  the  way 
for  the  preceding  inference — an  inference  the  importance  of 
which  is  deemed  quite  sufficient  apology  for  its  introduction, 
and  without  which  any  work  on  hereditary  descent  would 
be  ^adly  wanting. 

It  has  been  long  and  generally  remarked,  that  this  passion 
is  extremely  strong  in  great  men  ;  and  hence  young  men,  in 
aspiring  after  greatness,  have  allowed  themselves  to  indulge 
this  propensity  without  restraint,  thinking  it  one  element  in 
greatness.  So  far  from  it,  it  is  the  ruin  of  many  who  would 
otherwise  have  become  distinguished.  So  far  from  making 
men  great,  its  excessive  indulgence  is  the  greatest  drawback 
to  talents  that  they  can  well  encounter  ;  for  it  creates  a  fever 
in  the  brain  that  directs  the  energies  from  the  forehead  to 
the  cerebellum,  and  keeps  the  whole  mind  and  body  in  a 
perfect /ei'er  of  preternatural  excitement;  nor  do  I  believe  a 
truly  great  man  can  be  found,  v7ho,  during  the  -period  of 
youtli^  freely  indulged  this  passion.  What  may  be  the  case 
in  manhood,  after  the  system  is  matured,  is  quite  another 
thing.  But  be  this  as  it  may,  one  thing  is  certains-greatness 
does  not  cause  an  excess  of  this  animal  passion,  nor  does  an 
excess  of  this  feeling  cause  greatness.  This,  however,  may 
be  true,  that  a  powerful  constitution  lies  at  the  basis  of  both, 
giving  both  superior  talents  and  strong  propensities.  Still,  a 
strong  constitution  bears  no  relation  to  this  organ  more  than 
to  any  other.  I  have  seen  it  small  in  persons  of  the  most 
powerful  physical  organization  ;  and  large  in  those  of  weak 
constitutions  hereditarily.  No  uniform  proportion  exists  be- 
tween the  power  of  this  passion,  and  the  energy  of  the  intel- 
lectual lobe,  except  the  reverse  ratio,  that  the  more  physical 
energy  is  expended  in  its  indulgence,  the  less  there  is  re- 
maining to  be  expended  by  the  intellectual  lobe.     A  certain 


THE    SOCIAL    FACULTIES    HEREDITARY.  141 

Having  twins  lierediiary.  Boyer.  lluglies.  Bhsiidell's  ohscrvatioii. 

species  of  talent,  that  requisite  for  political  eminence,  for 
example,  in  which  its  neighboring  organ  Combativeness  is 
required  to  be  so  large,  in  order  to  sustain  angry  discussion 
and  recrimination,  may  be  coupled  with  its  excessive  mani- 
festation, yet  how  is  it  possible  for  this  animal  passion,  in  its 
brutal  exercise,  either  to  strengthen  the  intellect  or  improve 
the  morals?  And  those  who  indulge  it  in  order  to  aid  them 
in  becoming  great,  will  find  themselves  greatly  mistaken. 
Still,  there  is  probably  little  doubt,  but  that  its  energy  in 
parents,  augments  all,  the  energies  of  their  children,  Amative- 
ness  included. 

Another  hereditary  quality,  belonging  of  right  to  this  sec- 
tion, is,  that  the  tendency  to  have  two  or  more  children  at  a 
hirth^  descends  in  families.  Dr.  Kimball,  of  Sacket's  Harbor, 
after  relating  a  striking  case  of  tlie  descent  of  Amativeness  in 
a. French  woman  and  her  daughter,  writes  as  follows: 

"The  sister  of  a  man  nariTcd  Boyer,  living  in  B ville, 

had  twins  twice.  One  of  Eoyer's  daughters  married  a  Mr. 
Fiagg,  and  died  in  her  first  accoucliment,  beiiig  delivered  of 
one  living  twin  before  she  died,  the  other  remaining  unborn. 
A  son  of  Boyer,  (and  this  principle  descends  in  both  the 
male  and  the  female  line,)  married  a  Miss  Hughes,  who, 
after  having  four  or  five  single  births,  was  delivered  of  three 
children  at  one  birth.  Hughes,  a  brother  of  this  last  Beyer's 
wife,  married  Beyer's  sister,  who,  after  having  three  or  four 
single  births  in  as  many  years,  had  twins,  on  account  of 
which  Hughes  left  her,  and  lived  clandestinely  with  another 
woman,  by  whom  he  soon  after  had  three  children  at  one 
birth." 

Verily,  these  Hughes  and  Boyers  fulfil  the  first  command- 
ment in  the  Bible,  "  Be  fruitful,  and  multiply,  and  replenish 
the  earth,"  with  a  vengeance.  Can  it  be  that  the  marriage 
of  two  families,  each  of  which  are  accustomed  to  liave  twins, 
causes  the  birth  of  triplets  ? 

Blundell  says  that  a  lady  related  to  one  of  his  pupils,  bad 
four  children  at  one  birth,  and  that  three  of  the  sisters  of 
this  prolific  woman,  had  either  twins  or  triples.  Dr.  K.  also 
states,  that  having  twins  descends  in  his  own  family,  and 
mentions  some  other  cases.     But  facts  of  this  class  are  too 


142       MORAL   AND   LVTELLECTUAL    QUALltlfiS    TRANSMISSIBLE. 
Having-  large  or  small  families  hereditary.  The  incestuous  proj)ensity. 

abundant  to  require  specification  ;  for  almost  or  quite  all 
parents  who  have  twins,  will  be  found  to  inherit  this  predis- 
position from  their  parents,  one  or  both  ;  or  else  to  be  related 
to  those  that  have  tvvins. 

Those  who  belong  to  large  families,  generally  have  large 
families,  unless  thie  other  parent  is  feeble;  and  those  who 
belong  to  small  families,  to  have  small  fathilies,  unless  the 
other  parent  be  from  a  large  family,  and  be  the  more  power- 
ful. Whole  families,  in  all  their  branches,  will  be  found  to 
have  just  about  the  same  number  of  children  with  their  an- 
cestors and  relatives. 

Tlie  incestuous  propensity  seems  to  be  hereditar)''.  A 
father .  in  Portland,  Me.,*  committed  incest  with  his  own 
daugliter.  Her  son  committed  incest  with  his  mother,  and 
the  product  of  this  double  incest,  was  the  lad  who,  at  thirteen 
years  old,  was  sent  to  the  state  prison  for  tying  up  another 
boy  and  emasculating  him.  John  Neal,  the  phrenologist, 
writer,  and  lecturer,  was  called  on  to  examine  his  head  be- 
fore the  jury,  and  found  prodigious  Destructiveness.  The 
result  in  regard  to  Ainativeness,  1  have  not  learned.  Can  it 
be  that  incest  tends,  like  marrying  Cousins,  (a  point  hereafter 
to  be  presented,)  to  degenerate  and  vitiate  the  race,  and  that 
therefore  the  Bible  forbids  it  ?  For  the  doctrines  of  the  Bible 
will  be  found  to  be  eminently />Ai7ci5o;;/iico/,  and  to  embody 
many  of  the  great  physiological  laws  of  our  being. 

A  iew  remarks  on  the  transmission  of  the  other  social  or- 
gans, may  perhaps  be  appended  to  this  section  with  as  much 
propriety  as  inserted  in  a  separate  one. 

I  know  a  little  girl  who  is  exceedingly  fond  of  a  kitten. 
No;hing  delights  her  more  than  to  play  with  one,  or  gives 
her  more  pain  than  taking  it  from  her.  Neither  father  nor 
mother  likes  a  cat;  but  the  maternal  grand  mother  oi  the 
child  was  passionately  fond  of  cats,  would  take  them  to  bed 
with  her,  and  was  almost  cat-crazy.     The  child  takes  after 

*  This  fact  is  Ftnted  I)}'  our  friend  niid  agent,  Wm.  C.  Harding,  the 
phrenologist,  who  is  lecturing  with  tnutrh  success  in  Maine.  Will  Mr.  H. 
send  Pitch  other  facts  on  hereditary  descent  ns  he  may  chance  to  observe, 
and  eppcciaily  relative  to  the  P.  family  hereafter  to  be  mentioned. 


THE    SOCIAL    FACULTIES    HEREDITARY. 


The  pets  of  parents  and  chillren  the  same.  Adhesireness  hereditary. 


its  mother  \\\  its  form  of  head  and  expression  of  countenance, 
and  the  child's  mother  takes  after  her  mother ;  so  that  the 
child  resembles  that  grand  parent  from  whom  she  inherits  the; 
cat  loving  propensity — a  law  which  will  be  found  illustrated 
by  facts  scattered  throughout  the  work.  This  case  is  cited, 
iiot  because  of  its  intrinsic  importance,  but  to  illustrate  the 
minuteness,  of  this  law  of  transmission. 

Another  sister  of  this  girl,  loyes  a  cat  extremely,  yet  take? 
after  its  paternal  grand  father  in  its  phrenological  develop- 
ments, ypt  it  derives  its  excessive  sensitiveness  from  its 
inother,  who  inherited  it  from  her  mother— a  fact  at  first 
§ight  not  in  harmony  with  the  law  just  named,  yet  the  child 
derived  its  extreme  sensitiveness  from  its  maternal  grand 
mother,  from  whom  also  she  inherited  her  extreme  love  for 
cats.  The  child  does  not  strictly  take  afier  either  parent, 
but  takes  a  portion  of  both  its  physical  and  mental  qualities, 
from  both  parents. 

I  wish  here  to  be  understood  as  maintaining  that  children 
inherit  not  only  particular  organs  from  their  parents,  but  also, 
the  particular  direction  of  those  organs — not  only  large  and 
small  Philoprogenitiveness,  but  also  love  of  the  'particular, 
thing  on  which  the  organ  in  the  parent  fastened  ;  of  which 
still  farther  nqention  will  be  made  hereafter.  The  children 
qf  Israel  had  a  strong  passion  for  feeding  cattle,  a  considera- 
ble portion  of  which  doubtless  was  inherited  from  Abraham, 
Isaac,  and  Jacob,  all  of  whom,  including  Lpt,  Laban,  and 
Esau,  not  only  derived  their  entire  sustenance  therefrom,  but 
seemed  to  take  the  greatest  pleasure  in  it,  and  also  tp  be  emi- 
nently skilful. 

The  love  of  the  Swiss,  the  Welch,  and  the  Highland 
Scotch  for  their  native  hills,  and  the  home  sickness  so  com- 
mon to  the  Swiss  who  leave  their  country,  is  doubtless  iii 
part  hereditary,. 

Whole  families,  for  generations,  will  be  found  to  be  affec- 
tionate^ fond  of  one  another,  of  home,  and  highly  domestic ;  and 
other  families  are  wanting  in  this  quality.  Doubtless  this  is 
in  part  owing  to  its  want  of  culture,  and  yet  this  very  want 
of  culture,  grows  in  part  out  of  the  constitutional  feebleness  of 
this  faculty.     Facts  touching  the  transmission  of  these  social 


144       MORAL   AND   INTELLECTUAL   QUALITIES    TEANSMISSIBLE. 
Directions  for  telling  which  parent  a  child  resembles. 

faculties  are  so  common,  so  multifarious,  wherever  we  make 
observatiorL,  that  isolated  ilkistrations  are  not  necessary. 
And  one  of  the  very  best  guarantees  of  affection  in  a  daugh- 
ter, is  affection  on  the  part  oi  her  mother^  especially  if  she  re- 
semble that  mother. 

It  may  be  as  proper  to  remark  here  as  any  where,  that 
one  evidence  that  a  man  resembles  his  mother  rather  than 
his  father,  c?)nsists  in  an  unusnal  development  of  his  social 
•organs.  In  woman,  these  organs  are  much  larger  than  in 
man;  and  that  son  who  takes  after  his  rr^other,  will  have 
these  organs  larger  than  they  are  usually  found  in  men ;  and 
when  thus  unusually  large,  it  is  a  sign  that  he  resembles  his 
mother,  rather  than  his  father,  in  whom  they  are  less.  Of 
course  exceptions  occur  to  this  rule  ;  for  the  father  may  take 
after  his  mother,  and  the  mother  after  her  father^  so  that  the 
husband  may  have  them  the  largest,  and  the  son  have  them 
large,  and  yet  take  after  his  father,  or  rather,  after  \\\s  grand 
mother.  Yet,  as  a  general  rule,  the  above  sign  holds  good, 
and  will  tell  whether  a  son  takes  after  his  mother  or  father. 

Self-Esteem  and  Firnmess  are  most  conspicuous  in  males  ; 
and  if  a  daughter  have  a  high  head  in  the  crown,  which 
indicates  a  large  development  of  these  organs,  she  will  gen- 
erally be  found  to  resemble  her  father  instead  of  her  mother. 
So  a  large  development  of  Causality,  Constructiveness,  and 
Calculation,  especially  the  latter,  in  a  daughter,  shows  that 
she  takes  after  her  father,  these  organs  being  more  fully 
developed  in  man  than  in  womaiL 

Guided  by  these  and  some  other  similar  signs,  I  rarely  fail 
to  tell  which  parent  persons  resemble,  provided  they  resemble 
either,  and  thereby  the  age  of  the  parent  or  grand  parent 
whom  they  resemble,  or  the  diseases  to  which  they  are 
liable — v/hich  parent,  if  either,  died  of  consumption,  and, 
consequently,  whether  they  are  liable  to  it ;  and  also  what 
were  the  leading  mental  and  physical  peculiarities  of  this 
parent,  and  other  predictions  depending  on  this  resem- 
blance. 


THE    PROPENSfTIES    HEREDITARY,  145 


Coiiibaliveiiess  and  Deslructiveness  horedilary. 


SECTION  IV. 

THE  PROPENSITIES  HEKEDITARY. 

In  central  Pennsylv^ania,  there  lived  two   brothers,  named 

Mc -,  who  were  renowned  for  their    fighting  propensity  ; 

Combaiiveness  and  Destructiveness  being  powerful  and  ac- 
tive, in  addition  to  their  fighting  propensity,  they  were 
very  strong,  able-bodied  men,  and  eclipsed  all  rivals  in  those 
parts,  in  wrestling,  hopping,  lifting,  &c.  A  daughter  of  one 
of  them,  a  large,  fine-looking,  energetic,  stern,  commanding 

woman,  married  a  Mr.  P ,  and  became  the  mother  of  two 

sons,  both  of  whom,  though  peaceable,  excellent  men,  pos- 
sessed great  physical  strength,  and  the  combustibility  of 
their  maternal  grand  father,  Jf  a  man  ofi!"ered  them  an 
insult,  either  of  them  would  knock  him  down  instant!}^,  and 
by  the  time  the  insulting  word  was  uttered.  A  son  of  one 
of  theni,  in  whom  Combativeness,  Destructiveness,  Firm- 
ness, and  Self-Esteem  were  very  large,  was  denied  some 
gratification  by  his  father,  in  consequence  of  which,  he  be-  :, 
came  enraged,  swore  terribly,  and,  coming  into  the  house 
with  all  the  fierceness  imaginable,  he  caught  hold  of  a  chair, 
and,  slamming  it  down  spitefully  upon  the  floor,  exclaimed, 
"  I  can  tear  the  house  down,  and  will  do  it."  His  temper, 
when  once  roused,  was  most  outrageous  and  xingovernable. 
In  looks,  color  of  hair,  form  of  body,  and  phrenological 
developments,  he  resembled  liis  father,  and  he  his  mother, 
and  she  her  father. 

The  two  brothers  were  remarkable  for  their  personal 
courage,  and  their  self-possession  in  times  of  danger.  The 
daughter,  also,  was  as  eminently  courageous  as  her  sons,  and 
the  grand  son  mentioned  above,  literally  feared  nothing. 

One  of  the  descendants  of  this  combative  family  married 
a  woman  who  belonged  to  a  very  mild  and  sweet-disposi- 
tioned  family.  Of  their  children,  one  daughter  had  the  de- 
velopments of  her  father,  and  was  stern,  resolute,  and  vio- 

13 


146       MORAL   AND   INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 
Nero.  Byron.  Children  born  in  and  ador  the  Canada  ouihrehk. 

lent-tempered,  while  another  had  the  mildness  and  sweetness 
of  the  mother,  along  with  her  phrenological  developments, 
including  small  Hope,  and  a  melancholy  cast  of  mind. 

Both  the  parents  of  Nero  possessed  the  revengeful  and 
murderous  disposition,  to  a  degree  ahuost  unparalleled  in  the 
annals  of  history.  They  were  monsters  in  depravity,  and 
their  son  was  a  fiend. 

The  mother  of  Byron  was  a  most  violent-tempered  woman, 
and  her  son  was  the  lawful  heir  of  such  a  patrimony.  The 
particulars  of  this  case  v/ill  be  found  highly  interesting,  but, 
as  they  are  recorded  elsewhere,  we  will  not  swell  our  pages 
by  their  transfer,  our  object  being,  mainly,  to  add  neio  facts, 
not  to  compile  those  already  before  the  public. 

But  is  there  any  need  of  multiplying  cases  of  this  kind? 
Who  does  not  know  that  ill-tempered  parents  have  ill-tem- 
pered children,  and  that  tlie  children  of  mild,  sweet-disposi- 
tioned  parents  are  like  their  parents?  Who  does  not  know, 
that  when  both  parents  are  reven.geful  or  fiery  in  their  anger, 
the  children  are  more  combustible  than  either  parents?  and 
that  those  children,  one  of  whose  parents  is  mild  and  the 
other  spirited,  are  the  one  or  the  other,  according  to  the  pa- 
rent they  resemble  ? 

There  are,  however,  some  modifications  of  this  law  ;  such, 
especially,  as  differences  in  the  conditions  of  the  parents  be- 
fore the  birth  of  diiferent  children.  In  Canada,  in  1840,  1 
noticed  many  children  in  whom  Destructiveness  was  im- 
mense— larger,   by   far,    than    this   organ   in   either   parent. 

Thus,   a  child  of  Mr.  S ,  the  chief  executive  officer  of 

Upper  Canada,  living  at  Toronto,  had  one  of  the  largest  or- 
gans of  Destructiveness  that  1  ever  savsr  in  a  human  being, 
together  with  a  most  splendid  intellect.  The  child  was  born 
during  the  outbreak  in  Canada,  in  quelling  which,  its  father 
took  the  most  active  part,  he  being  the  commander  of  the 
military  forces.  His, house  was  besieged  by  the  insurgents, 
and  the  lives  of  all  were  threatened — circumstances  calcula- 
ted to  arouse  all  the  energies  of  large  Destructiveness  in  the 
parents  to  their  highest  pitch  of  inflamed  action,  ready,  in 
this  state,  to  be  transmitted  to  their  offspring.     The  boy  re- 


THE    PROPENSITIES    HEREPITARY.  147 

Major  Mc .  S'lii  t><iiis  iil'lor^s  wlxi  settled  in  Caiuida. 

sembled  his  mother.  Caiitioiisness  was  also  very  large  in 
the  child,  and  the  Cantionsuess  of  the  mother  was  more  than 
once  wrought  up  to  the  highest  pitch  hy  fear  of  immediate 
death. 

A  son  of  Major  Mc ,  wlio  was  second  in   command  in. 

the  expedition  against  the  Caroline,  and  who  had  his  hand 
shot  off  in  boarding  her,  after  having  laid  open  the  head  of 
one  of  her  men  with  his  broad-sword,  liad  this  organ  very 
large  and  very  active,  beyond  anything  I  have  seen  before  or 
since,  except  in  the  last  one  named,  and  along  with  it  the 
most  violent,  infianmiable  tem])er  imaginable.  He  was  born 
some  ten  or  eleven  months  after  that  expedition,  and  was  be- 
gotten, of  course,  wliile  this  organ  was  in  most  powerful  ex- 
ercise, in  the  father,  if  not  in  the  mother.  JNor  is  there  the 
least  doubt,  but  that  children  born  during  war,  are  far  more 
combative  and  destructive  than  those  born  during  peace. 
But,  though  this  is  not  departii;g  fron)  the  present  subject, 
it  is  encroaching  upon  tlie  subject  matter  of  a  chapter  on  the 
conditions  of  parents  while  becoming  parents,  as  influencing 
the  future  characters  of  their  children. 

In  passing,  perhaps  it  may  not  be  improper  to  remark,  in 
this  connection,  that  the  authors  of  the  attempted  revolution 
in  Canada,  were,  almost  without  exception,  the  sons  and 
grand  sons,  (especially  the  latter,)  of  the  American  lories 
who  were  banished  irom  this  country  on  the  successful 
termination  of  our  struggle,  and  sett'ed  all  through  Canada, 
on  6U0  acre  lots,  given  by  the  British  government  to  eacU 
banished  tory,  as  a  reward  for  opposing  this  revolution. 
True,  they  sided  with  the  English  government,  but  still, 
they  could  hardly  have  lived  in  this  country  previous  to,  and 
during  that  great  moral  struggle,  without  catching  some  of 
its  spirit,  and  were  opposed,  probably  not  to  liberty  itself,  but 
to  the  men  and  measures  of  the  war.  They  would  certaiidy 
be  supposed  to  possess  more  of  the  American  feeling,  than 
those  who  had  always  remained  submissive  to  the  British 
government,  which  the  successful  issue  of  that  struggle  was 
calculated  to  augment.     This  spirit  they  transmitted  to  their 


148        MORAL    AND    INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TP.ANSMISl^BLE. 
The  heads  of  infants  resemble  those  01  parents.  Appetite  hereditary. 

children,  "and  they  again  to  theirs,"  and  the  resuh  was,  this 
struggle  for  the  independence  of  Canada. "^ 

Let  not  the  reader  suppose  that  I  attribute  all  of  the  re- 
sults above  stated,  to  parental  influences.  On  the  other 
hand,  parents  who  have  violent  tenipers,  not  only  impart 
large  organs  and  strong  faculties  of  Combativenesss  and  De- 
structivencss  to  their  children,  but  they  also  re-augment  lhe 
power  of  these  faculties  daily  by  scolding  and  punishing 
them,  and  by  keeping,  in  a  variety  of  ways,  these  faculties 
in  a  fevered  state.  It  is  not  all  parentage  ;  it  is  not  all  edu- 
cation. Infants^  at  firsts  \\?ive  a  phrenological  organization 
analogous  to  those  of  their  parents — have  large  or  small 
Combativeness,  Secretiveness,  Destructiveness,  Alimeniive- 
ness,  or  Acquisitiveness,  according  to  the  size  of  these  organs 
in  their  parents.  To  this  result  I  have  been  driven,  by  ex- 
amining the  heads  of  thousands  and  thousands  of  parents 
and  their  children,  in  the  families  into  which  I  am  daily 
called  to  practise  my  profession — one  of  the  very  best  oppor- 
tunities in  the  world  for  observing  this  point.  Nor  have  I 
the  least  doubt,  but  that  following  me  into  families  but  for  a 
single  week,  will  convince  any  observing  or  reflecting  mind 
of  the  correctness  of  these  conclusions. 

Again,  the  appetites  of  children  are  as  those  of  their  pa- 
rents. Franklin,  in  mentioning  the  peculiarities  of  his  pa- 
rents, describes  his  father  as  almost  destitute  of  Alimentive- 
ness,  that  is,  as  appearing  unconscious  of  the  kinds  of  food 
on  the  table,  and  indifl'erent  to  what  kinds,  and  as  eating 
mainly  from  necessity,  or,  at  least,  with  but  little  appetite  or 
relish.  His  description,  in  this  respect,  shov/s,  as  clearly  as 
any  thing  ca7i  show,  that  his  father  had  small  Alimentiveness. 
He  then  goes  on  to  say,  thai  from  this  inattentiofi  of  liis  fa- 
ther to  food,  he,  also,  cared  little  what  he  ate.  His  mention 
of  the /ac^  that  his  appetite  was  feeble,    (in  illustration   of 

•  *  It  should  be  ad(]ecl,tlint  the  original  design  of  the  originatoi-s  of  that 
struggle,  was  not  a  resort  to  arms,  Imt  the  extension  of  their  rights  hy  j>e- 
titions  and  votes.  But  a  few  reck!e.?s  spirits,  taking  advantage  of  the 
popular  excitement,  in  order  to  distinguish  themselves,  took  np  arms, and 
caused  the  defeat  of  a  needed  refurm  that  hud  hegun  properly,  and  in  tlie 
spirit  of  peace. 


THE    PROPENSITIES   HEREDITARY.  149 

Relish  and  dislike  of  particular  kinds  of  food  herediiaty. 


vrhich,  his  story  of  the  two  rolls  of  baker's  bread  under  his 
arm,  while  reconnoitring  Philadelphia,  is  in  point,)  is  all  we 
wish,  we  being  able  to  account  for  it  quite  as  satisfactorily 
by  ascribing  it  to  parentage,  as  he,  by  attributing  it  to  a 
habit  implanted  by  his  fatlier — the  absence  of  ajypetite  in  both^ 
being  all  that  concerns  us. 

Whole  families,  again,  in  all  their  branches,  are  good  liv- 
ers. A  strong  appetite,  for  plain  food,  however,  appertains 
to  every  branch  of  the  Fowler  family,  as  far  as  I  have  been 
able  to  trace  it,  either  backward,  or  in  the  various  branches 
descended  from  the  Jonathan  Fowler  referred  to  in  liie  pre- 
ceding pages. 

Every  member  of  that  S family,  subject  to  derange- 
ment, mentioned  in  chapter  v.,  loves  good  things,  and  though 
piost  of  them  are  very  fond  of  money,  and  most  saving  and 
economical,  yet,  they  pay  out  money  freely  for  eatables,  and 
always  set  a  table  loaded  down  with  good  things,  besides, 
their  female  members  being  excellent  cooks. 

And  not  only  does  a  strong  or  a  weak  appetite  descend  in 
families,  but  an  appetitB  for  pa7-^«cw/«r  kinds  of  food  is  also 
hereditary.  Thus,  if  the  parents  be  fond  of  fruit,  or  pota- 
toes, or  peppers,  or  pickles,  or  oysters,  or  meat,  or  any  par- 
ticular dish,  the  children  will  generally  inherit  an  appetite 
for  the  same  dish.  Two  of  the  children  mentioned  above  as 
inheriting  a  passion  for  cats,  and  also  extreme  nervousness, 
from  a  maternal  grand  mother,  inherited  also  from  her  a  love 
of  roasted  potatoes,  both  grand  mother  and  grand  daughter 
preferring  to  make  entire  meals,  day  after  day,  on  roast  po- 
tatoes and  butter  alone,  and  preferring  this  diet  to  all  others. 
Hence,  if  the  appetite  of  the  father  fastens  upon  or  rejects 
oysters,  or  ardent  spirits,  butter,  &c.,  that  of  the  son  will  fas- 
ten upon  or  reject  the  same  articles,  and  induce  the  conse* 
quences.  The  father  of  Dr.  Kimball,  of  Sackett's  Harbor, 
N.  Y.j  could  never  endure  the  taste  or  smell  of  butter  ;  and 
his  son,  though  a  merchant,  will  never  keep  butter  in  his 
store,  solely  on  account  of  the  disgust  he  instinctively  feels 
towards  it,  preferring  to  forego  the  loss  of  both  profits  and 
customers,  rather  than  have  it  about  him  ;  nor  can"  he  sit  at 
13* 


150        MORAL    AND    INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 

Longing-s  of  molhers.         Intemperance  beredilarj'.         The  D- family.       1)   F. 

the  table  on  which  it  is,  unless  it  is  of  the  purest,  sweetest 
kind. 

Edmund  Bridges,  of  Prattsburg,  could  never  endure 
cheese,  and  not  even  bread  cut  with  a  knife  with  wliich 
cheese  had  been  cut  without  its  being  washed;  but  whether 
it  was  hereditary,  I  know  not.  Let  each  reader  observe 
particulars  for  himself. 

Analogous  to  this  doctrine,  and  directly  calculated  to  prove 
it  incontestibly,  is  an  appetite  in  children  for  certain  things 
after  which  the  mother  longed  during  pregnancy,  but,  for  the 
reason  already  stated,  facts  of  this  cast  Avill  be  presented 
hereafter,  as  well  as  directions  in  regard  to  it. 

In  harmony  with  the  foregoing  principle,  an  appetite  for 
alcoholic  drinks  will  be  found  to  be  hereditary,  and  especially 
to  descend  in  the  line  of  the  mother.  But  it  often  descends 
in  that  of  the  father. 

Three  brothers,  by  the  name  of  D .  emigrated  to  this 

country  with  William  Penn,  and  settled  at  Chester,  Pa., 
whose  descendants  spread  throughout  the  western  part  of 
that  state.  They  were  a  remarkably  sober,  honest,  industri- 
ous, temperate  family,  in  all  their  branches  except  one,  into 
which  intemperance  was  introduced  by  the  marriage  of  one 
of  the  descendants  with  the  daughter  of  a  highly  influential 
member  of  the  senate  of  that  state,  who,  though  he  did  not 
become  a  sot,  yet  Vv'ould  have  his  wine  after  dinner,  and 
drink  till  he  felt  pretty  well.'  He  also  treated  his  friends 
freely.  This  daughter  was  not  known  to  love  liquor,  but,  of 
six  children,  every  one,,  a  daughter  included,  became  com- 
mon drunkards.  Nearly  every  child  of  these  six  also  be- 
came drunkards  of  the  lowest  cast,  and  so  did  a  large  pro- 
portion of  their  children,  though  some  of  them  v/ere  snatched 
as  brands  from  the  burning,  by  the  temperance  reform.  And 
even  the  descendants  of  the  sixth  generation,  though  chil- 
,dren,  love  the  "critter,"  some  of  whom  were  brought  up  in 
faiTjilies  where  no  liquor  was  drank,  except  with  medicine. 
Still,   the  temperance  reform    will  probably  save  many  of 

,them. 

£)_  p-^,.^.-^  whose  name,  were  it  given,  would  be  recog- 
jjized  throug(?out  the  land,  especially  in  the  religious  world, 


THE    PROPENSITIES    HEREDITARY.  151 

A  partial  idiot.        Chilrl  of  Mrs.  K.         Permanent  longings  resemble  appetite 

though  Cansaliiy  and  Conscientiousness  are  immense,  inher- 
ited, I  think  from  his  father,  a  love  of  spirituous  Hquors,  to 
which  he,  yielded  till  he  was  about  twenty  years  old,  when 
he  came  to  a  firm  resolve  never  to  taste  another  drop  again, 
and  his  adhering  to  this  resolution  has  saved  him,  while  his 
talents  have  rendered  him  distinguished. 

In  Westchester,  Pa.,  in  May,  1840,  1  saw  a  man  whose  in- 
tellect was  every  way  inferior,  and  v.'ho  had  been  addicted  to 
drinking,  ever  since  boyhood.  His  mother,  whenever  she 
could,  by  any  means  in  her  power,  raise  money  sufficient, 
would  get  a  quart  or  a  gallon  of  liquor,  lie  down  by  it,  and 
keep  beastly  drunk  till  it  was  gone.  Every  one  of  her  chil- 
dren, the  one  alluded  to  above  included,  evinced  this  liquor- 
loving  propensity,  even  in  their  cradles.  One  of  them  mar- 
ried a  tavern-keeper  in  Philadelphia,  but  was  seldom  in  a 
state  lit  to  see  company,  and  was  more  or  less  intoxica- 
ted most  of  her  time — a  truly  besotted  woman.  One  of  the 
sons  of  another  daughter  \vas  taken,  when  a  boy,  to  live  in 
a  Quaker  family,  in  which  no  spirits  were  kept,  and  yet  he 
evinced  a  hankering  after  it. 

The  following  case  occurred  at  Gohocton,  N.  Y.,  the  na- 
tive town  of  the  author.  Mrs.  K.,  who  loved  liquor,  and 
would  have  her  sprees,  wanted,  while  pregnant,  a  particular 
kind  of  spirituous  liquor,  which  she  could  not  obtain.  Her 
child  cried  the  first  six  weeks  almost  continually,  and,  as 
if  in  perfect  misery;  and  nothirjg  that  could  be  done  for  it 
gave  relief.  At  length,  by  some  means,  the  kind  of  liquor 
after  which  its  mother  had  longed,  was  given  it,  and  it 
clutched  it  most  eagerly,  and  swallov/ed  it  with  the  utmost 
greediness,  and  drank  off  half  a  pint,  not  only  without  in- 
jury, but  with  great  benefit.  From  being  a  most  miserable 
object,  it  became  healthy,  and  stopped  its  incessant  cr^^ing. 

Not  a  rational  doubt  can  be  entertained,  that  the  longings 
of  the  mother  will  cause  longings  for  the  same  thing  in  the 
child.  Now,  in  what  consists  the  material  difference  be- 
tween the  transmission  of  ungratified  longings,  and  of  a  per- 
manent appetite  for  a  given  thing  ?  Simply  in  the  jpermaneiicy 
of  the  desire  in  the  parent,  and  of  the  impression  left  on  the 
child ;  for,  if  a  mother's  appetite  be  strong  for  particular 


152        MORAL   AND    INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 
The  tone  of  mind  injured  by  intemperance  in  parents. 

things,  she  will,  of  course,  desire  these  things  at  times  when 
she  cannot  indulge  this  appetite  instantly.  That  is,  she  will 
have  an  habitual  longing. 

True,  these  remarks  do  not  apply  to  the  father,  but  they 
prove  the  principle  of  the  transmission  of  appetite,  and,  since 
other  qualities  are  transmitted  by  the  father,  why  not  this 
faculty  ]  Still,  I  believe  drunkenness  in  the  mother  to  be 
more  detrimental  to  the  children,  and  more  likely  to  be  trans- 
mitted, than  in  the  father. 

Another  thing.  The  tone,  cast,  and  character  of  the  feel- 
ings and  intellect  of  children,  are  altered  and  influenced  by 
drinkuig  habits  in  parents.  They  are  more  gross  and  ani- 
mal in  all.  their  actions  and  associations,  and  less  intellectual 
and  moral.  Teachers  have  uniformly  replied  to  my  ques- 
tions, whether  they  observed  any  difference  in  the  minds  and 
scholarship  of  the  children  of  drunken  parents,  compared 
with  those  of  temperate  parents,  that  they  found  the  former 
worse  to  manage,  and  less  inclined  to  study,  as  well  as  more 
diflicult  to  be  taught,  than  the  latter.  Nor  is  this  to  be  won- 
dered at,  but  it  is  in  perfect  harmony  with  the  great  law  of 
physiology,  demonstrated  in  my  work  on  Temperance,  that 
all  alcoholics  stimulate  the  animal  propensities  more,  rela- 
tively, than  the  moral  sentiments.  By  rendering  the  parents 
more  gross  and  sensual,  it  naturally  stamps  an  animal  im- 
press on  their  offspring,  and  the  more  so,  because  usually 
begotten  while  the  parent  is  in  liquor. 

True,  the  superior  virtues  of  the  temperate  parent  may 
prevent  the  children  from  forming  intemperate  habits,  and 
though  they  may  possibly  escape  destruction,  yet,  this  de- 
praved appetite,  this  liquor-loving  stream,  is  almost  sure  to 
flow  on  to  generations  yet  unborn,  widening  and  deepening 
as  it  progresses,  either  breaking  out  here,  and  there,  and 
yonder,  or  else  sweeping  their  name  and  race  from  the  face 
of  the  earth.  Is  not  this  a  most  powerful  motive  to  young 
ladies  promptly  to  refuse  the  addresses  of  those  young  men 
who  drink  a  drop  of  any  kind  of  stimulants?  Every  young 
woman  who  marries  even  an  occasional  stimulater,  is  in  im- 
minent danger,  aye,  almost  sure,  of  Josing  the  affections  of 
her  first,  her  only  love,  past  all  recovery,  and  following  him 


THE    PROPENSITIES    HEREDITARY.  153 

l,ov<»  of  money  hereclitary.  A  (umily  of  misers  in  Westchester. 

to  an  early  and  a  most  bitter  grave  ;  and  also  of  seeing  her 
sons,  otherwise  her  comfort  and  support,  become  her  broken 
reed,  her  deepest  disgrace,  redoubling  the  in.describable 
miseries  of  having  a  drunken  husband,  in  the  still  deeper 
miseries  of  having  besotted  cliildreii.  Parents  cannot  be  too 
careful  as  ^o  what  appetites  tliey  indulge  ;  for,  they  are  sow- 
ing seed  in  a  susceptible  soil,  from  which  those  they  most 
love,  will  reap  prolific  crops  of  health  and  happiness,  or  of 
vice  and  misery. 

An  inordinate  love  of  money,  and  also  the  compa:ra(ive 
absence  of  this  faculty,  will  be  found  to  be  hereditary. 
There  were  two  brothers,  who  resided  in  the  vicinity  of 
Westchester,  Pa.,  both  of  whom  loved  money  to  excess,  and 
one  of  them  so  much  so,  that  he  refused  to  marry,  because 
of  the  expense  attendant  upon  having  a  fami!3^  When  he 
became  old  and  infirm,  to  save  expense,  he  lived  mostly  on 
ginger-bread,  which  lie  kept  locked  up  in  a  cupboard,  the 
key  of  which  he  carried  in  his  pocket,  even  when  he  v/as 
extremely  feeble  and  about  to  die,  lest  any  one  should  get  to  it 
and  eat. 

His  brother  married,  but  kept  his  family  on  the  closest 
Tare  possible,  and  amassed  property  to  the  amount  of  several 
hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  yet,  when  he  became  too  old 
to  do  business,  he  would  go  about  unfinished  liouses  and 
pick  up  all  the  nails  and  pieces  of  iron,  &c.,  that  he  could 
find,  and  carry  them  home. 

His  son,  a  farmer,  had  some  cattle  that  strayed  away  into 
the  yard  of  a  neighbor,  (perhaps  because  they  were  not  fed 
overmuch,)  some  three  miles  off,  who,  not  knowing  to  v\'honi 
they  belonged,  veiglied  out  the  hay  given  them,  and  charged 
the  usual  price  of  hay  by  the  ton.  Their  acquisitive  owner, 
findinsf  out  where  they  were,  went  and  took  them  away,  but 
absolutely  refused  to  pay  even  tlie  price  of  the  hay  they  ate, 
to  say  notliing  of  the  trouble  of  taking  care  of  them.  Many 
other  sinjilar  samples  of  his  meanness,  were  related  of  him; 
and  the  whole  family,  for  three  generations,  were  noted  for  a 
mean,  miserly,  penurious  spirit.  I  examined  the  head  of  a 
son  of  the  last  one  mentioned,  and  found  his  head  short  and 
wide,   very  thick  through  at  Acquisitiveness,  and  wanting 


154        MOKAf,    AND    INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TBANSMI&SIELE. 

KxjjlHiialioii  ol  ihi-  |,ro(l;g,iliiy  ol  llie  cliiklreii  ot  the  rxh.  Patty  Caiilioii. 

in  Sclf-R.^ieeai — an  organization  thai  always  accompanies 
peniiriousiiess. 

The  present  generation,  however,  are  spending  freely  the 
wealt!i  hoarded  up  by  iheir  ancestors.  The  reason  is  proba- 
bly this,  and  will  serve  to  explain  the  fact  that  children  are 
often  so  prodigal,  when  their  ancestors  have  been  so  pru- 
dent :  First,  iliey  took  to  drinking;  and  this  will  make  way 
with  almost  any  property,  however  large.  Secondly,  though 
the  children  of  those  who  love  and  amass  wealth,  are  apt  to 
inherit  this  faculty  fnllv  developed,  yet,  having  every  thing 
farnislied  to  tiieir  hands,  and  not  being  compelled  to  earn  a 
liviiig.  and  hence,  not  having  occasion  to  cultivate  this  facul- 
ty, it  becomes  less  and  less  active,  while  the  gratification, 
and  thus,  stimulation,  afforded  to  the  other  faculties,  causes 
them  U)  make  frequent  and  large  demands  on  Acquisitive- 
ness, so  that  they  overpower  it,  and  it  thus  becomes  weak  in 
them,  and  still  weaker  in  their  children,  while  the  organs 
that  lead  to  extravagance,  become  large  ;  and  this  organiza- 
tion is  Jrnnsmilied  to  their  children,  which  causes  them  to 
be  extravagant,  and  to  squander  the  earnings  of  their  ances- 
tors. 

Perhnps  t'ne^history  of  Patty  Cannon  may  not  be  inappro- 
priate liere,  though  it  would  have  been  quite  as  appropriate 
imdcr  ilie  heud  of  Desiructivcness.*  The  father  of  Fatty 
Canuon  became  outraged  with  a  neighbor,  in  consequence  of 
a  difference  in  a  matter  of  property — something,  1  think,  re- 
lating to  a  store — and,  going  into  a  shop  where  his  enemy 
was  at  wv.vk,  picked  up  a  scantling  and  struck  him  on  the 
head,  and  killed  him,  for  which  he  was  executed. 

A  brother  of  Patty  ( "annon,  and  s^n  of  ttiis  miu'derer,  stole 
a  stallion,  which  the  laws  then  in  vogue  punished  by  death, 
and  he^too  was  executed.     He  was,  every  way,  a  bad  man. 

TTie  mother  of  Patty  was  a  large,  heavy,  fleshy,  clever 
woman,  but  was  said  to  be  unduly  fond  of  the  other  sex,  and 
both  Patty  Cannon  and  her  sister  Betsey,  (whose  skulls  may 
be  seen  it)  the  author's  collection,)  inherited  both  the  destruc- 
tive propensity  of  their  father,  and  the  sexual  passion  of 

*See  ail  account  of  her  in  the  Phrenological  Alni&ttac  for  1841. 


THE    PROPENSITIES    HEBEDITARY.  155 

Betsey  Cannon.  Ceorije  Liul« 

their  mother.  Betsey  was  one  of  the  most  foul-monthed, 
profane,  violent-tempered,  revengeful,  and  implacable  of 
women,  and  yet,  handsome  and  witty.  She  married,  but 
was  openly  and  habitually  untrue  to  her  husband,  and  guilty 
of  depravity  in  almost  every  form,  though  she  was  not  known 
to  have  committed  murder.  But  her  tongue  was  considered 
the  most  bitter  and  caustic  imaginable,  and  gave  her  notorie- 
ty all  through  that  region.  Amativeness  and  Destructive- 
ness  are  very  large,  and  also  that  part  of  Acquisitiveness 
that  acquires  property. 

One  of  the  descendants  of  either  Betsey  or  Patty,  was 
recently  tried  in  Delaware  for  some  offence  against  the  laws, 
I  thmk  it  was  an  accusation  for  murder. 

But  the  most  notorious  of  this  notorious  family,  was  Patty 
Cannon  herself  With  the  shedding  of  human  blood  for  the 
purpose  of  committing  robbery,  she  was  as  familiar  as  with 
her  alphabet.  She  engaged  and  held  in  subjection  a  gang  of 
men,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  committing  robbery  and  murder, 
and  employed  her  Amativeness  as  a  decoy-duck  to  bring 
victims  within  her  reach.  A  more  desperate  robber  or  mur- 
derer, or  one  who  overavv^ed  the  public  authorities  so  effectu- 
ally and  so  long,  probably  never  existed.  Her  insatiable 
Acquisitiveness  led  her  to  fit  out  a  kidnapping  vessel,  for  the 
purpose  of  decoying  free  negroes  on  board,  and  transporting 
them  to  the  South  and  selling  them,  in  which  she  killed 
many  infants,  to  prevent  their  exposing  her  by  crying,  and 
many  adults  that  were  too  infirm  to  bring  the  price  of  their 
transportation.     She  committed  suicide  in  prison. 

The  organs  of  Acquisitiveness,  and  Destructiveness,  and 
Secretiveness,  and  Amativeness,  are  very  large,  the  whole 
animal  region  large,  the  moral  wanting,  and  the  intellectual 
large. 

Joshua  Coffin  relates  the  following  : 

"George  Little,"  (the  one  mentioned  in  chap,  iii.,  sec.  3,) 
"emigrated  from  London  to  Newbury,  in  1640.  He  was 
noted  for  great  strength  of  body,  great  shrewdness  and  sa- 
;gacity,  and  extraordinary  power  of  intellect.  He  selected 
two  of  the  best  tracts  of  land  in  Newbury,  on  one  of  which 
he  lived,  and  which  his  descendants  have  occupied  to  the 


156        MORAL    AND    INTELLECTUAL   QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 

The  cheating  propensity  hereditary.  Capt-  G-  and  desceiidams. 

present  time.  In  the  town  records  of  Newbury,  may  be 
found  the  following  unique  notice  of  him.  '  The  selectmen 
are  to  lake  care  and  see  that  George  Little  gets  no  more  land 
than  what  belongs  to  him.'  Now,  this  passion  for  acquiring 
landed  property,  has  been  transmitted,  unimpaired,  through 
his  posterity,  to  the  present  time.  They  all  own  immense 
tracts  of  land,  and  of  the  very,  best  kind.  There  is  hardly 
any  end  to  their  possessions  in  real  estate,  and  they  were 
aiPiOng  the  principal  'getters  up'  of  the  land  speculations  of 
1835  to  1838. 

"But,  this  is  not,  by  any  means,  the  only  trait  of  character 
for  which  his  descendants  are  remarkable.  During  nearly 
two  centuries,  they  have  ranked  among  the  first  in  the  town, 
in  point  of  intellect,  though  the  present  generation  evince  a 
falling  Oil  in  this  respect,  because  their  parents  v\^ere  foolish 
enough  to  marry  cousins." 

In  relation  to  the  transmission  of  the  cheating  and  forging 
propensity,  Mr.  C.  remarks  as  follows  : — "  Capt.  \¥.  G.,  a  na- 
tive of  England,  and  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Newbury, 
a  well-educated  man,  and  possessing  fine  talents  and  much 
influence,  was  yet,  in  167G,  so  regardless  of  his  reputation 
and  of  moral  principle,  that  he  forged  a  military  account 
against  the  state,  in  order  to  put  money  into  his  own  pock- 
ets, though  he  had  lived  in  Newbury  about  forty  years.  He 
left  town  soon  after  his  conviction,  and  died  in  Salem,  Mass. 

"  One  of  his  descendants.  Colonel*  Samuel  G.,  cheated  a 
soldier  out  of  his  pay,  and,  on  being  convicted,  wrote  a  most 
humble  apology  for  his  conduct,  which  is  now  on  file  in 
Boston.  Jacob  G.,  his  nephew,  I  think,  forged  a  deed  of 
land ;  and  there  are  some  of  his  descendants  now  living, 
who  inherit  and  exhibit  this  same  propensity  to  cheat  and 
deceive.  They  seem  to  inherit  large  Acquisitiveness  and 
Secretiveness,  and  small  Conscientiousness." 

The  notorious  humbug,  Goward,  who  swells  so  largely  in 
his  advertisements,  as  being  the  greatest  teacher  that  ever 

*The  ancestor's  being  a  Captain  and  the  descendant  a  Colonel,  impliea 
that  the  military  spirit  runs  in  families.  And  one's  forging  a  military  ac- 
count, and  the  other's  defrauding  a  soldier  of  his  pay,  are  quite  analogoua^ 


THE    PROPENSITIES    HEREDITARY.  157 

Brandrctli.  Aiisart.  Firnmess  and  eminent  talents  in  the  Pike  family. 

was,  in  writing,  book-keeping,  geography,  history,  the 
languages,  drawing,  painting,  music,  vocal  and  on  the  piano, 
harp,  flute,  lute,  guitar,  accordian,  (fcc,  &c.,  through  the 
whole  round  of  sciences  and  accomplishments,  has  immense 
Approbativeness,  which,  unrestrained,  is  the  swelling,  brag- 
ging faculty;  and  a  cousin  of  his,  from  the  land  of  steady 
habits,  whom  I  examined,  some  years  ago,  in  N.  Y.,  had  this 
organ  very  large.  Brandreth's  parents,  one  or  both,  must 
have  had  a  young  mountain  of  Approbativeness,  judging 
from  the  organ  in  their  son.. 

Ansart,  a  French  physician,  who  came  to  this  country, 
was  one  of  the  most  polished  of  men,  and  a  perfect  gentle- 
man in  manners  and  carriage ;  his  every  action  being 
graceful,  every  motion  elegant.  Plis  son,  and  a  grand 
daughter,  inherit-ed  the  same  polish  and  elegance  of  man- 
ners. 

It  will  not  be  difficult  to  adduce  facts,  showing  that  each 
of  the  faculties  of  Secretiveness,  Cautiousness,  Approbative- 
ness.  Self- Esteem,  and  Firniness,  especially  the  two  last,  are 
hereditary.  Joshua  Cofliii  mentions  the  descent  of  Firmness 
in  the  Pike  family,  of  which  he  says : 

"  Gen.  L.  M.  Pike,  a  native  of  New  Jersey/,'  a  brave 
officer  in  the  last  Vv'ar,  who  v.^as  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Queenston,  was  a  descendant  of  Capt.  Pike,  who  emigrated 
to  N.  J.,  from  Newbury,  Mass.,  about  1666.  This  Capt. 
Pike  was  brave  and  iutelligcnl,  and  noted  for  his  skill  'and 
enterprise  in  the  Indian  wars.  From  John  Pike,  who  emi- 
grjtited  to  N.  J.,  down  to  their  descendants  at  the  present 
time,  nearly  all  of  them  have  been  distinguished  for  clear- 
ness of  intellect,  firmness  of  purpose,  self-possession,  and  in- 
domitable courage.  Nicholas  Pike,  the  old  school-master 
and  mathematician,  and  Abner  Pike,  also  a  school-master 
and  mathematician,  now  in  Newburyport,  a  resolute,  forci- 
ble, bold,  energetic  man,  Abner  Pike,  Esq.,  formerly  of  New- 
buryport, but  now  of  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  whose  '  Hymns 
to  Callimanchus '  have  been  published  in  Blackwood's  Mag- 
azine, and  with  commendation,  and  which  are  really  splen- 
did specimens  of  poetry,  these,  and  many  others  are  descen- 
dants of  John  Pike.     So  marked  are  some  of  their  peculiari" 

14 


158        MORAL    AND    INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 
Washiiigtoc.  and  his  mother  and  sister.  Bonapatte. 

ties,  (allusion  is  here  made  to  tlie  Firmness  of  this  family,) 
that  the  people  of  Newbury  call  it  ^Pikeism.'  " 

Cases  of  the  transmission  of  Self-Esteem,  in  both  its  natu- 
ral and  in  its  perverted  function,  are  numerous  and  striking. 
Washington  was  a  man  of  great  dignity,  and  inspired  all 
who  beheld  him,  with  great  awe  and  deference.  His  mother 
possessed  this  quality  in  a  pre-eminent  degree.  A  writer  in 
the  Lady's  Magazine  speaks  of  her  as  follows: 

"I  was  often  there  with  George,  his  play-mate,  school- 
mate, and  young  man's  companion.  Of  the  mother  I  was 
ten  times  more  afraid,  than  I  was  of  my  own  parents.  She 
awed  me  in  the  mildest  of  her  kindness,  for  she  was  indeed 
trnly  kind,  and  even  nov/,  when  time  has  whitened  my 
locks,  and  1  am  the  grand-parent  of  a  second  generation,  I 
could  not  behold  that  majestic  woman  without  feelings  it  is 
impossible  to  describe.  Whoever  has  seen  that  awe-inspiring 
air  and  manner  so  characteristic,  in  the  fatlier  of  his  coun- 
try, will  remember  the  matron  when  she  appeared  as  the 
presiding  genius  of  her  well-ordered  household,  commanding 
and  being  obeyed. 

^'  In  her  person,  the  matron  v/as  of  the  middle  size,  finely 
formed,  her  features  pleasing,  yet  strongly  marked.  It  is 
not  the  happiness  of  the  writer  to  remember  her,  having 
only  seen  her  with  infant  eyes.  Tiie  sister  of  the  chief,  he 
perfectly  well  remembers.  She  was  a  most  majestic  woman, 
and  so  strikingly  like  her  brother,  that  it  was  a  matter  of 
frolic  to  throw  a  cloak  around  her,  and  place  a  military  hat 
upon  her  head,  and  such  was  the  perfect  resemblance,  that, 
had  she  appeared  in  her  brother's  stead,  battalions  would 
have  presented  arms,  and  senators  risen  to  do  homage  to  the 
chief.*' 

The  author  had  jaid  by  for  insertion  here,  an  account  of 
the  ancestors  of  Washington,  but,  at  present,  it  is  not  possible 
to  CDmmand  it.  The  purport  of  it  is,  that  they  were  highly 
dignified  and  respected,  yet  remarkable  for  their  blandness 
and  goodness,  but  always  of  commanding  person,  and  looked 
up  to,  as  to  a  noble  race,  a  superior  family. 

The  mother  of  Bonaparte  was  a  most  authoritative,  com- 
manding woman,   and,  beyond  question,  Bonaparte's  won- 


THE    PROPENSITIES    HEREDITARY.    ■  159 

Approbativeness.  Cautiousness. 

derful  power  of  commanding,  so  as  to  be  obeyed^  was  inherit- 
ed from  this  pre-eminently  dignified  and  queenly  woman, 

I  have  seen  thousands  of  instances,  in  which  the  children 
of  parents  who  have  had  excessive  Approbativeness,  or  Self- 
Esteem,  or  Firmness,  or  Cautiousness,  or  Secretiveness,  or 
Acquisitiveness,  or  Alimentiveness,  or  Destructiveness,  or 
Gombativeness,  have  the  same  organ  or  organs  predominant, 
tliat  predominated  in  their  parents.  But  the  proof  of  our 
preceding  positions  have  been  so  full  and  positive,  that  it  is 
hardly  necessary  to  multiply  cases  on  these  points;  they  be- 
ing established  by  what  has  preceded  them.  And  we  have 
other  matter,  more  important  than  a  statement  of  additional 
facts  on  these  points  would  be,  with  which  to  fill  out  the 
remainder  ©f  the  volume. 

The  remark  may  be  as  appropriate  in  this  connection, 
perhaps,  as  in  any  other,  that  when  particular  organs  are  too 
large  in  parents,  they  will  be  quite  large  enough  in  their 
children  without  being  much  excited.  And  yet,  these  are 
the  very  organs  that  are  too  active  in  the  parents,  and  there- 
fore, liable  to  be  brought  into  habitual  action,  in  exciting 
corresponding  organs  in  their  children.  Thus,  if  the  Ap- 
probativeness of  the  motlier  be  too  large,  she  is  therefore 
likely  to  dress  ofi"  her  darling  with  ruflles,  ribbons,  curls, 
and  gaudy  garments,  and  even  with  bustles,  corsets,  and 
padding,  so  that  it  may  be  praised  abundantly, — the  very 
thing  that  should  not  be  done,  because  this  will  increase,  by 
its  exercise,  an  organ  altogether  too  large  already.  On  the 
contrary,  all  stimulants  should  be  removed  from  this  faculty. 
The  child  should  seldom  be  praised,  and  then  for  moral 
qualities  ow/y.  If  the  child  says  or  does  things  to  attract  at- 
tention, or  excite  the  laugh  of  commendation  for  its  smart- 
ness, do  not  notice  it,  but  turn  the  subject. 

So,  if  Cautiousness  be  too  large  in  the  mother,  it  will  be 
almost  certain  to  be  too  large  in  the  child,  and  then  to  be 
re-augmented  by  the  mother's  continually  cautioning  her 
child  to  take  care  of  this,  and  take  care  of  that,  and  appeal- 
ing to  this  faculty  to  make  it  do  this,  or  not  do  that, 
whereas  all  possible  pains  should  be  taken  to  keep  it 
quiescent,  and  to  divert  it  from  excitement,  that  it  may  de- 


160        MORAL    AND    INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 


Clergymen  the  sons  of  pious  mothers.  The  descendanls  of  John  Kogprs. 

crease.  So,  of  appetite,  and  all  the  other  propensities,  di- 
rections for  doing  which,  will  be  found  in  the  author's  work 
on  "Phrenology  applied  to  Education  and  Self-Improve- 
ment." 


SECTION  V. 

THE    MORAL    FACULTIES    OF    CHILDREN    RESEMBLE   THOSE   OF 
THEIR  PARENTS. 

One  of  the  very  best  proofs  of  this  proposition,. is  to  be 
found  in  the  general  fact,  that  nearly  every  eminently  pious 
clergymen,  both  of  the  present  day  and  of  ages  past,  will 
be  found  to  have  had  an  eminently  pious  mother,  who,  like 
Hannah,  the  mother  of  Samuel,  dedicated  him  to  God  "from 
his  mother's  womb."  Many  a  fountain  of  holy  emotion  has 
had  its  origin  in  a  mother's  praying  spirit,  or  in  a  father's 
devoted  piety.  Passing  those  already  on  record  in  the 
biographies  of  pious  men,  which  usually  commence  with  an 
account  of  the  piety  of  one  or  both  parents,  let  ns  look  at  a 
few  cases  not  now  on  record,  yet  seen  and  krSov/n  of  all  who 
observe. 

Take  the  descendants  of  John  Rogers,  the  martyr.  I 
know  of  only  one  hotel  of  any  note,  in  which  the  good  old 
puritanical  CListom  of  family  worshijo  is  preserved,  and  a 
blessing  asked  at  the  table,  and  that  is  in  the  Marlboro' 
Hotel,  of  Boston,  kept  by  Nathaniel  Rogers,  conducted  for 
many  years  on  strictly  temperance  principles.  These  morning 
and  evening  devotions  are  mostly  conducted  by  Mr.  Rogers 
himself,  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  tenth  generation  from 
Rogers,  the  martyr.  And  nearly  every  one  of  these  ten 
descendants  have  been  clergymen^  and  the  last  would  have 
become  one,  if  his  health  had  not  forbidden  it.  Many  of 
the  lateral  members  of  this  line,  all  the  way  down,  have 
also  been  clergymen,  and  there  are  many  clergymen  now 
living,  named  Rogers,  descendants  of  the  pious  martyr. 
Large  Benevolence  characterizes  them  all,  and  Conscientious- 
ness and  Veneration  are  generally  large,  and  they  are  gener- 


THE    MORAL   FACULTIES    HEREDITARY.  161 

The  Brainard  family  eminently  reJigious. 

ally  imbued  with  the  same  spirit  of  refortn  which  character- 
ized their  renowned  ancestor.'^  Like  him,  th^y  nsiially  have 
large  families. 

The  Brainard  family  are,  t^ertainly,  not  less  remarkable 
for  their  fervent  piety,  and  glowing  philanthropy,  than  was 
their  illustrious  ancestor,  David  Brainard,  so  remarkable  for 
his  religious  humility  and  self-abasement.  Where  do  we 
find  a  stronger  manifestation  of  very  large  Veneration,  Con- 
scientiousnes,  and  Benevolence,  large  Marvellousness,  and 
small  Self- Esteem  and  Hope,  or  of  *  deep  humiliation  and 
self-abasement  before  God,  than  we  find  in  his  diary  ?  These 
organs  were  evidently  so  large  and  active,  as  to  be  actually 
diseased ;  for  it  can  never  be  the  office  of  true  religion,  to 
produce  such  mental  sufi'ering  as  he  evidently  endured. 

Rev.  Mr.  Brainard,  pastor  of  the  church  at  the  corner  of 
Pine  and  Fourth  streets,  Philadelphia,  is  descended  from  the 
same  grand  father  from  whom  David  Brainard  descended, 
and  he  inherits  the  same  cast  of  piety — the  same  tender 
yearnings  for  the  impenitent,  and  desire  to  convert  men  from 
the  error  of  their  Avays,  the  sam^e  deep  sense  of  guilt  and 
unworthiness,  and  the  same  alternating  of  ecstasy  and  re- 
ligious melancholy,  that  characterized  David  Brainard.  And 
he  has  just  such  an  organization  as  I  should  predicate  of 
David,  namely,  a  most  exquisite  temperament,  indicated  by 
the  finest  and  softest  skin  and  hair  imaginable,  a  large  head, 
which  is  high  and  long,  and  pre-eminently  moral,  and  quite 
intellectual,  with  full  Marvellousness — a  development  rarely 
found — great  Veneration,  and  prodigious  Benevolence,  Con- 
scientiousness, and  Cautiousness,  with  small  Self-Esteem  and 
Hope,  a  decidedly  good  forehead,  and  large  Approbative- 
ness,  Friendship,  and  Ideality.  He  says  he  is  exceedingly 
afflicted  with  that  same  cast  of  religious  melancholy  which 
David  Brainard  evinces  in  his  diary,  and  that,  of  the  Brain- 
■ards  in  East  Haddom,  Conn.,  who  are  the  descendants  or 
relatives  of  this  David  Brainard,  he  knows  of  but  few  who 
are  not  similarly  afllicted. 

While  practising  Phrenology,  in  Boston,  in  July,  1843, 1 

•  For  example,  the  ex-editor  of  the  Herald  of  Freedora. 
14*         ' 


162        MORAL    ANB    INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 

The  parents  and  descendants  of  Jonathan  Edwards.  Presic!ent  Dwic;ht. 

was  waited  upon  by  a  Mr.  Brainard,  then  a  patient  in  the 
Lunatic  As^^lura,  South  Boston,  in  whom  I  found  great  Con- 
scientiousness, Benevolence,  and  Veneration,  and  small  Hope 
and  Self-Esteem,  and  who  had  been,  for  some  time,  beside 
himself,  though  not  palpably  deranged,  on  the  matter  of  re- 
ligion, which  occupied  his  whole  mind,  night  and  da}'-,  while 
awake.  He  commenced  studying,  to  become  a  minister. 
As  far  as  I  could  learn  from  the  Rev.  gentleman  alluded  to 
above,  and  from  other  sources,  the  Brainard  family  are  nov/, 
and  always  have  been,  remarkable  for  their  fervent  piety, 
and  Christian  humility,  there  being  few,  if  any,  of  tliem, 
who  are  not  consistent  and  devout  Christians.  Let  the  read- 
er inquire  of,  and  observe  the  Brainards  in  various  parts  of 
the  country,  who  claim  any  connection  with  David,  and  see 
whether  they  are  or  are  not  eminently  pious,  and  have  or 
have  not  that  sombre  cast  of  religious  experience  which  he 
had,  and,  if  I  am  not  much  mistaken,  the  result  will  go  to 
show  the  transmission,  not  of  the  religious  tendency^  inereh/, 
but  of  iKirticular  casts  of  it,  for  several  successive  genera- 
lions. 

Certainly  not  less  remarkable  for  the  descent  of  high- 
toned  moral  and  religious  faculties,  is  the  Edwards  family. 
Both  the  ancestors  and  the  descendants  of  Jonathan  Ed- 
wards, the  greatest  theologian  of  his  age,  or  even  of  any 
age,  devotedly  pious  as  well  as  highly  intellectual,  were 
pre-eminent  for  their  unadorned  piety,  and  Christian  virtues. 
The  father  of  Jonathan  was  a  clergynian,  and  noted  for 
piety  and  goodness,  and  there  is  now  extant  a  sermon  of 
his,  of  great  merit,  on  "  The  Judgment."  His  mother  was 
a  most  godly  woman  ;  so  his  daughters  were  among  the  salt 
of  the  earth,  and  m.ost  of  liis  descendants  to  this  day  are  so 
devoted  to  religious  subjects,  as  to  be  almost  ascetic,  and 
great  numbers  from  among  them,  are,  or  have  been,  clergy- 
men. President  Dwight,  a  "burning  and  a  shining  light,"'  in 
both  the  intellectual  and  the  moral  world,  and  one  of  th@ 
most  voluminous  and  celebrated  theological  writers  of  his 
age,  was  a  worthy  grand  son  of  so  pious  a  grand  father,  and 
many  of  his  descendants,  and  among  them.  Serene  E.  Dwight, 
of  New  York,  but  wdiose  physical  debihty  does  not  allow 


THE    MORAL    FACULTIES    HEREDITARY.  163 

Tlie  piety  of  the  Biainards  and  Kdwardses  contrasted.  New  ting-land. 


him  to  preach,  are,  or  have  been,  clergymen.  But,  though 
the  descendants  of  Jonathan  Edwards  might  almost  be  styled 
an  ascetic  race,  yet,  the  cast  and  tone  of  their  religious  feel- 
ings, differ  materially  from  the  cast  of  piety  peculiar  to  the 
Brainard  family,  just  mentioned.  The  latter  dwell  on  their 
sins,  and  the  awful  majesty  of  God,  like  David  Brainard  ; 
but  the  Edwards  family  have  a  great  deal  of  theological 
piety,  are  always  poring  over  such  books  and  sucli  subjects, 
as  "  Edvv^ards  on  the  Will,"  or,  "  Edwards  on  the  Affec- 
tions," combining,  like  their  illustrious  ancestor,  the  v/ork- 
ings  of  a  sound  head,  with  their  pious  effusions  of  prayer 
and  praise.  Long  may  a  race,  so  good,  and  yet  so  talented, 
remain  to  shed  a  purifying  and  elevating  moral  infiuence 
upon  their  fellow-beings. 

If  an  example,  much  more  general  and  extended,  and  yet, 
scarcely  less  specific,  were  needed,  Ihe  history  of  our  own 
country,  and  especially,  of  Nevf  England,  affords  it.  New 
England  might  properly  be  .said  to  liave  been  settled  by  the 
moral  sentiments.  It  was  to  escape  religious  intolerance, 
and  to  enjoy  the  uninterrupted  worship  of  God,  "under  their 
own  vine  and  fig-tree" — this  it  was  which  drove  them 'across 
the  Atlantic,  which  erected  churches  in  the  wilderness,  and 
planted  the  emblem  of  the  cross  wherever  they  sojourned. 
They  were  the  most  religious  of  the  old  world  who  settled 
the  new. 

In  view  of  these  conditions  in  the  parents  of  the  sons 
and  daughters  of  New  England,  what,  let  us  ask,  is  the  re- 
ligious character  of  their  offspring?  Not  only  were  all  our 
laws  and  institutions,  though  framed  a  century  and  a  half 
after  the  settlement  of  America,  framed  with  special  refer- 
ence to  the  religion  of  their  ancestors,  the  old  Blue  Laws  of 
Connecticut  included,  but  the  same  tone  and  spirit  which 
pervaded  our  Puritan  ancestors,  have  descended  almost  un- 
impaired to  the  present  day,  and  now  sit  enthroned  upon 
our  Republic.  Look  at  the  influence  of  clergymen,  and  the 
deference  paid  to  them — hardly  less  than  that  paid  by  Cath- 
olics to  their  priests.  Look  at  the  vast  hordes  that  swarm 
from  every  city,  and  hamlet,  and  dwelling,  at  the  ringing  of 
the  Sabbath  bells;  and,  to  possess,  or,  to  counterfeit,  this  re- 


164       MORAL    AND   INTELLECTUAL   QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 

Eng  and  and  i\ew  England  contrastatl.  The  religion  of  Jesus  Christ. 

ligioiis  spirit,  is  to  secure  success  in  almost  every  department 
of  business  dependent  upon  the  patronage  of  the  pubhc ; 
while,  to  profess  infidelity,  is  to  stamp  a  man  with  infamy, 
however  moral  his  conduct,  and  to  ruin  most  kinds  of  busi- 
ness, if  not  to  incur  downright  persecution;  while,  to  attend 
churchy  is  time  and  money  at  compound  interest,  merely  as 
a  stroke  of  policy.*  The  English  come  nowhere  near  the 
Americans  in  this  respect,  not  even  with  all  the  aid  derived 
from  uniting  church  and  state.  It  does  not  enter,  into,  and 
engross  the  feelings  there,  as  here,  but  is  more  formal  and 
nominal.  Nor  do  religious  vagaries,  like  those  of  Miller, 
Matthias,  and  others,  find  as  many  or  as  enthusiastic  devo- 
tees there  as  here.  Nor  are  they  altogether  foreign  to  the 
puritanical  spirit.  A  part  of  this  is  caused,  beyond  all  ques- 
tion, by  education,  and  especially  by  the  early  education  of 
the  children  of  the  pilgrims;  but  this  cannot  be  the  only 
cause,  for,  then  the  heads  of  the  children  of  truly  religious 
parents,  would  not  differ  from  those  of  others,  whereas,  they 
do  differ.  I  can  usually  tell  the  children  of  Episcopalians, 
though  brought  up  in  families  of  an  opposite  character, 
solely  by  their  moral  developments  ;  and  I  am  plain  to  say, 
that  I  find  the  moral  organs  much  larger  in  the  children  of 
eminently  religious  parents,  than  in  those  whose  parents  are 
not  religious.  The  great  fact,  that  \\\e  form  of  the  head, — 
that  which  accompanies  the  moral  sentiments,  included,  is 
hereditary,  and,  with  it,  the  moral  sentiments  themselves,, 
establishes  the  corresponding  fact,  that  the  relative  energy 
of  the  moral  faculties,  descends  from  generation  to  genera- 
tion, being  gradually  augmented  or  diminished,  by  education 
and  circumstances. 

And  the  fact  is  highly  interesting  in  itself,  and  most 
auspicious  of  good  to  ages  yet  to  come,  that  the  religion  of 
Jesus  Christ  appeals  to,  and  cultivates  the  higher  moral  sen- 
timents, almost  exclusively,  and  requires  their  supremacy 
over  the  animal  propensities.      And  herein  consist  the  true 

•This  state  of  things  can  hardly  be  considered  as  favorable  to  the 
purity  and  prosperity  of  true  religion,  but  is  almost  sure  to  corrupt  the 
church,  fill  it  with  hypocrites,  and  render  it  a  "whited  sepulchre,"  still 
the/ccf  is  as  stated  above. 


THE    MORAL    FACULTIES    HEREDITARY.  165 

Jts  influence  <in  (uir  race.  Conscirniiousiiess  in  Yankees  and  cliililreii. 

causes  of  that  gradual  improvement  which  our  race  is  ob- 
viously making  in  virtue  and  intelligence.  This  religion,  so 
different,  in  its  moral  tone  and  virtuous  influence,  from  other 
rehgions,  has  gained  a  powerful  foothold  among  men,  and 
Inculcates  justice  and  truth,  devotion  and  "charity,"  the 
greatest  of  Christian  virtues.  This  constant  appeal  to  the 
moral  sentiments,  enlarges  these  organs  in  parents,  and  this 
causes  an  enlargement  to  appear  in  their  children.  These 
children  receive  an  additional  enlargement  from  this  same 
religion,  and  this  re-augments  these  organs  in  their  children, 
to  be  again  re-enlarged,  and  propagated  to  generation  after 
generation.  See  the  last  page  of  sec.  4,  chap.  ii.  i\nd  may 
the  religion  of  our  Saviour,  in  its  spirit^  and  not  in  its  letter 
merely,  long  continue  to  shed  its  benign  moral  influences 
over  mankind,  and  go  on  to  exalt  and  ennoble  our  race. 

It  is.  perhaps,  wortliy  of  reixjark  in  this  connection,  that, 
though  the  moral  sentimenls,  as  a  class,  are  larger  in  the 
English  and  American  head  than  in  most  other  nations,  as 
is  evinced  by  their  heads  being  higher  and  larger,  yet  that 
Co7iscientiousness  is  less  in  them  than  in  almost  any  other 
nation.  And,  accordingly,  in  point  of  truth  and  justice,  they 
fall  far  below  the  French,  the  Swiss,  the  Scotclj,  the  honest 
German,  or  the  truth-telling  Spaniard.  This  may  have  been 
caused  by  the  English  nation's  having  been  founded  io 
blood,  rapine,  and  injustice,  by  the  plundering  hordes  of 
Danes  and  Normans,  and  it  may  have  grown  out  of  their 
inordinate  love  of  money,  but,  be  the  cause  what  it  may,  the 
fact  is  indisputable,  whether  regard  be  had  to  the  phreno- 
logical organ  of  Gonseientionsness,  or  to  its  manifestation^ 
or  rather,  comparative  toant  of  manifestation,  in  character. 
Watch  a  Yankee,  or  he  will  fleece  you  ;  but  a  German,  a 
Spaniard,  and  even  a  Turk,  will  do  just  as  he  agrees. 

In  children,  this  organ  is  usually  larger  than  in  adults. 
In  the  latter,  it  is  often  wanting,  but  in  the  former,  it  is 
almost  always  large.  Though  it  differs  in  size  in  children, 
yet  I  never  knew  it  small  in  but  one  child,  under  ten  years 
of  age,  and  that  was  a  lad  who  had  been  taught,  and  even 
commanded,  to  steal,  almost  from  infancy.      He,  doubtless, 


166        MORAL    AND    INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TEANSMISSIELE, 
Uonscienliousuess  in  the  Cuthbert  family. 

inherited  but  an  inferior  development  of  this  organ,  and  this 

was,  probably,  rendered  still  smaller,  by  education. 

I  found  a  very  large  development  of  Conscientiousness  in 
the  head  of  a  Mr.  Cuthbert,  who  lived  on  the  eastern  shore 
ot  Md.  In  examining  liini,  I  remarked  that  it  was  one  of 
the  largest  I  had  ever  found.  Many  anecdotes  were  related 
of  its  development  in  character,  one  of  which  was  as  fol^ 
lows : — Having  occasion  to  be  absent  from  the  legislature 
of  Md.,  to  which  he  had  been  elected,  on  business  of  his 
own,  for  two  days,  when  he  came  to  draw  his  pay,  he  found 
that  pay  for  the  two  absent  days  had  been  included.  He 
pointed  out  what  he  supposed  to  be  an  error,  to  the  clerk, 
■and  wished  the  pay  for  the  two  absent  days,  to  be  deducted 
from  his  salary.  This,  the  clerk  said,  he  had  no  authority 
for  doing — that  it  v/as  customary  for  each  of  the  members 
to  be  paid  for  the  whole  time  the  legislature  was  in  session, 
whether  they  were  there  all  the  time  or  not,  that  th©  money, 
DOW  that  the  check  had  been  made  out,  did  not  belong  to 
him  (the  clerk)  nor  to  the  state,  and  that,  by  not  drawmg 
it,  he  would  only  derange  accounts,  fcc.  In  reply  to  all  this, 
Mr.  G.  told  him  that  the  two  days  of  his  absence  were  spent 
in  his  own  private  business,  and  that  it  was  not  right  for 
him  to  be  drawing  pay  for  time  spent  in  transacting  business 
for  himself,  and  left  the  surplus  in  the  clerk's  hands,  uncon- 
ditionally refusing  to  take  one  cent  that  he  had  not  actually 
earned.  While  a  member  of  the  legislature,  he  was  a 
staunch  advocate  of  whatever  was  right,  and  maintained 
unflinching  hostility  to  v\/'hatever  measure  he  deemed  wrong, 
nor  could  persuasion  or  threats  deter  him  from  voting  as  he 
thought  right.  Would  that  we  had  more  legislators  and 
Congress-men  of  this  honest  stamp  !  At  an  auction,  for  the 
sale  of  the  effects  of  a  woman  whose  husband  had  died,  he 
bid  in  a  bedstead,  at  about  ^2,  the  real  value  of  which  was 
about  $5;  and,  on  taking  it  away,  paid  her  its  full  value, 
without  reference  to  the  amount  he  bid  on  it.^     All  his  chil- 

*  These  illustrations,  at  the  saine  time  that  they  sliow  what  the  true 
and  exalted  function  of  this  faculty  is,  likewise  show  its  lamentable  de- 
ficienc}^  in  our  day  and  nation. 


THE    MORAL    FACULTIES    HEREDITARY.  167 

Marvellousness.  Miles  Standish.  The  Field  family. 

dren  and  grand  children  whom  I  examined,  (and  they  were 
numerous,)  and  two  brothers,  had  this  organ  very  large,  and 
were  noted  for  their  integrity  and  moral  worth.  Would  that 
more  of  our  parents  possessed  the  like  requisite  for  becoming 
parents. 

In  Cattawissa,  Pa.,  in  one  of  my  public  examinations,  I 
found  an  unusual  share  of  Marvellousness,  in  an  honest  and 
devotedly  pious  old  German,  of  that  place.  I  examined  the 
heads  of  some  half  a  score  of  his  children,  and  a  score  or 
two  of  his  grand  children,  and  found  in  them,  generally,  an 
unusual  share  of  this  organ.  This  case  is  rendered  the 
more  striking,  by  the  fact,  that  this  organ  is  generally  so 
small. 

In  Boston,  Salem,  Lowell,  and  some  other  neighboring 
places,  I  found  this  organ  to  be,  on  an  average,  about  three 
or  four  times  larger  than  in  most  other  places  I  have  visited, 
and  in  no  other  places  have  I  found  it  as  large,  on  an  aver- 
age, as  in  these.  Boston,  "the  city  of  notions,"  Salem,  of 
witchcraft  notoriety,  and  Lowell,  the  omnium  gatherum  o-f 
the  "  region  round  about,"  are  just  the  places  where  these  re- 
sults might  be  expected.  My  brother  joins  me  in  his  observ- 
ations, and  so,  doubtless,  will  every  phrenologist. 

The  descendants  of  Miles  Standish,  of  puritanical  notori- 
ety, will  generally  be  found  to  possess  his  character  for  piety, 
so  mnch  so,  as  to  be  very  rigid.  One  of  his  grand  daughters 
married  a  Carey,  whose  descendants  are  generally  excellent 
people,  and  highly  religious. 

The  Field  family,  from  whom  Dea.  Phineas  Field,  formerly 
of  Northfield,  Mass.,  and  quite  extensively  known  in  the  re- 
ligious world,  and  the  Rev.  Chester  Field,  of  Lowell,  are  de- 
scended, are,  generally,  a  pious,  excellent  family;  nearly  all 
of  them  having  been  noted  for  their  consistent  religious  faith 
and  practice. 

The  reader  will,  doubtless,  pardon  another  allusion  to  the 
family  of  the  author,  nearly  every  member  of  which,  on  both 
sides,  and  in  all  the  branches,  as  far  as  they  can  be  traced, 
have  been  noted  for  their  piety  and  religious  fervor.  My 
father,  for  many  years  a  deacon,  and  a  pillar  of  the  churches 
where  he  has  lived,  an  uncle,  also  a  deacon,  other  uncles^ 


IDS        MORAL    AND    INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIEfi    TRANSMISSIBLE. 
The  relatives  of  the  author.  John  Whitman  and  descendants. 

two  aunts,  a  grand  father  and  his  brothers,  nearly  all  my 
cousins  on  my  father's  side,  and  a  highly  exemplary  mother, 
and  several  maternal  aunts  and  uncles,  and  a  grand  mother, 
(a  Field,  of  the  famil)^  just  named.)  and  her  brothers  [and 
sisters,  and  nieces  and  nephews,  by  scores,  illustrate  the  de- 
scent of  the  religious  emotions  from  generation  to  generation. 
In  turning  over  the  "  Memoirs  of  John  Whitman  and  his 
descendants,"  which  contains  the  names,  birth  and  death, 
and  a  short  biographical  account  of  most  of  them,  will  be 
found  the  statement,  that  he  was  devotedly  pious,  and  that 
the  great  majority  of  his  descendants  were  also  noted  for 
consistent  religious  professions  and  practices.*      He  was  a 

*  The  same  %York  furnishes  some  most  excellent  i'lnsU'ations  of  the 
doctrine  put  forth  in  a  previous  chaj-)ler,  that  "length  of  life  is  heredi- 
tary." John  Whitman,  called  the  Ai'.cestor  of  the  Wiiitman  fiunily, lived 
to  be  about  90.  His  brother,  Zecheriah  Whitman,  is  snp;)osed  to  have 
lived  to  an.  advanced  age.  His  eldest  son,  Thomas,  died  at  the  advanced 
age  of  83.  Concerning  him  and  his  <Iesceiidants,  Judge  Mitchell  has  the 
following: — "His  descendants  are  very  numerous  in  Bridgewater ;  and 
more  of  them  have  received  a  liberal  education  tlian  of  any  other  name 
in  town.  Several  of  them  have  been  clergymen.  Nine  of  this  name, 
and  all  of  them  of  his  posterity,  are  now  in  the  profession  of  the  law,  in 
this  Commonwealth  (Massacliusetts.)  The  family  is  remarkable  for 
longevity.  Nicholas  had  four  ciiildren  who  lived  to  be  above  85,  two  of 
them  to  90  years.  Four  of  this  name  are  now  living,  of  the  respective 
ages  of  94,  87,  84,  and  80."  "  One  of  the  latter  is  still  living,  in  tb.e  97th 
year  of  his  age;  and  yet  active,  and  in  good  health.  He  might  liave 
added,  that  a  fifth  child  of  Nicholas  lived  to  be  80  years  old.  Eleven 
males  bearing  the  name  of  Whitman,  all  descendants  of  Thomas,  are 
known  to  the  writer  to  have  lived  to  the  respective  ages  following,  viz., 
80,  8],  82,  83,  83,  83,  88,  90,  90,  95  and  96  years.  And  three  females  of 
his  descendants  are  known  to  the  writer  to  have  lived  to  the  respective 
ages  of  92,  95  and  98  years.  The  instances  of  longevity  have  probably 
been  as  numerous  in  the  female  as  in  the  male  line.  None  of  the  song 
of  the  Ancestor  died  urider  82,  and  several  of  ihem  reached  90  years." 
One  of  the  daughters  of  Abiah  Whitman,  reas  hed  92,  and  two  of  her 
sons  lived  to  be  about  80  each.  Five  of  the  children  of  Ebeuezer  Whit- 
man, grand  son  of  the  Ancestor,  lived  to  the  following  ages: — 80,  86,  87, 
90,  and  94,  and  their  father  died,  by  being  run  over,  at  71  years  old,  and 
was  very  smart  and  active.  One  of  his  grand  children  was  in  his  97th 
year  in  1832.  One  of  the  daughters  of  Tiiomas  Whitman,  and  a  grand 
daughter  of  the  Ancestor,  lived  to  be  98.     Samuel  Whitman,  a  grand 


THE   MORAL   FACULTIES   HEKEDITARY.  169 


The  Benevolence  of  Webster.  The  descendants  of  Howard. 


deacon  for  many  years,  and  many  of  his  descendants  have 
been  deacons  and  clergymen. 

Of  Webster,  in  regard  to  Benevolence,  Joshua  Coffin  justly 
observes,  that,  "  though  he  looks  like  his  mother,  yet,  that  he 
resembles  his  fsdier  in  point  of  generosity,  who  esteemed 
properly  valusble,  only  to  give  away  to  those  who  stood  in 
need.  Ezeki'el,  on  the  other  hand,  resembled  his  father,  in 
looks  complexion,  and  voice,"  (the  stammering,  alluded  to 
in  chap,  iv.,  sec  3,)  "but  was  economical  in  his  habits,  and 
as  sarins  a?  ^^^  mother.  Ezekiel  died  rich,  Daniel  will 
alw-ays  be  poor." 

1  hare  examined  the  heads  of  some,  named  Howard,  who 
were  related,  by  blood,  to  Howard,  the  philanthropist,  and 
foiina^  prodigious  Benevolence  in  all  known  to  be  thus  related. 
Of^en,  when  struck  with  a  remarkable  development  of  Benev- 
olence, in  children,  have  I  turned  to  their  parents,  and  found 
this  organ  to  correspond,  not  only  in  point  of  sizeyhwi,  also, 
in  its  general  form  and  character.  1  was  surprised  at  the 
unusual  development  of  this  organ,  in  a  whole  family  of 
children,  in  Charlestown,  and  turning  to  the  parents,  I  found 

son  of  the  Ancestor,  died  at  the  age  of  100.  John,  son  of  Abiah,  was 
80  years  old  in  1832,  and  yet  healthy.  Anotlier  grand  son  died  in  his  80th 
year.  Of  the  fourth  generation,  one  died  at  86,  another,  at  83,  a  third, 
at  70,  another,  at  88,  another,  at  95;  another  was  living,  when  in  his  97th 
year,  another  lived  to  be  80,  another,  55,  another,  90,  another  was  living 
in  his  S4th  year,  another  died  at  95,  another,  at  72,  another,  at  50,  (of 
consumption,)  another,  at  75,  another,  at  82,  anotlier  was  living  at  82, 
another  died  at  80,  aiio^her  reached  80,  and  his  father  was  nearly  80 
when  this  son  was  borji,  another  died  aged  QQ,  and  another,  71,  another, 
51,  another  attained  to  a  "good  old  age,"  another  died  between  80  and  90, 
another  lived  to  be  over  80,  and  one  of  them,  Deacon  Whitman,  recently 
died  at  107  !  To  Rev.  Jason  Whitman,  of  Portland,  Me.,  son  of 
Dea.  W.,  I  said,  "your  ancestors  lived  to  a  great  age,  I  should  think,  to 
90  or  95,"  and  he  kindly  presented  me  with  the  work  from  which  the 
above  was  taken,  as  an  illustration  of  the  correctness  of  my  remark,  and 
I  have  inserted  these  facts,  though  out  of  place,  because  they  were  too 
good  to  be  lost.  Thus  it  would  seem  that  the  original  Whitman  stock, 
predominated  over  all  those  that  intermarried  with  it,  not  in  imparting 
age  merely,  but,  also,  in  rendering  all  the  descendants  conspicuous  for 
high  moral  and  religious  feelings,  as  well  as  for  strong  common  sense. 

15 


170       MORAL   AND   INTELLECTUAL   QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 


Large  organs  in  parents,  increased  in  their  children.  ,         Beecher,  Wesley,  &c. 


it  large  in  both,  though  not  equal,  in  either,  to  that  of  their 
children.*     I  inferred,  that  the  ?/mw?,  of  two  large  organs, 
caused  a  still  greater  enlargement  in  their  children,  a  princi- 
ple that  I  regard  as  generally  established  by  facts,  touching 
all  the  organs.      The  result  of  my  own  observations,  (and 
they  have  been  neither  few  nor  limited,)  is,  that,  in  all  cases, 
the  child  takes  both  the  general  siza,  and  the  specific   type 
of  his  moral  and  religious  organs,  either  from  one  parent  or 
from  both,  or  else,  from  one  grand  parent^  and,  gonerallv 
from  the  one  the  child  most  resembles.      And,  not  on\y  this 
but  the  particular  tone  and  shades  of  manifestation  in  the 
former,  will  resemble  those  of  the  latter.     If  that  of  tYie  oiie 
fasten  on   missionary  enterprises,  or  on  converting  men  to 
their  religions  tenets,  that  of  the  progeny  will  bear  the  same 
impress  ;  if  the  ancestor  be  hospitable,  and  free  with  money^ 
the   child   will   be   so,   also ;    if   the   piety  of  parentage  be 
ascetic  and  melancholy,  so  will  be  that  of  the  descendants: 
but,  if  it  take  a  doctrinal  or  theological  tone,  in  the  former, 
the  descendants  will  receive  the  same  cast  of  religion,  and 
so  on  to  the  end  of  the  chapter. 

But,  is  it  desirable  to  multiply  cases,  in  proof,  or  illustra- 
tion of  the  great  truth,  that  the  moral  faculties  of  parents 
descend  to  their  offspring,  and  in  the  relative  degree  of  power^ 
analogous  to  that  in  which  the  former  possess  them,  and  that 
they  take  a  cast  or  turn,  similar  to  that  which  they  took  in 
the  former  ?  If  this  were  necessary,  the  single  fact,  that  the 
parents,  especially  of  nearly  every  good  man  and  devoted 
minister  in  our  nation,  possessed  a  deep  moral  and  religious 
tone  of  character,  would  prove  it  abundantly.  The  father 
of  Dr.  Beecher,  was  a  deacon,  a  staunch  Christian,  and  the 
pillar  of  the  church,  in  New  Haven,  to  which  he  belonged. 
And  who  were  the  parents  of  Wesley  ?     Eminently  godly, 

*  One  of  the  beauties  resulting  from  the  examination  of  this  subject 
phrenologically,  consists  in  the  measure  of  the  power  of  the  faculties,  af- 
forded by  this  science.  Without  it,  the  degree  of  energy,  with  which 
faculties  act  in  parents,  cannot  be  compared  with  that  with  which  they 
act  in  children,  so  that  no  correct  conclusions  can  be  formed  ;  but  with 
it,  this  comparison,  so  indispensable,  can  be  made  with  perfect  ease  and 
accuracy. 


POETRY,  INGENUITY,  AND  CALCULATION,  HEREDITARY.        171 


Deficient  moral  organs  transmitted.  Poetic  talents  hereditary. 


both.  But.  it  is  not  necessary  to  particularize,  for,  where 
can  the  man  be  found,  who  is  noted  for  his  goodness  and 
piety,  whose  parents,  or  grand  parents,  one  or  all,  were  not 
truly  pious  7  High  moral  sentiments,  in  parents,  may  be  re- 
/«ec?  upon,  to  produce  a  similar  organization  and  manifesta- 
tion in  their  children. 

Biit  more.  The  deficiency  of  these  organs  in  parents,  pro- 
duces a  similar  deficiency  in  their  children.  Look  at  that 
deficiency,  as  exhibited  in  the  parents  of  Nero,  and  in  their 
son,  in  whom  scarcely  a  vestige  of  them  was  to  be  found. 

Nor  need,  probably,  any  reader,  depart  from  the  circle  of 
his  own  immediate  acquaintance,  in  order  to  find  cases,  illus- 
trating the  deficiency  of  the  moral  and  restraining  sentiments, 
in  both  parents  and  children ;  for,  lamentably,  there  are  too 
many  of  them  to  be  found  in  every  town  and  hamlet  in  the 
land.  But,  as  we  shall,  probably,  touch  a  kindred  point, 
when  we  come  to  speak  of  the  condition  of  parents,  while 
becoming  parents,  especially  that  of  mothers,  during  preg- 
nancy, as  affecting  the  characteristics  of  their  children,  and 
as  it  is  a  point  too  palpably  apparent,  to  incur  opposition 
from  the  intelligent  reader,  we  drop  it,  for  the  present,  with 
this  single  remark,  that  no  one  at  all  conversant  with  the 
location  of  the  phrenological  organs,  can  observe  the  tops  of 
the  heads  of  parents  and  their  children,  without  being  struck 
with  the  fact,  that  their  resemblance  to  each  other  is  most 
marked,  and  perfectly  apparent. 


SECTION   VL  . 

IDEALITY,  CONSTRUCTIVENESS,  AND  CALCULATION,  HEREDITARY. 

Poeta  nascitur. 

The  old  proverb,  "  a  poet  must  be  born  a  poet,  and  cannot 
be  rendered  one  by  education,"  has  descended,  unimpaired, 
from  time  immemorial,  having  not  only  stood  the  test  of 
ages,  but  even  accumulated  strength  thereby.  It  is  not  to 
be  denied,  that  children  derive  their  physical  formation,  and 


172        MORAL   AND   INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TKANSMISSIBLE. 
The  Davidsons.  Schiller,        Goelhe.  Byron.  Children  of  poets. 

their  temperament,  from  their  parents,  and  therewith,  of 
course,  the  '■'■poetic  temperament,"  or,  that  exalted  physical 
action  which  refines  and  spiritnaHzes  the  feelings,  and  pro- 
duces soul-inspiring  poetry.  Burritt  may  teach  the  doctrine^ 
as  long  as  the  world  stands,  and  "  in  fifty  languages,"  that 
this  old  adage  is  fallacious,  and  that  '■'■  poeta  jit^  nonnasci- 
tur^^ — that  a  poet  is  onade  a  poet,  and  not  born  one — but  he 
will  stand  corrected,  by  the  parental  history  of  every  poet 
on  record,  and  by  the  united  observation  of  past  ages.  What 
was  the  mother  of  Margaret  Davidson  and  her  precocious 
sister — those  stars,  whose  poetical  brilliancy,  meteor-like^ 
dazzled  our  nation,  and  then  burst  in  death  1  Good  in 
composing  poetry,  and  possessed  of  an  extremely  nervous^ 
exquisite,  highly-wrought  temperament,  and  most  suscepti- 
ble to  every  excitement.  This  poetic  temperament  she  im- 
parted to  her  brilliant  daughters,  and  their  intellectual  pre- 
cocity, and  youthful  poetry,  were  the  fruits.  Think  you, 
that  the  sluggish  temperament  of  a  lazy  tavern-loafer,  would 
have  been  as  likely  to  have  produced  similar  results?  Did 
parentage  do  nothing,  in  this  case^  towards  the  formation  of 
this  poetical  taste  and  talent? 

And  who  was  the  mother  of  Schiller,  but  a  woman  en- 
dowed with  the  same  exalted  temperament  and  cast  of  mind 
which  characterize  her  illustrious  son  ?  Do  Schiller  and 
Goethe  owe  nothing  to  parentage,  above  the  veriest  block- 
head or  mendicant  that  disgraces^  our  common  nature'} 

And  did  Byron  inherit  none  of  his  lofty  genius  and  poetic 
fancy  from  that  most  excitable  mother,  whom  he  so  closely 
resembled  in  disposition  and  temperament?  Was  not  the 
poetic  spirit  of  Pollock  innate,  and  was  not  that  of  Henry 
Kirke  White,  born  in  and  with  him  ?  And  where  is  the  poet 
of  any  note,  who  does  not  inherit  his  poetical  turn  and 
temperament?  Nowhere.  Nor  can  such  be  found  on  the 
page  of  history. 

If  it  be  asked,  then,  where  are  the  children  of  poets — 
where  those  of  Milton,  and  Shakspeare,  and  Pope?  I  an- 
swer, that  Milton's  wife  was  a  daughter  of  pleasure,  weak, 
without  intellect,  without  any  of  those  characteristics  requi- 
site for  doing  her  part  towards  perpetuating  the  talents  of 


POETR-S,  INGENUITY,  AND  CALCXtATlON,  HEREDITARY,         173 


Cause  of  the  felling  off  of  wleiits  k  <be  children  of  great  men. 


her  illustrious  husband,  in  the/r  descendants.  And  poets,  in 
order  to  become  poets,  must,  Af  necessity,  be  endowed  with  an 
organization  so  exceedingly  exquisite,  that  their  offspring  die 
immature.  The  philosophy  involved  in  this  principle,  and 
a^so  in  the  fact,  tijat  chf  chiidren  of  great  men  seldom  equal 
their  father,  and  are,  :^equently,  no  more  than  ordinary,  de- 
serves a  passing  remirk,  and  is  this  : 

To  become  a  great  mm,  requires  several  conditions,  to  an 
extraordinary  deg/ee,  ^rie  of  which  is  great  ph^jsical  strength 
and  vital  stamina,  or  a  most  powerful  constitution.      With- 
out this  hdwefQi'  Mrell-developed  the  head  and  nervous  tem- 
perament may  be,  there  will  be  too  little  strength   to  sustain 
the  exhaustion  Midiiced  by  a  powerful  and  oft-repeated  exer- 
cise of  m^ellect.     But,  if  a  sap-head  should  have  the  consti- 
tviii</n'o/  3l  lion,  he  would  be  a  sap-head  still,  so  that  it  re- 
qoires  hot  only  great  jooif'er  in  the  vital   system,  and  in  the 
Diu&c^ilar  system,  but,  also,  in  the  mental  system,  together 
witJi  a  nice  balance  and  adjustment,  in   each,  to  all,  before 
OT^at  r<3sults  can  be  expected.     We  have   abundant  samples 
of  tH^^  existence  of  each  separately  from  the  pther,  to  produce 
any^amount  of  talent.     I  have  seen  many  men  having  as 
goiid  heads  as  Webster,  and  with  as  much  power  of  intel- 
lect, and  yet,  they  had  not  sufficient  physical  energy  to  en- 
dure the  draughts  made  on  them,  by  their  powerful  intellect, 
nor  even  enough  to  put  forth  their  mental  energies.    Families, 
like  individuals  and  the  products  of  the  earth,  nations,  and 
our  race  itself,  spring  up,  put  forth  their  indications  of  ener- 
gy, blossom,  bear  the  fruit  of  intellectual  and  moral  great- 
ness, and  return  to  decay.     They  first  become  noted  for  their 
physical  power,  and  reach  an  advanced  age,  and  then  be- 
come possessed  of  strength  of  intellect,  but  it  is  in  the  raw 
state   yet,   which    lasts   till   some   descendant   marries   irsto 
another  family  of  great  physical  energy,  and  a  high-wrought 
nervous   organization,    the   product  of  which    is,    a   son    of 
genius,  or  a  daughter,  who  gives  birth  to  a  man  of  superior 
talents.     But  the  race  has  now'  reached  its  zenith,  the  fall 
from  which,  is  often  precipitate.     The  parent,  perhaps,  too 
much  exhausted  to  impart  a  due   degree  of  energy  to  off- 
spring, or,  more  likely,  marrying  a  companion  of  too  much 
15* 


174       MORAL   AND    INTELLECTUAL  QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 


Large  Ideality  usually  accompauies fecbler^ss.  Dr.  Physic's  relatives. 


nervousness,  and  too  little  stamina,  or  of  intellectual  powers 
no  way  superior,  or  else,  their  own  nervous  system  having 
become  too  much  exhausted  to  impart  a  strong,  sound  organi- 
zation to  their  children,  they  die  yout\g,  or  else  become  in- 
valids, or,  from  a  variety  of  causes,  fall  from  the  high  sta- 
tion their  fathers  had  attained.  Ano,  I  sometimes  pretend 
to  tell  how  long  before  a  family  of  grett  physical  energy,  is 
likely  to  ripen  into  an  heir  of  trancendent  abilities.  At  least 
there  are  points  involved  in  these  suggestions  that  deserve 
investigation. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  the  children  of  parents  who 
have  large  Ideality,  are  usually  feeble,  because  a  predomi- 
nance of  this  faculty  usually  accompanies  z  predominance 
of  the  mental  temperament,  and  much  more  cerebral  action 
than  physical  strength.  Let  the  best  of  physical  training  be 
given  to  those  children  in  whoai  Ideality  is  large,  and  let 
them  be  kept  from  study,  and  induced  to  take  much  exer- 
cise. 

To  enumerate  all  the  cases  that  go  to  prove,  or  illustra\e 
the  transmission  of  Constructiveness,  or,  the  mechanical  pro. 
pensity  or  talent,  -would  be  to  enumerate  the  great  majority 
of  the  parents  and  children  of  New  England.     Still,  the  fol- 
lowing are  examples  among  many  : 

Dr.  Physic  was  the  best  surgeon  of  his  day, — and  one  of 
the  main  requisites  for  excellence  as  a  surgeon,  is  Construc- 
tiveness. If  it  require  mechanical  ingenuity,  so  as  to  use 
edged  tools  skilfully,  in  making  a  piece  of  furniture,  or  any 
thing  else,  hpw  much  more  so  to  use  the  sharpest  of  instru- 
ments, so  as  dexterously  to  amputate  a  limb,  extract  a  tooth, 
cut  out  a  cancer,  &c.  7  And  I  never  saw  the  surgeon  of  any 
claims  to  excellence,  who  had  not  this  organ  large.  In  this 
profession,  no  other  organ  is  equally  indispensable.  And  all 
the  busts  and  paintings  of  this  celebrated  surgeon,  show  this 
organ  to  have  been  immense  in  his  head,  which  bulges  out 
at  the  location  so  as  to  form  a  distinct  ridge,  on  each  side  of 
his  head,  as  seen  in  his  painting  in  the  possession  of  his  son 
in  Philadelphia,  and  his  bust,  in  the  author's  collection. 

Two  of  his  sons,  with  whom  I  am  personally  acquainted, 
have  both  a  large  organ  and  a  powerful  faculty  of  Construe- 


POETRY,  .INGENUITY,  AND  CALCULATION,  HEREDITARY.         175 
Mechanical  ingenuity  in  Mr.  Taylor  and  descendants. 

tiveness,  experiencing  their  highest  pleasure  in  the  exercise 
of  this  faculty,  in  which  they  evince  great  natural  talents. 

The  daughter  of  one  of  them,  now  dead,  had  one  of  the 
most  splendid  heads,  if  not  the  best,  I  ever  saw,  on  a  child 
of  her  age,  in  which  this  organ  was  immense,  and  its  mani- 
festation remarkable. 

The  father  of  Dr.  Physic,  and,  if  I  mistake  not,  some  of 
his  brothers,  possessed  great  mechanical  skill. 

A  Dr.  • — — ,  in  Brighton,  Mass.,  is  nephew  to  the  inventor 
of  the  method  of  making  cards  by  machinery,  and  has,  liter- 
ally, a  passion  for  mechanical  pursuits,  and  can  make  almost 
any  thing,  and.  is  given  to  inventing. 

Mr.  Taylor,  of  Lowell,  Mass.,  is  the  inventor  of  a  gun, 
for  the  patent-right  of  which,  he  has  been  offered  ^60,000. 
He  has  invented  several  other  things  :  one  consists  in  cutting 
the  figures  used  in  printing  calico,  by  machinery,  which  has 
superseded  the  former  method  of  cutting  them  by  hand,  be- 
sides having  made  several  other  improvements  in  machinery. 
His  organ  of  Constructiveness  is  very  large,  as  is  also  that 
of  his  sons,  one  of  whom,  also,  has  been  the  author  of 
some  valuable  inventions.  In  every  one  of  his  children,  this 
organ  is  large,  but  it  is  largest  in  those  who  most  resemble 
the  father.  Before  the  birth  of  one  of  them,  he  was  intently 
occupied  in  perfecting  his  new  gun;  and  this  son,  besides 
having  larger  Combativeness  and  Destructiveness,  than  any 
of  the  other  children,  will  go  into  the  closet  to  the  gun,  and 
amuse  himself  with  it  for  hours  together;  and  did  this  fre- 
quently when  he  was  but  two  years  old. 

There  is  really  no  end  to  facts  which  prove  and  illustrate  ■■ 
the  descent  of  the  mechanical  propensity  and  talent,  from 
parents  to  children.  Go  where  we  may,  we  find  them,  and 
of  a  character  most  decisive  and  striking.  If  any  reasona- 
ble doubt  remained,  in  regard  to  this  point,  it  might  be  de^ 
sirable  to  prove  it  by  facts,. but,  as  such  a  doubt  cannot  be 
entertained,  it  is  not  deemed  expedient  to  enlarge  upon  this 
point,  except  in  its  combinations. 

The  father,  and  all  the  uncles,  of  Mrs.  Lewis,  who  lives 
at  Spring  Garden,  Pa*,  were  remarkable  for  their  mechanical 
and  tinkering  propensity.      They  were  th^  mechanics  of  the 


176       MORAL   AND   INTELLECTUAL   QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 
The  union  of  great  mechanical  and  maihcmaiical  talents  in  Enoch  Lewis  and  wife. 

neighborhood,  and,  if  1  rightly  remember,  her  grand  father 
was  equally  noted.  The  author  saw  a  clock,  a  most  excel- 
lent time-keeper,  made  by  him,  with  a  jack-knife  and  a 
gimblet  only.  I  heard  several  who  had  known  the  old  man, 
speak  of  this  propensity  and  ability  in  him,  as  being  very 
strong.  Mrs.  Lewis  had  both  the  organ  and  the  faculty  in 
an  eminent  degree,  was  very  skilful  with  the  needle,  and 
made  most  of  the  garments  for  the  family,  besides  making 
them  very  neatly.  In  every  one  of  her  children,  this  faculty 
was  remarkably  strong,  and  its  organ  very  large. 

Enoch  Lewis,  her  husband,  had  a  remarkable  endowment 
of  the  mathematical  talent.  He  is  the  almanac-maker  for 
Pa.,  and  reputed  as  having  the  greatest  mathematical  talent  in 
that  mathematical  state,  being  celebrated  every  where  for  his 
extraordinary  abilities  in  this  respect.  His  mother  had  the 
same  talent,  and  would  propound  arithmetical  problems  to 
him  while  a  boy  running  about  the  house.  Her  father, 
again,  was  excellent  in  figures,  so  were  several  of  her  bro- 
thers and  sisters.  The  children  of  Enoch  Lewis  are  all  re- 
markable for  the  same  talent.  One  of  them  taught  a  math- 
ematical school  in  Chester,  Pa.,  and  was  considered  nearly 
equal  to  his  father,  and  superior,  when  their  ages  are  con- 
sidered. He,  again,  has  a  son,  who,  at  the  age  of  twelve 
years,  had  gone  through  all  the  mathematical  branches,  even 
fluxions  and  the  integral  calculus  included.  To  think  of  a 
boy  at  12  mastering ^?mo«s.'  And  none  but  the  sons  of 
eminently  mathematical  parents,  could  do  it.  The  author 
was  informed,  that  every  descendant  of  E.  Lewis  possessed 
the  same  quality,  and  in  a  degree  really  surprising. 

The  point  of  this  fact  is  this.  We  behold  the  Mississippi 
of  the  mathematical  talents,  flowing  down  from  generation  to 
generation  on  the  side  of  the  father,  and  the  Missouri  of  the 
mechanical  talents,  flowing  down  on  that  of  the  mother, 
and  the  two  uniting  in  these  two  parents,  and  both  flowing 
on  down  to  their  descendants,  and  they  will  probably  cow^ 
tinue  to  flow  on  to  generations  yet  unborn. 

This  proves  what  the  whole  tenor  of  the  work  shows, 
or,  at  least,  was  designed  to  show,  that  matrimonial  alliances 
might  be  so  formed,  as  to  unite  and  hand  down  to  posterity, 


POETRY,  INGENUITY,  AND  CALCULATION,  HEREDITARY.         177 
Combining  qualities  in  parents  and  cliildren.       The  Hay  ward  family.      Mr.  i'ratt. 

to  any  extent,  whatever  qualities  parents  choose  to  unite  and 
transmit.  We  combine  quaHties  in  animals,  why  not  in 
man  1  We  can  combine  mathematical  with  mechanical 
powers,  or  the  reasoning  with  the  moral,  or  lust  with  pride, 
or  executive  with  inventive  talent,  or  taste  with  good  sense, 
or  with  simplicity,  or  with  wit;  sense  or  wit  with  sarcasm, 
and  so  of  every  faculty  of  our  nature.  True,  they  may  not 
all  be  added  in  owe  generation;  yet,  one  generation  may 
combine  two  or  three  strong  qualities,  the  next,  another,  and 
so  on,  and  why  should  not  a  regular  plan  be  laid  down  by 
families,  be  carried  out,  completed,  and  enlarged  by  those 
who  come  after  them  7 

In  a  family,  by  the  name  of  Hay  ward,  1  think,  one  mem- 
ber of  which  I  saw  in  Westchester,  Pa.,  I  found  an  unusual 
degree  of  the  mathematical  organ  and  talent,  and  was  in- 
formed that  it  had  descended  in  three  generations,  and  was 
now  appearing  in  the  fourth,  and  that  the  cousin  of  my  in^ 
formant,  who  was  a  teacher,  and  celebrated  for  teaching 
mathematics,  was  employed  as  public  surveyor  of  the  county 
of  Columbia,  Pa.  This  talent  appeared  most  conspicuously 
in  the  male  line. 

Of  Mr.  Pratt,  who  has  made  some  inventions  involving 
mathematical  principles,  I  said,  while  examining  his  head, 
that  his  parents,  one  or  both,  were  remarkable  for  mathe- 
matical or  arithmetical  talents.  He  said,  that,  though  the 
examination  was  correct  in  every  other  particular,  yet,  it 
was  faulty  in  this.  He  called,  a  few  days  after,  to  say,  that, 
on  mentioning  my  remark  to  his  wife,  she  put  him  in  mind 
of  the  fact,  that  one  of  his  parents  was  remarkable  for  cast- 
ing up  figures  in  the  head,  and  that  an  uncle  on  the  same 
side,  possessed  the  talent. 

In  hundreds  and  hundreds  of  instances  have  I  made  a 
similar  prediction  of  the  parents  of  those  in  whose  offspring 
I  have  found  this  organ  large,  and  with  scarcely  a  single 
failure.  This  organ  is  extremely  large  in  Col.  Anthony, 
of  whose  superior  mathematical  powers  mention  is  made  in 
my  "  Phrenology,"  p.  276,  and  I  have  no  doubt  of  its  being 
found  large  in  one  or  more  of  his  ancestors,  and  in  many  of 
his  descendants  and  relatives. 


178       MORAL   AND    INTELLECTUAL   QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 
Mathematical  genius  of  the  Colburns.  "     Herschell  and  his  grand  son. 

A  son  of  the  author  of  "  Colburn's  Arithmetic,"  a  work 
which  has  really  reformed  the  old  method  of  teaching  arith- 
metic, and  is,  of  all  others,  the  proper  system  of  teaching  it, 
in  whom  this  work  shows  this  faculty  to  have  been  very  ac- 
tive and  powerful,  has  superior  arithmetical  powers,  as  well 
as  a  literal  jiassion  for  this  class  of  studies.  He  is  a  survey- 
or and  engineer.  Zerah  Colburn,  the  extraordinary  lad  who 
could  solve  almost  instantaneously  any  problem  propounded 
to  him,  and  that,  when  but  six  years  old,  and  was  taken 
around  as  a  show,  in  consequence  of  a  talent  so  unheard  of,, 
and  by  which  he  astonished  all  the  great  men  of  his  day, 
had  the  same  SMr-name  with  the  author  of  Colburn's  Arith- 
metic, and  they  were  probably  related,  distantly,  perhaps,  but 
both  deriving  this  talent,  in  a  degree  so  remarkable,  from 
one  common  ancestor. 

As  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  judge,  from  remarks  made 
about  Zerah's  father,  he  too  excelled  in  figures.  Will  not 
some  one  acquainted  with  either  family,  please  inquire  into, 
and  forward  particulars. 

A  Mr.  Tappan,  of  Newburyport,  was  almost  equal  to  Ze- 
rah Colburn  in  calculating  figures.  His  father  was  a  broker, 
and  quick  in  reckoning. 

The  grand  son,  if  I  mistake  not,  of  Herschell,  the  greatest 
astronomer  of  modern  times,  is  distinguished  for  the  same 
kind  of  astronomical  talent  that  characterized  his  grand 
father,  and,  though  somewhat  less  in  degree,  yet  quite 
enough  to  show  the  transmission  of  the  mathematical  talent, 
for,  at  least,  three  generations. 

I  find  so  many  instances  of  the  transmission  of  the  math- 
ematical talent  wherever  I  practise  phrenology,  that  I  deem 
it  unnecessary  to  dwell  longer  upon  it,  because  I  feel  confi- 
dent that  every  close  observer  will  find  instances  of  it  within 
the  circle  of  his  own  observation,  suflicient  to  rivet  the  con- 
viction of  the  transmissibility  of  both  the  arithmetical  and 
mathematical  talents  and  organs.  And  then,  too,  the  ac- 
cumulative nature  of  our  argument,  as  explained  in  chap,  iv., 
sec.  1,  renders  amplification  unnecessary. 


INTELLECT    HEREDITARY.  179 

Tune  hereditary.  The  Hastings  family. 

SECTION  VII. 

INTELLECT  HEREDITARY— AS   TO   BOTH  KIND  AND  AMOUNT. 

Though  quite  enough  has  already  been  said,  to  render  the 
inference  conchisive,  that  all  the  faculties,  both  as  to  their 
power  and  direction,  are  hereditary,  yet  it  is  proposed  to  pre- 
sent a  few  facts,  as  illustrations,  mainly,  of  the  descent  of 
some  of  the  intellectual  faculties. 

Take  Tune,  in  the  Hastings  family.     One  of  this  family 
has  become  celebrated   over  the  whole  country,  both  as  a 
musical  compose?^  and  esectito?',   and  has  as  fine  an  ear  for 
harmony  as  is  to  be  found.      He  is  also  an  albino,  his  hair 
bein§  perfectly  white,  skin  fine  and  very  fair,  and  eyes  red 
and  defective.      In  1840,  I  met  his   brother,  a  lawyer,  at 
Rochester,   N.  Y.,  also  an  albino,  and,  like  his  brother,  not 
only  extremely  near-sighted,  but  endowed  with   the  same 
musical  ear  and  talent  for  which  his  brother  is  celebrated. 
He  can  endure  no  music  but  the  very  best,  and  is  thrown  in- 
to perfect  agony  by  discord,  but  enjoys  the  higher  cast  of 
music  with  a  relish  past  all  description.     Several  of  his  chil- 
dren, inherit  the  same  musical  ear,  and  so  does  another  bro- 
ther, who  is  also  an  albino.      But  his  brothers  and  sisters 
who  are  not  albinos,  do  not  inherit  this  exquisite  musical  ear 
in  as  great  a  degree  as  these  do.     I  think  one  parent  or  grand 
parent  was  an  albino,  and.  possessed  this  musical  faculty  in 
a  pre-eminent  degree.      At  all  events,  it  is  hereditary,  and 
can  be  traced  io'i  four  generations.      I  think,  also,  that,  like 
the  mathematical  talents  of  Enoch  Lewis,  '\i  increased  as  it 
descended — a  fact  deserving  attention  ;  for,  as  already  re- 
marked, every  organ  is  transmitted,  and,  if  rigorously  culti- 
vated in  the  offspring,  it  grows  stronger  and  stronger.     The 
lessons  given  by  Lewis's  mother   to    Enoch   when    a   boy, 
doubtless,  greatly  augmented   the   naturally  strong  mathe- 
matical powers  of  her  son,  and  his  devoting  his  life  to  math- 
ematics, and  getting  his  living  by  it,  caused  its  increase  in 
such  a  degree,  that  he  transmitted   it  to  his  children  much 
increased,  and  then  Us  son's  being  a  mathematical  teacher, 
rendered  it  still  more  powerful  in  his  grand  son — its  increased 


1-80       MOKAL   AND   INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 
The  communicating  talent  hereditary.  Patrick  Henry  and  ancestors. 

power  in  the  last  two  of  the  series,  being  considerably  above 
that  of  the  first  two.     1  think  the  same  holds  true  of  Tune, 
in  the  Hastings  family.      At  Detroit,   in  1837,  I  saw  two 
girls,  one  six,  and  the  other  four  and  a  half  years  old,  daugh- 
ters of  the  best  music  teacher  in  the  city,  who  sang  and 
played  most  exquisitely,  better  than  any  others  of  their  age 
that  I  ever  saw.     At  all  events,  the  habitual  e.Tercise  of  large 
organs  in  parents,  renders  them  still  larger  in  their  children. 
Take,  next,  the  organ  of  Language,  as  exhibited  in  com- 
municating, both  orally  and  in  writing.     The  Robertson  fam- 
ily,  in  England,   for  many   generations,   have  been  distin- 
guished for  the  ease,  beauty,  appropriateness,  and  flowing 
elegance  of  their  style  of  writing  and  speaking,   Dr.   Wm. 
Robertson  having  become  renowned  as  a  historian.     Patrick 
Henry's  father  is  said  to  be  a   nephew  of  this  distinguished 
historian,  and  his  mother,  a  Winston,  a  family  long  distin- 
guished, not  only  for  moral  worth,  biit  especially  for  ease, 
copiousness,  and  fluency  of  diction.      VVm.  Wirt,  in  his  life 
of  Patrick  Henry,  thus  speaks  of  his  mother: — "Mrs.  Hen- 
ry, the  widow  of  Col.  Syme,  as  we  have  seen,  and  the  mo- 
ther of  Patrick  Henry,  was  a  native  of  Hanover  county, 
and  of  the  family  of  the  Winstons.      She  possessed,  in  an 
eminent  degree,  the  mild  and  benevolent  disposition,  the  un- 
deviating  probity,  the  correct  understanding,  and   easy  elo- 
cution by  which  that  ancient  family  has  been  so  long  dis- 
tinguished.    Her  brother,  William,  the  brother  of  the  present 
Judge  Winston,  is  said  to  have  been  highly  endowed  with 
that   peculiar   cast  of  eloquence   for    which   Patrick   Henry 
afterwards  became  so  justly  celebrated."     Of  this  gentleman, 
I  have  an  anecdote  from  a  correspondent,  which  I  shall  give 
in  his  own   words  : — "  I  have  often  heard  my  father,  who 
was  intimately. acquainted  with   this  William  Winston,  say, 
that  he  was  the  greatest  orator  whom  he  ever  heard,  Patrick 
Henry  excepted  ;  that,  during  the  last  French  and  Indian 
war,  and  soon  after    Braddock's  defeat, .  when  the  militia 
were  marched  to  the  frontier  of  Virginia,  against  the  enemy, 
this  William   Winston   was  the  lieutenant  of   a   company; 
that  the  men  who  were  indifferently  clothed,  without  tents, 
and  exposed  to  the  inclemency  of  the  weather,  discovered 


INTELLECT    HEREDITARY.  181 

AiieeOote  of  VVm.  Wiiisiou.  Patrick  Henri's  developments. 

great  aversion  to  the  service,  and  were  anxious,  and  even 
.clamorous,  to  return  to  their  families,  when  this  William 
Winston,  mounting  a  stump,  addressed  them  Avith  such 
keenness  and  invective,  and  declaimed  with  such  force  of 
eloquence,  on  liberty  and  patriotism,  that  when  he  concluded, 
the  general  cry  was.  '  Let  us  march  on ;  lead  us  against  the 
enemy  ! '  and  they  were  now  willing,  nay.  anxious,  to  en- 
counter all  those  difficulties  and  dangers  which,  but  a  few 
moments  before,  had  almost  produced  a  mutiny." 

We  here  insert  an  illustration  of  a  principle  already  pre- 
sented, that,  where  both  parents  are  remarkable  for  any  par- 
ticular faculty,  the  children  inherit  an  augmentation  of  it. 
Both  the  parents  of  this  illustrious  son  of  genius,  were  re- 
lated to  families  remarkable  for  their  beauty  of  diction,  and 
their  soul-stirring  eloquence,  and  their  son  was  the  greatest 
orator  of  modern  times.  Oratorical  talents  as  transcendent 
as  his,  which  enchanted  alike  both  the  vulgar  and  the  learned, 
and  chained  them  in  breathless  silence,  and  even  so  engrossed 
his  reporter,  that  he  forgot  his  task,  and  listened  when  he 
should  have  written, — talents,  too,  that  were  not  brought  out 
by  the  discipline  of  the  schools,  nor  by  poring  over  books, 
but  which  burst  forth  like  a  smothered  volcano,  inipromptu, 
and  in  spite  of  circumstances  the  most  unfavorable,  must 
have  been  caused^  and  that  cause  was,  hereditary  influences. 
And  this  is  rendered  the  more  evident,  from  the  fact,  that  his 
phrenological  developments,  as  indicated  by  his  portrait  affixed 
to  "  Wirt's  Life  of  Patrick  Henry,"  were  immense.  The 
painter -seems  to  have  taken  the  utmost  pains  to  draw  pro- 
digious Individuality,  Eventualitj'",  Comparison,  Language, 
and  Locality.  I  have  never  seen  the  head  or  the  portrait  in 
which  these  organs  were  equally  predominant.  These 
wgans  he  inherited,  and  their /acw/^ie^  gave  him  his  extra- 
ordinary powers  of  description  and  eloquence.  Causality 
was  less,  and  his  forehead,  at  its  upper  and  lateral  parts, 
sloped  rapidly.  To  compare  this  portrait  with  portraits  of 
his  ancestors,  would  certainly  be  most  interesting.* 

*The  reader  will,  doubtless,  indulge  me  in  making  a  .single  remark 
about  portraits  and  likenesses  : — As  the  phrenological  organization  gives 

16 


182        MORAL    AND    INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 
The  composing  inlent  hereditary  in  ihe  family  of  ihe  author. 

'Another  illustration  of  the  descent  of  the  composing  dis- 
position or  talent  will  be  found  in  the  maternal  ancestors  of 
the  author.  His  mother  wrote  manuscript  by  the  bushel, 
and  in  a  style  at  once  graceful,  flowing,  perspicuous,  and 
elegant,  consisting  mostly  of  sermons,  or,  rather,  of  essays 
on  religious  subjects.  She  was  noted,  among  all  who  knew 
her,  for  the  ease  and  felicity  with  which  she  composed  and 
spoke,  so  much  so,  that,  soon  after  her  death,  a  project  was 
set  on  foot,  (though  never  completed,)  of  publishing  her 
memoir  and  writings.  To  say  that  her  composing  talents 
were  of  a  high  order,  is  to  speak  quite  within  bounds ;  and 
each  of  her  brothers  and  sisters,  in  writing  letters,  compose 
with  perfect  ease,  and  with  much  perspicuity  and  elegance 
of  diction.  And  this  is  true  of  my  cousins,  but  the  most  so 
of  those  who  most  nearly  resemble  her. 

My  brother  L.  N.  F.  has  published  a  work  on  Pflarriage, 
8000  copies  of  which  have  been  sold  within  two  years,  and 
has  others  in  manuscript,  from  which  the  reader  can  judge 
for  himself,  as  to  his  writing  capacity,  though  he  takes  more 
after  his  father,  who  finds  writing  quite  difficult.  Still,  when 
written,  it  is  written  7,':eU,  though  it  is  in  lechtring  that  he  ex- 
presses himself  with  the  most  ease,  perspicuity,  and  beauty. 

Upon  the  author's  style  of  writing,  the  public  have  already 
passed  judgment,  in  the  patronage  extended.     Of  his  "  Phre- 

the  verj'  best  biography  of  a  person  that  can  be  furnished,  a  good  like- 
ness, in  which  special  pains  is  taken  to  represent  the  relative  size  of  tlie 
organs,  will  be  among  the  most  valuable  relics  that  |)arents  can  hand 
dovv-n  to  tiieir  cliildren  and  others.  Next  to  their  cranium,  it  would  he 
desirable,  if  some  method  of  embalming  would  enable  us  to  preserve  the 
bodies  of  our  ancestors,  as  did  the  Egyptians,  that  we  might  trace  devel- 
opments up  to  their  fountain-head.  But,  next  to  this,  a  bust,  taken  in 
plaster  of  Paris,  will  supply  the  place,  and  greatly  excel  paintings.  In 
years  past,  the  author  has  expended  thousands  of  dollars  in  bringing  this 
art  to  perfection,  but,  though  these  improvements  have  rendered  their 
being  taken  no  more  difficult  or  painful  than  being  shaved,  yet,  this 
method  of  obtaining  likenesses,  though  inimitably  perfect  as  to  Qve.rj 
line  and  expressmn  of  the  face,  far  excelling  any  effort  of  the  sculptor 
or  i»ainter,  was  not  ap{)rcciated,  and,  af  er  sinking  him  several  thousand 
dollars,  was  abandoned.  It  is  hoped,  however,  that  it  will  soon  be  takoc 
up, and  i"endered  a  popular  method  of  securing  likenesses. 


INTELLECT    HEREDITARY.  183 

Sale  of  the  author's  works.  His  grand  mother  Field. 

nology,"  20,000  copies  have  been  sold  in  six  years,  and  its 
sale  stiW  increases.  Of  his  "  Matrimony,"  the  public  have 
bought  above  20,000  copies  in  two  years,  and  15,000  of  his 
"Memory"  in  one  year.  Of  his  "Synopsis  of  Phrenology," 
150,000  have  been  sold,  of  his  "Temperance,"  12,000  copies, 
of  his  "  Natural  Theology  of  Phrenology,"  about  2,000  in 
six  months,  and  the  entire  edition  of  his  work  on  "  Educa- 
tion and  Self-Improvement"  was  sold  in  three  months,  which, 
with  his  work  on  "  Memory,"  is  out  of  print  at  present.  Of 
his  various  charts,  immense  numbers  have  been  published, 
and  almost  half  a  million  of  his  various  productions  are  now 
in  the  hands  of  the  American  public,  and  all  this,  without 
the  advantages  of  the  book-trade.  The  demand  for  them 
■continues  to  increase. 

When  but  a  mere  boy,  he  took  great  pleasure  in  composing 
-essays,  and  when  on  his  way  to  New  England  to  obtain  an 
education,  he  spent  an  entire  week  at  the  house  of  an  uncle, 
in  writing  and  re-writing  an  article  on  "Dress,"  leaving  off 
only  to  eat  and  sleep.  Before  he  knew  any  thing  of  Phrenol- 
ogy, many  a  day  and  week  have  been  spent  in  composing 
essays,  saving  a  little  time  only  for  eating  and  sleeping.  A 
newspaper  article,  on  Agriculture,  written  by  him,  in  1830, 
was  copied  in  most  of  the  papers,  and  he  appeared  frequently 
in  the  Temperance  Recorder,  as  early  as  1830-2. 

It  is  but  justice  to  add,  that  the  pressure  of  his  professional 
engagements  allow  him  so  little  time  for  composition,  that  he 
can  never  re- write,  and  not  always  read  his  manuscript  bo- 
fore  it  goes  to  press,  so  that  he  appears  to  great  disadvantage. 

His  grand  mother  possessed  a  similar  talent,  and  was 
frequently  called  upon  to  compose  ballads  for  particular  oc- 
casions, such  as  weddings,  &c.,  and  also  hymns  for  funerals, 
deaths,  &c.  She  wrote  a  great  amount  of  poetry,  and  was 
fluent  and  fascinating  in  conversation,  so  much  so,  that 
young  people  would  form  parties,  even  when  she  was  quite 
advanced,  to  visit  her,  so  as  to  listen  to  her  stories  and  mirth- 
stirring  witticisms.  She  lived  to  be  82,  and  was  a  remark- 
able woman. 

Her  brothers  possessed  the  same  quality.  When  about  to 
leave  home,  one  of  them  composed  the  tune  and  words, 


184        MORAL    AND    INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TEAXSMISSIPLE. 
His  grand  mother's  brothers.  Solomon  Field  and  his  doscendanls. 

"  I'll  take  my  staff,  and  travel  on, 
Till  I  a  Letter  world  do  view." 

He  composed  several  tunes,  and  my  grand  mother  was  an 
excellent  singer,  as  are  nearly  every  one  of  her  blood  rela- 
tions, Dea.  Phineas  Field,  of  Northfield,  incltided.  The 
deacon,  also,  has  written  considerably  for  religions  papers, 
speaks  well,  and  is  a  pillar  in  society — a  sound  thinking 
man.  A  sister  of  his  also  inherits  this  writing  talent  in  an 
eminent  degree.     These  are  co2isins  of  the  author's  mother. 

Another  brother  of  this  grand  mother,  was  Dea.  Solomon 
Field,  a  man  endowed  not  only  with  a  high  order  of  talent, 
but  especially  with  the  gift  of  speech.  He  was  always 
ready  in  church-meetings,  or  town-meetings  to  speak,  and 
was  always  listened  to  with  profound  attention,  and  was  re- 
markably fluent  and  happy  as  a  speaker,  and  eminently 
gifted  in  prayer,  so  much  so,  that  he  became  noted  for  these 
qualities  in  all  the  towns  around  him.  He  died  at  an  ad- 
vanced age,  and  transmitted  these  gifts  to  his  youngest  son, 
who,  like  his  father,  is  truly  eloquent  in  meetings,  never 
hesitates  for  words,  and  yet  always  chooses  just  the  words 
for  the  occasion,  is  devotedly  pious,  and  deeply  solemn  and 
interesting  in  prayer.  One  of  his  sons  bids  fair  to  equal  his 
father,  and  is  a  superior  scholar.  Another  grand  son  of 
Solomon  Field  took  the  prize  for  composition  in  a  seminary 
of  one  hundred  pupils,  when  but  a  new  comer,  and  now 
officiates  at  a  Wesleyan  chapel,  Lowell,  Mass.  Contrary 
to  the  custom  of  most  clergymen  of  this  denomination,  he 
generally  lorites  his  sermons,  has  written  for  periodicals,  and 
extensively  in  religious  newspapers,  and  writes  most  of  his 
time.  He  throws  a  great  amount  of  thought  into  his  discourses. 

Other  members  of  this  family  of  Fields  have  been  hardly 
less  remarkable  for  their  speaking  and  writing  faculty,  and 
I  never  saw  an  individual  in  whose  veins  runs  this  blood  of 
the  Fields,  who  was  not  endowed  with  this  natural  gift  for 
speaking  or  v/riting. 

Thus  it  is,  that,  on  his  father's  side,  the  author  inherits  a 
powerful  physical  constitution,  with  a  good  share  of  the 
motive  or  muscular  temperament,  and  consequently,  great 
power  of  endurance ;   and  secondly,  he  has,  superadded  on 


INTELLECT    HEREDITARY.  185 

Order  ill  a  daugliier  o(  Dr.  Gilsoii.  The  Leavitt  family.  The  Folgers. 

his  mother's  side,  a  high-wrought  nervous  temperament, 
(which  always  accompanies  consumption,  and  even  oftea 
causes  it,)  and  a  speaking  and  writing  propensity  and  talent, 
and  to  these  parental  causes,  rather  than  to  any  merit  of  his 
own,  is  due  whatever  of  commendation  may  be  thought  de- 
served. 

If  this  sketch  be  deemed  to  partake  somewhat  of  egotism, 
I  trust  it  will  be  overlooked;  for,  it  has  been  introduced  be- 
cause the  faculty  is  really  conspicuous,  and  also  because 
some  of  the  readers  will  doubtless  be  pleased  to  learn  thus 
much  of  the  parentage  of  him  whose  writings  on  parentage 
they  read. 

In  Washington,  in  1835,  the  author  examined  a  little  girl, 
some  three  or  four  years  old,  daugliter  of  Dr.  Gilson,  then 
editor  of  the  U.  S.  Telegraph,  in  whom  Order  was  very  large, 
and  which  she  showed  in  character,  even  before  she  could  put 
things  in  their  place,  by  appearing  very  uneasy  when  they 
were  disarranged,  and  making  signs  to  that  effect.  Neither 
father  nor  mother  had  this  faculty,  but  a  grand  mother  had 
it  very  large. 

The  Leavitt  family,  wherever  I  have  known  them,  are  re- 
markable for  their  strong  common  sense,  and  for  their  power 
of  intellect.  Joshua  Leavitt,  the  ex-editor  of  the  New  York 
Evangelist,  Emancipator,  &c.,  has  really  become  distin- 
guished as  a  writer  and  clear-headed  reasoner.  Button 
Leavitt,  the  almanac-maker  for  N.  H.,  a  profound  man,  and 
a  great  scholar,  and  several  of  his  relatives,  are  remarkable 
for  power  of  intellect,  for  scholarship,  profundity  of  research, 
mathematical  talents,  and  a  talent  for  music.  The  musical 
talent  runs  in  this  family.  It  is  conspicuous  in  the  New 
Hampshire  branch  just  alluded  to,  and  Joshua  Leavitt,  men- 
tioned above,  was  the  publisher  of  revival  and  other  hymns 
and  tunes. 

The  fact,  that  the  superior  talents  of  Franklin  were  hered- 
itary, admits  of  no  question ;  and  that  they  descended  in  the 
maternal  line,  is  evident  from  the  fact  that  others  of  the  Fol- 
ger  family,  to  which  his  mother  belonged,  have  become 
noted  for  talents.  Thus,  Peter  Folger,  of  Nantucket,  is  a 
remarkable  man,  whether    we    consider   his  extraordinary 

16* 


186        MORAL    AND    INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 
Kliliu  Burriit's  relatives.  The  tiewall  family. 

capacity  for  acquiring  and  retaining  knowledge,  his  inventive 
and  mechanical  power,  or  his  strength  of  intellect,  and  sound 
common  sense.  The  mechanical  talents  of  Franklin  greatly 
improved  the  printing  press,  those  of  Folger  have  con- 
structed, probably,  the  most  extraordinary  astronomical 
clock  that  was  ever  known,  which  shows  the  descent  of 
Constructiveness  and  Causality.  Franklin  was  a  great  nat- 
ural philosopher;  Folger  is  a  great  astronomer,  and  highly 
scientific.  Lucretia  Mott,  another  descendant  of  the  Folger 
family,  not  oijly  has  the  same  prodigious  development  of 
Causality  which  distinguished  her  illustrious  kinsman,  and 
the  same  high,  broad,  square,  and  capacions  forehead,  as 
already  shown  in  chap,  iii.,  sec.  1,  but  she  has  the 
same  philosophical,  reasoning,  discriminating,  scrutinizing, 
thought-making  cast  of  mind,  and,  though  a  woman,  she 
has  justly  become  celebrated  for  her  strevgih  of  intellect, 
and  power  of  thought.  I  know  of  no  woman  that  equals 
her  as  a  reasoner.  And,  as  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  ascer- 
tain, the  Folger  family,  as  far  back  as  they  can  be  traced,. 
have  evinced  precisely  the  same  cast  of  mind  for  which 
Franklin  became  so  justly  celebrated. 

Elihu  Burritt's  maternal  grand  father,  Hinsdale,  was  a 
remarkable  man,  entrusted  with  town  offices,  and  if  I  have 
been  correctly  informed,  a  great  reader^  and  had  a  great  fund 
of  knotvledge.  Burritt's  brother,  the  author  o(  an  excellent 
treatise  on  astronomy,  possesses  the  same  insatiable  thirst 
after  knowledge  that  characterizes  Elihu,  and  is  extensively 
erudite,  and  so  does  a  sister,  and  also  his  maternal  nephew, 
who  has  a  wonderful  memory.  One  member  of  this  learned 
family,  I  think  a  brother,  killed  himself  by  over-studying, 
in  which  he  progressed  with  astonishing  rapidity.  Nor  have 
I  any  doubt,  but  this  extraordinary  capacity  for  acquiring 
and  retaining  knowledge,  will  be  found  to  have  descended  to 
generation  after  generation,  as  far  back  as  any  tiling  can  be 
ascertained  of  all  his  ancestors. 

"The  Sewall  family,"  (mentioned  in  eliap.  v.,  sec.  1.) 
says  Joshua  Coflin,  "for  two  centuries,  have  been  distin- 
guished for  talents,  and,  for  nearly  the  whole  time  from 
1690,  down  to  the  present  generation,  some  one  or  other  of 


INTELLECT    HEREDITARY.  187 


Quotaiions  from  Joshua  Coffin.  'I'lio  in'ihers  orpifai  men. 


their  family  has  been  chief  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court, 
either  in  New  England  or  in  Canada."  I  have  examined 
the  heads  of  several  of  this  family,  and  found  superior  intel- 
lectual and  moral  developments. 

We  give  below,  a  quotation,  somewhat  extended,  from  a 
manuscript  furnished  us  by  Joshua  Coffin,  a  man  of  the 
most  extensive  knowledge  of  matters  and  things  in'  general, 
and  especially  of  facts  touching  hereditary  descent,  that  the 
author  has  ever  seen.  All  his  phrenological  organs  of 
Memory  are  very  large.  His  ancestors,  for  several  genera- 
tions, have  been  public  men,  and  have  all  been  noted  for 
knowing  all  about  every  body,  their  names,  ages,  parents, 
grand  parents,  &c.,  or  for  that  knowledge  of  genealogy, 
which  a  work  like  this  ought  to  embody.  He  is  also  full  of 
biographical  anecdotes. 

"  My  first  remark  is  this  : — Men  distinguisbed  for  their 
native  strength  of  intellect  have  always  been  descended  from 
mothers  of  strong  powers  of  mind,  or,  in  other  words,  no  woman 
who  is  weak  or  deficient  in  intellect,  ever  had  a  child  distinguished 
for  talents.  If  the  father  is  a  man  of  talents,  so  much  the  better, 
but,  be  the  father  who  he  may,  unless  the  mother  has  talent?,  the 
children  will  not,  I  might  almost  say,  cannot,  be  distinguished.  It 
is  not  so  much  the  seed  as  tlie  soif,^  from  which  the  husbandman 
expects  to  obtain  a  good  crop  ;  but  let  him  take  what  pains  he 
may  in  every  respect,  he  cannot  anticipate,  nor  will  he  obtain, 
any  thing  worthy  of  notice,  unless  the  soil  is  deep  and  rich.  As 
a  proof  of  this  assertion,  we  must  depend  not  on  theory,  but  on 
facia,  which,  as  saiih  the  [)roverb,  are  '  stuhhorn  things.'  And, 
from  long  and  careful  observation,  I  have  never  yet  read  of  or 
known  an  instance  of  any  person  of  superior  intellect,  whose 
mother  was  not  blest  with  strong  powers  of  mind.  Take  a  ^qw 
examples : — Sir  William  Jones'  mother  was  a  woman  of  extra- 
ordinary talents,  so  was  Napoleon's,  so  was  Walter  Scott's,  so 
was  the  mother  of  Chief  Justice  Parsons,  of  Schiller,  of  Rev. 
Richard  Cecil,  and,  in  short,  of  so  large  a  number,  that  time 
would  fail  me  to  recount  them.  Both  the  parents  of  Daniel 
Webster  were  distinguished  for  their  talents;  and,  as  a  striking 
proof  of  the  position  I  lake,  it  will  interest  you  to  know,  that 
Col.  Ebenezer  Webster,  father  of  Daniel,  was  twice  married. 
By  his  first  wife,  Miss  Smith,  he  had  several  children,  not  one  of 


*  We  want  hoih  good  seed  and  good  soil,  to  produce  a  good  crop, 
rell  in  the  animal  kingdom,  as  in  the  vegetable. — Author. 


188       MORAL    AND    INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 
WVlisicr's  arire.stcrs  and  relatives.  The  Tappan  tannly. 


whom  was  above  mediocrity,  in  that  respect  resembling  the 
mother.  By  his  second  wife,  a  Miss  Eastman,  lie  had  three 
children,  Daniel,  Ezekiel,'\vho  was,  in  every  respect,  equal  in 
point  of  intellect  to  Daniel,  and  a  daughter,  who  was  the  mother 
of  Prof.  Hadduck,  of  Dartmouth  College,  and  VVilliam  Hadduck, 
Esq.,  who  died  in  Lowell.  Daniel's  grand  mother,  Webster, 
was  a  woman  of  extraordinary  talents,  which  her  son,  Ebenezer, 
Daniel's  father,  inherited.  Her  maiden  name  was  Bachiler. 
1  mention  her  name  in  order  to  state  a  fact,  viz.,  that  there  is  one 
physical  peculiarity  which  has  descended  from  the  Rev.  Stephen 
Buchiler  lo  his  descendant,  Daniel  Webster.  What  that  peculiar- 
ity is,  i  shall  not  now  mention,  but  will  hereafter.  Trace,  then, 
if  you  please,  the  genealogy  of  the  Webster  family,  and  you  will 
find  that  certain  traits  have  descended  from  father  to  son  in  the 
male  line,  but  that,  in  every  case,  where  there  has  been  any 
indication  of  superior  talent,  it  has  proceeded  from  the  mother. 
The  mother  of  Col.  Webster,  was  a  woman  of  extraordinary 
talents,  and  his  second  wife,  the  mother  of  Daniel,  was  likewise 
talented.  So  it  is,  as  1  think,  in  nearly  every  case ;  that  is, 
pecuHar  traits  will  descend  in  a  family  from  generation  to  genera- 
lion  ;  but  whether  they  are  or  are  not  distinguished  for  talents, 
depends  upon  who  their  mothers  were.     Let  me  illustrate. 

"  I  presume  you  know  Lewis  Tappan,  and  his  peculiar  temper- 
ament. Talented,  ardent,  frank,  honest,  firm  and  undaunted,  per- 
severing and  industrious,  he  exhibits  just  such  traits  as  have  dis- 
tinguished his  ancestors  for  five  or  six  generations.  Abraham 
Tappan  came  to  Newbury  in  1634.  His  oldest  son,  Peter,  was 
a  physician  in  Newbury,  and  a  noted  man.  The  records  of  our 
court  give  ample  evidence  of  his  peculiarities.  One  of  his  sons 
was  the  Rev.  Dr.  Christopher  Tappan,  of  Newbury,  distinguished 
for  his  talents  and  his  frank  fearlessness  in  avowing  his  sentiments. 
1  will  mention  one  or  two  instances  of  his  peculiarities : — A  Mr. 
Pettengell  and  his  wife  once  brought  up  a  child  for  baptism. 
The  woman  was  a  devoted  Christian,  but  the  father  was  none  of 
the  best.  On  baptizing  it,  he  said,  with  a  clear,  loud  voice,  '1 
baptize  this  child  wholly  on  the  mother's  account.'  On  another 
occasion,  during  the  excitement  of  1742,  he  carried  a  whip  into 
the  church,  one  Sunday,  in  order,  as  he  said,  to  scourge  out  the 
enthusiasts.  I  ought  to  mention  that  he  was  a  little  deranged  at 
that  time,  but  it  shows  the  disposition  of  the  man.  His  descend- 
ants down  to  the  present  time,  have  been  distinguished  for  talents. 

"  Young  Atherton,  now  in  Congress,  from  N.  H.,  is  one  of 
them.  The  Rev.  Christopher's  nephew,  Benjamin,  was  minister 
of  Manchester,  Mass.,  a  superior  man,  whose  son,  David,  was 
professor  of  divinity  in  Cambridge  College.  David's  son,  Benja- 
min, is  now  minister  in  Augusta,  Me.,  an  able  man.     David,  of 


INTELLECT    HEREDITARY.  189 

'I'he  Tappaiis.  'J'be  Coifin  fViinily. 

Cambridi^e,  was  an  uncle  to  Arthur,  Lewis,  and  Benjamin,  (the 
latter  being  now  a  senator  in  Congress  from  Ohio,)  John  and 
Charles,  of  Boston.  All  of  tjiem  are  superior  men.  I  could 
mention  many  others  of  the  same  family.  Concerning  tlie  Tap- 
pan  race,  two  things  are  observable  : — 

'•' Abraliam  Tappan  had  two  wives.  Dr.  Peter  was  son  of  the 
first  wife,  and  the  other  four  sons,  Abraham,  Isaac,  Jacob  and 
John,  sons  of  the  second  wife.  Now,  while  the  descendants  ex- 
hibit many  of  the  trails  of  the  family,  the  superior  talents  are 
almost  all  confined  to  the  posterity  of  Peter.  You  will  ask  how 
1  account  for  this  ?  Could  the  truth  be  known,  I  entertain  no 
doubt  that  Abraham's  first  wife  was  a  woman  of  superior  talents, 

"His  descendants  in  the  line  of  Peter,  for  four  generations,  or 
down  to  Lewis  Tappan's  father,  all  married  women  of  superior 
talents,  as  I  happened  to  know.  We,  therefore,  have  a  v'lghl  to 
expect  children  to  be  intelligent  when  both  their  parents  possess 
superior  intellect.  With  the  history  of  this  family,  1  am  well  ac- 
quainted, as  my  mother  was  a  Tappan,  and  my  grand  mother 
Tappan  was  a  woman  of  superior  mind.  I  shall  say  notliing  of 
her  descendafits.  Charles  Tappan,  of  this  city,  (Philadelphia,) 
the  engraver,  is  one  of  her  grand  children.  But  enough  of  thb 
family. 

"  Let  me  mention  something  concerning  the  Coffin  family. 
Tristram  Coffin  came  to  this  country  in  1642,  with  his  wife 
Dianis,  and  left  five  sons  and  a  daughter,  in  1660.  He  went 
with  three  of  his  sons  to  Narj4ucket,  where  their  descendants,  or 
many  of  them,  still  reside.  One  son,  Peter,  lived  in  Dover, 
]\.  H.,  and  the  other  in  Newbury,  Mass.  1  shall  say  nothing  of 
my  own  relations,  except  a  few  things  in  corroboration  of  two 
points,  viz.,  that  family  traits  are  hereditary,  and  that  talent  pro- 
ceeds from  the  mother.  Tristram  Coffin's  wife  was  a  superior 
woman.  Her  son  Peter  was  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  New  Hampshire,  and  her  daughter  Mary,  who  married 
a  Starbuck,  of  Nantucket,  was  a  woman  of  extraordinary  talents 
and  influence.  For  proof  of  this,  see  John  Richardson's  Journal.. 
He  was  a  Quaker  preacher.  See  also  the  novel  called  Miriam 
Coffin,  which  is  founded  on  fact,  and  of  which  the  greater  part  is 
true.  In  that  book  you  will  find  some  verses  written  many  years 
ago,  and  descriptive  of  the  peculiar  traits  of  each  family  in  the 
island.     One  verse,  as  near  as  I  can  remember,  runs  as  follows : — ■ 

'The  Coffins  noisy,  boisterous,  loiul, 
The  silent  Ganhiers  iilorlfling, 
Tlie  Bark-ers  iiroiid,  tlie  l\1itc|iel!s  good, 
The  Macys  eat  the  pudding.' 

"Although  the  Coffins  in  Nantucket  have  been  separated  from 
the  Coffins  in   Newbury  ever  since    1660,  there  is  even   now  a 


190        MORAL    AND    INTELLECTUAL    QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE. 
Thi'  iMiKxIy  lainily.  Inferences.  John  Quincy  Adams. 

Striking  family  resemblance  in  looks  and  other  trails.  They  are 
all  very  sociable,  are  great  talkers,  have  good  memories,  love  to 
travel,  and  have  a  great  deal  of  curiosity.  They  are  to  be  found 
in  every  state  of  the  union,  and  in  every  quarter  of  the  world 
wherever  a  ship  can  sail,  so  that  the  name  of  Capt.  Coffin  is  as 
familiar  to  an  American  ear  as  John  Smith.  But  enough  of  our 
family. 

"  The  family  of  Moody,  the  descendants  of  William  Moody, 
who  came  to  Newbury  in  1634,  have  been  and  are  now  an  ex- 
cellent family,  noted  for  good  sense,  honesty,  and  reliirious  princi- 
ple. So  of  the  descendants  of  Thomas  Hall,  and  many  others 
whom  I  could  mention.  The  conclusion  to  which  1  have  arrived 
is  this,  that  like  produces  like — that  family  traits  are  propagated, 
and  descend  from  one  generation  to  another  in  the  male  line — that 
strength  of  intellect  depends  on  the  mothjer,  and  that,  if  the  father 
he  a  person  of  talents  as  well  as  the  mother,  the  children  stand  a 
iiiucii  better  chance  of  being  intelligent  than  they  would  do  if  the 
mother  alone  were  possessed  of  superior  talents ;  but  if  the  mother 
had  a  weak  intellect,  you  may  be  assured  that  the  children  will 
not,  I  might  almost  say,  cannot  be  otherwise  than  weak. 

"As  far  as  I  can  ascertain  from  a  somewhat  extensive  knowledge 
of  the  people  of  New  England,  1  agree  in  sentiment  with  C.  C. 
Baldwin,  that  those  families  which  were  respectable  in  the  first 
settlement  of  each  town,  are  respectable  now  ;  and  that  those 
families  which  were  not  of  any  note  then,  are  just  so  now\  To 
this  general  principle  I  would  make  the  following  exceptions: — 
Pirst,  where  a  man  of  respectability  and  talent  marries  a  woman 
<of  small  intellect  and  low  family,  or  marries  a  blood  relation,  there 
the  family  are  almost  sure  to  fall  into  the  lower  ranks.  On  the 
-other  hand,  where  a  man  of  no  rank  marries  a  woman  of  respec- 
ttable  family  and  good  talents,  the  talent  and  the  character  coming 
from  the  mother,  the  family  are  elevated  of  course.  1  have  no- 
•.ticed  another  thing,  viz.,  that  nearly  all  our  distinguished  men  in 
New  England  are  descended  from  the  first  settlers.  I  mention 
this  last  fact,  merely  as  a  fact,  which  may  or  may  not  be  of  use  to 
you." 

But  last,  not  least,  if  additional  illustrations  of  the  descent 
of  superior  natural  talents  were  required,  both  the  ancestors 
and  the  descendants  of  John  Quincy  Adams  furnish  it.  Elo- 
quent above  almost  any  other  man  in  America,  even  at  his 
advanced  age,  possessed  of  more  political  information  than 
any  other  man  on  this  continent,  and  the  most  remarkable 
memory  to  be  found  any  where,  with  a  clearness  of  discrimi- 
nation, an  intensity  of  feeling,  a  power  of  withering  sarcasm. 


INTELLECT    HEREDITARY.  191 

Adams'  son,  (.leiieral  concluding  infeieuce. 

a  talent  for  debate,  superior  to  any  other  member  of  Con- 
gress, and  all  in  an  old  man  bordering  on  80 !  A  wonder  of 
the  age  is  this  illustrious  old  man  !  And  who  was  his  father? 
Let  the  history  of  our  country  answer.  And  who  his  mother? 
One  of  the  most  talented  women  of  her  age,  as  is  seen  by  her 
letters  to  her  husband.  And  who  is  his  son  7  Let  his  ora- 
tion before  the  city  authorities  of  Boston  last  4th  of  July, 
pronounced  unsurpassed  only  by  his  father's  best  efforts, 
which  father  he  now  bids  fair  to  equal,  answer.  And  other 
branches  of  this  illustrious  family  will  be  found  to  possess 
great  natural  abilties.  Prof.  Adams,  of  Vermont,  is  from  the 
same  stock,  and  took  the  first  college  appointment  in  the 
class  in  which  the  author  graduated,  as  the  best  scholar  of 
that  class. 

But,  is  it  either  necessary  or  desirable  to  extend  the  record 
of  these  facts?  Has  not  every  reader  of  common  observation, 
seen  facts  analogous  to  these,  snflicient  to  produce  the  con- 
viction, that  any  required  number  of  similar  facts,  might 
easily  be  added  to  the  preceding  list?  In  the  various  fami- 
lies into  which  my  profession  has  called  m.e,  1  have  seen 
thousands  on  thousands  of  facts,  establishing  the  descent  of 
every  phrenological  organ  in  the  relative  degree  in  which  it 
was  possessed  by  parents.  Every  biography  is  replete  with 
them,  and  so  is  every  city,  town,  hamlet,  and  family  in  the 
land  and  in  the  world.  Indeed,  to  deny  the  general  fact, 
the  great  law,  that  the  qualities  of  parents,  both  mental  and 
physical,  descend  to  their  children^  and  so  on,  from  generation 
to  generation,  down  the  long  stream  of  time,  is  to  deny  all 
law,  and  doubt  the  plainest  truths  in  natural  science ;  for, 
what  one  lav/  is  more  universal,  more  obvious  ?  V/ho  will 
undertake  to  affirm  that  children  di07iot  resemble  their  parents 
cmigenitally  ?  What  farmer-,  what  farmer's  boy,  even,  does 
not  know  that  his  stock  always  resemble  the  parents  of  that 
stock — that  like  begets  like,  as  well  in  man  as  in  the  vegeta- 
ble or  in  the  animal  kingdoms  ?  "Will  the  Learned  Black- 
smith undertake  to  reverse  this  adage,  that  "  like  begets 
like,"  as  he  has  reversed  its  sister  adage,  that  "  a  poet  i* 
born  a  poet"?  Will  he  render  the  one,  "like  begets  w/»- 
like,"  or  rather,  "  like  begets.  wo^Am^,"  as  he  has  reversed 


192       MORAL   AND   INTELLECTUAL   QUALITIES    TRANSMISSIBLE, 
'i'lie  absurdities  of  the  opponents  of  tliis  doctrine  exposed. 

the  sister  adage,  "  a  poet  is  made  "?  for  both  adages  mean 
the  same  thing;  and  if  he  reverses  the  one,  he  must  reverse 
the  other  also.  Is  he,  is  any  other  intelligent  man,  willing 
to  deny,  in  broad  terms,  the  entire  doctrine  of  parentage,  and 
to  say  that  children  inherit  no  qualities,  mental  or  physical, 
from  their  parents?  Surely,  no  one  !  But  to  admit  that  one 
single  quality,  whether  mental  or  physical,  of  either  parent, 
is  hereditary,  is  to  admit  the  doctrine  of  parentage,  or  the 
great /ac^  of  hereditary  descent ;  and  to  admit  this  doctrine, 
is  to  admit  that  all  original,  constitutional  qualities,  are  he- 
reditary, are  innate,  are  congenital.  Either,  parents  in  their 
capacity  as  parents,  do  nothing  by  way  of  imparting  inhe- 
rent qualities  to  the  child,  or  they  impart  all  its  original  na- 
ture, both  mental  and  physical.  Which  is  it?  Are  children 
as  likely  to  resemble  any  body  else,  any  thing  else,  as  their 
parents?  Do  children  indeed  derive  no  inherent  constitution 
from  their  parents,  and  are  they  left  destitute  of  all  constitu- 
tion ?  Then,  if  brought  up  by  and  with  dogs,  or  whales,  or 
lions,  or  squirrels,  they  would  be  dogs,  or  whales,  or  lions, 
or  squirrels,  in  both  body  and  mind ! 

See  into  what  absurdities  the  opponents  of  this  doctrine  are 
forced  !  But  no  one  disbelieves  it;  and  those  who  pretend 
that  all  are  born  alike,  are  only  making  believe.  They  A-/zo?^? 
better.  All  know,  all  imist  know,  that  children  inherit  the 
mental  and  physical  qualities  of  their  parents;  and  to  argue 
this  point,  is  to  attempt  to  prove  that  two  and  one  make  three. 
The  great  principle  of  hereditary  descent,  has  only  to  be 
stated,  to  be  admitted.  And,  I  repeat  it,  if  one  single  quality, 
whether  mental  or  physical,  is  hereditary,  then  all  that  is 
original,  whether  in  the  form  of  body,  position  of  the  head, 
feet,  heart,  each  bone,  and  muscle,  &c.,  or  in  the  faculties  of 
the  mind,  and  even  in  their  relative  energy,  is  hereditary, 
and  all  the  minutest  shades  and  phases  of  character,  or  at 
least  those  elements  from  which  every  emotion  of  the  mind, 
every  virtuous,  every  vicious  feeling,  every  talent,  and  even 
every  thought,  evry  action  of  intellect,  all  that  is  mental, 
are  innate,  are  inhei'ited. 


PRELIMINARY    REMARKS    TO   CHAPTER   VIT.  193 

How  ihe  3aw  that  children  resemble  iheir  parents  is  modified. 


CHAPTER   VIL 

THE  CONDITIONS  OF  PARENTS,  WHILE  BECOMING  PARENTS. 

If  the  great  law,  already  so  fully  estalDlished,  that  chil- 
dren RESEMBLE  THEIR  PARENTS,  and  that  they  inherit  all  of 
their  original  elements,  of  mind  and  body,  from  parentage, 
admitted  of  no  modification,  and  allowed  no  change  to  creep 
in,  it  would  necessarily  render  every  member  of  the  human 
family  exactly  alike,  both  in  size  and  shape  of  body,  com- 
plexion, looks,  strength,  and  all  other  physical  peculiarities, 
so  that  one  could  not  be  distinguished  from  the  other ;  and 
also  in  all  their  mental  and  m,oral  characteristics — in  all  their 
opinions,  desires,  feelings,  pursuits,  capacities,  dispositions, 
modes  of  thinking  and  acting,  and  in  short,  in  every  conceiva- 
ble poi?it  of  vieia. 

But  from  a  monotony  so  every  way  oppressive  and  detri- 
menlal  to  the  happiness  of  man,  nature  has  kindly  relieved  us, 
by  instituting  the  following  modification  of  this  law,  namely, 
that  the  various  artificial  habits  of  parents — their  ever  vary- 
ing conditions  while  becoming  parents,  should  stamp  their 
impress  upon  both  the  mental  and  physical  nature  of  their 
offspring.  That  the  general  or  the  permanent  nature  of 
parents,  imparts  the  7nam  bias  of  character  to  offspring,  ad- 
mits of  no  doubt;  and  yet  children  often  possess  characteris- 
tics not  found  in  either  parent,  or  grand  or  great  grand-par- 
ent, but  which  tally  precisely  with  changes  that  occurred  in 
the  conditions  of  the  parents  during  the  augmentation  of  their 
families ;  and  the  differences  that  often  occur  in  children  of 
the  same  parentage,  while  they  differ  essentially  from  those 
of  both  parents  and  ancestors,  will  frequently  constitute  a 
good  history  of  changes  that  occurred  to  the  parents  at  the 
several  periods  of  their  birth. 

But  again.  Brothers  and  sisters  bear  a  general  resem- 
blance to  each  other  and  to  their  parents,  because  the  gen- 
eral characters  of  the  parents,  and  the  general  tenor  of  their 
characters,  remained  much  the  same.  But  ticins  usually  re- 
semble each  other  still  more  closely,  so  closely  indeed,    that 

17 


194       CONDITIONS    OF    PARENTS,  WHILE    BECOMING   PAKENTS. 
Causes  of  the  difference  which  is  seen  in  children  of  ihe  same  parents. 

strangers  often  fail  to  distinguish  them  apart ;  probably  be- 
cause begotten  and  born  under  precisely  the  same  circum- 
stances of  the  parents.  And  where  they  differ  from  each 
other,  which  is  extremely  rare,  one  will  generally  be  found 
to  resemble  one  parent  or  grand-parent,  and  the  other  another. 
But  this  matter  is  put  completely  at  rest  by  the  fact  that 
the  organs  of  the  children  resemble  those  of  their  parents,  as 
seen  in  this  work,  and  that  those  of  their  parents  are  capable 
of  being  enlarged  and  diminished  in  the  course  of  years,  as 
proved  in  the  author's  work  on  Phrenology  applied  to  Edu- 
cation and  Self-Improvement.  Hence,  if  different  influences 
or  conditions  of  life  occur  to  change  the  organs  of  parents 
while  their  family  is  increasing,  these  changes  in  the  beads 
of  parents,  will  of  course  be  transmitted  to  their  children.  In 
short,  both  the  mental  and  the  physical  conditions  of  parents 
while  becoming  parents — that  of  the  father  for  days,  perhaps 
months  before,  as  well  as  while  begetting  the  child,  and  that 
of  the  mother  for  a  similar  period  as  well  as  during  the  whole 
term  of  gestation  and  nursing — are  transmitted  to  their  off- 
spring, and  so  transmitted  as  to  become  constitutional,  and 
thus  handed  down  to  future  generations,  illustrations  of 
which  have  been  already  given  in  the  preceding  chapter,  and 
Avill  be  continued  in  this. 


SECTION  I. 

THE  RESPECTIVE  INFLUENCES  OF  EACH  PARENT. 

What  is  the  relative  influence  of  the  father,  and  what  of 
the  mother  ?  The  influence  of  which  is  greatest  upon  the 
physical,  of  which  upon  the  moral,  and  of  which  upon  the 
intellectual  character  of  their  offspring?  Does  the  one  trans- 
mit the  intellectual,  and  the  other  the  animal  nature,  or  one 
the  muscular  and  the  other  the  motive  system?  and  if  so, 
which  imparts  which  ?  or  do  they  both  combine  in  propaga- 
ting each  in  proportion  to  their  relative  energy?  are  questions 
easily  asked,  but  hard  to  answer,  partly  from  difficulties  im- 
posed by  the  very  jaature  of  the  case,  and  partly  by  the  false 


THE    RESPECTIVE   INFLUENCES    OF   EACH    PARENT.  195 

Alexander  Walker's  theory.  Faets  against  this  theory. 

modesty  of  the  age ;  and  yet  their  proper  answer  would 
evolve  principles  of  great  moment  and  practical  utility,  in  re- 
gard to  which  the  author  hopes  to  correct  some  errors  and 
make  some  useful  suggestions. 

The  favorite  theory  of  Alexander  Walker,  that  one  parent 
imparts  the  vital  system  and  frontal  half  of  the  head,  while 
the  other  furnishes  the  motive  system  and  back  half  of  the 
head,  at  first  prepossessed  the  author  in  its  favor,  but  has 
not  coincided  with  his  subsequent  observations.  He  knows  a 
girl  whose  whole  head,  back,  front  and  top,  resembles  her 
mother's ;  and  as  the  heads  of  both  parents  are  dissimilar, 
and  that  of  the  girl  is  strongly  marked,  it  is  easy  to  see 
wherein  her  phrenological  developments  resemble  or  differ 
from  either.  The  forehead  of  the  father  projects  most  at  the 
root  of  the  nose  and  so  upwards  to  Comparison,  but  retires 
at  Causality;  those  of  both  mother  and  daughter  project  at  the 
upper  and  lateral  portions,  but  retire  at  the  perceptives,  where 
that  of  the  father  projects  most.  In  the  father  Cautiousness 
is  not  large,  but  in  both  mother  and  daughter,  it  is  immense. 
Adhesiveness  is  much  larger  in  both  mother  and  daughter, 
than  in  the  father.  The  Concentrativeness  of  the  father  is 
very  small ;  of  both  mother  and  daughter,  large.  Striking 
differences  exist  in  their  organs  of  Benevolence,  Ideality,  Con- 
structiveness, Approbativeness,  and  several  other  organs,  those 
of  the  father  being  unlike  those  of  his  wife  and  daughter. — 
The  daughter  also  resembles  her  mother,  but  differs  from  her 
father,  in  character,  in  each  of  these  particulars;  and  what 
renders  the  case  still  stronger,  she  takes  after  her  maternal 
grand-mother^  and  great  grand-mother,  cousins,  &c.,  both  in 
these  respects,  and  in  her  temperament,  though  her  motions 
resemble  those  of  her  father,  as  do  also  a  few  of  her  appetites 
and  habits. 

Another  child  of  the  same  parents,  takes  its  whole  head, 
both  its  fore  part  and  its  back  part,  from  \ts  father,  or  more 
properly  from  its  'paternal  grand-father.  In  short,  I  find  no 
regularity  whatever,  as  regards  either  portion  of  the  head 
<!oraing  from  one  parent,  and  another  as  coming  from  another. 
So  far  from  it,  I  find  that  the  parent  which  imparts  the  most 
of  the  head^  usually  furnishes  the  most  of  the  body.     And  I 


196       CONDITIONS    OF    PARENTS,  WHILE    BECOMING   PARENTS. 
Principles  estahlished  by  the  author's  observations. 

can  generally  tell,  not  only  which  parent  the  child  most  re- 
•sernbles,  but  I  can  also  tell  from  which  parent  the  person  in- 
herits a  liability  to  consumption,  or  other  diseases,  which 
was  the  shortest,  largest,  tallest,  most  plump  or  spare  favored^ 
and  which  parent  and  grand-parent  lived  the  longest.  I  re- 
cently astonished  Professor  Emerson,  of  Andover,  by  telling 
him  that  he  resembled  his  mother,  and  she  her  father,  and 
that  he  resembled  his  grand-father,  and  how  long  his  grand- 
father lived  ;  for  I  saw  that  many  points  in  his  head,  resem- 
bled the  general  form  O'f  the  female  head,  (see  conclusion  of 
sec.  3,  chap,  vi.)  and  also  that  his  powerful  muscular  sys- 
tem, came  from  some  male  ancestor,  and  as  he  resembled  his 
mother  in  head,  I  inferred  that  ^Ae  resembled  her  father^  and 
inferred  that  he  therefore  resembled  his  mother  and  maternal 
grand-father. 

The  principle  to  which  all  my  observations,  which  have 
heen  both  extensive  and  diversified,  tend,  is  this — that  chil- 
dren inherit  more  of  both  their  physical  constitution  and 
looks,  and  also  of  their  mental  tone  and  character,  from  that 
parent  who  is  endowed  with  the  greatest  amount  of  native 
vigor, — that  when  the  physical  constitution  predominates  m 
one  parent,  and  the  mental  in  the  other,  the  offspring  will 
generally,  though  not  always,  take  on  the  physical  constitu- 
tion of  the  strong  parent,  and  the  mental  of  the  intellectual 
parent, — that  when  both  parents  have  a  predominance  of 
either  the  physical  or  of  the  mental,  the  offspring  will  inherit 
an  augm,entation  of  that  of  its  parents,  and  that,  in  all  cases, 
that  parent  which  is  the  most  vigorous,  will  exert  the  most 
powerful  influence  on  the  character  of  the  child,  and  of  a 
character  similar  to  his  own — that  the  parent  which  has  but 
a  weak  vital,  or  motive,  or  mental  apparatus,  imparts  but  a 
feeble  vital  or  motive,  or  mental  apparatus,  and  that  the 
parent  which  has  a  strong  vital,  or  motive,  or  mental  appara- 
tus, will  impart  the  same  to  offspring. 

If  this  principle  be  true,  it  leads  us  to  the  following  most 
important  conclusions  : 

1.  That  one  having  a  feeble  vital,  or  motive,  or  mental 
system,  should  never  marry  one  having  this  system  feeble; 
for  then,  that  of  their  children  will  be  doubly  feeble;  but  orie 


THE   RESPECTIVE   INFLUENCES   OF   EACH    PAKENT.  197 

Rules  lo  be  observed  in  marrying. 

having  either  feeble,  should  always  marry  one  having  it 
strong.  Thus  those  having  a  consumptive  tendency,  or  from 
a  stock  in  which  consumption  lurks,  should  never  marry 
those  of  the  same  temperament;  but  those  having  narrow 
chests,  small  lungs,  a  thin  visage,  spare  form,  and  small  ab- 
domen, should  marry  those  having  full  cheeks,  ample  busts, 
depth  and  breadtb  of  chest,  full  abdomens,  and  considerable 
flesh.  Let  delicate  persons  never  marry  those  that  are  also 
delicate,  nor  small  or  slim  persons,  those  that  are  small  and 
slim.  Nor  should  those  having  very  light  complexion,  hair 
and  eyes,  and  fine  and  soft  skin,  marry  those  like  themselves, 
for  then,  as  the  mental  temperament  predominates  in  both 
parents,  and  the  animal  is  weak  in  both,  their  children  will 
be  small,  most  sensitive,  precocious,  feeble,  and  almost  sure 
to  die  young. 

2.  Nor  should  those  having  the  animal  system  predomi- 
nant, marry  those  in  whom  this  temperament  predominates, 
lest  their  children  inherit  an  increase  of  animality,  and  a  dim- 
iuution  of  mental  power.  But,  let  them  unile  in  marriage 
with  those  whose  mental  apparatus  is  strong.  Their  having 
a  strong  constitution,  however,  is  certainly  no  objection,  but 
the  more  the  better.  The  union  of  those  having  great  mus- 
cular strength  and  powerful  physical  constitutions,  with  those 
whose  minds  are  clear,  tastes  literary,  feelings  fine  and  in- 
tense, and  flow  of  thoughts  and  words  abundant,  (and  ihis 
is  generally  the  case  with  consumptive  families,)  will  be 
found  to  be  aspicious  of  talent  in  the  progeny. 

3.  But  the  best   union,   is  that  of  similar  temperaments, 
when  hath  are  icell  balanced.     If  very  small   persons  should 
not  marry  those  that  are  also  small,  if  those  that  are  tall  and 
slim,  should  marry  those  that  are  short  and  stocky,  if  any, 
and  if  the  weak  should  marry  the  strong  or  none,  it  does  not. 
necessarily  follow  that  those  of  average  size  should   marry 
those  that  are  i;ery  large  or  else  very  small — that  those  whose 
temperaments  are  evenly  balanced,  and  all   that  they  should  . 
be,  should  marry  those  whose  temperaments  are  uneven  and 
therefore  defective  ;  but,  while  those  of  either  extreme,  wheth-  . 
er  mental  or  physical,  whether  very  large  or  very  small,  very 
sensitive  or  very  obtuse,  very  tall  or  very  short,  very  dark 

'IT* 


198        CONDITIONS   OP    PARENTS,   WHILE    BECOMING   PARENTS. 
Error  of  Walker.  Husbands  and  wives  gradually  assimilate. 

complexionecl  or  very  light,  very  coarse-featured  or  very  fine, 
should  marry  the  other  extreme,  yet  those  who  are  inedium 
in  these  and  other  respects,  should  marry  those  who  are 
medium.  Those  who  are  rights  as  to  mind  and  body,  or 
are  what  they  ought  to  be,  should  marry  those  like  them- 
selves  ;  while  those  that  are  wrong,  that  is,  at  either  extreme, 
should  marry  the  other  extreme. 

Walker's  great  error  consists  in  his  directing  all  extremes 
and  all  opposites^  to  unite  with  the  other  extreme.  On  the 
contrary,  1  maintain  that,  though  extremes  should  marry  op- 
posite extremes,  yet,  that  m.ediums  should  marry  mediums. 
I  grant  that  extremes  fancy  extremes,  but  it  is  for  precisely 
the  same  reason  that  a  man,  burning  up  with  a  raging  fever, 
desires  and  relishes  cold  water,  or  a  cold  man  seeks  and  en- 
joys a  fire,  namely,  because  being  opposites,  they  tend  to  re- 
duce his  extremes,  which  are  painful  6ecaw^e  extremes.  That 
is,  when  one  becomes  so  tall,  or  so  short,  or  so  large,  or  so 
excitable,  &c.,  as  to  be  the  worse  therefor,  nature  corrects 
ibis  error  by  creating  in  him  a  relish  for  the  other  extreme, 
by  which  his  extreme  will  be  partially  neutralized,  and  he 
benefited. 

And  then,  what  is  the  general  fact  as  regards  husbands 
and  wives  ]  While  we  sometimes  see  extremes  in  husbands 
and  wives,  yet  we  seldom  find  awiedimm  man  or  woman,  uni- 
ted to  the  other  extreme.  And  what  is  more,  because  it 
shows  clearly  the  indication  of  nature,  husbands  and  wives 
that  have  lived  lovingly  together  a  score  or  two  of  years, 
naturally  and  gradually  assim,ilate.  If  one  be  fleshy  and  the 
other  spare,  the  spare  one  gradually  fleshes  up,  and  the  plump 
one  loses  his  flesh  ;  the  healthy  one  imparts  to  the  feeble  one 
a  part  of  his  health,  and  receives  in  return  a  portion  of  the 
disease  of  the  sickly  one,  and  so  of  other  physical  and  men- 
tal points  of  difference,  and  even  of  looks,  walk,  tones  of 
voice,  and  character  generally — a  general  principle  which 
contains  invaluable  lessons  for  those  who  require  to  employ 
it,  that  is,  who  would  seek  a  help-meet  in  a  companion,  or 
on^.'  that  vj'\\\  further  their  ends,  whatever  they  may  be,  wheth- 
er laborious,  or  literary,  or  moral,  or  religious,  or  aspiring,  or 
reforming,  or   enjoying,  instead  of  hanging  as  dead  weights 


THE   RESPECTIVE    INFLUENCES   OF   EACH    PARENT.  199 

What  qunlities  should  be  bleiKled  in  marriage 

upon  their  wings.  Still,  those  who  are  too  Uterary  for  their 
health,  or  ^o  ambitious  for  their  strength,  and  too  radical,  &c. 
require  those  of  opposite  organizations,  for  the  very  purpose 
of  holding  them  in  check.  Hence  highly  excitable  persons, 
should  not  marry  those  who  are  equally  excitable,  and  who, 
therefore,  will  nerve  them  up  to  a  still  higher  pitch  of  action, 
but  they  should  marry  those  who  will  soothe,  relax,  and  soft- 
en down  their  feelings,  or  as  it  were,  draw  off  that  excess  of 
excitement  with  which  they  are  charged,  and  at  the  same 
time  benefit  themselves,  by  receiving  this  action,  in  which,  by 
supposition,  they  are  somewhat  different. 

Precisely  the  same  general  law  governs  the  blending  and 
offsetting  of  particular  organs  and  faculties.  If  they  are 
about  what  they  should  be,  as  to  size  and  power  in  one,  let 
them  be  about  the  same  in  the  other ;  but,  if  they  are  too  large 
in  the  one,  let  them  be  offset  by  marrying  one  in  whom  they 
are  smaller.  Or  if  a  genius  is  required  in  either  mechanics, 
or  poetry,  or  mathematics,  or  physical  strength,  or  the  acqui- 
sition of  knowledge,  or  giant  strength  of  intellect,  let  those 
having  the  desired  organs  largely  developed,  marry  those 
having  a  similar  organization,  supported  by  strength  of  con- 
stitution, and  they  can  hardly  fail  of  securing  their  wish. 

But  these  extremes — this  deficiency  in  some  respects,  and 
excesses  or  prodigies  in  others — haveelsewh  -if  *  been  shown 
to  be  unfavorable — extremes  in  the  temperament  to  be  unfa- 
vorable to  health,  and  in  the  faculties,  unfavorable  to  correct 
judgment  and  proper  conduct,  as  well  as  to  virtue  and  hap- 
piness, while  the  full  development  and  e^-wa/ action  of  all  the 
temperaments,  is  the  condition  of  physical  health  and  happi- 
ness, and  the  equal,  harmonious,  ox  proportionate  action  of 
all  the  faculties,  is  the  main  condition  of  mental  and  moral 
perfection,  of  good  judgment,  sound  common  sense,  correct 
feelings,  and  a  virtuous  and  happy  life.  Hence  parents  whose 
bodily  and  mental  organization  is  what  it  should  be  in  all  re- 
spects, should  choose  companions  like  themselves ;  but  those 
in  whom  the  mental  or  physical  developments  are  uneven, 
and  therefore,  whose  character,  opinions,  and  conduct   are 

*  In  the  author's  work  on  "Education  and  Self-Improvement." 


200       CONDITIONS    OF   PARENTS,  WHILE   BECOMING    PARENTS. 
Are  talents  inherited  mostly  from  the  father  or  the  mother  ? 

warped  and  imperfect,  should  offset  or  supply  these  defects  or 
excesses,  by  marrying  those  having  opposite  mental  and  physi- 
cal developments,  and  thus  strike  a  balance,  not  only  in 
their  children,  but  in  part  in  themselves. 

Of  course  the  author  cannot  run  out  these  general  princi- 
ples in  all  their  ever  varying  applications,  nor  is  this  neces- 
sary, for  readers  of  ordinary  sagacity,  and  especially,  either 
by  studying  Phrenology  themselves,  or  by  calling  to  their  aid 
the  services  of  a  successful  Phrenologist,  can  soon  determine 
Avhat  qualities  he  requires  similar  to,  and  what  to  offset,  and 
subdue,  by  opposite  organizations  in  a  companion.  At  least, 
what  I  deem  a  correct  and  a  most  important  principle,  and 
one  which  runs  through  most  of  the  facts  stated  in  previous 
portions  of  this  work,  is  now  before  the  reader.  "  He  that 
is  wise  is  wise  for  himself,  but  he  that  scorneth  he  shall  bear 
it,"  and  his  posterity  after  him. 

As  to  whether  superior  talents  are  imparted  by  the  father 
or  the  mother,  a  great  diversity  of  opinion  exists.  Some 
maintain  that  the  germ  is  derived  w>Ao%  from  the  father,  and 
that  the  mother's  qualities  have  no  more  to  do  in  determining 
those  of  the  child,  than  have  those  of  the  hen,  in  determining 
whether  the  eggs  she  sits  upon  shall  hatch  ducks,  or  geese, 
that  depending  upon  the  inherent  nature  of  the  egg,  and  not 
upon  the  hatcher.*  With  this  theory,  I  have  no  fellowship, 
because  it  deprives  the  mother  of  all  participation  in  impart- 
ing the  original  bias  of  character  to  her  child  ;  nor  yet  have 
I  with  its  opposite  one,  that  the  mother  has  all  to  do,  both  in 
determining  the  original  character  of  the  egg,  and  in  the 
hatching,  and  that  all  that  the  father  does,  is  simply  to  quicken 
the  ovum  furnished  solely  by  the  mother,  and  which  contains 
within  itself  all  the  original  elements  that  enter  into  the  for- 
mation of  either  mind  or  body:  and  that  all  the  influence  ex- 
erted by  the  father  upon  the  character  of  the  child,  is  through 
the  imagination  of  the  mother  only,  thus  allowing  him  "  no 

*  An  eccentric  father,  once  commanded  his  daughters  never  to  call 
their  children  his  grand-children,  but  to  call  them  the  grand-children  of 
their  hushaniVs  father,  rating  all  real  descent  from  the  father,  from  whom 
alone,  he  contended,was  imptu'ted  the  germ  of  existence. 


THE    RESPECTIVE   INFLUENCES    OF   EACH    PARENT.  201 

Imagination  of  ihe  mother  influencing  the  child. 

part  nor  lot  in  this  matter"  of  imparting  the  original  bias  to 
his  own  child, — a  theory  maintained  by  a  recent  work  enti- 
tled, "Mental  and  Moral  Qualities  Transmissible."  That  the 
father,  in  his  own  capacity  as  a  father,  stamps  his  own  physi- 
cal and  mental  nature  upon  that  of  his  child,  is  rendered  evi- 
dent from  many  of  the  facts  already  stated,  in  which  various 
talents,  propensities,  tastes,  diseases,  &c.  &c.,  and  even  in- 
sanity^ have  descended  in  the  male  line,  and  after  passing  one 
generation,  and  thus  precluding  the  possibility  of  its  being 
communicated  by  the  father's  operating  on  the  imagination  of 
the  mother,  because  the  father'  was  jjerfecily  sane,  have  reap- 
peared in  the  third  and  after  generations.  Is  it  to  be  supposed 
for  one  moment,  that  the  piety  of  the  Brainard  or  Rogers 
family,  descended  in  the  male  line,  solely  by  the  husbands  all 
being  so  devoted  as  to  impress  the  imaginations  of  all  their 
wives,  and  thereby  transmit,  not  as  parents,  but  as  lookers  on 
merely,  this  pious  influence  from  sire  to  son,  which,  even 
though  the  father  was  a  Brainard,  could  just  as  well  have 
been  changed  to  any  thing  and  every  thing  else,  if  other  per- 
sons of  other  minds  had  been  at  hand  to  impress  the  mother's 
mind  in  an  opposite  direction  '\  A  fine  scape-goat  this,  for 
wives  who  prove  truant  to  their  husbands  !  If  their  child 
should  be  a  mulatto,  they  have  only  to  say  that  some  Sambo 
impressed  their  im,aginations  !  That  impressions  made  upon 
the  imagination  of  the  mother,  whether  by  her  husband  or  by- 
others,  or  even  by  animals  and  things,  are  often  stamped 
upon  the  nature  of  the  child,  will  soon  be  shown,  but  that  the 
sole  agency  of  the  father — that  all  he  does  to  stamp  his  own 
mental  or  physical  impress  upon  his  oifspring,  is  done  solely 
by  the  impressions  he  makes  upon  the  mother's  imagination, 
and  not  by  virtue  of  his  office  as  a  father — is  a  theory,  which, 
while  it  thrusts  out  the  father  from  all  participation  in  the 
formation  of  the  characters  of  his  own  children,  making  them 
no  more  his  tiian  another's,  is  so  manifestly  absurd  in  itself, 
and  so  contrary  to  the  general  tenor  of  the  facts  that  bear  on 
this  point,  (one  single  fact  of  the  right  kind  being  sufficient  to 
overthrow  it,)  that  if  it  were  not  entertained  in  quarters  en- 
titled to  respect,  would  not  deserve  refutation,  or  even 
notice. 


202       CONDITIONS    OF    PARENTS,  WHILE    BECOMING   PARENTS. 
Gentral  character  of  the  father  affeclinff  the  child. 

My  doctrine  is,  that  a  part  of  the  orig'mal  substance  from 
which  the  child  is  formed,  is  derived  from  the  loins  of  its 
father,  which  substance,  partaking,  as  it  does,  of  his  mental 
and  physical  nature,  stamps  that  nature  upon  the  child.  I 
believe  that  the  father  does  quite  as  much,  congenitally^  as 
the  mother,  probably  more;  and  that  the  mother  does  most- 
by  way  of  nourishing  the  embryo ;  but  this  matter,  a  correct; 
understanding  of  which,  would  develope  some  most  impor- 
tant truths,  is  at  present  shrouded  in  too  much  mystery  to 
allow  a  correct  and  final  decision  of  this  question. 

But,  be  the  office  of  the  father  what  it  may,  it  is  very  clea* 
that  whatever  congenital  influences  he  exerts,  must  be  exert- 
ed at  or  before  generation,  so  that  it  is  his  condition  a^  and 
for  days  perhaps  weeks  or  months  before  that  period,  or  while 
secreting  the  requisite  materials,  that  alone  can  stamp  his 
physical  or  mental  impress  upon  his  offspring.  Hence,  the 
'permanent^  ^e;ieraZ  character  of  the  father  has  a  much  great- 
er influence  on  the  child,  than  his  temporary,  fluctuating 
changes,  induced  by  circumstances;  still,  if  he  be  habitually 
energetic,  and  labor  under  no  chronic  disease,  but  be  full  of 
animal  life  and  buoyancy  of  spirit,  both  for  a  few  days  or 
months  before,  and  at  that  period,  these  temporary  influences 
and  conditions,  will  unquestionably  be  transmitted  to  his  ofi"- 
spring;  or,  if  he  be  generally  debilitated,  or  exhausted,  or 
harassed  in  business,  or  suffer  under  depression  of  spirits, 
&c.  &c.,  these  and  other  similar  conditions  will  be  commu- 
nicated to  his  offspring. 

But,  in  my  humble  judgment,  both  parents  contribute,  in 
proportion  to  their  relative  energy,  of  the  original  materials, 
both  mental  and  physical,  from  which  the  child's  mind  as 
well  as  body  is  formed  ;  and  hence,  that  feebleness  in  either 
parent,  blights  the  progeny.  That  a  talented  mother  is  al> 
solutely  necessary  to  produce  talented  off'spring,  I  do  not  for 
a  moment  doubt ;  but  I  believe  a  talented /a^Aer  to' be  almost 
equally  so.  I  say  almost,  for  I  believe  that  the  influences  of 
the  mother  are,  on  the  whole,  considerably  greater  than  those 
of  the  father,  because,  besides  contributing  her  proportion 
towards  the  original  formation  of  the  embryo,  she  alone  nour- 
ishes the  foetus — a  function  which  will  soon  be  shown  to  be 


THE  RESPECTIVE  INFLUENCES  OF  EACH  PARENT.     203 


Talented  children  have  talented  fathers.  Judge  L. 

of  the  Utmost  importance.  That  all  great  men  will  be  found 
to  have  had  eminently  talented  mothers,  1  grant,  and  I  grant 
that  the  majority  of  facts  lean  to  the  side  of  the  mother ;  but 
what  talented  man  has  a  dolt  for  a  father  ?  The  fathers  of 
Washington,  of  Franklin,  of  Webster,  of  Wesley,  of  Patrick 
Henry,  and  of  a  host  of  others,  whom  the  reader  will  readily 
call  to  mind,  will  be  found  to  have  been  men  of  strong  com- 
mon sense,  sound  judgment,  strong  native  powers  of  intellect, 
and  much  general  information. 

And  then,  again,  admitting  that  talents  do  always  come 
from  the  mother,  these  mothers  must  get //ieir  talents  some- 
where. Do  they  always  inherit  them  from  Meir  mothers?  Do 
they  not  more  frequently  inherit  them  from  their  fathers  ?  If 
so,  and  facts  in  any  abundance  show  that  this  is  the  case, 
still  the  talents  often  come  from  the  male  line,  and  they  often 
a;lso  descend  in  the  male  line  ;  as  in  the  families  of  the  Sew- 
alls,  the  Folgers,  the  Lewises,  the  Edwardses,  and  others 
already  mentioned,  and  a^so  branch  off  from  it  through  the 
daughters  of  this  talented  line,  into  those  families  into  which 
they  marry. 

There  is,  however,  one  principle  of  hereditary  descent,  pre- 
sented in  many  of  the  preceding  facts,  though  not  formally 
announced,  which  should  not  be  lost  sight  of  in  determining 
whether  superior  talents  are  derived  from  the  father  or  moth- 
er; namely,  that  children  take  particular  qualities,  not  from 
either  parent,  but  from  a  ^ranrf-parent,  illustrations  of  which 
principle  are  furnished  by  the  Hatch  family,  chap.  iii.  sec. 
1;  by  the  Belgian  Giant,  sec.  3;  by  the  case  of  insanity 
reported  by  Miss  Hunt,  chap.  vi.  sec.  1 ;  by  the  kitten  loving 
propensity,  sec.  3 ;  by  the  child  of  Dr.  Gibson,  by  the  grand- 
mother of  Webster,  and  by  cases  mentioned  in  other  portions 
of  the  work,  as  well  as  by  the  general  observation  of  man- 
kind. 

The  following  facts,  while  they  are  interesting  in  them- 
selves, will  serve  to  illustrate  our  general  subject — the  con- 
ditions of  parents,  while  becoming  parents,  as  influencing 
fheir  children.  Said  Judge  L.  to  me,  during  a  conversation 
on  this  subject — "I  never  employed  my  intellect  in  becoming 
a  father,  except  in  the  case  of  my  youngest  child.     After 


204        CONDITIONS    OF    PARENTS,  WHILE    BECOMING   PABENTS. 

An  amiable  child.  A  hint  to  parents. 

closing  my  arduous  duties  on  the  bench,  protracted  unusually 
long,  1  determined  to  throw  off  all  care,  to  abandon  business 
for  a  time,  and  to  recreate  and  enjoy  myself  wiih  my  family, 
and  accordingly  invited  several  members  of  the  bar  and 
others  of  my  particular  friends,  from  adjoining  towns,  to 
meet  at  my  house,  and  have  a  social  and  happy  time.  On 
arriving  at  home,  after  an  absence  of  several  weeks,  I  found 
that  my  wife  had  just  discharged  her  menses  ;  and  she  was 
rendered  exceedingly  happy,  both  by  my  return,  and  by  the 
company  I  brought  with  me,  all  of  whom  entered  heart  and 
soul  into  the  social  festivity;  and  by  adding  music  and  danc- 
ing, we  had  a  truly  jolly  time  of  it.  We  both  retired  in  a 
most  happ3'^  frame  of  mind,  and  it  was  under  these  cheerful 
influences,  that  this  child  was  begotten,  and  a  better  natured, 
happier  dispositioned  child,  you  never  saw.  She  never  cries, 
or  frets,  or  complains,  but  will  sit  on  the  floor  by  the  hour, 
and  amuse  herself,  and  appears  always  happy."  The  author 
spent  some  days  in  the  Judge's  family  when  this  child  was 
about  a  year  old,  and  can  bear  ample  testimony  to  her  not 
crying,  and  always  appearing  perfectly  happy. 

Another  father,  on  bringing  his  daughter  to  me  to  be  ex- 
amined, remarked,  after  I  had  expatiated  pretty  freely  upon 
her  superior  intellect,  amiableness,  and  genuine  goodness,  re- 
marked, after  she  had  left,  that  she  was  beyond  comparison 
the  best  and  the  most  talented  of  his  children,  and  added,  thai 
he  accounted  for  it  from  the  fact,  that  when  she  was  begot- 
ten and  born,  he  was  in  the  full  tide  of  successful  business, 
had  money  flowing  in  upon  him,  and  was  abundantly  pros- 
pered in  every  thing;  but  that  his  children  born  afterwards, 
while  he  was  smarting  under  reverses  of  fortune,  were  ill- 
tempered,  and  not  as  intellectual  as  she  was. 

Let  parents  look  back  to  the  first  history  of  their  own 
children,  and  learn  from  these  and  similar  facts,  lessons  for 
the  guidance  of  their  future  conduct.  And  let  every  parent 
employ  intellect  in  these  the  most  important  relations  of  life. 
ft  is  a  law  of  our  nature,  that,  to  be  promotive  of  happiness, 
all  our  feelings  must  be  exercised  in  harmony  with  and  under 
the  guidance  of  intellect;  and  the  procreative  feeling,  above 
all  others,  should  be  thus  exercised. 


THE    RESPECTIYE   INFLUENCES    OF    EACH   PARENT.  205 

Happy  parents  have  amiable  children.  A  family  in  Lowell. 

Another  point  closely  connected  with  this  subject,  and,  in- 
deed, growing  out  of  it,  is  the  influence  of  affection,  and  also 
of  disagreement,  between  husbands  and  wives,  on  their  off- 
spring. The  very  nature  of  love  is  to  blind  each  parent  to 
the  faults  of  the  other,  and  perfectly  to  cemeyit  and  hlend 
together  the  affections  of  both,  so  as  to  "  make  of  twain  one 
flesh."  Nor  ought  husbands  and  wives  ever  to  disagree.  If 
they  cannot  live  together  in  peace  and  love,  they  should  not 
live  together  at  all ;  for,  besides  all  the  pleasures  flowing 
from  their  agreement,  and  all  the  tenfold  misery  caused  by 
their  disagreement,  or  contention,  (see  the  author  on  "Matri- 
mony," pp.25  to  34,)  the  influence  of  disagreement  upon  the 
disposition  of  children,  and  also  upon  their  talents,  is  per- 
nicious beyond  all  conception.  Let  the  reader  cast  his  eye 
around  on  the  circle  of  his  own  acquaintance,  and  see  if  he 
can  find  a  single  family  of  children  who  are  highly  intellec- 
tual and  amiable,  whose  parents  live  together  luihappily. 
And  ask  country  school-masters,  who,  bj?'  "  boarding  around," 
know  whether  the  parents  of  particular  scholars  live  together 
happily  or  unpleasantly,  if  the  parents  of  their  mischievous, 
naughty,  bad  pupils,  who  will  neither  learn  nor  mind,  but 
are  selfish,  and  up  to  all  manner  of  roguery,  ^o  x\o\.  generally 
quarrel ;  and  if  the  parents  of  those  children  that  are  amiable, 
loving,  lovely,  bright,  good  scholars,  and  promise  well,  do 
not  live  together  in  love  ?  Nor  can  words  express  the  im- 
portance of  this  subject.  Every  cross  word,  every  hard 
feeling,  is  a  dagger  aimed  at  the  happiness  of  3^our  unborn 
infant.     The  following  is  an  illustration : 

A  husband  and  wife  in  Lowell  love  each  other  tenderly, 
neither  having  been  known  ever  to  have  spoken  a  cross  v/ord 
to  the  other.  This  union  appears  to  be  perfect,  and  each  to 
be  literally  bound  up  in  the  other.  The  children  of  this 
happy  union,  are  among  the  sweetest  and  most  affectionate 
children  any  where  to  be  found,  no  cross  words,  no  pouting, 
scolding,  domineering,  biting,  striking,  or  other  ebullitions  of 
anger,  but  embraces  and  affectionate  caresses  take  their 
place,  the  most  perfect  union  pervading  the  whole  family. 
But  who  ever  saw  a  family  of  cross,  ugly-tempered  children, 
unless  their  parents  quarrelled,  or,  at  least,  often  blamed  and 

18 


J206        CONDITIONS    OF   PARENTS,  WHILE    BECOMING   PARENTS. 
Rules  in  relation  to  the  exercise  of  Amativeness  in  parents. 

found  fault  with  each  other?  or,  whoever  saw  peevish,  fret- 
ful, scolding,  disagreeing  parents,  whose  children  were  not 
equally  so?  But,  additional  force  will  be  given  to  these  re- 
marks, by  showing  how  intimately  the  condition  of  the 
mother  affects  the  character  of  the  child.  Unpleasant  feel- 
ings towards  her  husband,  render  her  constantly  miserable, 
and  keep  her  angry  most  of  the  time ;  and  this  must  neces- 
sarily impress  the  same  sad  and  angry  tone  upon  the  child, 
by  which  it  will  be  rendered  unhappy  for  life,  and  scatter  ill 
feeling  wherever  it  goes  ! 

Above  all  things,  husbands  and  wives  should  never  co- 
habit, unless  perfect  good  feeling  subsists  between  them ; 
first,  because  the  exercise  of  Amativeness  merely,  without 
its  being  modified  and  purified  by  the  sanction  and  the  con- 
current blending  of  all  the  other  faculties,  in  which  the 
animal  is  buried  in  the  spiritual  and  the  exalted,  becomes 
mere  lust,  of  the  basest  and  most  loathsome  character,  and 
most  brutal  and  disgusting  !  How  is  it  possible  to  make  so 
exalted  an  element  of  our  nature,  an  instruiiient  of  animal 
gratification  merely,  from  which  all  its  higher,  holier  charac- 
teristics, those  that  •'  make  of  twain  one  flesh,''  are  banished '} 
Let  woman,  especially,  answer  this  question.  Secondly, 
because  the  child  begotten  by  animal  feeling  merely,  must 
necessarily  be  animal  all  its  life  ;  nor  is  it  possible  to  stay 
the  deep,  broad  current  of  human  iniquity,  now  threatening 
to  swallow  up  all  that  is  lovely,  all  that  is  pure  and  holy  in 
man,  in  one  great  besom  of  selfishness  and  moral  pollution,  by 
all  the  preaching  in  Christendom,  by  all  the  means  of  grace 
and  efforts  at  reform  now  in  vogue,  till  parents,  in  their  o%cn 
capacity  as  parents^  commence  it,  and  beget  and  bring  forth 
in  a  pure,  and  in  an  elevated  state  of  mind,  as  well  as  in  a 
vigorous  and  healthy  state  of  body.  Nor  can  I  resist  the 
conviction,  drawn  from  the  analogy  of  the  animal  kingdom, 
from  the  exercise  of  appetite,  and  from  all  the  other  faculties, 
that  BUT  ONE  cohabitation  should  take  place  to  a  birth.  As 
we  are  not  made  to  eat  merely  to  gratify  the  palate,  but  only 
when  nature  demands  the  result  of  eating,  so  we  should  not 
exercise  this  organ  in  this  manner  oftener  than  its  results,  or 
offspring,  requires.    But  my  theory  on  this  point  I  shall  give 


ON   NOURISHING   THE    EMBRYO   AND   INFANT.  20T 

Weakly  mothers  cannot  produce  healthy  offspring'. 

in  a  separate  work,  entitled  "  Amativeness,  it  Uses  and 
Abuses,  including  the  remedy  of  the  latter."  The  above 
has  been  introduced,  because,  without  it,  any  work  on  hered- 
itary descent  would  be  incomplete ;  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that 
the  reader  will  appreciate  this  much,  at  least. 


SECTION  II. 

THE  OFFICE  OF  THE  MOTHER  IN  NOURISHING  THE  EMBRYO  AND 

INFANT. 

But,  while  the  congenital  influences  of  the  mother  on  the 
character  and  talents  of  the  child,  may  or  may  not  equal  or 
exceed  those  of  the  father,  still,  the  influences  which  she  is 
compelled  to  exert  upon  it  during  gestation^  and  even  in 
nursmg,  unquestionably  give  her  a  much  greater  power  over 
the  character  of  her  ofl"spring,  than  it  is  possible  for  the 
father  to  exert ;  first,  because  they  are  continued  so  much 
longer;  and  secondly,  whatever  the  seed  may  be,  nothing  can 
come  of  it  if  planted  upon  a  rock,  or  in  a  barren  soil.  What- 
ever the  original  elements  of  talent  may  be,  the  physical 
stamina  must  be  good,  the  constitution  must  be  strong,  or  the 
child  will  die  before  it  arrives  at  maturity,  or  else  have  too 
little  physical  strength  to  sustain  the  mind  in  long-continued 
or  powerful  action.  I  say,  then,  let  the  germ  be  what  it 
map — the  very  best  possible — a  weakly  mother  can  produce 
nothing  but  a  weakly  offspring,  and  a  weakly  offspring  can 
never  become  distinguished.  The  one  condition  of  intel- 
lectual and  moral  excellence,  which  lies  at  the  basis  of  all 
others,  is  a  strong  constitution ;  and  this  must  come  from  the 
mother,  or  rather,  from  both  father  atid  mother.  Be  the 
father  ever  so  strong  and  healthy,  a  feeble  mother,  with  little 
vitality  herself,  cannot  possibly  impart  sufficient  vitality  to 
the  offspring,  to  lay  the  basis  of  a  strong  constitution, — and, 
without  this,  farewell  to  genius,  farewell  to  moral  excellence, 
and  to  all  that  is  valuable  in  our  nature  !  Suppose  an  able- 
bodied  man  to  be  half-starved,  and  allowed  but  half  the  air 
req^uired  for  breathing,  would  he  not  pine  away,  and  lose 


%08       CONDITIONS    OF    PAKENTS,  WHILE    BECOMING    PARENTS. 
Tlie  connection  between  the  mother  and  the  unborn  infant. 

Strength  and  weight  in  proportion  as  his  sustenance  was 
withheld  from  him  ?  And  if  this  be  the  case  with  strong 
men,  already  grown,  how  much  more  so  with  children  that 
are  growing?  Nor  have  I  the  least  doubt,  bat  that  mil- 
lions of  the  youth  of  our  land  lose  half  of  their  phys- 
ical and  mental  power,  by  working  off  too  much  an- 
imal energy,  or  taking  in  too  little — thus  having  less 
physical  energy  than  they  require  for  growth.  Let  a  child 
be  half-starved,  and  how  soon  it  withers  and  dies!  How 
much  more,  then,  will  the  embryo,  if  but  poorly  supplied 
with  nourishment,  become  feeble  and  stinted  in  both  its 
mental  and  its  physical  growth  !  I  repeat  it,  the  child 
stands  not  the  least  chance  of  distinction,  and  hardly,  of  life, 
nnless  its  mother  be  able  to  furnish  it,  before  birth,  with  an 
abundant  supply  of  animal  life.  If  the  nnborn  infant  can 
survive  the  death  of  its  mother  but  a  few  moments  at 
farthest,  surely,  when  the  mother  is  but  half  alive,  how  can 
the  child  be  more  so?  No  connection  can  possibly  be  more 
intimate  than  is  that  between  mother  and  child;  the  latter 
being  nourished,  sustained,  and  even  formed,  by  the  same 
life-blood,  by  the  same  nervous  energy,  which  sustains  the 
forrner,  so  that,  if  the  supply  he  not  amply  sufficient  for 
both,  each  is  starving  the  other.  If  a  meal,  barely  sufficient 
for  one,  be  set  before  two,  all  that  either  eats,  is  so  much 
taken  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  other ;  but  if  there  be  not 
sufficient  for  one,  the  case  is  so  much  the  worse.  Merely  to 
impart  to  the  unborn  infant  nourishment  sufficient  for  growth, 
causes  a  great  drain  of  animal  power;  but,  to  impart  to  it 
the  quantum  sufficit  of  animal  energy  requisite  for  enabling 
it  to  maintain  a  separate  existence  of  its  own,  to  preserve 
health,  and  to  gather  up  within  itself  those  physical  and 
mental  energies  required  to  be  put  forth  in  after-life,  demands 
still  more.  And  every  mother  knows,  that  carrying  a  child 
causes  a  tremendous  drain  of  animal  energy,  and  tends 
greatly  to  exhaust  the  vital  powers.  Otherwise,  from  what 
source  could  the  child  derive  its  vital  stamina?  and  especially 
the  great  amount  of  vitality  requisite  to  sustain  its  entrance 
into  the  world,  and  going  through  it?  And  hence  it  is  thai 
Nature  has  kindly  furnished  to  the  mother,  at  such  times,  a 


ON   NOUBlSHfNG   THE    EMBRYO   AND   INFANT.  209 

Advice  to  mothers  while  pregnant. 

greater  supply  of  this  energy,  than  she  does  at  other  times. 
Mothers,  while  pregnant,  provided  they  are  not  suffering 
from  previously  incurred  debility  or  disease,  sleep  more  than 
at  any  other  time,  sometimes  being  so  sleepy  that  they  can 
hardly  keep  their  eyes  open,  eat  more  and  digest  better,  and 
experience  a  general  augmentation  of  their  usual  animal 
€nergy.  And  hence  the  inference,  that  mothers  should  sleep 
plentifully,  should  exercise  much,  breathe  fresh  air  in  abun- 
dance, eat  freely  of  nourishing  food,  and  take  all  possible 
pains  to  augment  this  supply  of  vitality  in  themselves,  in 
order  to  impart  it  in  large  quantities  to  their  embryo,  so  as 
to  lay  a  broad  and  deep  foundation  of  animal  energy,  that 
is,  so  as  to  give  it  a  strong  physical  constitution.  And, 
above  all  things,  mothers  in  this  state,  should  not  work  so 
hard  as  to  exhaust  themselves,  nor  sit  and  sew,  nor  force 
themselves  to  keep  awake  when  they  desire  to  sleep,  nor  sit 
up  with  the  sick,  nor  shut  themselves  up  within  doors,  and 
from  fresh  air,  nor  do  any  thing  whatever  that  will  deprive 
them,  and,  consequently,  their  charge,  of  any  of  the  animal 
energy  required  by  it. 

And  this  is  a  most  serious  sin  of  mothers.     Many  of  them 
have   but   a   feeble  supply  of   animal  life,  at  best,  hardly 
enough   to  keep  themselves  alive,   and  not  a  groat   to  spare 
a  child,   and  yet,  they  not  only  become  parents,  but,  even 
while  pregnant,  instead  of  husbanding  the  small  supply  of 
strength   they  have,  are   lavish   even  of  that,  and   thus   rob 
themselves  and  their  infants  of  vitality,  and  pay  the  dreadful 
forfeit  of  this  violation  of  Nature's  laws,  by  having  a  feeble, 
delicate,  sickly  child,  too   feeble   to   sustain   life   long,  and 
which,  consequently,  dies  young.     Nor  have  1  one  particle  of 
doubt,  but  that  this  very  cause  operates  to  kill  more  mothers 
and  children,  to  occasion   more   deaths    annually,  than    any 
other  form  of  disease — than  intemperance,  or  consumption,  or 
fever,  or  any  other  single  cause  whatever,  if  not  more  than 
ALL   other   causes   put    together.      Children   die  of  croup,  of 
fevers,  of  teethings,  of  brain  fever,  of  the  summer  complaint, 
and  of  other  diseases  mnumerable,  induced  jjrimarily  by  the 
mother's   having   literally  starved   them  of  animal   energy 
before  birth,  and  thereby  leaving  them  too  weakly  to  support 

18* 


210        CONDITIONS    OF    PARENTS,  WHILE   BECOMING   PARENTS. 
Children  destroyed  by  the  habits  of  mothers  during  pregnancy. 

themselves  against  these  diseases,  which,  if  the  mother  had 
furnished  this  energy,  would  have  taken  no  hold  of  them. 
I  would  tell  half  the  women  of  our  laud,  both  married  and 
single,  that  they  are  not  marriageable — that  for  them  to  be- 
come pregnant,  is  to  commit  both  infanticide  and  suicide — • 
js  so  effectually  to  drain  themselves  of  vital  energy,  that  dis- 
ease, in  one  or  other  of  its  forms,  will  take  advantage  of  this 
exhaustion,  and  hurry  them  into  a  premature  grave — and 
also  to  produce  offspring  so  feeble,  that  they  too  must  neces- 
sarily break  the  hearts  of  fond,  doting  parents,  by  dying  in 
their  mothers'  arms,  if  not  before  they  see  the  light !  We  are 
shocked  when  we  read  of  the  Hindoo  mother  casting  her 
child  into  the  Ganges,  or  the  Chinese  casting  their  infants,  as 
soon  as  they  are  born,  into  the  street,  to  be  devoured,  or  to  be 
picked  up  in  loads  by  city  scavengers,  and  thrown  by 
thousands  daily  into  a  pit  prepared  expressly  for  that  pur- 
pose; or  of  those  barbarous  nations  who  kill  children  outright 
to  eat  their  flesh— but  in  what  respect  do  they  difler  from 
those  A^nerican  moXhexs  who  cause  the  death  of  their  infants 
by  starvation,  the  worst  form  of  death,  before  birth,  or  else 
jender  them  so  weakly  that  they  die  during  adolescence 'J 
In  the  number  of  their  infanticides'?  By  no  means;  for,  1 
verily  believe  that  more  infants  are  annually  killed  in  Amer- 
ica, in  proportion  to  its  population,  by  this  and  other  similar 
means,  than  are  killed  in  any  nation  on  the  globe,  and  killed, 
too,  by  their  oivn  mothers — killed  quite  as  effectually  as  if  a 
razor  were  drav/n  across  their  throats,  or  poison  administered 
to  them.  Most  horrible  is  the  thought !  But  what  else  is  it. 
what  else  can  it  be,  that  consigns  to  an  early  grave  above 
half  the  children  born?  Do  half  of  the  children  of  China, 
or  Birmah,  or  the  untaught  Indian,  die  before  they  become 
full-grown?  By  no  means.  But,  with  all  our  boasted 
liberty,  intelligence,  civilization,  and  even  Christianity,  no 
nation  under  heaven,  whether  savage  or  civilized,  commits 
any  where  near  the  proportionate  number  of  downright 
MURDERS,  committed  in  this  our  blessed  country,  our  en- 
lightened age  and  nation  !  No  tongue  can  tell  the  number 
of  mothers  and  children  killed  outright,  or  else  made  to  drag 
out  a  short  and  miserable  existence,  by  that  accursed  prc^ctice 


ON   NOURISHING    THE   EMBRYO   AND   INFANT.  211 

The  murderous  eft'eci  of  tiglil  lacing. 

of  tight-placing.  Most  efiectually  does  it  cramp,  and  girl  in, 
and  deaden  the  vital  apparatus,  and  thus  stop  the  flow  of 
vitahty  at  its  fountain-head,  kiUing  its  thousands  before  they 
marry,  and  so  eflectually  weakening  others,  as  indirectly, 
though  effectually,  to  cause  the  death  of  tens  of  thousands, 
ay,  of  millions  more.  Yes,  and  that  even  by  Christian 
mothers — by  the  daughters  of  Zion,  the  followers  of  the 
Lamb!  Yea,  more.  These  infanticides,  ?/7i7/«  their  corsets 
actually  on^  are  admitted  into  the  sanctuary  of  the  Most  High 
God,  and  even  to  the  communion-table  of  the  saints  !  And 
poor,  muffle-drummed  ministers,  either  do  not  know  that 
corsetting  does  '  any  damage,  or,  knowing  it,  do  not  open 
their  mealy  mouths,  but  administer  the  sacrament  to  infanti- 
cides^ and  to  those  who,  while  partaking  of  the  emblems  of 
their  dying  Saviour,  are  "m  the  very  ac;"  of  committing 
infanticide^  and  slow,  but  effectual  snicide!  Nor  is  there  any 
sin  in  American  Christian  mothers'  committing  these  things, 
whereas  inissionaries  must  be  sent  to  China  and  Bombay^ 
to  prevent  their  committing  these  very  same  crimes,  though 
by  a  process  as  much  less  horrible,  as  to  be  killed  outright 
by  one  fell  blow,  is  less  painful  than  to  be  gradually 
.starved  and  strangled,  till  a  lingering,  and  therefore  a  most 
horrid  death,  gives  relief  !  And  which  is  the  worst,  to  kill 
the  child  instantly,  at  the  moment  of  its  birtli,  or  to  give  it  a 
slow  poison  that  will  be  sure  to  end  its  life,  but  not  till  it  has 
suffered  a  thousand  deaths,  and  perhaps  reached  its  teens'? 

Is  this  fiction,  or  is  it  fact?  Has  the  author  reasoned  in- 
correctly, or  are  all  tight-lacers  gradual  but  virtual  suicides, 
and  those  of  them  who  marry,  childre7i- killers  7  And  should 
not  a  sin  as  fatal  as  this  is,  to  the  health  and  life  of  posterity, 
be  exhibited  just  as  it  really  is — a  most  murderous  fashion  ?=* 

It  is  said,  with  what  propriety  I  know  not,  that  the  fashion 
of  wearing  corsets  originated  in  high  life,  and  was  invented 
to  cover  up  the  frailty  of  a  fashionable  and  a  respectable  fair 
one.  How  many  now  wear  them  for  a  similar  reason,  "de- 
ponent saith  not." 

*  A  more  full  exposition  of  this  crying  evil  will  be  found  in  volume  v., 
pp.  49  to  65  of  the  Phrenological  Journal,  and  also  in  a  separate  form, 
Mlustrated  with  appropriate  engravings. 


212       CONDITIONS   OF   PARENTS,  'WHILE   BECOMING   PAR1NT8. 
Errors  in  the  present  mode  of  training  daughters. 

But  this  is  by  no  means  all.     The  whole  system  of  modern 
female  education  is  wrong,  from  the  nursery  to   the   parlor 
and  the  grave,  and  directly  calculated  to  reduce  the   vital 
energies  of  females,  and  utterly  to  unfit  them  for  becoming 
wives,  and  especially  mothers.     AH  children,  but  particularly 
girls^  are   confined,    mostly,  within   doors,  and  thereby  ex- 
cluded from  both  fresh  air  and  exercise.     They  must   go   to 
school  steadily,  must  tax  their  mental  powers  to  the  utmost 
to  excel  the  other  scholars,  and  thus  drain  their  vital  ener- 
gies from  their   bodies    to   their  ^brains,   which   stints   their 
growth,  and  enfeebles   their   constitutions.      They  must  be 
dressed  prettily,  and  thus,  lightly,  which    exposes   them   to 
colds ;  must  never  romp,  nor  even  play,  because  it   is  gross 
and  tinlady-like^  and  makes  them  tomboys^  but  they  must  sit 
down  to  their  needle-work,  to  their  book,  to  their  music,  or 
"tend  the  baby,"  the  moment  they  are  out  of  school,  eat  hot 
bread  and  pastry,  and  drink  tea  and  coffee  in   large   quanti- 
ties; must  never  run,  but  must  move  steadily,  like  a  woman; 
must  reach  puberty  all  unprepared  for  it,  and  know   nothing 
whatever  of  its  approach,  so  as  to  bend  or  break    their   con-^ 
stitutions,  and  experience  attendant  difficulties  all  their  lives, 
to  be  re-augmented  by  the   quack   nostrums  of  the   day,  in- 
stead of  cured  by  air  and  exercise;  must  be  yoking  ladies  at 
ten,  or,  at  farthest,  by  twelve,  because  apples  in  June  are  so 
very  delicious,  and  so  very  healthy^  and  because  all  fruit  is  so 
much  better  before  it   is    ripe  than  after  ;    must   learn    to  be 
fashionable^  and  to  dress  prettily,  and  go  to  church    to   show 
their  pretty  curls,  their  new  dress  or  shoes,  and  their   cotton 
paddings;    must  not  be  allowed   sufficient   physical    energy 
with  which  to  grow,  but  must   be   small,  and    delicate,  and 
j>rim,  and pre#i/,  and  Zi^^/e  ladies;  must   learn   music   scien- 
tifically, and  sit  at  the  piano  by  the  month;  must  ho,  fashion- 
able, and  to  be  so,  must  sit  and  sew  diligently  by  the  year,  so 
as  to  get  that  new  frock  done  for  next  Sunday,  or  that  piece 
of  fine  needle-work  finished  for   a   given    occasion ;  and  by 
the   time   girls   are    fourteen,   just   when    they   require    all 
their  energies  for  growth,  they  must   go  to  some  trade,  be  a 
mantua-maker,  or  milliner,  or  tailoress,  or  go  into  the  factory, 
or  the  bindery,  or  the  press-room,  or   be   a   kitchen-drudge, 


ON   NOURISHING   THE    EMBRYO   AND   INFANT.  213 

The  effect  of  these  errors.  Married  women. 

and  must  work  and  work,  to  get  something  wherewith  to 
appear  well  in  company  and  at  church,  till  they  break  down 
their  health,  and,  with  tight-lacing,  superinduce  a  variety  of 
female  diseases  that  make  them  drag  out  a  miserable  exist- 
ence; or  if  not  compelled  to  work,  they  must  be  placed  at  the 
boarding-school,  must  be  taxed  to  their  utmost,  and  allowed 
little  exercise,  in  order  to  put  on  the  graces,  and  learn  to  ap- 
pear interesting  and  be  fashionable,  and  prepared  to  secure 
the  great  end  of  woman's  existence — Marriage — and  must 
then  be  ushered  into  genteel  society,  to  dress,  flirt,  get  in 
love,  have  their  affections  blighted,  court,  wear  low  dresses 
and  thin  shoes,  and  take  a  death-cold,  or  fever,  perhaps 
dance  all  night  and  sleep  all  day,  keep  late  hours,  promen- 
ade, read  novels,  talk  nonsense,  make  conquests,  take  no 
exercise,  but  stuif  down  the  good  things,  and  swill  down 
strong  decoctions  of  tea  and  coffee,  piping  hot,  so  as  to  in- 
duce perspiration  and  consequent  colds  ;  be  confined  mostly 
within  doors,  and  in  hot  rooms  at  that ;  and  thus,  by  a  con- 
tinual violation  of  every  law  of  physiology,  break  down 
their  constitutions,  induce  head-ache,  nervous  affections, 
palpitation  of  the  heart,  lung  affections,  a  weak  stomach, 
sleeplessness,  &c.,  &c.,  to  the  end  of  the  whole  chapter  of 
female  complaints;  in  doctoring  which,  they  are  dosed,  with 
calomel,  and  iodine,  and  quinine,  and  ipecac,  and  bled 
almost  to  death,  and  become  confirmed  invalids,  past  all  re- 
covery, and  then  may  have  one  child,  possibly  two  children, 
sufter  beyond  all  account  during  gestation  and  parturition, 
and  are  thus  effectually. drained  of  animal  energy,  and  die; 
but  not  till  one  child  is  buried,  and  another  is  just  ready  to 
follow  its  frail,  suffering  mother  to  an  untimely  grave  ! 

And  then,  married  women,  generally,  are  not  in  a  situa- 
tion capable  of  doing  justice  to  their  children,  as  mothers. 
"With  one  child  under  their  feet,  another  in  their  lap,  and 
another  in  embryo,  with  all  the  work,  and  all  the  cares  of 
a  family  on  their  hands;  fretted  to  death  by  disobedient  and 
ill-tempered. children,  and,  perhaps,  by  dissatisfied  husbands, 
made  perfect  kitchen-drudges  by  day,  and  kept  awake  in  the 
night  by  squalling  5'oung  ones— rendered  cross  by  the  feeble- 
ness and  peevish  mental  condition  of  the  mother  before  par- 


214       CONDITIONS    OF    PARENTS,  WHILE    BECOMING   PARENTS. 

Downward  tendency  of  our  race.  How  danghters  should  be  trained. 

turition,  and  her  eating  pickles,  peppers,  cucumbers,  cakes, 
salt-meat,  and  other  indigestibles,  while  nursing,  and  by  her 
violating  the  laws  of  physiology  in  regard  to  the  child, — 
having  lio  time  to  cultivate  their  intellects,  none  to  attend 
lectures,  or  take  recreation,  or  amusement,  or  fresh  air;  they 
are  thus  effectually  dragged  through  life  as  if  by  the  hnir  of 
their  heads;  have  no  peace  all  their  lives,  no  opportunity  to 
take  Id  those  resources  of  animal  life  with  which  to  sus- 
tain themselves,  or  furnish  vitality  to  their  children, — how 
can  they  avoid  frequent  miscarriages,  or  give  birth  to  any 
but  sickly,  animal  offspring'?  And  when  we  add  together 
the  unfitness  of  most  of  our  women,  and  those  unfavorable 
fam.ily  influences  under  which  most  children  are  born,  what 
are  we  to  expect  of  the  rising  race?  Just  what  the  rising 
race  i^,  both  physically  and  menially — a  race  of  Lilliputians, 
sharp-favored,  slim,  spindling,  sickly,  barking  with  colds, 
ugly-looking,  deformed  in  the  spine,  and  so  frail  in  health, 
that  they  die  by  thousands  and  by  millions,  just  when  they 
might  have  begun  to  enjoy  life  themselves,  and  been  a  source 
of  pleasure  to  their  parents.  That  the  tendency  of  our  age 
and  nation  is  drnvntcard,  wo  one  can  deny;  and  one  cause  of 
it  is  in  our  mothers.  Where  are  the  men  of  former  genera- 
tions, with  sound  minds  in  strong  bodies?  Diminishing  in 
stature,  and  becoming  a  prey  to  all  manner  of  diseases,  some 
of  which  were  unknown  to  our  fathers,  precocious,  selfish, 
crimes  multiplying  upon  us  !  Oh!  who  can  look  upon  the 
present  state  of  things,  and  not  weep!  Who  can  look  upon 
the  youthful  race  now  coming  forv/ard,  upon  diminutive, 
crying,  dying  infancy,  puny,  precocious  childhood,  and  es- 
pecially, upon  our  girls  and  young  icomen^  pale,  emaciated, 
flat-chested,  small-waisted,  delicate,  and  homely,  one  and 
all,  and  not  shed  a  tear  over  the  dubious  fate  of  our  repub- 
lic !  They  were  Ameincan  women  who  made  our  republic, 
and  American  women  are  fast  unixiaking  it! 

If  you  ask  me  how  our  daughters  should  be  brought  up, 
I  answer,  in  general  terms,  exact] y  contrary,  as  7nuch  as  poS' 
sible,  to  the  present  system  of  female  education.  Do  not 
bundle  them  up  so  warm,  nor  dose  them  so  much  from  the 
cradle;  but  give  them  much  out-of-door  air,  and  a  plenty  of 


ON   NOURISHING    THE   EMBRYO   AND    INFANT.  215 

Further  directions  in  regard  to  training  daughters. 

cold  water  in  the  form  of  baths  ;  harden  them  instead  of 
rendering  them  delicate  ;  let  them  play  instead  of  going  to 
school;  give  them  roast  potatoes,  and  bread  and  milk,  instead 
of  the  indigestibles  of  modern  cookery  ;■  teach  them  on  the 
plan  proposed  in  my  work  on  Education  and  Self-Improve- 
ment; govern  them  by  reason,  not  by  blows,  by  love,  not  by 
fretting  and  threatening;  give  them  abundance  of  exercise 
and  romping  between  ten  and  eighteen;  let  them  be  girls,  and 
be  cotisidered  as  such  till  they  are  about  twenty,  yet  teach 
them  domestic  duties,  cookery  and  physiology;  let  them  know 
nothing  about  being  fashionable,  or  beaux,  or  love-matters, 
experimentally,  till  after  that  age,  and  not  marry,  till,  at 
least,  tzDenty-five ;  let  the  preservation  of  the  health,  and  the 
laying  in  of  physical  stamina,  including  growth,  be  their 
highest  recommendation;  let  them  marry  X\ie\x first  love,  and 
never  be  scolded,  for,  rarely  does  woman  deserve  it,  and  then, 
while  "after  the  manner  of  women,"  let  all  possible  pains  be 
taken  to  augment  their  physical  energies,^and  render  them 
cheerful  and  happy,  and  improve  their  intellects,  and  a  new 
generation  of  men  and  women,  angels  compared  with  the 
present  race, will  crown  these  efforts.  In  short,  let  N'ai'ureha.ve 
her  perfect  work,  and  Art  "  sit  silent  by."  The  artificials  oi 
the  day  are  spoiling  our  women  by  wholesale  ;  especially  the 
accursed /as/wow^  of  the  da^^  Their  chief  evil,  next  to  tight- 
lacing,  consists  in  requiring  of  our  women  so  much  seivifig  ; 
than  which,  nothing  is  more  detrimental.  No  tongue  can 
tell  the  immense  damage  done  to  the  health  of  women,  and 
to  the  lives  and  talents  of  posterity,  by  that  accursed  instru- 
ment— the  needle  ;  and  I  consider  it  immoral^  and  a  sin^  or, 
what  means  the  same  thing,  a  violation  of  the  laws  of  our 
being,  to  do,  or  wear,  what  requires  much  sewing.  But  why 
attempt  to  stay  the  raging  billows  of  fashion,  or  declaim 
against  the  artificials  of  society  7  Yain  task  !  But,  for  one, 
let  me,  at  least,  weep  over  these  direful  evils  ! 

A  word  in  regard  to  the  riursing  of  children.  Very  poor, 
in  this  respect,  must  be  the  generality  of  the  women  of  the 
present  day.  Cotton  breast- works,  the  order  of  the  day,  may 
cheat  the  beaux,  and  do  better  for  courtship,  than  appearing 
to  be  what  most  American  women  really  are — "  as  flat  as  a 


216        CONDITIONS    OF   PARENTS,  WHILE    BECOMING    PARENTS. 
Infants  afiected  by  the  diet  of  nursing-  mothers. 

board^^'' — but  tliey  can  never  cheat  the  babies,  nor  can  any 
thing  supply  the  place  of  Nature's  nourishment  in  abun- 
dance. And  one  reason  why  Nature  causes  gentlemen  to 
admire  them,  is  because  they  are  useful.  They  excite  love 
in  gentlemen,  because  they  are  necessary  for  carrying  the 
matrimonial  relations  into  full  effect;  and  that  there  is  a 
general  proportion  between  their  size  and  the  flow  of  nour- 
ishment, will  not  be  doubted.  Their  development  is  also 
proportionate  to  that  of  the  vital  temperament,  or  to  the 
physical  stamina,  and  hence,  their  absence  indicates  little 
vitality  ;  and  they  can  be  increased  by  increasing  that  vi- 
tality— a  principle,  which,  while  it  shows  the  low  state  of 
vitality  in  most  American  women,  shows  how  to  enlarge 
them,  namely,  by  gb'ls  taking  much  exercise,  and  strength- 
ening their  bodies. 

But  quality,  in  this  case,  is  quite  as  essential  as  quantity; 
and  this  depends  on  the  diet  of  the  mother,  the  state  of  her 
stomach,  &c., — a  point  to  which  motht^rs  do  not  sufficiently 
attend;  for,  if  the  mothers  were  healthy  during  gestation, 
and  would  then  keep  their  stomachs  in  good  order,  children 
would  rarely  cry.  They  generally  cry  but  little  till  a  month 
or  two  old,  or  till  the  diseased  state  of  the  mother's  stomach 
has  disordered  theirs.  And  they  cry,  usually,  because  their 
own  stomach  is  diseased,  that  is,  because  of  flatulence,  or, 
as  grannies  would  say,  they  have  the  "belly-ache."  .Now 
whatever  tends  to  disorder  the  mother's  stomach,  will  soon 
be  felt  in  theirs,  and  besides  the  pain  they  feel,  will  corrupt 
their  blood,  retard  or  vitiate  the  growth,  and  sow  the  seeds 
of  disease  in  the  system  of  the  infant. 

I  will  not  here  discuss  the  diet  of  nursing  mothers,  farther 
than  to  interdict  pickles,  cucumbers,  cakes,  hot  bread,  butter, 
fat  meat,  (and  no  meat  at  all  is  better,)  tea,  coffee,  porter, 
beer,  green  fruit,  and  all  compounds  of  alcohol  and  opium, 
and  to  recommend  rye  mush,  and  oat-meal  gruel  and  pud- 
ding, coarse  bread,  tapioca,  sago,  potatoes,  especially  roasted, 
and  a  plain,  simple  diet.  But  directions  touching  diet  will 
be  given  elsewhere,  .and  those  kinds  of  food  best  in  general, 
will  be  best  in  this  case. — Let  me  barely  advert,  in  this  con- 
nection, to  the  practice  of  giving  opium  and  its  various  com- 


ON   NOURISHING   THE   EMBRYO   AND   INFANT.  217 

Giving  ilrugs  to  cliildren.  Nursing  children. 

pounds  to  children.  I  consider  Godfrey's  Cordial,  and  other 
like  compounds,  to  be  most  detrimental  to  children,  both  as 
to  health  and  intellect.  It  has  put  many  a  child  to  sleep  for 
life,  and  locked  up  both  their  senses  and  their  pleasures 
in  its  torpedic  fetters.  And  then,  too,  it  always  makes  chil- 
dren cross.  True,  it  may  quiet  them  for  the  time,  but,  it  at 
the  same  time  throws  the  nervous  system  into  a  feverish 
and  irritable  state,  and  thus  causes  them  XO  cry  the  harder. 
Eat  pickles,  so  as  to  make  your  children  cry,  and  then  giv& 
them  laudanum  to  stop  them  ! 

Nor  should  children,  especially  if  cross,  be  trusted  much 
with  nurses,  lest  they  dose  them  with  this  deadening  drug, 
to  lessen  their  burden.  But,  we  will  not  now  enter  into  the 
nursing  of  children,  but  limit  our  remarks  to  our  original  de- 
sign,— that  of  hereditary  descent,  or  showing  how  to  pro- 
duce them.  This  subject  of  nursing  children  will  be  pursued 
in  another  connection. 

Children  ought,  I  think,  to  nurse  longer  than  they  generally 
do,  say  till  two  or  three  years  old,  that  is,  provided  their 
mothers  are  in  the  right  state.  I  draw  this  inference  from 
analogies  in  the  animal  kingdom  ;  and  yet,  in  the  present 
condition  of  most  mothers,  weaning  the  child  early,  is  better 
for  both  mother  and  child. 

Above  ail  things,  a  woman  should  never  nurse  one  child 
while  carrying  another,  but  should  wean  one  at  the  moment 
when  she  becomes  enciente.  And  this  course  is  clearly 
pointed  out  by  Nature,  because  the  former  usually  prevents 
the  latter,  and  the  two  concurring  together,  are  almost  sure 
to  sicken  both  mother  and  child,  doubly  drain  the  mother, 
and  seriously  injure  all  three. 

It  is  important  to  add,  that  the  whole  process  of  bearing 
children,  instead  of  being  unhealthy,  as  is  generally  con- 
sidered, is  the  revei'se.  Women,  at  these  times,  might  and 
should  be  better  than  at  others ;  and  their  being  worse,  signi- 
fies that  they  are  not  in  a  condition  fit  for  bearing  either 
healthy  or  talented  children. 

19 


218        CONDITIONS    OF    PARENTS,  WHILE    BECOMING   PARENTS. 

Siaie  of  the  motlier's  mind  traiismiiled.  Several  casi'S. 


SECTION   III. 

CHILDREN  INHERIT  THE  MENTAL  CONDITIONS   OF  THEIR   MOTH- 
ERS  DURING  PREGNANCY. 

"And  when  Sarai  dealt  hardly  with  Hagar,  she  fled  from  her  face.  And  the  an^el  of 
the  Lord  found  her  by  a  fountain  of  water  in  the  wilderness,  and  said  unto  her,  Thoa 
shalt  bear  a  son,  and  he  will  be  a  wild  man  j  his  hand  will  be  against  every  man,  and 
every  man's  hand  against  him." — Gen.  xvi. 

If,  as  just  shown,  the  state  of  the  mother's  body  be  impor- 
tant, that  of  the  7nind  must  be  at  least,  equally  so.  That  the 
state  of  the  mother's  mind  is  transmitted,  admits  of  no  man- 
ner of  question.     A  few  cases,  in  addition   to  those  already 

given: — A  Mrs. ,  of  L.  I.,  while  pregnant,  was  called  to 

the  door  by  the  rap  of  a  partial  idiot,  who  insisted  on  coming 
in,  \vhich  so  excited  her  imagination,  as  to  cause  her  child  to 
resemble  the  idiot  in  looks,  action,  and  idiocy.  Bonaparte's 
mother  spent  most  of  her  pregnancy  m /Ae  camp  and  icith 
the  army.  Mary,  Queen  of  Scots,  while  carrying  James  the 
First,  was  terribly  frightened  by  a  murder' committed  in  her 
sight,  and  her  son  could  never  endure  the  sight  of  naked 
steel.  The  author  knows  a  lady  whose  husband  under- 
stood and  applied  this  principle,  by  placing  his  wife  in 
circumstances  more  than  ordinarily  pleasant,  so  arranging 
matters,  as  to  gratify  her  very  much  with  a  visit  from  hiis 
father  and  mother,  to  whom  she  was  much  attached.  He 
also  arranged  his  business  so  that  he,  and,  consequently,  she, 
were  relieved  from  cares  that  had  befoire  oppressed  them,  dis- 
missed those  servants  whom  she  disliked,  and  made  it  as 
agreeable  for  her,  every  way,  as  possible.  The  result  is,  that 
the  child  is  one  of  the  mildest  and  sweetest  children  in  the 
world,  affectionate,  almost  devoid  of  temper,  and  the  delight 
of  all  who  know  her,  as  well  as  the  opposite  of  her  sister, 
who  was  born  before  the  parents  understood  this  law.  Look 
at  Ishmael,  in  contrast.  His  mother,  Hagar,  abused  by  the 
jealous,  vindictive  Sarai,  driven  out  from  the  family  in  which 
she  had  always  Hved,  and  almost  famished  in  the  desert,  and 
her  son  a  wild  man,  and  "  Ais  hand  against  every  maiij  and 
every  man^s  hand  against  himJ^ 


THE    CONDITION    OF    MOTHKRS   INHERITED.  219 

Effect  produced  on  offspring  by  (ear  in  mothers  duriii»  pregviancy. 

Many  readers  will,  doubtless,  remember  the  terrible  mur- 
der committed  by  a  Mr.  Purrington,  near  Augusta,  Me., 
about  1806,  on  a  wife  and  nine  children,  the  father  beating 
out  the  brains  of  his  whole  family  with  an  axe,  (except  one, 
who,  in  escaping,  had  the  axe  struck  into  his  back,)  and 
then  cut  his  own  throat.*  This,  of  course,  terribly  alarmed 
all  the  women  in  the  neighborhood,  for  fear  their  husbands 
might  commit  a  similar  outrage  upon  them ;  and  the  mother  of 
a  friend  of  mine,  suffered  every  thing  from  fear  lest  she  should 
be  murdered,  and  this  friend,  born  soon  after,  has  suffered 
more,  she  says,  than  tongue  can  describe,  from  fear  of  being 
murdered,  and  now,  though  nearly  forty,  and  compelled  by 
her  business  (a  tailoress)  to  go  from  house  to  house,  she  can 
hardly  endure  to  sleep  alone,  lays  and  thinks  by  the  hour 
together  how  she  shall  escape  if  attacked,  and  is  startled 
by  the  least  noise,  so  as  to  be  obliged  to  get  up  and  go  down 
stairs,  and  kindle  the  fire.  She  says  she  has  a  friend,  born 
in  the  same  place,  and  a  month  or  two  younger,  who  is 
afflicted  with  the  same  foolish  fear,  and  whose  mother  suf- 
fered similarly  from  the  same  cause. 

Th€  brother  of  a  friend  of  mine  is  very  much  afraid  of 
being  killed,  and  when  crazy,  (his  derangement  baring  been 
previously  mentioned,)  he  often  exclaims,  "Oh!  don't  kill 
me  !  don't !  "  and  with  as  much  anxiety  as  if  he  were  about 
to  be  murdered.  His  father  was  a  notorious  drunkard,  and, 
when  drunk,  would  beat  and  abuse  his  wife,  and  try  to  kill 
her.  Once  he  drew  a  large  knife  on  her,  and  when  she  fied, 
he  followed  her  up  into  the  garret,  where  she  hid  herself 
among  the  rubbish,  so  as  barely  to  escape  with  her  life. 
While  thus  standing  in  continual  fear  of  being  killed,  this 
son  was  born ;  and  this  same  fear  of  being  killed  always 
haunts  and  torments  him. 

*  This  Purrington  and  his  relatives,  furnish  a  melancholy  instance  of 
hereditary  insanity.  One  of  his  nephews  recently  jumped  overhoard  and 
drowned  himself;  one  more  killed  a  child,  another,  after  making  several 
unsuccessful  attempts  on  her  own  life,  finally  killed  herself  hy  swallowing 
pounded  glass ;  another  was  a  real  virago,  would  shtike  her  fist  in  her 
husband's  face,  take  the  broom  to  him,  and  was  subject  to  the  most  fright- 
ful ebullitions  of  anger ;  and  other  members  of  this  insane  family,  were 
•Iso  insane,  and  on  tiie  same  organ, — Dtslruciivcness. 


220        CONDITIONS    OF   PARENTS,  WHILE   BECOMING    PARENTS. 
'I'his  suhject  ni  )re  suitable  for  f'emalo  writers. 

Ill  CharlestowD,  Mass.,  I  saw  an  idiotic  girl,  rendered  such 
hy  her  mother's  having  a  severe  and  Jong-continued  fever, 
by  which  she  was  confined  some  three  months  to  her  bed, 
which  terminated  only  by  the  birth  of  her  child.  In  the 
same  time,  she  buried  two  children  in  one  grave,  and  had 
otiier  troubles,  which,  she  says,  rendered  her  completely 
miserable.  The  wife  of  Rev.  Mr.  J.,  while  pregnant,  was 
denied  some '  gratification,  which  she  took  to  heart  so 
seriously,  as  to  go  away  and  cry  for  hours,  and  could  hardly 
get  over  it.  Her  son  is  an  idiot,  and  spends  much  of  his 
time  away  alone  crying.  Similar  facts  will  be  found  in  t}ie 
last  few  chapters  and  the  appendix  of  the  work  already  al^ 
luded  to,  entitled,  "  Mental  and  Moral  Qualities  Transmissi- 
ble," the  main  theory  of  which  we  have  already  criticised, 
but  some  of  the  inferences  and  observations  it  contains, 
cannot  be  too  strongly  commended,  especially  to  mothers. 
Written  by  a  mother,  and  addressed  to  mothers,  it  contains 
what  every  mother,  and  every  young  woman  in  the  land, ought 
to  read  ;  and  the  author  has  therefore  solicited,  and  will  keep 
for  sale,  the  work  at  his  office.  This  department  of  our  sub- 
ject is  certainly  more  suitable  for  the  pen  of  woman,  who, 
alone,  can  have  experience  in  this  matter.  Could  our  popu- 
lar female  writers  employ  their  pens  or  talents  to  greater  ad- 
vantage, than  by  laying  this  matter  fully  before  the  women  of 
our  country,  with  that  propriety  which  is  natural  to  woman, 
informed  by  that  knowledge  with  which  she  alone  is  experi- 
mentally familiar?  What  man  knows,  on  this  point,  he 
must,  after  all,  learn  from  woman.  And  I  call  upon  every 
woman  in  the  land  to  go  back  to  her  pregnancy  with  each 
child,  and  then  read,  in  that  child,  as  in  her  mirror,  her  own 
states  of  mind,  at  that,  to  her  child  at  least,  most  eventful 
period  ;  and  then  say,  whether  the  mental  condition  of  the 
mother  does  not  stamp  its  impress  indelibly  upon  the  child? 
Especially,  let  the  reader  observe  children  whose  fathers  have 
drank,  and  thus  become  poor,  and,  in  a  great  variety  of  v/ays, 
rendered  the  mother  unhappy,  and  left  her  to  buffet,  single- 
handed  and  alone,  the  rough  waves  of  adversity,  and  to  toil 
and  struggle,  in  order  to  support  herself,  her  children,  and  a 
besotted  husband,  and  he  will  find  that  tlic  first  children  borii 


( 

THE   CONDITION    OF   MOTHERS   INHERITED.  221 

A  child  that  resemble*!  a  monkey.  Another  that  resembled   adruiiknrd. 


before  the  father  had  abandoned  himself  to  his  cups,  or  op- 
pressed his  wife  with  trouble  well  nigh  insupportable,  have 
better  heads,  more  intellect  and  moral  feeling,  and  less  Self- 
Esteem,  Cornbativeness,  Firmness,  and  Selfishness,  than 
those  born  after  these  latter  organs  were  roused  to  unwonted 
activity  in  the  mother,  by  her  troubles.  Some  of  this  is  un- 
questionably caused  by  the  state  of  the  father;  but,  admit- 
ting \hQ  principle  that  the  condition  of  the  mother's  mind  is 
transmitted  to  the  child,  these  unhappy  states  must  debase 
and  animalize  the  child.  (See  remarks  on  a  kindred  point, 
in  the  preceding  chapter,  sec.  4,  and  question  any  mother  in 
the  land,  and  the  reader  will  find  no  end,  either  to  facts  of 
this  class,  or  to  the  importance  of  the  subject.) 

But,  I  have  inserted  these  facts  mainly  to  prepare  the  way 
for  a  principle  presented  in  the  following  cases: 

In  Watertown,  N.  Y.,  the  author  saw  a  child,  whose  looks, 
actions,  and  shape  of  head,  bore  a  close  resemblance  to  those 
of  the  monkey.  The  organs  at  the  root  of  the  nose,  were  ~ 
immense,  Causality  was  wanting,  Approbativeness  and  the 
animal  region  were  large,  and  the  head  sloped  back  from 
the  perceptive  organs  to  the  crown  of  the  head,  except  at 
Imitation,  which  was  large ;  and  the  first  position  the  child 
attempted,  was,  to  catch  hold  of  the  table  or  any  thing  else, 
and  sivijig  by  the  hands,  analogous  to  the  monkey's  climbing 
with  its  hands.  Some  three  months  before'  the  birth  of  this 
child,  the  mother  visited  a  menagerie,  and  was  particularly 
impressed  with  a  fine  monkey,  which  so  engrossed  her  atten- 
tion, that  she  could  not  keep  her  eyes  from  it,  and  it  appeared 
equally  interested  in  her.  What  struck  me  most,  was 
the  resemblance  of  the  child's  head  and  phrenological  devel- 
opments to  those  of  the  monkey,  they  being  only  those  of  the 
monkey  enlarged;  with  which,  also,  its  cast  of  mind  har- 
motiized. 

About  ten  miles  south-east  of  Adams,  N.  Y.,  the  author 
saw  an  idiotic  girl,  who  talked,  walked,  and  acted  very 
much  like  a  drunken  person.  The  father,  in  accounting  for 
it,  said,  that  about  three  or  four  months  before  the  birth  of 
this  child,  he  and  his  wife  were  riding  home  on  horse-back, 
in  the  dusk  of  the  evening,  when  the  mother  was  very  much 

19* 


222        CONDITIONS    OF    PARENTS,  WHII,E   EICOMIKG   PARENTS. 

An  intellectual  child.  \\'l)eii  the  diffi.Tenl  lacullics  are  (ornicd. 


frightened;  and  thrown  alraost  into  a  hysteric  fit,  by  seeing  a 
drunken  man  by  the  side  of  ih.e  road,  haA^e  a  fit,  in  which 
he  lay  and  roiled  back  and  forth,  from  head  to  foot.  Tlie 
first  position  into  which  the  child  was  known  to  put  itself, 
was,  to  throw  itself  on  its  back,  and  roll'  back  and  forth, 
c^xactly  like  this  drunkard.  She'wal'ked  like  him,  talked  like 
liim,  and  looked  like  him.  On  examining  lier  head,  I  found 
large  Combaliveness,  Destructiveness,  Self-Esteem,  Firm- 
ness, and  perceptive  and  social  organs,  but  small  Causality, 
Comparison,  Benevolence,  Veneration,  Conscientiousness, 
Hope,  Marvellousness,  and  Ideality — an  organization  which 
harmonized  entirely  with  her  character. 

Dr.  Kimball,  of  Sackett's  Harbor,  showed  me  a  lad  having 
a  splendid  intellectual  lobe,  whose  mother  v/as  called,  by  the 
sickness  of  her  husband,  to  leave  her  native  village  and  go 
to  New  York.     On   arriving  there,  she  found  lier  husband 
convalescent,  and,  being  tliere,  she  staid  some  time,  to  see 
the  city,  with  which  she  was  delighted   immeasurably,  and 
of  which  she  often  spoke  after  lier  reiurn.     Seeing  so  much 
of  the  world,  and  of  men  and  things  that  were  new  to  her, 
seemed  to  give  to  her  mind  a  new  start,  and  the  child,  born 
four  months  after,  was  the  one  alluded  to  above,  prodigiously 
smart,  and  having  a  towering  intellectual  lobe. — Other  facts, 
of  a  similar  bearing,  might  be  stated  in    any  required   abun- 
dance, but  these  will  suffice  to  illustrate  our  principle,  which 
is,  that,  during  the  first  four  or  five  months  of  gestation,  the' 
physical  system,  and  the  propensities  and  perceptives,   take 
their  size  and  tone,  but,  that  the  mental  apparatus,  and  with 
it  the  reasoning  ?^x\Ci  ?noral  organs,  are  formed,  and  their  size 
adjusted,  afte?^  the  fifth  'month  ;  and  hence,  during  the  first 
portion  of  gestation,  mothers  should  take  much  exercise,  and 
keep  up  a  full  supply  of  physical  vigor — the  materials  then 
most  demanded  by  the  embryo  ;  but   that,  after  the  fifth   or 
sixth  month,  and  while  th.-  top  of  the  child's  brain  is  form- 
ing, they  should  study  much,  and  have  their  moral  faculties 
called  out  in  a  special  manner,  so  as  \o  furnish  an  abundance 
of  these  materials  at  the  time  when  they  are  in  greatest  de- 
mand by  the  child. 


THE    CONDITION    OF    BTOTHERS   INHERITED.  223 

Proofs  upon  this  subject.  Tho  dovelopmeut  ol'cliarncter. 

This  theory  is  supported  by  the  following  concurrent  tes- 
timony : — First,  when  causes  like  those  mentioned  above, 
arrest  or  retard  the  growth  of  the  foetus,  about  or  before  the 
sixth  month,  tlie  propensities  and  perceptives  are  found  fully 
developed,  while  the  coronal  region  is  small ;  and  tlie  reverse 
results  from  opposite  conditions.  Secondly,  by  the  formation 
and  growth  of  the  brain,  from  first  to  last.  At  first,  its  base, 
only,  is  developed,  and  it  forms,  not  all  its  parts  equally,  but 
\\s  base,  first,  to  which  is  added,  layer  after  layer,  upwards 
and  for^vards,  as  it  becomes  more  and  more  developed.  And 
then,  the  scull,  at  birth,  is  much  larger,  relatively,  at  its  base 
than  at  its  crown,  bat  the  top  of  it  grows  much  faster,  rela- 
tively, after  Vw^h,  than  the  base;  and  is  developed,  not  pro- 
portionally and  simultaneously  in  all  its  parts,  but  raost 
coronally. 

Thirdly.  The  character  is  successively  developed  in  har- 
mony with  the  same  law.  'i'he  animal  passions  are  much 
stronger  in  children  than  in  adults:  because,  as  shown  in 
my  work  on  Temperance,  and  also  on  Education  and  Self- 
Improvement,  the  reciprocal  relation  existing  between  the 
body  and  the  propensities,  is  much  more  intimate  and  power- 
ful, than  that  existing  between  the  body  and  the  coronal  re- 
gion. Hence,  while  in  childhood  and  youth,  the  body  is 
most  vigorous,  and  tlie  reasoning  and  moral  faculties  make 
poor  headway  against  Acquisitiveness,  Combativeness,  De- 
structiveness,  Appetite,  &c.,  in  middle  age.  both  the  basillar 
and  the  coronal  region  are  strong,  but  the  mental  and  moral 
gain  rapidly  on  the  animal,  overtake  them,  subject  them,  and 
pass  them,  causing  ns  to  take  our  highest  pleasure  in  the  de- 
cline of  life,  in  things  that  partake  of  a  moral  and  an  intellec- 
tual cast.  Hence,  children  rarely  feel  the  importance  of 
study,  till  they  are  fifteen,  because  intellect  is  A^et  immature; 
but,  taking  a  nev/  start  about  that  period,  it  wakes  up  to  a 
new  existence,  and  progresses  more  in  acquiring  knowledge, 
•extending  and  deepening  the  range  of  thought,  and  studying 
into  first  principles,  than  the  whole  time  before  twenty;  and, 
as  the  bodily  vigor  decreases,  mental  power  and  energy  in- 
crease. Milton  began  to  rear  his  eternal  monument  of  fame, 
"Paradise  Lost,"'  when  fifty-seven,  and  old  and  decrepit  at 


224       CONDITIONS    OF    PARENTS,  WHILE   BECOMING   PARENTS. 
Deaih  illustrates  the  subject.  Advice  to  mothers. 

that;  and  most  works  of  genius,  the  chief  merit  of  which 
depends  on  clearness  and  power  of  thought,  have  been  writ- 
ten by  men  whose  physical  powel's,  and  with  them  their  an- 
imal propensities,  were  waning,  and  whose  remaining  energy, 
therefore,  was  consumed  by  their  coronal  region.  And  death 
itself  illustrates  this  principle,  by  extinguishing  the  fires  of 
animal  jmssion  first,  and  letting  those  of  the  intellect  and  the 
moral  sentiments,  go  out  last — thereby  rendering  our  descent 
to  the  grave  much  less  painful  than  if  torn  from  life  and  its 
pleasures,  while  the  appetite  for  them  retained  all  its  former 
energy,  at  the  same  lime  that  it  prepares  us  for  that  great 
inoral  change  sought  by  the  truly  good,  in  which  the  moral 
sentiments  shall  maintain  complete  sway  over  the  propensi- 
ties— a  principle,  rich  in  philosophic  beauty,  and  most  bene- 
ficial in  all  its  multifarious  bearings  on  the  happiness  of 
man,  but  more  fully  demonstrated  in  the  author's  work  on 
"Phrenology  applied  to  Education  and  Self-Improvement." 

I  repeat,  then,  with  emphasis,  let  the  moral  sentim.ents  and 
intellect  of  the  mother,  be  called  into  habitual  and  vigorous 
exercise,  during  the  latter  stages  of  pregnancy,  by  books, 
lectures,  and  agreeable  conversation  and  associations,  at- 
tending meetings,  &lc.,  and  let  every  thing  calculated  to  vex 
her,  or  excite  her  propensities,  or  disturb  her  equanimity  and 
serenity  of  mind,  be  removed,  and  her  condition  rendered  as 
agreeable,  as  wholesome,  and  as  happy  as  possible.  And 
let  husbands  remember,  that,  in  this  one  respect  merely, 
they  owe  a  most  important  duty  to  their  wives  and  their  pos- 
terity.    "  Be  ye  wise." 


SECTION  IV. 

MARKS,  DEFORMITIES,  AND  MONSTROSITIES. 

But,  proving  the  main  principle  embodied  in  the  preceding 
section,  as  well  as  being  proved  by  it,  is  the  great  law,  that 
the  conditions  of  the  mother  during  pregnancy,  not  only 
leave  their  impress  upon  the  child's  mind,  but  they  also  af- 
fect vis  form  of  body,  so  as  to  produce  marks,  excrescences, 


MARKS,   DEFORMITIES,  AND   MONSTROSITIES.  525 

Children  marked  before  birlh.  This  disbelieved  by  some  physicians. 

extra  limbs,  deformities,  and  even  monstrosities.  The  ques- 
tion, whether  the  state  of  tlie  mother  produces  marks,  &c., 
has  long  divided  the  medical  world,  and  has  been  finally  de- 
cided, both  against  it,  and  against  the  facts  of  the  case, —  a 
decision  that  might  well  excite  onr  surprise,  especially  since, 
go  where  we  will,  inquire  of  whom  we  will,  we  find  these 
marks  in  variety  and  abundance,  corresponding  with,  and 
evidently. produced  by,  this  cause. 

A  physician  of  considerable  science  and  talent,  who  resides 
near  Philadelphia,  after  expressing  his  disbelief  in  the  doc- 
trine, and  opposing  it  strenuously,  related  the  following  fact 
in  proof  and  illustration  of  it : — A  woman,  some  months  be- 
fore the  birth  of  her  child,  wanted  some  strawberries  very 
much,  which  she  could  not  obtain;  and  fearing  that  this 
ungratified  desire,  would  mark  her  child,  and  having  heard 
that  the  mark  would  be  on  the  child  just  where  she  touched 
her  own  body,  put  her  hand  on  her  hip.  Before  the  child 
ivas  born,  she  predicted  that  it  would  have  a  mark,  told  what 
the  mark  would  resemble,  namely,  a  strawberry,  and  told 
lohere  it  would  be  found,  namely,  on  the  child's  hip,  and  lo 
and  behold,  when  the  child  was  born,  it  had  a  mark,  a  mark 
resembling  a  strawberry,  and  on  its  hip.  He  also  menticned 
several  other  similar  cases,  but  still  maintained  that  there 
was  nothing  in  this  doctrine.  I  told  him  that  the  mark  in 
question,  and  others  analogous  to  it,  must  have  their  causes  ; 
and  asked  him  whatiheh  causes  were.  He  answered  by  re- 
ferring to  the  fact,  that  this  whole  matter  had  uijdergcne  a 
thorough  and  most  elaborate  discussion  in  France,  where  all 
X\\e  facts  on  both  sides  that  could  be  raked  and  scraped  from 
all  quarters  had  been  adduced,  and  the  experiment  tried  on 
pregnant  women  in  their  hospitals,  (of  course  they  were  on 
their  guard,)  but  the  question  was  negatived;  and  by  saying 
that  its  admission  involved  an  anatomical  absurdity,  because 
there  was  no  possible  connection  of  the  mother  and  child  by 
means  of  which  these  results  could  be  effected.  -  He  added, 
that  the  Medical  Faculty,  generally,  discarded  and  ridiculed 
this  doctrine  as  being  both  absurd  and  impossible,  and  as 
being  a  real  old  granny's  whim,  basing  their  disbelief  on  its 
anatomical  impossibility. 


226        CONDITIONS    OF    PARENTS,   WHILE    BECOMING    PARENTS. 

This  (act  accounted  for  hy  animal  magnetism.  A  child  half  fish. 

But,  the  believer  in  Animal  Magnetism  has  no  difficulty 
in  pointing  out  by  what  agent  these  marks  and  excrescences 
are  formed.  He  sees,  first,  that  particular  things  in  nature, 
and  characteristics  in  men,  have  each  their  respective  forms, 
adapted  to  their  character,  and  which  they  always  assume; 
and,  secondly,  that  xhefeelh/gs  of  the  mother,  are  imparted 
to  the  child  by  means  of  magnetism,  which  is  the  agent  or  - 
principle  of  life,  or  rather,  life  itself ;  that,  therefore,  the  con- 
dition of  the  mother's  mind,  that  is,  her  magnetism,  herlife's- 
blood  and  spirit  are  imparted  to  the  child,  and  cause  it  to  as- 
sume the  shape  peculiar  to  those  things  which  have  magne- 
tized the  mother,  or  whose  magnetism  the  mother  has  im- 
bibed. 

A  fact  will  illustrate  this  theory,  and  also  go  to  prove  and 
explain  this  doctrine.  I  had  it  from  Mrs.  Fowler,  of  Bur- 
ford,  Canada  West,  a  woman  of  superior  natural  abilities, 
and  an  eye-wit7iess  o{  iho,  fact,  so  that  no  doubt  of  its  authen- 
ticity need  be  entertained.  It  was  this  : — A  woman,  about 
four  months  gone,  was  on  a  visit  to  her  native  town,  on  the 
northern  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  and  stopped  at  her  father's.  A 
fishing  excursion,  in  a  row-boat,  and  in  the  night,  was  pro- 
posed, and  which  she  was  persuaded  to  join.  The  fish  were 
to  be  caught  v/ith  a  spear,  while  asleep  in  the  water,  and 
were  discovered  by  means  of  a  torch.  The  kind  of  fish 
caught,  (the  name  I  have  forgotten,)  have  a  grissly  snout 
that  turns  upward  and  backward,  thus  forming  a  kind  of 
hook,  and  often  weiglis  twenty  pounds.  She  took  a  seat  in 
the  middle  of  the  boat.  A  large  fish,  probably  frightened, 
leaped  from  the  water,  clear  over  the  boat,  and  right  before 
her  face,  uttering,  as  it  passed,  a  kind  of  snort  or  wheexe  pe- 
culiar to  the  fish  when  it  jumps  out  of  the  water,  or  is  cap- 
lured.  This  frightened  her  terribly;  so  as  actually  to  sicken 
her  for  several  days.  Her  progeny,  when  born,  proved  to  be 
a  monster,  half  fish  and  half  human,  without  a  mouth,  but 
having  a  nasal  appendage  like  that  of  the  fish  alluded  to 
above.  lis  lower  extremity  resembled  that  of  a  fish,  and, 
every  few  minutes,  it  would  spring  and  throw  itself  up  a 
foot  or  more  from  its  pillow,  and  at  the  same  time  utter  the 
same  noise  made  by  the  kind  of  fish  alluded  to.     Htvving  no 


MARKS,  DEFORMITIES,  AND   MONSTROSITIES.  227 

What  can  be  done  by  magnelisin. 

mouth,  of  course,  it  could  not  be  fed,  and  lived  only  about 
twenty-four  hours.  Being  a  monster,  it  was  refused  a  Chris- 
tian burial,  and  was  interred  in  the  corner  of  a  field. 

Now.  as  animals  can  magnetise  men,  and  men,  animaKs, 
did  not  this  fish  magnetise  the  woman,  and  thereby  impart 
to  her  of  that  magnetism,  which  caused  it  to  assume  its  par- 
ticular form,  and  which  she,  of  course,  imparted  to  her  em- 
bryo, thus  causing  it  to  assume  a  part  of  the  magnetism,  that 
is,  of  the  nature,  of  the  fish,  and  consequently,  of  its  form 
of  body. 

And  this  theory  is  strengthened  by  the  fact,  that  the  magne- 
tiser  imparts  of  his  magnetism  to  the  magnetised,  and  the 
latter  is  impregnated  with  that  nature.  Thus,  being  magne- 
tised by  one  who  has  a  h^ad-aehe,  or  tooth-ache,  or  rheu- 
matic affection,  will  generally  cause  the  magnetiser  to  lose  his 
head-ache,  tooth-ache,  &c.,  and  the  magnetised  to  j^eceive 
them.  Hence,  being  magnetised  by  a  well  person,  generally 
invigorates  the  magnetised,  but  frequently  exhausts  the 
operator.*  Being  magnetised  by  an  intellectual  person 
brightens  up  the  ideas,  and  quickens  the  flow  of  thought ; 
and  being  magnetised  by  a  slow,  or  an  easy,  or  a  good,  or  a 
bad  person,  makes  the  magnetised  slow,  or  easy,  or  good,  or 
bad.  That  is,  the  one  magnetised,  receives  of  the  mental  and 
physical  nature  of  the  magnetiser. 

I  said  that  animals  could  magnetise  men,  and  men,  ani- 
mals. A  friend  of  mine,  last  summer,  confined  a  snake  in  a 
glass  box,  and  tried  to  magnetise  him.  At  first,  the  snake 
magnetised  hitn.  (the  same  as  cliarming,)  so  as  almost  to  put 
him  to  sleep,  and  compelled  him  to  desist  for  the  time,  but  he 
finally  magnetised  the  snake,  and  thus  rendered  it  perfectly 
tame  and  harmless,  so  that  it  would  crawl  all  over  him.  In 
vol.  iv.  of  the  Phrenological  Journal,  this  docti:ine  was  estab- 
lished and  illustrated  by  the  Egyptians'  taming  the  most 

*  Sunderland  has  diScoj;erec?  that  there  is  no^uii,  and  no  ivill  m  this 
matter.  What  next  ?  Any  thing,  every  thing  that  will  furnish  boasting 
timber,  and  a  new  name  every  month,  which  few  can  understand.  "la 
not  this  great  Babylon  which  /  have  builded,  by  the  strength  of  mt 
power,  and  for  the  glory  of  my  majesty  ?"  How  many  of  his  new  dis" 
coveries  has  he  discovered  over  again,  that  is,  discovered  to  be  wrong? 


228       CONDITIONS    OP    PARENTS,  WHILE    BECOMING   PARENTS. 

Further  remarks  upon  nriHgiielistn.  A  person  with  an  extra  thumb. 

venomous  of  serpents.  Now,  pnt  together  these  two  facts, 
that  the  magnetised  partakes  of  the  nature  of  the  magnetiser, 
and  that  animals  are  capable  of  magnetising  mankind,  and 
the  explanation  of  the  above  monstrosity  is  easy.  The  fish, 
as  it  darted  past  her,  threw  off'  a  powerful  charge  of  magne- 
tism, as  the  torpedo  does  when  disturbed,  which  was  imbibed 
by  the  woman,  and  imparted  to  the  child,  and  its  thus  par- 
taking of  the  nature  of  the  fish,  caused  it  to  assume,  in  part, 
and  as  far  as  it  partook  of  the  magnetism  of  the  fish,  its 
form  of  body^  and  to  spring  from  its  bed,  and  make  the  noise 
made  by  the  fish. 

The  story  of  a  monster  in  Connecticut,  half  snake  and 
half  human,  went  the  rounds  of  the  papers  some  years  ago, 
and  came  well  authenticated:  still,  I  would  not  endorse  it, 
though  it  was  like  others  that  admit  of  no  manner  of  doubt. 

This  theory  is  introduced,  not  because  it  is  fully  adopted, 
but,  because  it  explains  these  and  kindred  admitted  facts  bet- 
ter than  any  other,  and  shows  that  the  embryo  might  be  so 
related  to  the  mother  as  to  receive  marks  and  deformities 
from  her  mental  and  physical  conditions.  But,  be  it  true  or 
false,  the  point  at  issue,  namely,  that  marks  and  deformities 
are  of  frequent  occurrence,  and  caused  by  the  mother's  state 
of  mind,  cannot  well  be  doubted.  Nor  do  physicians  who 
dispute  this  doctrine,  pretend  to  deny  its  facts.  They  are 
compelled  to  admit  them,  and  yet  they  evade  them  by  saying 
that  they  are  anatomically  impossible.  This  arguing  against 
facts,  and  to  prove  that  facts  are  not  facts,  is  quite  a  task. 
True  philosophy  says, 

"  Seize  Truth,  where'er  'l  is  found, 
On  christian  or  on  pagan  ground." 

But,  to  proceed  with  our  facts.  At  Frye  village,  in  Ando- 
ver,  Mass.,  the  author  saw  a  Miss  Eliza  Chickering,  who  had 
an  extra  thumb,  resembling,  with  the  true  thumb,  a  lobster's 
claw.  Its  joint  and  muscles  cause  it  to  work  inwards,  so  as, 
with  the  thumb  proper,  to  be  a  close  imitation  to  a  lobster's 
claw;  and,  during  her  youthful  days,  it  and  the  thumb  were 
of  a  bright  red,  like  a  boiled  lobster.  The  history  of  it,  as 
given  by  her  mother,  is  this : — She  bought  a  large,  fi.ne  lob- 


MARKS,  DEFORMITIES,  AND   MONSTROSITIES.  229^ 

Marks  anH  deformities  caused.  \Vm.  H.  Brown.  Additional  facts. 

ster,  while  enciente,  and  left  it  for  a  moment,  when  it  waS 
stolen.  She  was  disappointed  in  the  extreme  by  the  loss,  and 
could  not  replace  it ;  and  this  lobster's  claw  on  her  daughter's 
hand  was  the  consequence.  Of  late,  it  has  lost  its  redness. 
She  will,  doubtless,  be  kind  enough  to  show  it  to  those  who 
are  curious  to  know  more  of  it. 

Now,  this  excrescence,  and  all  marks  and  excrescences, 
mcluding  monsters,  must  have  had  some  appropriate  and 
sufficient  cause.  ¥/hat  is  that  cause,  if  not  the  one  ascribed 
to  it,  namely,  that  law  by  which  children  inherit  the  mind 
of  the  mother,  by  means  of  which  impressions  are  made  on 
the  body ;  but  for  which  law,  the  mother's  mind  could  have 
no  effect  upon  the  child's  mind.  The  general  action  of  this 
law  is  unquestionably  beneficial,  and  even  indispensable,  and 
the  evils  and  monsters  sometimes  resulting  from  its  action, 
are  produced  by  its  violation,  that  is,  by  the  mother's  being 
in  an  unnatural  state  of  mind,  and  one  which  need  not  occur. 

Wm.  H.  Brown,  mentioned  at  the  close  of  sec.  2,  chap,  iii., 
tells  the  story  of  his  having  a  mark  on  one  of  his  legs  re- 
sembling a  mouse,  and  that  his  mother,  while  carrying  him, 
was  in  a  room  in  which  a  mouse  was  confined,  which  they 
were  trying  to  kill,  and  which  jumped  up  under  her  clothes, 
frightening  her  terribly. 

In  Philadelphia,  I  met  a  young  lav/yer,  in  a  part  of  whose 
forehead,  and  running  up  into  his  hair,  w^as  a  dark,  dingy- 
colored  mark,  elevated,  and  covered  with  short  hair,  which 
he  said  his  mother  supposed  was  caused  by  her  being  much 
frightened,  while  carrying  him,  b)^  a  mouse. 

An  aunt-in-law  to  the  author,  while  riding  out  with  her 
sister,  saw  some  strawberries  spilled  by  the  side  of  the  road, 
which  she  wanted  very  much.  But  her  sister,  who  was 
driving,  only  laughed  at  her,  and  drove  on,  turning  a  deaf 
ear  to  her  entreaties  to  stop,  and  to  her  apprehensions  that 
the  child  would  be  marked.  The  child  was  marked,  on  the 
back  of  its  neck,  with  a  cluster  of  red  spots,  in  shape  resem- 
bling spilled  strav\fberries.- 

My  father  relates  the  following  as  having  occurred  in  my 
native  town.     A  woman  rode  by  a   tree   full   of   ripe    wild 

20 


230        CONDITIONS    OF    PARENTS,  WHILE    BECOMING   PARENTS. 

Longing  after  butter.  GrifiSs.  Mark  of  fire.  Mark  of  wine, 

plums,  common  in  that  region,  which  she  craved  very  much^ 
but  which  she  could  not  obtain.  Her  child,  born  some 
months  after,  had  a  fleshy  appendage  hanging  from  the 
thumb,  resembling  a  wild  plum,  and  hanging  by  a  stem  of 
flesh. 

A  pregnant  mother,  in  Hanover,  Mich.,  longed  for  butter, 
Avhich  could  not  be  obtained,  it  being  in  the  winter,  and 
there  being  more  emigrants  than  eatables.  Her  child  was 
born  with  a  running  sore  on  its  neck,  which  yielded  to  none 
of  the  remedies  applied  to  it,  till  the  mother  remembered  her 
disappointed  longing  after  butter,  and  anointed  it  with  butter, 
by  which  it  was  soon  cured.  This  case  is  to  that  of  Mrs.  K. 
and  child,  mentioned  in  chap,  vi.,  sec.  4,  what  a  physical 
sore  is  to  the  moral  one  of  loving  liquor. 

James  Griffis,  an  old  neighbor  of  the  author,  with  whom 
he  has  hoed  corn,  and  for  whom,  driven  team,  and  rode  horse, 
many  a  day,  was  wont  to  show  us  boys  the  cherries  on  his 
arm,  which  almost  covered  it,  caused,  as  his  mother  sup- 
posed, by  her  disappointed  longing  after  that  fruit. 

Dr.  Curtis,  the  young,  but  gifted  lecturer  on  Physiology, 
who  furnished  the  case  of  the  crying  idiot,  mentioned  in  the 
preceding  section,  relates  tlie  case  of  a  woman  who  wit- 
nessed, from  a  distance,  the  burning  of  Pennsylvania  Hall, 
and  whose  son,  born  some  three  months  afterwards,  has  a 
spot  which  resembles  a  flame  of  fire  streaking  up  in  difl^erent 
places;  and  several  highly  interesting  facts  of  this  kind  will 
be  found  stated  in  the  work,  already  mentioned,  entitled 
"  Mental  and  Moral  Qualities  Transmissible." 

Joshua  Coffin  relates  the  following  of  one  of  his  playmates, 
whose  face,  neck,  and,  I  think,  whole  body,  were  spotted,  as 
if  .some  liquid  like  wine,  had  been  spattered  on  him.  His 
mother  accompanied  her  husband,  a  deacon,  to  town,  to  pro- 
cure wine  for  communion,  a  taste  of  Avhich  she  wanted  very 
much,  but  for  which  she  durst  not  ask.  On  going  home,  the 
cork  got  out,  and  the  wine  was  spilt  all  over  her  new  white 
dress.  The  mortification  caused  by  soiling  her  dress,  and 
the  disappointed  longings  after  the  wine,  marked  her  child 
with  the  spots  aUuded  to.     A  Mrs.  Lee,  of  London,  Canada 


MARKS,  DEFORMITIES,  AND   MONSTROSITIES.  231 

A  thumb.  The  child  resembling-  a  snake.  Other  cases.' 

West,^  witnessed,  from  her  window,  the  execution  of  Burly, 
from  the  jail  window,  who,  in  swinging  off,  broke  the  ropej 
and  was  precipitated  to  the  ground,  with  his  face  all  black 
and  blue,  from  being  choked.  This  horrid  sight  caused  her  to 
feel  awfully  ;  and  her  son,  born  three  months  afterwards,  and 
now  some  twelve  years  old,  whenever  any  thing  occurs  to 
excite  his  fears,  becomes  black  and  blue,  or  livid-like,  in  the 
face,  an  instance  of  which,  the  author  witnessed. 

The  author's  wife  says  she  has  often  seen  the  thumb  of  an 
infant,  a  younger  playmate  of  hers,  preserved  in  spirit,  and 
found  among  the  mesentery,  it  having  been  separated  from 
its  stump  before  birth.  Some  months  before  the  birth  of  this 
child,  the  mother  saw  a  thumb  cut  off  by  a  stroke  of  the 
axe,  by  which  her  feelings  were  wrought  up  to  the  highest 
pitch  of  pity. 

About  1760,  a  woman  in  Brookfield,  Mass.,  on  going  to  a 
hen's  nest  in  a  basket,  for  eggs,  as  she  was  putting  her  hand 
down  into  the  basket  partly  before  she  looked,  was  shocked 
and  terrified,  so  that  she  fell  back  and  fainted,  by  seeing  a 
large  snake  that  had  curled  itself  up  in  the  nest  and  swal- 
lowed all  the  eggs,  and  which  hissed  and  darted  towards  her 
hand  as  she  was  putting  it  down.  Two  months  afterwards, 
she  bear  a  child,  the  eyes  and  lower  part  of  the  face  of  which, 
and  especially  its  mouth,  resembled  a  snake.  It  made  vio- 
lent motions  and  a  hissing  noise,  resembling  those  of  the 
snake  in  the  basket,  on  account  of  which  it  was  bled  to  death 
by  Drs.  Honeywood  and  Upham. 

About  ten  years  ago,  m  Waterbury,  Vt.,  there  lived  a 
young  man  who  appeared  as  if  intoxicated,  supposed  to  have 
been  caused  by  his  mother's  seeing  a  drunkard  while  carry- 
ing him.     His  intellect  was  good. 

In  Wookstock,  Vt.,  several  years  ago,  a  pregnant  mother 
visited  a  menagerie,  and  became  deeply  interested  in  the 
animals   she  saw.     Some  five  months  afterwards,  she  gav 

*  Dr.  Lee,  her  husband,  furnishes  a  striking  illustration  of  the  descent 
of  the  mathematical  powers,  which  were  remarkably  strong  in  him,  and  in 
some  of  his  brothers,  were  very  marked  in  his  mother  and  her  brothers, 
and  in  her  father  and  his  family,  whose  names  were  Hall,  and  who  emi- 
grated from  near  Norwich,  Conn. 


232        CONDITIONS    OF    PARENTS,  "WHILE    BECOMING   PARENTS. 
The  son  who  turned  his  back  to  his  father  while  speaking-  to  hina. 

birth  to  a  monster,  some  parts  of  which  resembled  one  wild 
animal,  and  other  parts  other  animals.     It  died  soon  after. 

There  is  a  child  now  living  in  Boston,  whose  countenance 
bears  such  a  remarkable  resemblance  to  a  monkey,  as  to  be 
observed  at  once.  The  mother  visited  a  menagerie  while 
pregnant,  and  while  there  a  monkey  jumped  upon  her. 

Another  fact  illustrative  of  this  principle,  was  told  me  in 
Vermont.  About  1798,  Hezekiah  B.,  of  ,H.,  Vt.,  a  very  pas- 
sionate, blustering  man,  and  very  angry,  when  angrj?',  but 
soon  over,  becoming  deeply  exasperated  by  something  his 
wife  had  done,  came  into  the  house  at  a  door  opposite  to 
which  his  wife  was  kneading  bread,  her  back  being  towards 
the  door,  and  emptied  a  most  abusive  vial  of  wrath  and 
sputter  upon  his  wife;  who,  turning  round  to  reply,  was  so 
overcome  by  her  feelings,  that  she  choked  for  utterance;  and 
for  one  hour  she  kept  kneading  that  bread,  so  choked  by  the 
overflow  of  her  feelings,  that  she  could  not  speak ;  her  back, 
meanwhile,  being  turned  towards  the  door,  and  from  her 
husband.  Three  months  afterwards,  her  son  Solomon  was 
born;  and  though  he  has  always  lived  in  the  house,  and 
worked  on  the  farm  with  his  father,  and  has  a  wife  and 
child  there,  yet,  till  he  was  thirty-five  years  old,  he  never 
spoke  the  first  word  with  him.  Finally,  one  day,  being  at 
work  in  the  field  with  him,  and  wanting  very  much  to  ask 
him  a  question,  he  involuntarily  came  up  with  his  face  to- 
wards his  father,  and  turning  short  around,  so  as  to  present 
his  hack  to  him,  and  then  walking  from  his  father,  he  made 
out  to  speak  to  him,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life.  And  now, 
•jivhenever  he  addresses  him,  he  turns  his  hack  to  him,  for  in 
this  way  only  can  he  speak  to  him,  though  he  has  tried  his 
utmost,  all  his  life,  to  do  so  while  facing  him,  but  all  in  vain. 
When  a  boy,  he  sat  peaceably  on  his  father's  knee  only  once. 

In  Bridgewater,  Mass.,  about  forty  years  ago,  a  pregnant 
woman  longed  for  a  lobster,  which  she  could  not  obtain. 
Some  months  afterwards,  she  gave  birth  to  a  child  resem- 
bling a  lobster,  especially  in  its  hands  and  mouth.  It  could 
never  endure  fresh  a:ir,  and  they  therefore  kept  it  covered  up 
closely  in  bed  for  several  weeks,  when  it  died.  Bathing  it 
often  in  salt  water,  would  probably  have  preserved  its  life. 


MARKS,  DEFORMITIES,  AND    MONSTROSITIES.  233 

James  Copeland.  Mrs.  Dyke.  Mrs.  Buller. 

James  Copeland,  44  years  old,  is  below  par  in  intellect, 
and  under  guardianship,  and  quite  inferiojr  to  both  parents  in 
intelligence.  He  is  good  natured,  quite  mechanical,  and 
very  fond  of  vvliittling ;  understands  how  to  do  most  kinds 
of  work,  but  is  quite  slow,  and  very  particular  to  have  every 
thing  in  proportion  and  order  ;  can  count  money  btit  poorly, 
and  does  not  put  the  cash  value  to  any  kind  of  property, 
though  he  distinguishes  between  good  and  poor  cattle,  and 
looks  behind  him  while  eating,  probably  fifty  times  each 
meal.  His  parentage  on  both  sides,  is  good,  and  his  idiocy 
and  looking  behind  him  when  eating,  were  caused  by  his 
,  mother's  fear  lest  she  should  be  surprized  by  an  idiot  that 
lived  near  her,  who  often  tried  to  frighten  her.  At  table  she 
usually  sat  with  her  back  towards  the  door,  and  often  turned 
around,  while  eating,  to  see  if  he  was  not  making  his  ap- 
pearance. She  apprehended  the  fate  of  her  son,  before  he 
was  born.  James'  father  has  a  mark  on  the  inside  of  his  left 
leg,  resembling  a  string  of  sausages. 

I  saw  a  man  in  West  Randolph,  Vt.,  who  was  somewhat 
deficient  in  mind  and  body,  occasioned,  as  is  supposed,  by 
his  mother's  being  frightened  and  thrown  from  a  wagon 
some  months  before  his  birth. 

Mrs.  Dyke,  a  feeble,  nervous  woman,  who  had  borne  no 
children,  though  she  had  been  married  twelve  years,  Avas 
pregnant ;  but  a  gun  being  fired  under  her  window,  she 
sprung  up,  exclaiming,  "That  broke  my  back!"  Some 
months  afterwards  a  child  was  born,  loith  its  back-hone  actu- 
ally broken — dead,  of  course.  The  father  went  to  my  in- 
formant, a  lawyer,  to  get  a  writ  to  take  up  the  one  that  fired 
the  gun,  whom  he  had  cautioned  not  to  fire  it,  lest  it  should 
produce  abortion. 

Mrs.  Butler,  of  Williamstown,  Vt.,  was  the  town  bully  for 
twenty-three  years,  and  whipped  every  man  in  it  who  op- 
posed or  offended  her.  She  was  a  strapping  great  woman, 
tremendous  in  point  of  strength,  and  was  fined  some  $500 
for  assaults  and  battery  on  men.  All  who  knew  her,  feared 
her.  Her  only  child  is  a  fool,  and  very  fierce  and  ferocious, 
and  now  confined  in  a  cage,  mostly  under  ground,  chained, 
and  fed  as  if  a  pig.     His  strength  is  tremendous — so  great. 

20* 


234        CONDITIONS    OF   PARENTS,  WHILE   BECOMING    PAEENTS. 

Ii)fluei>ce  of  starvation  and  success  in  business  on  oH'sfiring.  Clu!i-(ooi. 

that  he  will  hold  a  crow-bar  out  straight*  with  one  hand,  by 
grasping  it  at  one  end. 

A  woman  in  H.,  Vt.,  longed  for  a  calf's  liver,  while  preg- 
nant, and  her  child,  when  born,  resembled  a  liver  in  the  face, 
and  had  its  ribs  separated  and  turned  out.     It  soon  died. 

A  husband  and  wife  moved  to  Sliarpn,  near  Lake  George, 
while  it  remained  an  unbroken  forest.  Having  no  neighbors, 
they  got  out  of  provisions  the  first  year;  and  before  they 
could  raise  any,  they  could  barely  obtain  sufUcient  sustenance 
to  support  life,  and  that  by  eating  roots,  boiling  bark,  &c. 
Their  child,  born  under  these  circumstances,  and  now  living, 
is  the  very  picture  of  despair — poor,  dyspeptic,  hypoy,  and 
feeble  in  both  mind  and  body.  But  they  had  put  in  a  large 
crop  of  wheat,  which  the  influx  of  emigration  enabled  them 
to  sell  at  great  prices,  so  that  they  had  abundance,  and 
cleared  some  ^3000  in  one  year — every  thing  going  prosper- 
ously. Their  next  child,  born  under  these  auspicious  cir- 
cumstances, is  a  fine,  manly,  strong,  noble-looking,  energetic, 
and  highly  talented  man,  and  a  real  steam-engine  for  driving 
through  whatever  he  undertakes.  His  mother  told  him  the 
cause  of  his  brother's  debilit}/',  and  charged  him  to  let  him 
want  for  nothing. 

The  author  has  heard  a  case  stated,  in  which  a  pregnant 
woman  having  company,  and  wanting  some  veal,  and  not 
finding  any  one  to  kill  a  calf  as  quickly  as  she  wanted,  took 
hold  herself,  and  attempted  to  cut  its  throat,  but  did  not  en- 
tirely succeed,  by  which  her  child  was  badly  marked,  but 
the  particulars  have  escaped  me. 

Mr. ,  of  W.,  Vt.,  is  club-footed,  produced  by  his  moth- 
er's being  thrown  from  a  wagon  before  his  birth.  His  second 
child  was  born  some  three  months  after  he  had  injured  his 
foot,  which  his  wife  dressed  and  rubbed  daily.  The  other 
children  were  not  thus  marked,  though  their  mother  feared 
they  would  be,  and  suffered  every  thing  in  consequence. 
Her  other  children  she  feared  would  be  marked,  but  the  one 
that  was  mal-formed,  she  did  not  fear  would  be.  So  it  seems 
that  the  mere  fears  of  motliers  that  their  children  will  be 
maxked,  do  not  affect  tlie  matter,  or  rather,  mothers  seldom 
mark  those  they  fear  they  shall. 


MARKS,  DEFORMITIES,  AND   MONSTROSITIES.  235 

A  child  that  resembled  a  cat  with  its  head  beat  in. 

The  followiug  eomes  so  fully  authenticated,  as  to  leave  no 
doubt  of  its  truth.  Magnetism  will  explain  it:  see  the  theory 
and  facts  adduced  in  this  section. 

A  Mrs.  ■ ,  living  in  H.,  Vt.,  loved  a  cat  very  much,  and 

the  cat  reciprocated  this  attachment.  That  is,  one  had  mag- 
netized the  other.  She  lived  in  a  house  with  an  old  woman 
who  disliked  the  cat,  and  woald  frequently  culT  it  oif  the 
table,  and  out  of  the  way.  Many  a  family  quarrel  was  oc- 
casioned by  one's  liking  the  cat,  and  the  other  not.  At 
length  she  moved  away,  but  the  poor  cat  was  not  taken. 
Her  husband  went  back  for  the  balance  of  their  things,  and 
his  wife  charged  him  over  and  over  again,  and  with  great 
earnestness,  to  bring  the  favorite  cat.  On  going  for  his  things, 
the  cat  was  sick.  The  old  woman  told  the  husband  that  the 
eat  was  sick  and  pining,  and  refused  to  eat,  and  advised  him 
to  kill  it.  Finally,  he  took  it  out  behind  tlie  barn,  and  beat 
out  it  brains.  On  going  home,  his  wife,  the  first  thing,  ac- 
cused him  of  having  killed  the  cat.  He  denied  it  repeatedly 
and  positively,  and  she  as  positively  asserted  that  he  had 
killed  it,  and  thrown  it  out  back  of  the  barn  ;  for,  said  she,  / 
felt  the  bloios,  and  saiv  the  mangled  cat  thrown  out  behind 
the  barn,  and  look  on  terribly  after  her  favorite  cat,  so  as  to 
be  almost  ^beside  herself.  Her  child,  which  she  carried  at 
.the  time,  when  born,  resembled  a  cat,  in  the  looks  of  its 
head,  with  its  brains  knocked  out,  or  head  beat  in  ;  and  died 
in  a  short  time. 

Another  case,  of  a  boy's  putting  a  coal  of  fire  on  a  turtle's 
back,  and  its  running  after  a  pregnant  woman,  and  her 
child's  being  deformed,  occurred  in  a  neighboring  town. 

The  author  of  this  work  knows  a  little  girl  wdio  has  a 
mark  illustrative  of  this  principle,  and  has  seen  several 
cases,  both  in  Boston  and  wherever  he  goes :  and  so  will 
every  close  observer  meet  them  every  where,  and  among  all 
classes,  though  most  frequently  among  the  rich,  probably  be- 
cause their  mothers  were  rendered  the  more  susceptible  by 
being  nervous  Some, more  recent  medical  authors  have 
openly  avowed  this  doctrine,  and  Dr.  J.  V.  C.  Smith,  the 
able  editor  of  the  Boston  Medical  and  Surgical  Journal,  a 
liberal  and  highly  scientific  medical  work,  recently  avowed 


236        CONDITIONS    OF   PARENTS,   WHILE    BECOMING   PARENTS. 

Facts  are  numerous.  The  belief  is  general. 

it  in  a  conversation  with  the  author,  and  cited  cases  to  prove 
it. 

But  tliere  is  really  no  end  to  facts  of  this  class,  incontesti- 
ble,  irresistable /ac^s,  establishing  the  great  principle  already- 
laid  down,  that  the  state  of  the  mother's  mind  affects  the 
child's  form  of  body,  even  far  enough  to  produce  marks, 
mal-formations,  and  monstrosities. 

But,  is  it  either  necessary  or  desirable  to  multiply  facts  of 
this  kind?  especially,  since  they  are  so  numerous  and  palpa- 
ble, that  those  already  given  will,  doubtless,  suggest  analo- 
gous ones,  to  every  reader.  And  the  more  so,  as  the  policy 
of  this  work  is,  not  to  swell  its  pages  with  all  the  facts  that 
might  be  collected  on  every  point,  facts  that  scores  of  volumes 
could  not  contain,  but  to  state  the  doctrine  clearly,  and  bring 
forward  a  few  cases,  as  illustrations  mainly,  of  such  a  char- 
acter, that  the  reader  will  be  able  to  recall  many  other  simi- 
lar ones  as  having  occurred  v/ithin  his  knowledge,  and  leave 
the  remainder  to  the  memory  of  the  reader. 

And  then,  too,  the  belief  is  general,  and  pervades  all 
classes  of  the  community.  What  husband,  v/ho  has  the 
\\UQ  feelings  of  a  husband,  but  exerts  his  utmost  energies  to 
get  for  his  wife  whatever  she  longs  for;  and  who  does  not 
know,  that  things,  at  other  times  injurious,  if  longed  for,  are 
harmless,  and  even  beneficial.  Not  that  1  would,  by  any 
means,  encourage  the  whims  of  pregnant  women,  or  facili- 
tate their  taking  this  advantage  of  their  husbands,  but,  I 
would  have  real  longings,  those  that  are  too  strong  to  be  sub- 
dued by  force  of  will,  gratified. 

"But,"  say  the  doctors,  '-this  point  being  admitted,  still, 
its  promulgation  will  render  all  our  women  miserable  merely 
\^r\\\'i  frigJit,  fearing  lest  any  unusual  thing  they  see,  should 
mark  their  children.  Rather  keep  them  in  ignorance  of  this 
principle,  and  deny  it  stoutly,  so  as  to  quiet  their  fears."  But,  • 
for  one,  I  should  pursue  a  very  different  policy,  in  order  to 
attain  the  same  end.  I  should  tell  women  the  facts  of  the 
case,  and  let  knowledge  put  them  on  their  guard.  I  do  not 
believe  in  falsifying,  even  in  cases  like  this,  but  advocate  the 
doctrine  that  Truth  will  do  good.  Properly  to  fortify  mothers 
on  this  point,  is,  to  spread  light,  so  that  they  may  know  what 


THE   CHILDREN   OF   YOUNG   PARENTS.  237 

How  l\o  prevent  marks,  &c.  Stretigilien  the. nervous  system. 

to  do,  and  what  to  expect.  Besides,  to  make  women  believe 
this  doctrine,  that  these  things  do  not  mark  their  children,  is 
utterly  impossible;  for,  the  whole  community,  high  and  low, 
intelligent,  (not  learned,)  and  ignorant,  believe  the  doctrine; 
and  compelled  either  to  believe  in  the  doctrine,  or  else  deny 
the  evidence  of  their  own  senses — to  disbelieve  what  they  see 
and  feel.  Hence,  since  this  fear  cannot  be  prevented^  let  it 
be  properly  directed.  Let  them  know  what  conditions  will 
prevent  their  feelings  from  marking  their  children,  and  how 
to  avoid  feelings  likely  to  do  injury. 

But,  by  another  method  still.,  should  1  advise  mothers  to 
avoid  these  evil  consequences — namely,  by  strengthening 
their  nervous  systems^  by  air,  exercise,  and  preserving  and 
invigorating  their  health.  It  is  not  the  strong,  health]^,  and 
robust,  that  mark  their  children,  but  the  weakly .,  the  Jidgetfy, 
the  ne?^vous,  and  those  easily  impressed^  that  is,  easily  magne- 
tised. But,  if  our  women  would  follow  the  advice  given  in 
the  preceding  section,  so  as  to  keep  np  a  full  tide  of  health 
and  vigor,  they  would  seldom  mark  their  children,  because, 
they  themselves  would  seldom  be  impressed  with  these  for- 
eign influences,  but  would  generally  resist  them. 


SECTION  V. 

THE  OLDER  THE  PARENT,  THE   MORE  INTELLECTUAL  AND  THE 
LESS   ANLMAL,  THE   CHILD. 

"  The  Fox  once  boasled  over  the  Lioness,  that  she  produced  the  most  young'.     '  Ah 
but  mine  are  Lions,'  significantly  retorted  the  Lioness." 

Closely  allied  to  the  doctrines  taught  and  the  principles 
presented  in  the  preceding  sections,  is  the  general  law,  that 
the  children  of  young  parents  are  more  animal  and  less  intel- 
lectual and  moral,  than  the  children  of  the  same  parents  born 
after  the  parents  become  older.  The  law  grows  out  of  the 
actions  of  two  other  principles  already  stated,  namely,  that 
the  physical  and  mental  conditions  of  parents,  while  becom- 
ing parents,  affect  those  of  their  children ;  and  that  the  ani- 
mal temperament  predominates  in  youth  and  adolescence,  and 


238        CONDITIONS    OF    PARENTS,  WHILE    BECOMING    PARENTS. 
Effects  of  immalurity  in  parents  on  their  eliildren.  A  proverb. 

the  mental,  later  in  life,  neither  of  v/hich  will  probably  be 
called  in  question.  If,  as  already  fully  shown,  children  in- 
herit the  qualities  possessed  by  their  parents  when  they  were 
born,  and  if  the  young  generally  have  stronger  propensities 
and  weaker  intellect  and  moral  feeling,  relatively,  than  those 
in  the  prime  of  life,  or  a  little  past  it,  or  than  they  do  after 
maturity,  compared  with  before  it,  to  which  the  experience 
and  observation  of  every  reader  will  bear  testimony,  then  of 
course,  children  born  while  tlieir  parents  are  young,  that  is, 
during  the  reign  of  the  animal  nature  of  the  parents,  will  ne- 
cessarily be  more  animal  and  less  intellectual  and  moral,  than 
those  born  during  the  reign  of  their  intellectual  and  moral 
faculties. 

Moreover,  young  persons  are  immature,  in  both  body  and 
mind;  how,  then,  can  their  progeny  be  otherwise  than  green, 
and  animal  at  that  ?  I  do  not  believe  any  person  is  mar- 
riageable before  25,  unless  it  be  some  precocious,  green-house 
plant,  or  some  consumptive  shoot,  not  marriageable  at  all. 
Can  the  weak  bring  forth  the  strong,  or  the  unclean,  the 
clean,  or  the  green,  the  ripe?  Do  not,  my  young  friends,  rush 
headlong  into  marriage,  but  wait  and  ripen,  and  the  longer 
it  takes  you  to  ripen,  the  better.  Some,  those  from  long-lived 
families  especially,  are  not  sufficiently  matured  for  marriage 
till  35,  and  many  an  old  maid  is  abandoned  because  on  the 
wrong  side  of  30,  when,  in  fact,  she  is  but  just  marriageable, 
and  will  remain  so  for  fifteen  years  or  more.  If  parents  be- 
come parents  while  yet  wild,  coltish,  impulsive,  full  of  fun 
and  frolic,  and  swayed  by  propensity,  how  can  their  children 
be  otherwise  than  animal  in  mind  and  body?  From  35  to 
50  is  a  better  period  of  life  than  any  previous  ;  and  children 
born  during  that  period,  are  the  better,  because  born  then. 

This  doctrine  is  sustained  by  facts^  as  well  as  founded  in 
correct  principles.  In  every  portion  of  the  country,  and 
among  different  nations,  I  have  met  with  a  proverb  variously 
expressed,  signifying  that  "  the  shakings  of  the  bag  make 
the  finest  meal,"  or  that  the  youngest  children  are  the  smart- 
est. And  not  only  is  this  proverb  in  the  mouth  of  the  mass, 
but  it  is  supported  by  the  parental  history  of  every  man  dis- 
ting-uished  for  either  talents  or  moral  worth.     Franklin  men- 


THK    CHILDREN    OF    YOUNG    PARENTS.  239 

Franklin.  Johnson.  Exceptions  where  the  health  of  parents  fails. 

tions  that  he  was  the  youngest  child  of  the  youngest  child  of 
the  youngest  child  for  Jive  genei'aiions  in  s7iccessio7i !  And 
what  increases  the  interest  of  this  fact  is,  that  his  being  the 
youngest  of  the  youngest,  was  on  his  'inother^s  side,  from 
whom,  mainly,  he  unquestionably  inherited  most  of  his  tal- 
ent. If  my  memory  serves  me,  the  father  of  Ben.  Johnson 
was  72,  and,  his  mother  considerably  above  40,  when  this 
illustrious  son  of  genius  was  born.  I  care  not,  however, 
whether  it  be  the  youngest  or  the  oldest,  so  that  the  parents 
are  fully  matured^  both  in  body  and  mind ;  and  use  the  terms 
eldest  and  youngest  mainly  to  signify  the  age  of  the  parents 
at  the  birth  of  their  children.  Nor  do  I  believe  a  distinguish- 
ed man  or  woman  can  be  found,  whose  parents,  at  their  birth, 
were  not  thirty  or  ujnvards. 

But  this  law  is  modified  by  the  following  important  excep- 
tion, namely,  where  either  parent,  or  bolh  father  and  mother, 
labor  under  any  chronic  disease,  which  continues  to  grow 
upon  them,  so  as  gradually  to  weaken  their  constitutions 
more  and  more,  as  each  successive  child  is  born,  then  the  ta- 
bles are  reversed,  and  the  eldest  becomes  the  smartest,  because 
he  has  the  strongest  constitution.  AvA  this  is  doubly  true, 
if  the  disease  afiiicts  and  debilitates  the  mother.  Other  tri- 
fling modifications  of  this  lav/  doubtless  exist,  but  they  are 
trifling  compared  with  the  value  of  the  law  itself,  and  its 
practical  bearing  on  the  period  most  suitable  for  marrying. 
And  I  warn  the  young,  not  to  hasten  to  perpetrate  marriage, 
both  on  their  own  account — because  it  exhausts  them,  espe- 
cially by  consequent  animal  indulgence,  besides  loading  them 
down  v/ith  the  cares  of  a  family,  when  they  want  their  time 
and  energies  for  growth — but  doubly  so,  on  that  of  the  children. 
I  do  think  it  a  great  crime,  and  one  that  ought  to  be  inter- 
dicted by  law,  if  any  ought,  (and  it  is  punished  by  the  laws 
of  Nature,')  for  young  people  to  rush  headlong  into  marriage, 
and  beget  children,  while  they  themselves  are  children,  yet 
in  their  teens.  I  recently  examined  a  family  of  children,  the 
first  two  of  which  were  spindling,  loosely  put  together,  puny, 
delicate,  and  though  endowed  v/ith  memory,  yet  were  want- 
ing in  judgment ;  but  the  youngest  child  was  the  strongest 
in  body,  and  the  smartest  in  intellect;  and  on  expressing  my 


240        CONDITIONS    OF    PARENTS,  WHILE    BECOMING   PARENTS. 
Parents  should  bring  forth  no  more  children  than  they  can  provide  for. 

surprise  at  the  difference,  and  asking  after  the  age  of  the 
mother,  I  found  she  had  married  at  19,  and  was  an  old 
woman  at  28.  The  law  ought  to  forbid  marriages  to  take 
place  before  the  parties  are  twentj'',  1  should  say  twenty-five. 

Closely  connected  with  this  subject,  is  that  of  the  mmiber 
of  children  born.  Our  families  are  generally  too  large  for 
their  means.  True,  in  rich  families,  where  they  could  be 
better  supported,  they  have  but  few,  owing  to  the  general 
debility  of  mothers ;  but  poor  families,  so  poor  that  the  pa- 
rents can  barely  scrape  together  sufficient  bread  and  potatoes 
to  keep  their  children  from  actual  starvation,  go  on  to  mul- 
tiply to  the  number  of  ten  and  twelve,  which  compels  them 
to  put  out  their  children  to  a  trade  very  young,  to  be  de- 
prived of  all  privileges  of  informing  their  minds,  and  perhaps 
to  sell  papers,  or  steal,  for  a  living.  If  a  farmer  had  but  a 
few  acres  of  pasture,  barelj''  sufficient  to  keep  one  cow  well, 
how  foolish  for  him  to  turn  in  four  or  five  cows,  all  of  which 
taust  then  starve,  and  the  whole  of  them  would  give  less  milk 
for  his  family,  than  one  would,  if  well  fed.  I  maintain  that 
parents  are  under  the  highest  moral  obligation,  to  produce  no 
more  children  than  they  can  support  abundantly ^  and  furnish 
with  all  the  materials  required  for  mental  or  physical  im- 
provement or  comfort. 

Besides,  is  it  not  infinitely  better  to  have  one  lion,  than  a 
dozen  foxes'?  What  parent  would  not  rather  beget  one 
Webster,  than  a  score  of  common  men?  I  say,  let  abundant 
pains  be  taken  wiih  each  child.  Let  no  more  be  produced,  than 
can  be  fully  and  faithfully  attended  to,  from  before  the  germ, 
till  they  are  thirty.  Let  this  be  made  a  matter  of  separate 
attention,  as  if  it  were,  what  it  in  fact  really  should  be  made, 
a  special  business  of  parents,  and  the  greatest  ivork  in  which 
they  can  engage.  Let  each  child  be  so  begotten,  carried, 
born,  trained,  and  educated,  that  he  may  be  and  enjoy,  all 
that  a  benevolent  and  an  all-wise  God  originally  constituted 
and  enabled  man  to  be  and  to  enjoy.  Let  men  be  "  co-workera 
together"  with  God,  in  the  great  work  of  multiplying  human 
beings  stamped  in  the  image  of  God,  both  intellectually  and 
morally.  Oh  !  when  will  men  learn  wisdom — learn  how  to 
fulfil  the  great  end  of  their  creation  ? 


EFFECTS    OF   MARRYING   BLOOD   RELATIONS.  241 

Crossing  ihe  breed.  Number  of  our  ancestors. 

SECTION  VI. 

EFFECTS  OF  MARRYING  BLOOD  RELATIONS. 

The  principle  that  crossing  the  bi'eed,  is  the  only  way  to 
prevent  the  stock  from  deteriorating,  and  the  best  means  of 
improving  it,  is  as  familiar  to  every  farmer  in  the  Union,  as 
the  way  to  mill.  Who  does  not  know  that  sheep,  cattle, 
horses,  swine,  and  even  fowls,  and  all  kinds  of  animals,  run 
out,  unless  crossed  by  the  introduction  of  foreign  males  or 
females  ;  that  when  they  breed  "  in  and  i72,^^  as  it  is  called, 
the  young  are  few  and  feeble,  and  those  that  live  to  grow  up, 
are  every  way  inferior.  But,  introduce  a  new  rooster  lo 
your  brood  of  hens  every  year,  and  every  egg  will  hatch,  or 
contain  a  chick  ;  and  so  of  other  animals.  So,  also,  even 
grain  will  not  grow  well,  if  sown  on  the  same  soil  from 
which  it  was  reaped. 

That  the  same  principle  of  crossing  the  breed,  applies  to 
man,  and  produces  evil  consequences  to  the  children  of  blood 
relations,  is  perfectly  evident,  both  from  the  facts  of  the  case, 
and  from   the   very    nature   or   arrangement  of  parentage. 
Thus,  every  human  being  on  the  face  of  the  globe,  is  com- 
pelled, from  this  demand  in  Nature  for  crossing  the  breed,  to 
have  two  parents,  four  grand  parents,  eight  great  grand  pa- 
rents, sixteen  ancestors  of  the  fourth  generation  back,  thirty- 
two  of  the  fifth;,  two  hundred  and  fifty-six  of  the  eighth; 
thirhj-tiDO  thousand  seven  hundred  and  sixty-eight  of  the  fif- 
teenth; almost  o?ie  million  and  fifty  thousand  of  the  twen- 
tieth ;  nearly  owe  thousand  seventy-three  million  of  the  thirti- 
eth; 1,104,893,771,696  of  the  fortieth;  and  1,131,411,222,- 
216,704,  of  only  the  fiftieth  generation  back,  all  of  every 
one's  ancestors  for  fifty  generations,  amounting  to  the  incon- 
ceivable number  of  two  thousand  three  hundred  and  sixty- 
two  billion,  seven  hundred   and  forty-nine  thousand,  nine 
hundred  and  fourteen  million,  two  hundred   and   fourteen 
thousand  and  forty-six,  (2,362,749,914,214,046  !)— a  multi- 
tude, verily  !  which  no  man  can  number,  no  mind  conceive  ! 
That  is,  the  blood  of  this  vast  host  is  running  ill  the  veins  of 
every  living  mortal,   and    that,   reckoning  back  only  fifty 

21 


242        CONDITIONS    OF    PAKENTS,  WHILE    BECOMING   PARENTS. 
Number  of  descendants. 

generations !  What  then,  as  each  generation  doubles  the 
number,  must  it  be  in  a  hundred  generations,  which  would 
carry  us  back  to  about  the  Christian  era,  perhaps  only  about 
one-third  of  the  age  of  man  !  *      Hence,  in  the  very  nature 

*  Let  us  consider  this  matter,  in  the  descending  scale.      Take  the  ten 
children  of  John  Rogers,  and  suppose  them  to  have,  on  an  average,  five 
cliildren  each,  and  each  of  these,  five  more,  and  so  on  for  thirty  genera- 
tions, except  allowing  eight  each  to  the  eighth,  an  estimate  that  will  prob- 
ably fid!  short  of  the  fact,  as  the  Rogerses  generally  have  nearer  tens  than 
fives.     This  will  give  him  five  hundred  and  two  grand  children,  six 
thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty  descendants  of  the  fifth  generation  only ; 
thiiiy-one  million,  sixty-five  thousand,  of  the  tenth  generation, (more  than 
the  whole  pojiuiation  of  Great  Britain;)  ten  billion,  thrte  hundred  and 
twenty   thousand,  three    hundred    and    twelve   million,   and  five   hun- 
dred thousand,  (10,320,312,500,000,)  of  the  twentieth  ;  and  one  hundred 
sixty-nine  trillion,  one  hundred  and  forty-thousand,  two  hundred  and 
eighty-eight  billion,  seven  thousand  eight  hundred  and  twelve  million, 
five  himdred  thousand,  of  the  thirtieth  generation,  (169,140,288,007,812,- 
500,000-)    And  then,  by  adding  all  the  intermediate  sums  together,  you 
have  the  number  of  liis  descendants  in  thirty  generations,  supposing,  on 
an  average,  each  of  his  ten  chiidren  has  five,  and  each  of  every  genera- 
tion has  five,  except  the  eighth,  who  ai'e  allowed  to  have  eight.     But  let 
them  have  ten  apiece,  and  he  will  have  had  a  hundred  grand  children,  a 
thousand  great  grand  children,  ten  thousand  (quite  a  little  army)  of  the 
fifth  generation,  a  hundred  thousand  (an  army  for  Bonaparte)  of  the 
sixth,  a   million  of  the  seventh,  and  a  hundred  thousand   million  of  the 
tenth,  or  present  generation  ;  ten  hundred  thousand  million  (or  more  than 
the  present  entire  population  of  ihe  globe,)  of  the  eleventh   generation, 
and  ten  trillions  of  the  twentieth  generation  (some  three  hundred  years 
from   now;)  and   ten    hundred    thousand   quadrillions,  of   the   thirtieth 
generation.    This  estimate  is  probably  too  large;  perhaps  the  other  is, 
but  it  goes  to  show  the  rapid  ratio  in  which  the  human  family  increases, 
and  how  vast  the  number  of  those  who,  in  all   coming  time,  are  to   be 
born  of  each  reader  who  has,  or  may  have,  children  that  live  to  have 
other  children,  and  also  how  vast  the  number  that  die  with  every  oije 
who  dies  without  issue.     Some  errors  may  perhaps  have  crept  into  the 
above  enumeration,  yet  there  is  no  calculating  the  amount  of  happiness 
which  it  is  in  the  power  of  parents  to  impart  to  mankind,  by  becoming 
the  parents  of  healthy  and  virtuous  children,  rather  than  of  those  who 
are  vicious  ;  for,  be  it  remembered,  that  the  character  of  every  parent  in 
this  vast  line  of  ancestors  is  transmitted  to  every  one  of  these  descen- 
dants.    Who  can  look  at  this  subject  in  this  liglit,  and  not  shudder  at  the 
inconceivably  momentous  consequences  necessarily  attached  to  becoming 
parents ! 


EFFECTS    OF    MARRYING    BLOOD    RELATIONS.  243 

Facts  showing  the  effects  of  marrying  cousins. 

of  the  case,  there  must  be  crossing  of  the  breed,  and  to  an 
inconceivable  extent,  from  which,  !et  man  learn  not  to  marry 
blood  relations. 

Bat,  to  the  law  and  to  the  testimony  o(  facts  let  ns  next 
appeal,  and,  in  this  appeal,  1  again  quote  our  former  contrib- 
utor, Joshua  Coifin. 

"I  will  now  relate  such  facts  as  came  under  my  own  observa- 
tion, concerning  the  consequences  of  breeding  in  and  in,  or,  in 
other  words,  marrying  blood  relations.  Whatever  maybe  the 
cause,  the  fact  is  undeniable,  that  those- families  who  are  so  foolish 
as  to  intermarry  with  blood  relations,  very  frequently,  if  not 
always,  degenerate,  both  physically  and  mentally.  Independently, 
therefore,  of  the  divine  inspiration  of  the  lavi's  of  Moses,  they  are 
founded  on  strict  physiological  principles,  which  we  should  do  well 
always  to  bear  in  mind,  as  they  cannot  be  violated  with  impunity. 

"  N.  P.,  of  W.,  Mass.,  a  fine-looking  and  intelligent  man,  of 
good  sense,  married  his  own  cousin,  and  what  a  set  of  childien  1 
One  of  them  is  clump-footed,  another  has  but  one  eye,  and  all. 
three  of  them  are  very  weak  in  intellect,  small  in  person,  and 
have  heads  shaped  like  a  flat-iron,  point  turned  downward,  flat  on 
top,  and  their  chin  making  the  point. 

"When  engaged  as  a  school-teacher,  in  M.,  Mass.,  in  1829,  1 
had  several  children,  among  them  two  sons,  by  the  name  of  E., 
whom  I  could  not  help  noticing  especially.  One  of  them  was 
nearly  an  idiot,  and  the  other  son  was  not  to  be  compared  to 
either  the  father  or  mother  in  point  of  intellect.  On  returning, 
one  evening,  from  visiting  the  family,  I  inquired  of  my  landlady, 
if  Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  were  not  blood  relations ;  she  said  yes,  they 
were  cousins.  I  told  her  I  thought  so,  solely  from  the  fact  that 
the  children  were  so  deficient  in  intellect.  On  stating  this  fact  to 
Dr.  Wisner,  pastor  of  the  Old  South  Church,  Boston,  he  made 
the  following  observation  : — '  Do  you  recollect,  Mr.  Coffin,  that 
singular-looking  man,  that  comes  to  my  church,  that  has  the 
St.  Vitus's  dance  ? '  '  Well,'  said  he,  '  his  parents  were  cousins.' 
His  name  I  do  not  recollect ;  you  never  saw  such  a  looking  object 
in  your  life.  He  appeared  not  to  have  any  command  over  any 
muscle  in  his  whole  body.  I  could  mention  several  other  cases. 
For  instance,  a  family  in  N.  B.,  Mass.,  where  were  a  number  of 
foolish  children,  whose  parents  were  cousins.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Duf- 
field;  formerly  of  this  city,  told  me  that  he  knew  of  two  or  three 
families  in  the  interior  of  this  state,  who,  for  the  sake  of  keeping 
their  property  among  themselves,  have  married  '  in  and  in '  for 
several  generations,  till  their  posterity  are  nearly  idiots.  There 
is  a   family  in  E.  D.,  in  fact,  there    are    several   families  of  the 


244        CONDITIONS    OF    PARENTS,  WHILE    BECOMING    PARENTS. 
Further  facts  showing  ilie  evil  effects  of  marrying  cousins. 

name,  who  have  intermarried  so  often,  that  there  is  one  or  more 
idiots  in  almost  every  branch.  In  fact,  no  point  is  better  estab- 
lished than  this,  that  breeding  'in  and  in'  deteriorates  the  race 
of  men  and  the  breed  of  cattle,  both  physically  and  mentally,  i.  e., 
if  mentally  is  applicable  to  animals. 

"  Those  young  men,  therefore,  who  v/ish  to  have  intelligent  chil- 
dren, must  obtain  intelligent  women  for  wives,-  who  are  not  biowi 
relations'.     1  often  think  of  the  lines  of  Savage — 

'No  tenth  transmitter  of  a  foolish  face. 
No  sickly  growth  of  faint  compliance  he, 
But  stamped  in  Nature's  mint  of  ecstasy.' 

"  Dr.  F.  A.  Pinckney,  of  Keywest,  told  me  that  he  had  seen 
many  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Bahamas,  and  that  all  of  them  were 
deformed  in  body,  and  deficient  and  dull  in  intellect.  He  had  never 
been  there,  but  had  understood  that  the  specimens  which  he  saw 
were  but  iair  representations  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  islands. 
They  generally  have  large  heads,  are  employed  in  the  meanest 
occupations,  and  have  not  capacity  enough  to  take  the  lead  in  any 
pursuit.  Dr.  P.  understood  and  supposed  that  the  cause  of  their 
physical  and  mental  infirmity  was  owing  to  intermarriage,  and  to 
that  only. 

"  Dr.  P.,  also  spoke  of  a  family  In  the  town  of  P.  In  N.  Y., 
(12  miles  from  G.,)  where  the  parents  were  cousins, -and  all  of 
the  ten  children  were  fools;  he  also  mentioned  several  other  cases 
now  forgotten. 

"  The  J.  family  at  C.  S.,  affords  some  melancholy  cases  of  the 
bad  effects  of  intermarriage. 

"C.  H.,  of  N.,  Mass.,  a  clear-sighted,  shrewd  man,  married  his 
own  cousin,  lost  three  children  while  young,  have  four  (1841) 
living,  eldest  14,  all  under  mediocrity,  parents  sound  ;  the  father 
died  in  1837. 

"  Mr.  E.  S.  and  wife,  of  N.,  Mass.,  were  own  cousins,  both  of 
them  of  sound,  strong  mind,  and  firm  nerve,  and  sound  health; 
he  died,  Sept.,  1840,  aged  75,  of  rheumatic  fever.  His  wife  is 
now  living;  had  seven  daughters  and  one  son;  three  daughters 
deranged,  (two  of  them  dead),  the  rest  of  feeble  health,  and  very 
nervous — a  good  family. 

"  H.  L.,  of  N.,  Mass.,  married  his  second  cousin,  has  one 
daughter  of  14,  nearly  an  idiot.  1  do  not  know  the  condition  of 
the  rest  of  the  children. 

"T.  A.  married  his  cousin's  daughter,  had  five  girls,  (no  boys,) 
two  were  complete  cripples,  and  very  deficient  in  intellect — almost 
idiots — one  Vk'as  quite  so — one  daughter  was  married,  and  died 
childless — the  other  two  married — the  children  of  one  of  them 
are  apparently  below  mediocrity — do  not  know  about  the  children 
of  the  other. 


EFFECTS    OF    MARKYlNG    BLOOD    RELATIONS.  245 


Further  facts  showing  the  «vil  effects  of  marrying  cousins. 

"Mr.  P.  P.,  of  B.,  married  his  second  cousin  ;  their  oldest 
child  is  too  deficient  in  mind  to  take  care  of  himself;  the  other 
children  are  not  what  are  called  bright,  though  fair. 

"  Dr.  H.  W.,  of  B.,  N.  H.,  now  of  B.,  told  me  that  he  knew 
of  four  men,  who  had  married  cousins,  each  of  whom  had  a  fool 
for  a  child.     The  other  children  were  below  par. 

"  Mr.  N.  G.,  from  D.,  N.  H.,  said  that  he  and  his  mother  counted 
about  twenty-five  families  in  D.  who  had  intermarried,  and  of  all 
their  children,  not  one  could  they  remember  of  ordinary  capacity. 

"I  was  told  that  a  Mr.  P.,  of  Me.,  married  his  own  cousin. 
Miss  W.,  both  now  dead,  leaving  five  boys  and  three  girls, — 
two  girls  and  three  boys  blind — parents'  eyes  good. 

"  J.  L.  A.,  of  N.,  married  a  cousin's  daughter,  has  three  chil- 
dren, apparently  healthy,  but  heavy-minded. 

"  R.  D.,  of  B.,  Me.,  had  for  his  first  wife  his  cousin's  daughter, 
a  Miss  G.,  of  H.,  N.  H.,  their  oldest  child,  a  boy  of  18  years, — 
laaie  in  the  hip, — the  other  two  of  feeble  health  and  failing. 

"  Dr.  C,  of  N.  M.,  N.  li.,  son  of  Prof.  C,  married  his  cousin, 
Miss  B.,  of  U.,  Mass.,  had  two  children,  both  dead, — Br.  C. 
died  1840,  in  N.,  Mass.,  having  lately  removed  there — his  widow 
is  at  her  father's. 

"J.  P.,  of  W.,  (now  dead,)  married  his  own  cousin, — of  their 
children,  one  died  an  idiot,  two  sons  died  at  the  age  of  23,  of 
feeble  bodies  and  irritable  minds,  and  one  girl  has  diseased  eyes. 
Some  of  the  boys  are  club-footed,  wry-necked,  &c.  One  daugh- 
ter, married  (lately,  to  a  cousin,  I  think) — he  lived  a  year  or 
two,  then  died — bad  one  child. 

"Mr.  E.,  of  M.,  Mass.,  married  his  cousin — had  five  daughters 
and  three  sons.  One  of  the  daughters  is  an  idiot  of  so  painful  a 
sight,  that  the  parents  board  her  out  (on  Cape  Ann.)  Two  of  the 
other  daughters  are  foolish — the  other  two  are  w"eak — one  son 
weak-minded — has  been  made  lame — one  son  ran  away  with 
some  of  the  town's  money — the  other  son  is  a  worthy,  upright 
man,  but  unfortunate  in  all  he  lays  his  hands  to. 

"  S.  L.,  of  N.,  married  his  cousin,  Miss  S.  A.,  they  were 
second  cousins, — that  is,  their  parents  were  own  cousins — had 
eight  sons  and  two  daughters — all  living  (1841) — two  sons  and 
■one  daughter  are  unable  to  walk,  and  are  hauled  about  in  carriages 
made  for  the  purpose, —  their  younger  child  is  deaf  and  dumb, 
besides  being  born  like  the  others  mentioned.  A.  L.  once  told 
me  that  he  was  born  well,  and  that,  in  early  years,  he  lost  his 
sense  of  feeling  in  his  toe  joints,  which  afterwards  became  numb, 
and,  in  process  of  time,  to  use  his  own  expression, they  "lapped," 
:and  so  it  was,  joint  after  joint,  upwards  in  his  arms,  as  well  as  his 
toes  and  legs,  till  every  joint  was  affected  in  his  whole  frame. 
Perhaps  he  was  about  twenty  when  he  became  utterly  helpless. 

21* 


246        CONDITIONS    OF   PARENTS,  WHILE   BICOMING   PARENTS. 
Further  facts  showing  the  evil  effects  of  mairyin?  cousins. 

and  then  took  to  his  carnage — the  others  grew  lame  in  the  same 
way.     J.,  though  now  twenty-two  or  three,  can  walk  a  little. 

"  Rev.  Mr.  B.,  Episcopal  clergyman  in  B.,  N.  Y.,  married  his 
own  cousin,  Miss  B.,  of  N.,  N.  J., — her  health  has  decliHed, 
though  sound  before — had  two  children, — both  are  dead. 

"  A  Mr.  (name  not  known,)  of  W.,  M.  county,  N.  Y.,  married 
his  cousin,  had  many  children,  all  crippled,  none  could  walk,, 
all  bright. 

'•j\lr.  D.,  of  O.  county,  married  his  cousin,  had  thirteen  or 
fourteen  children — all  are  dead  but  three,  and  those  are  in  bad 
health.     The  father  became   deranged  some  years  before  he  died. 

"  Mr.  W.  H.,  of  M..  married  a  cousin — has  had  several  chil- 
dren—do not  know  their  condition — the  mother  has  been  deranged 
for  many  years  in  the  Charlestown  Asylum. 

"T.  C,  of  P.,  mai'ried  his  cousin  ;  their  only  son  is  an  idiot — 
have  six.  daughters  of  ordinary  minds — I  think  1  understood  that 
they  all    had  a  hard  squint  in  their  eye,  taken  from  their  mother. 

"Judge  C,  of  H.,  O.  county,  N.  Y..,  was  married  to  a  cousin, 
had  several  children, — died  -diois — of  the  tw"o  now  living,  but  one 
can  be  said  to  have  common  sense. 

"Mr.  N.  S.,  of  N.,  married  I'.is  cousin,  a  Miss  Pettingal, — they 
are  not  over  bright,  and  their  children  are  deodedly  under  bright, 
and  are  a  by-word. 

"Mr.  J.  O'B.,  of  P.,  married  his  cousin,  H.  O'B.,  of  B.,  Me,, 
and  lived  a  year  and  a  half  afterwards,  and  died  in  18-39. 

"  E.  M.  married  his  cousin,  M.  A.  M.,  both  of  G.,  Me.,  moved 
to  the  West,  (HI-,) — she  died  a  few  days  after  giving  birth  to  the 
first  child. 

"  The  Bradstreets  and  Grants  of  G.,  Me.,  have  intermarried, 
and  1  am  told  the  children  show  it. 

"N.  and  S.  W.,  of  T.,  brothers, — one  married  liis  cousin,  his 
children  are  full  of  mishaps,  feeble  in  body  and  mind,  blear-eyed, 
&c.  The  children  of  the  other  brother  are  upright,  manly,  hand- 
some people." 

A  valued  friend  of  the  authors  boyhood,  fell  in  love  with 
his  cousin,  (the  fathers  of  both  being  brothers,  and  tho 
mothers  of  both  being  sisters.)  bat  was  opposed  by  the  "whole 
family,  and  "Combe's  Constitution  of  Man"  was  put  into 
the  hands  of  the  girl,  and  what  he  says  on  this  point  was 
shown  her,  and  he  was  remonstrated  with^  in  order  to  break 
off  the  match,  bat  to  no  purpose.  They  married.  Nearly 
three  years  elapsed  before  the  birth  of  their  first  child,  which 
lived  but  fifteen  minutes,      lie  was  told,  beforehand,  that, 


EFFECTS    OF   MARRYING    BLOOD    RELATIONS.  247 

idiots  ill  Adams,  N.  Y.,  and  other  places.  iiihahiiants  of  Martha's  Vineyard. 

either  he  would  have  no  living  children,  or,  if  he  had,  they 
would  be  almost  certain  to  be  deformed,  or  deficient  in  intel- 
lect. 

In  the  town  of  A.,  the  author  was  handed  a  letter,  in  a 
very  prompt,  polite  manner,  by  the  son  of  the  P.  M.  After 
he  had  left  the  room,  "A  very  smart  boy,  that,"  said  I. 
"  How  old  do  you  think  that  boy  is?"  said  one  present. 
"  About  ten  years."  said  I.  "  He  is  seventeen,"  was  the  re- 
ply ;  "  and  he  has  a  brother  as  small  in  proportion."  "  Then, 
were  not  his  parents  cousins?  "  said  I.  "Yes,"  was  the  an- 
swer. 

Directly  across  the  road  from  the  tavern  where  I  put  up, 
in  Adams,  Jefferson  county,  N,  Y.,  were  two  idiots,  the  chil- 
dren of  cousins,  whose  heads  I  examined.  They  barely 
knew  how  to  chew  and  swallow  :  but  not  how  to  feed  them- 
selves nor  walk.  The  head  of  the  eldest,  some  twenty  years 
old,  measured  but  nineteen  inches,  not.more  than  that  of  an 
infant  a  year  old  ought  to  measure,  and  the  other  but  seven- 
teen ;  and  one  of  this  unfortunate  family  had  just  died,  a  to- 
tal idiot,  and  another  some  time  before.  Only  one  of  the 
children  escaped  either  idiocy  or  death  in  infancy,  and  that 
one  had  barely  sense  enough  to  get  along;  both  parents  wer« 
intellectual. 

In  D.,  Pa.,  I  was  called  upon  by  a  very  anxious  mother, 
who  was  wealthy,  and  had  lost  all  of  her  children  but  two, 
which  were  very  feeble,  their  muscles  lax,  waists  yielding, 
and  they  generally  sick.     She  married  her  cousin. 

Dr.  Kimball,  of  Sackett's  Harbor,  states  that  there  is  a 

partial  idiot  living  some  three  miles  east  of  that  village,  who 
commits  to   memoiy  with   astonishing   facility,   yet   cannot 

take  care  of  himself,  and  is  flat.     His  parents  were  cousins. 
A  Professor  in  a  Ne-.s'-  England  college  married  his  cousin, 

and  has   several  clump-footed   children.      Pity  he  had  not 
-  learned    the   evil    consequences    of     marrying    his    cousin, 

along  with  his  literary  lore.      He  was  '.'  penny  wise  and 

pound  foolish." 

I  have  been  informed  that  the  inhabitants  of  Martha's 

Yineyard  have  married  "  in  and  in,"  till  many  of  them  are 

blind,  deaf,  dumb,   and  deformed,   and  some,  all.     My  in- 


■248        CONfiltlONS    OF   PARENTS.  WHtLE;   BECOMING   PAKEfJtS. 
Facts  near  Boston.  Facts  from  Maine. 


fonuant  said  she  knew  two  blind  girls  whose  parents  were 
cousins,  and  though  both  parents  heard  and  saw  well,  yet 
their  children  were  blind. 

A  lady  whom  I  met  in  Boston,  in  1S41,  said,  that,  while 
living  in  a  neighboring  town,  she  was  struck  with  the  curi- 
ous speeches  of  some  of  the  school-mates  of  her  sons,  as  re- 
ported by  the  latter,  and  on  inquiry,  found  that  they  were 
Hats,  and  that  their  parents  were  cou&ins.  Inquiring  further, 
she  ascertained  that  four  couple  in  the  town  had  married 
cousins,  and  that  more  or  less  of  the  children  of  every  couple 
were  simpletons. 

Another  lady,  in  1843,  related  cases  (hat  occurred  in  a  city 
near  Boston,  in  which  the  children  of  cousins  were  below 
par. 

A  lady  furnishes  the  following:'—"  Mr.  B.,  of  W.,  married 
his  first  cousin,  and  had  two  children,  both  deaf  aiid  dumb. 

"Mr.  L.,  of  W.,  married  his  first  cousin;  children  two, 
both  blind.  Mr.  L.,  of  W.,  married  his  cousin  ;  has  one 
child  only,  deaf  and  dumb,  and  could  not  walk  when  four 
years  old.  J.  H.,  of  W.,  married  his  first  cousin,  children 
two,  both  natural  fools. 

"  Mr.  D.,  of  C.  E.,  married  his  ov/n  cousin,  children  three, 
all  Iiermaphrodites. 

"S.  H.,  of  P.,  married  his  first  cousin,  has  three  children, 
all  natural  fools ;  so  much  so,  that  they  cannot  talk,  and 
have  to  be  fed  with  spoon-victuals,  because  they  have  not 
sense  enough  to  chew  their  food.  The  youngest  of  the  three 
is  twenty-seven,  and  cannot  walk,  but  sits  on  the  floor,  and 
hitches  along  a  little. 

"  iVlr.  H.  married  his  cousin,  has  seven  children,  one  of 
which  was  only  about  half-witted, 

"D.  L.,  of  Vf.,  married  his  own  cousin,  and  has  nine 
children,  two  of  whom  are  incapable  of  any  kind  of  labor, 
act  like  drunken  persons,  and  have  the  St.  Vitus  dance  to 
such  a  degree,  that  it  destroys  all  control  over  their  muscles. 
Two  other  children  show  a  marked  deficiency  of  intellect." 
She  adds,  "I  know  twenty  other  cases,  where  the  parents 
v/ere  first,  or  first  and  second  cousins,  whose  children  are 
quite  below  par." 


EFFECTS    OF    MAERYJNG    BLOOD    RELATIONS.  249 

ft'Jarryiiig  cousins  to  keep  property  in  the  family.  'J'he  laws  ol'  Ji,Jos(^s. 


I  know  a  whole  family  of  eleven  children  whose  parents 
married  cousins,  to  keep  property  in  the  family, —  a  mean, 
miserly,  despicable  motive  surely,  and,  though  they  kept  the 
property  together,  yet  one  child  was  a  total  idiot ^  and  most 
of  them  were  dull.  The  next  generation,  actuated  by  the 
same  mean,  penurious  motive,  have  mostly  puisued  the 
same  course,  and  thus,  married  double  cousins,  that  is, 
cousins  have  married  the  children  of  cousins ;  and  if  the- 
idiocy  of  the  offspring  do  not  r^in  out  the  property ^  family ^ 
and  all^  then  Nature's  laws  may  be  violated  with  impimity. 

To  this  list  of  facts,  any  required  number  miglit  be  added^ 
but  I  forbear.  A  principle  supported  by  almost  every  mar- 
riage of  cousins,  will  not  probably  be  questioned;  and  if  so,. 
let  Lawrence,  Combe,  and  Walker  be  consulted.  I  grant  that 
we  sometimes  find  the  children  of  cousins  passable,  but  these 
cases  occur  where  the  parties  do  not  take  after  the  parent  by 
whom  they  are  related,  but  where  each  takes  after  some 
cither  parent  or  grand  parent,  in  which  case,  less  injirious 
consequences  may  be  apprehended,  but,  even  then,  there  is 
danger.  A  vigorous  intellectual  and  physical  organization 
in  the  parents  may  modify  this  result,  yet,  in  such  cases,  ths' 
children  will  be  far  below  either  parent. 

The  laws  of  Moses,  also,  forbid  the  marriage  of  those  wlio^ 
are  "near  of  kin,"  because,  doubtless,  such  marriages  result. 
unfavorably  to  offspring.  Every  one  of  those  laws,  as  far 
as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain,  are  based  on  physiology, 
and  forbid  what  is  hurtful  in  itself^  and  recommend  what  i.s 
wholesome  in  itself  Thus,  they  forbid  the  eating  of  swine, 
the  fat  of  meat,  and  also  the  blood,  because,  probably, 
pork  is  mostly /c?^,  and  fat  meat  is  hard  of  digestion,  and  in- 
jurious, and  so  of  blood.  '  So,  also,  frequent  ablutions  are 
required  by  the  Mosaic  code,  because,  doubtless,  bathing 
frequently  is  so  emineuily  conducive  to  health.  For  a  simi- 
lar physiological  reason,  in  all  probability,  does  it  forbid  the 
marriage  of  blood  relations,  namely,  because  that  marriage 
is,  in  itself,  so  detrimental  to  ofi'spring.  Nor  do  1  doubt  but 
this  marriage  of  cousins  is  injurious  to  husband  and  ^vife^  as- 
to  health,  and  as  to  contentment  and  length  of  life,  but  this 
is  a  surmise  merely. 


250        CONDITIONS    OF    PARENTS,  WHILE    BECOMING    PARENTS. 

Great  men  from  Ions-loved  families.  The  women  of  our  nation. 

This  point  bears  somewhat  upon  a  point  agitated  by  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  namely, 
whether  a  widower  should  be  allowed  to  marry  his  first  wife's 
sister.  Such  a  marriage,  probably,  violates  no  physiological 
or  mental  law,  and  is  therefore  right ;  and,  to  boggle  their 
brains,  and  divide  the  churches,  and  waste  so  much  wind 
and  ink  on  a  matter  not  wrong  in  itself,  and  productive  of 
no  evil  consequences,  is  to  be  wise  in  non-essentials. 

The  marriage  of  other  near  blood  relations  is  governed  by 
the  same  laws,  and  attended  with  the  same  evil  consequences^ 
which  follow  the  marriage  of  cousins;  and  the  nearer  the  re- 
lation of  parents,  the  v/orse  for  the  offspring. 


SECTION   VII. 

SUMMARY;   OR  COiNCLUDING  INFERENCES  AND  REMARKS, 

First:  All  great  men  are  from  a  long-lived  parentage, 
Washington's  mother  was  found  at  work  in  her  garden  when 
eightyrtv/o ;  and  died  at  eighty-five.  Franklin's  parents 
were  aged.  O'Connell  is  from  a  very  long-lived  stock,  and 
in  his  prime  now  when  he  is  past  sixly.  Charles  G.  Finney's 
father  lived  to  be  about  84,  and  mother  above  80 ;  and  a 
brother  of  his  father  is  now  alive,  and  considerably  above 
90.  De  Witt  Clinton's  ancestors  were  long-lived,  and  also 
distinguished  for  talents.  Those  who  settled  New  England 
were  generally  long-lived,  and  to  that  cause,  in  no  inconsid- 
erable degree,  is  to  be  attributed  our  national  greatness 
and  talents.  John  Q,uincy  Adams'  great  grand  father  lived 
to  the  age  of  93,  and  father  91 ;  and  so  of  Dr.  Bov>rditchj  Car- 
lyle,  Dr.  Johnson,  Webster,  and  a  host  of  others.  Nor  d& 
I  know  a  distinguished  man  who  is  not.  Indeed,  that  very 
condition  of  physical  strength  already  shown  to  be  absolutely 
necessary  to  sustain  a  very  powerful  brain,  also  gives  and 
accompanies  longevity. 

Secondly :  Every  thing  depends  on  the  women  of  the  na- 
tion.    As  they  are,  so  are  future  generations;  and  nothing 


CONCLUDING   INFERENCES    AND    REMARKS.  251 


The  factory  system.  Its  baneful  effect  on  future  mothers. 

is  more  certain,  than  that  our  womeji  are  not  what  they 
should  be.  Woman  is  what  vnan  makes  her.  It  is  her 
nature  thus  to  adapt  herself  to  the  wants  and  tastes  of 
that  sex,  on  pleasing  which,  all  her  hopes  depend.  She  is 
easily  moulded — is  ever  ready  to  girt  her  waist,  or  to  pad  it ; 
to  stay  within  doors,  or  to  go  much  abroad;  to  talk  sense  or 
nonsense  ;  to  work  or  play  ;  to  be  extravagant  or  frugal ;  to 
be  prudish  or  familiar;  serious  or  gay,  &c.,  &c.,  according  to 
the  demand  of  the  matrimonial  market.  And  for  man  to  re- 
quire at  the  hand  of  complying  woman,  whose  very  nature 
is,  to  adapt  herself  to  him,  that  which  injures  her^  mentally 
or  physically,  is  not  only  to  injure  her,  but  also  to  injure 
posterity,  and  thereby,  to  injure  himself,  by  deteriorating 
his  offspring.  And  I  tremble  for  my  race,  in  view  of  the 
present  prevailing  taste  in  this  particular.  She  is  required 
to  fit  herself  to  become  a  toy — ;to  be  interesting  and  accom- 
plished— rather  than  to  be  useful.  And  our  young  women 
generally,  are  above  work,  or  else  ashamed  of  it — ashamed 
to  be  seen  in  a  working  dress ;  or  to  soil  their  hands,  es- 
pecially by  domestic  labor.  At  this  rate,  our  nation  v^\\\  be 
a  nation  of  no  icorkers  •  and  when  tliis  occurs,  wo  be  unto 
both  parents,-and  children,  and  our  nation  7  Let  woman  labor 
more,  and  sit  and  sew  lees,  and  take  all  jiossihle  means  to 
€ultlva,te  her  physical  eyiergies. 

Thirdly:  Our  factory  system  requires  modification.  While 
it  might  be  made  one  of  the  most  delightful  and  healthy  oc- 
-cupations  our  women  could  follow,  I  fear  that  it  is  seriously 
dnjuring  the  health  of  our  female  operatives  ;  and  this  is  cer- 
tain to  iceaken  future  generations^  both  physically  and  intel- 
lectually. Our  operatives,  generally,  as  I  have  found  them, 
are  a  superior  class  of  women.  I  find  as  good  heads  and 
bodies  at  Lowell,  as  any  where  else,  but  a  ten  years'  con- 
finement and  slavish  servitude  in  the  cotton-mill,  is  enough 
to  break  down  the  health  and  spirits  of  almost  any  one. 
They  are  required  to  work  too  hard,  and  for  too  many  hours, 
and  in  rooms  over-heated,  or  allowed  too  little  time  for  recre- 
ation, (and,  of  this,  woman  requires  a  great  amount,)  and 
are  ccowded  together  by  the  dozen  in  small  rooms,  usually 


232       CONDITIONS    OF    PARENTS,  WHILE    BECOMING   PARENTS. 
The  aristocracy  of  birth  and  wealth  contrasted. 

heated  to  suffocation,  and  poorly  ventilated,  and  then  but 
half  paid  for  thus  ruining  their  constitutions  ! 

Now  add  to  this  injurious  effect  of  the  factory  system  on 
the  health  of  the  female  operatives,  the  fact  that  New  Eng- 
land is  soon  to  become  the  great  manufactory  of  the  world — 
is  soon  to  be  studded  ail  over  with  factories,  and  to  employ 
female  operatives  by  the  million,  (Lowell  alone  employs  about 
10,000,  and  I  should  think  all  the  factories  in  New  England, 
or,  at  least,  in  the  nation,  would  equal  a  hundred  Lowells, 
and  employ  a  million  female  operatives.)  and  if  this  system 
be  calculated  to  injure  them  in  their  relations  as  mothers,  no 
tongue  can  tell  the  amount  of  damage  thereby  done  to  the 
nation  ;  and,  though  we  may  gain  wealth  to  the  purse-proud 
capitalist  by  manufacturing  our  own  fabrics,  we  shall  lose 
what  all  the  wealth  of  Christendom  cannot  make  good ;  for, 
to  have  a  million  women  constantly  wearing  out  their  health, 
and  thus  unfitting  themselves  to  transmit  strong  minds,  in 
strong  bodies,  to  future  generations,  and  to  have  these  causes 
continue  to  operate  on  the  flower  of  New  England,  the  flower 
of  America,  is  to  render  wretched,  or  to  ruin,  five  millions 
of  their  offspring,  and  twenty  millions  of  their  grand  chil- 
dren, and  to  debilitate  countless  millions  of  their  posterity ! 
And  all  this,  in  two  or  three  generations !  What,  then, 
will  be  the  amount  of  injury  occasioned  to  our  race,  by  the 
continual  operation  of  these  pernicious  influences  on  every 
generation  of  our  beloved  country — weakening  the  first,  en- 
feebling the  second,  thinning  the  ranks  of  the  third,  burying 
most  of  the  fourth,  and  so  injuring  mankind  more  and  more 
as  time  rolls  on  !  And  all  to  fill  the  coffers  of  a  few  rich 
capitalists,  and  to  curse  their  children  by  leaving  them  rich ! 
This  subject,  indeed,  deserves  the  attention  of  both  the 
philanthropist  and  the  politician;  yet  who,  but  the  phrenolo- 
gist, thinks  of  it 7 

Fourthly :  The  aristocracy  of  family  or  birth,  is  far  supe- 
rior to  that  of  wealth.  The  latter  has  nothing  for  which  to 
recommend  itself,  but  the  cunning,  extortion,  oppression,  and 
over-reaching,  by  which  that  property  was  acquired.  And 
yet  this,  ay,  this  is  the  Great  Mogul,  before  which,  high  and 
low,  rich  and  poor,  learned  and  ignorant,  and  last,  though 


CONCLUDING    INFERENCES    AND    KEMAUKS.  253 

Aristocracy  of  blood.  Let  individuals  trace  aiul  record  their  ancestry. 

not  least,  saint  as  well  as  sinner,  bow,  as  to  a  god.  Our 
psalms  and  hymns  require  some  addition  ;  and  the  Episco- 
pahan  service  needs  a  new  prayer,  to  be  said  daily  by  all 
the  other  denominations,  commencing  in  this  manner: 

"Oh  Thou  Ahnighty  Dollar!  Thou  art  the  Creator,  the 
Preserver,  and  the  Governor  of  us  all.  In  Thee,  in  Thee 
alone,  we  live,  we  move,  and  have  our  very  being.  From 
Thee  we  derive  all  that  we  have  and  are,  and  to  Thee  we 
look  as  to  our  only  Hope  and  Salvation.  To  obtain  Thee, 
we  expend  every  energy  of  our  bodies  and  souls,  and  even 
lie,  and  cheat,  and  rob;  for,  Thou  art  our  all  in  all,  our  only 
hope  and  portion,  here  and  hereafter,"  and  closing  with, 
"And  to  Thee,  oh  Tliou  Almighty  Dollar,  Thou  Lord  our 
God,  shall  be  the  power,  and  the  kingdom,  and  the  honor, 
and  the  glory,  as  it  was,  is  now.  and  ever  shall  be,  amen 
and  amen." 

But  the  aristocracy  of  blood,  has  some  shadow  of  merit^ 
though,  unfortunately,  these  ancient  families  distinguished 
themselves  for  their  physical  courage,  or  pride  and  despotism, 
but  rarely  for  goodness  or  talents.  Still,  the  aristocrat  of 
blood,  will  mingle  with,  and  speak  to,  the  common  people, 
and  does  not  feel  contaminated  by  being  in  their  presence  ,-^ 
but  the  mushroom  aristocrat  of  wealth,  whose  fathers  worked 
by  the  day,  or,  like  Jacob  Barker,  once  obtained  a  living  by^ 
wheeling  soap-fat  and  ashes  in  a  wheel-barrow,  value  no 
one,  marry  no  one,  associate  with  no  one,  and  look  at  no 
one,  whose  worth  is  not  his  wealth;  and  rich  fools  and 
knaves  are  honored  and  feasted,  while  the  poor  and  honest, 
are  neglected  and  despised  ! 

Fifthly:  Let  every  individual  trace  his  ancestry  as  far 
back  as  possible,  on  all  sides,  and  record  all  the  resvlts  he  can 
obtain,  as  to  their  ages,  occupations,  characteristics,  weak- 
nesses, diseases,  and  whatever  can  be  ascertained  concern- 
ing them  ;  and  let  every  pregnant  mother,  record  her  feelings, 
states  of  mind,  and  all  that  may  probably  affect  her  child  ; 
and  let  that  child  be  informed  of  as  much  on  these  points  as 
will  warn  him  of  evil  where  it  may  be  apprehended,  or  en- 
courage him  where  circumstances  are  calculated  to  encom-age 
him.     And  let  every  reader  catechise  his  parents  and  grand 

22 


254        CONDITIONS    OF    PARENTS,  WHILE    BECOMING    PARENTS. 

The  value  of  information  respecting  ancestors.  IJarrenness. 

parents  as  to  all  they  know  of  his  ancestors,  and  record  it  in 
the  family  Bible,  or  among  some  sacred  family  archives,  for 
}iis  posterity.  1  would  give,  at  this  moment,  ^500  for  the 
information  that  my  grand  mother,  who  died  within  the  last 
five  years,  could  have  given  me  before  her  faculties  failed. 
But  it  is  buried  forever.  Snatch,  ye  who  can,  from  oblivion, 
all  that  old  people  can  tell  yon  of  those  from  whom  you  de- 
riverd  your  mental  and  physical  existence.*  And  no  tongue 
can  tell,  no  mind  conceive,  the  value  of  such  records,  to 
enable  future  ages  to  arrive  at  correct  conclusions  in  regard 
to  the  subject  matter  of  the  precedingpages — a  subject  merely 
broached  even,  in  this  work,  and  concerning  which,  a  vast 
amount  of  information  is  yet  to  be  treasured  up — information 
which  shall  enable  parents  to  control  the  characters,  and, 
therefore,  the  destinies,  of  their  children,  with  as  unerring 
certainty  as  that  with  which  tlie  expert  marksman  controls, 
the  direction,  distance,  &c.,  of  a  rifle-ball,  or  as  the  laws  of 
gravity,  control  the  motions  of  the  planetary  system;  for,  be- 
yond all  questic-n,  this  matter  can  be  reduced  to  the  certainty 
of  an  exact  science.  Lav/s  have  been  shown  to  govern  this 
matter,  and  if  so,  their  action  is  as  certain  and  as  uniform., 
as  those  that  govern  any  other  department  of  Nature.  And 
facts,  bearing  on  these  points,  v/hich  may  be  communicated 
to  the  author,  will  be  thankfully  received. 

Sixthly:  I  am  often  consulted  by  husbands  and  v.nves 
■who  are  unfruitful,  or  who  have  but  one  child,  and  wish  for 
more,  to  ascertain  by  what  means  this  to  them  extremely 
desirable  end  can  be  secured  ;  and  as  it  may  be  of  use  to 
some  readers,  and  is  really  demanded  in  a  work  like  this,  I 
will  offer  a  few  suggestions  touching  this  subject.  In  cases 
where  barrenness  is  caused  by  constitutional  obstructions,  \ 

*  I  cannot  cominenrl  too  liighl;/.  "  Shattnck's  Family  Register,"  piib- 
lislied  in  Boston,  and  designed  to  record  all  that  can  be  learned  of  the 
names  and  qualities  of  ancestofs,  as  well  as  the  health,  weight,  expenses, 
sayings,  &c.,  &c.,  of  cliildi-en  ;  and  also  deeds,  contracts,  and  all  family 
];apers,  required  to  be  kept.  And  the  aiitlior  is  turning  liis  attention  to 
Pome  formula  of  this  kind,  to  he  published  within  a  year,  to  constitute  a 
famihj  record  of  organs,  charactevjstics,  &c.,  &c., — such  a  register  as  the 
preceding  pages  would  require. 


CONCLUDING    INFERENCES    AND    REMARKS.  255 

Directions  to  parents  who  are  barren  and  wish  for  children. 

have  nothing  to  say,  for  these  cases  belong  properly  to  the 
physician;  but,  happily,  these  cases  are  extremely  rare.  But 
i  believe  its  most  frequent  causes,  are  the  physical  debility  of 
one  or  both  the  parents;  and  this  is  the  most  easily  removed, 
namely,  by  restoring  the  physical  powers.  Of  course,  air, 
exercise,  and  a  highly  nutritive  and  rather  stimulating  diet, 
if  the  system  will  bear  it,  continued  for  a  month  or  two,  will 
be  found  to  favor  this  end.  So  will  sage  tea,  oysters,  and 
the  white  of  an  egg,  taken  without  being  cooked.  The  cold 
bath,  and  abundant  friction  with  the  hand,  especially  at  the 
small  of  the  back^  will  be  of  especial  service,  the  first,  by 
invigorating  the  whole  system,  and  the  latter,  by  stimulating 
the  very  parts  the  action  of  which  is  most  required.  These 
are  among  the  most  important  directions  that  can  be  given. 
Pepper  and  spices,  taken  into  the  system,  may  aid.  Being 
magnetized,  will  be  found  most  beneficial,  especially  if  the 
organ  of  fruitfulness,  located  at  the  lower  portion  of  Self- 
Esleem  and  Approbativeness,  and  close  by  the  newly  dis- 
covered organ  of  Modesty,  and  partly  between  the  tvv^o  for- 
mer, be  magnetized  ;  and  so  will  rubbing  the  cerebellum  at 
the  proper  time  previous.  Dr.  Buckland's  Physiology,  con- 
tains several  other  valuable  directions,  which  I  shall  copy  in 
my  work  on  Amativeness,  already  mentioned,  in  which  I 
shall  prosecute  this  subject  somewhat  further  and  more  spe-- 
cifically.  The  doctor  recommends  the  Lucinia  cordial  very 
highly,  but  with  what  propriety  I  know  not.  My  principal 
direction  here  is,  to  increase  the  general  tone  and  vigor  of  the 
body^  by  air,  exercise,  and  whatever  physiological  means  this 
end  can  be  secured.  But,  fortunately,  those  weakly  parents 
who  could  not  have  healthy  children,  have  very  few,  espe- 
cially that  live  ;  and  this  is  wise,  and  prevents  our  world 
.swarming  with  miserable,  poor,  puny,  sickly  scions,  that 
cannot  enjoy  life  themselves,  nor  promote  the  happiness  of 
others.  And  I  warn  many  of  the  young  women  of  the  pres- 
ent day,  that  they  must  necessarily  be  childless^  because  too 
weak  to  bring  forth  children  strong  enough  to  live.  I  also 
warn  those  who  wish  to  "  be  fruitful  and  multiply,  and  re- 
plenish the  earth,"  that  they  must  preserve  their  health,  under 
penalty  of  barrenness,  and  also  marry  healthy  companions. 


256        CONDITIONS    OF    PARENTS,  WHILE    BECOMING   PARENTS. 

Tho  true  exposition  of  origiiirti  sin.  Qualities  often  pass  oiie  generation. 

Seventhly :  In  the  principles  embodied  in  this  work,  we 
find  a  consistent,  philosophical  exposition  of  the  doctrine  of 
original  sin,  or  transmitted  depravity.  We  see  how  it  is,  that 
the  qualities  of  our  first  parents  have  infected  every  son  and 
daughter  of  Adam,  and  will  continue  to  do  so  forever.  Nor 
is  there  any  other  original  sin  than  that  which  is  transmitted 
by 'this  law;  and  it  is  strange  that  this,  the  only  true  version 
of  that  doctrine,  has  not  been  adopted  by  the  Christian  world, 
and  applied  to  the  improvement  of  mankind.  This  principle 
shows  how  it  is,  that  God  visits  the  iniquities  of  the  fathers 
upon  their  children,  unto  the  third  and  fourth  generation  of 
them,  that  hate  him,  but  shows  mercy  unto  thousands  (of 
generations)  of  them  that  love  him,  and  keep  his  command- 
ments ;  as  well  as  shows  how  to  obviate,  in  part,  the  viru- 
lence of  this  original  sin.  That  doctrine  is  true.  Children 
do  suffer,  and  7iecessarily  so,  for  the  sins  of  their  parents  and 
ancestors,  and  are  also  "  partakers  of  their  holiness;"  and 
the  former  is  but  a  consequence  of  the  latter — the  latter  the 
law,  the  former,  the  effects  of  its  transgression. 

Eighthly:  Qualities  often  pass  one  generation  entirely, 
but  appear  in  the  second  or  third,  or  even  more  remotely. 
The  following,  in  addition  to  those  already  presented,  will 
be  sufficient,  as  illustrations  of  this  law,  to  prepare  the  way 
for  our  inference. 

Three  of  the  children  of  Mr.  Randall,  of  Woodstock,  Vt, 
(one  now  dead,)  have  a  little  hole  close  to,  and  just  before, 
the  ear,  resembling  those  bored  by  Indian  and  American 
women,  in  which  to  insert  vanity  riiii^s  and  trinkets  in  the 
ears  of  their  this-to-make-them-fair-and-lovely  daughters, 
with  which  to  help  catch  beaux,  &g.  It  often  discharges 
when  these  children  are  unwell.  Neither  Mr.  R.  has  it,  nor 
his  father,  not  even  its  sign,  but  a  sister  and  her  children, 
have  it.  His  paternal  grand  father  had  it,  and  so  have 
several  others  of  this  family.  In  this  case,  this  peculiarity 
has  skipped  over  two  generations  entirely^  and  appeared  in 
the  third  in  one,  and  in  the  second  and  third  in  the  others. 
The  flaxen  lock,  mentioned  in  chap,  iii.,  sec.  2,  skipped  over 
6ome  members  of  that  family  entirely,  but  re-appeared  ia 
their  children. 


CONCLUDING   INFERENCES    AND    REMARKS.  257 

'J'he  Kimball  larnil}'.  Application  of  the  subject. 

"It  is  a  little  singular,"  says  Dr.  Kimball,  "  that,  in  the 
genealogy  of  oar  family,  every  other  generation  has  had  tio'ins, 
as  far  back  as  I  am  able  to  trace  them.  My  brother,  of  the 
sixth  generation  since  our  family  landed,  has  twins  ;  my 
grand  father  Kimball,  of  Stonington,  Ct.,  the  fourth  genera- 
tion, had  twins  ;  and  my  great  grand  father  Kimball,  of  I])S- 
wich,  Mass.,  of  the  second  generation,  had  twins  in  1693. 
Of  the  generation  before  him,  I  have  not  a  full  account,  but 
as  far  as  I  have,  there  were  no  twins.  I  cannot  learn  from 
what  part  of  England,  Goodman,  Henry,  Thomas,  John,  and 
Joseph  came,  when  they  settled  in  Ipswich." 

In  fine,  having  shown  that  aU  the  physical  and  mental 
propensities  or  elements,  are  hereditary,  are  transmitted  from 
parents  to  children,  one,  two,  three,  four,  five,  six,  and  more 
generations,  and  though  they  often  skip  one  or  more  genera- 
tions, running  under  ground  for  several  generations,  only  to 
re-appear  in  others:  the  inference  is  both  analogical  and  in- 
contestible,  not  only  that  they  have  been  transmitted  ever 
since  the  creation  of  man:  but  also,  that  they  will  conihnie  to 
be  transmitted  as  long  as  our  race  exists — a  conclusion  not 
only  strengthened,  but  actually  established,  by  the  transmis- 
sion of  love  of  money,  cunning,  devotion,  &c.,  &c.;  from 
Abraham,  tliroughout  the  whole  Jewish  nation,  down  to  the 
present  time — a  principle  which,  while  it  unfolds  the  princi- 
pal instrunient  or  means  for  improving  and  lefoiming  man- 
kind, augments  ihe  responsibility  of  becoming  parents,  be- 
yond all  conception,  by  showing  that  the  conditions  and 
qualities  of  the  parents  of  the  present  generation,  will  be 
stamped,  in  a  greater  or  Jess  degree,  upon  all  their  descend- 
ants, dov/n  the  long  stream  of  time,  till  our  world  itself  grov/s 
old  and  dies. 


The  Application  of  this  v'hole  subject  to  the  Improvement  of 
the  Race:  Including  Causes  of  its  Degeneracy. 

If,  as  already  seen,  no  lav/s  of  hereditary  descent  had 
existed,  that  is,  if  the  progeny  had  no  resemblance  to  its 
parents,  acorns  iniglit  have  produced  fishes,  or  elephants,  or 
stones,  or  human  beings;  and  the  products  of  mankind  might 

22* 


258        CONDITIONS    OF    PARENTS,   WHILE    BECOMING    PARENTS. 

How  the  law  oC  ri'semblance  is  modifiecl.         Sameness  in  the  first  generations. 

have  been  any  thing,  every  thing,  or  nothing,  as  it  happened. 
Bat,  a  matter  so  infinitely  important,  has  not  been  left  to 
chance  ;  it  is  governed  hy  fijced  and  invariable  laics  of  cause 
and  effect^  the  operation  of  which  causes  the  pj'ogeny  to  re- 
semble its  parentage  ;  by  which  uniformky  is  impressed  on 
the  nature  of  man. 

But,  if  the  law  which  causes  children  to  resemble  their 
parents  admitted  of  no  modification,  and  allowed  no  changes 
to  be  introduced,  it  is  self-evident  that  every  m^iber  of  the 
human  family  must  have  been  exactly  alike  in  stature,  in 
looks,  in  talents,  and  in  every  conceivable  point  of  view. 
To  prevent  the  occurrence  of  a  monotony  so  absolutely  in- 
tolerable, nature  has  kindly  allowed  changes  to  be  intro- 
duced, first,  by  allowing  circumstances,  climate,  education, 
&c.,  to  alter  the  phrenological  developments  of  mankind, 
organization  and  temperament  included,  together  with  the 
character ;  and  secondly,  by  causing  that  the  various  con- 
ditions of  parents,  while  becoming  parents — their  states  of 
body  and  mind,  &c.,  induced  by  changes  in  their  circum- 
stances— should  be  impressed  upon  both  the  mental  and  the 
physical  conditions  of  children.  I'he  necessity  for  some  law 
to  allow  the  introduction  of  changes  of  this  kind,  is  apparent, 
else,  farewell  to  all  hopes  of  improving  mankind.  But,  these 
changes  are  allowed,  and  the  range  thereby  opened  up  for 
both  the  improvement  and  tlie  deterioration  of  mankind,  is 
inconceivably  vast  and  infinitely  multifarious;  admitting  no 
limits  in  either,  and  also  embracing  most  of  those  causes 
now  operating  both  to  deteriorate  and  to  perfect  mankind. 

During  the  first  few  generations  after  the  creation  of  man, 
a  very  considerable  sameness  must  have  characterized  the 
whole  human  family,  because  sufficient  time  had  not  yet 
elapsed  to  allow  those  causes  already  specified,  including 
intermarriages,  to  diversify  the  race.  But,  as  mankind  mul- 
tiplied and  spread  abroad  upon  the  fac(?  of  the  earth,  new 
modifications  and  combinations  of  character  were  induced 
by  diversities  of  climate,  education,  language,  diet,  associa- 
tions, occupations,  circumstances,  changes  that  afi^ected  pa- 
rents before  the  birili  of  their  children,  wars,  and  other  simi- 
lar causes  innumerable,  producing  nvw  modifications  of  char- 


APPLICATION   X)T    THE    SUBJECT.  269 

How  ihe  great  diversity  in  the  human  race  has  been  produced. 

acter  and  combinations  of  faculties  and  temperaments  in 
nations,  masses,  families,  and  individuals.  These  new  char- 
acteristics were  then  propagated  by  intermarriages,  often  on 
a  national  scale,  such  as  Persians  marrying  Caucasian  wives; 
the  Romans,  Normans,  Danes,  &c.,  overrunning  and  inter- 
marrying with,  the  aborigines  of  England,  Scotland,  and 
Ireland  ;  the  Creole  system  now  operating  so  extensively 
throughout  the  new  world,  by  the  intermarriage  of  the  In- 
dians and  Spaniards  at  the  soulhi3rn  extremity  of  this  conti- 
nent;  that  of  the  Anglo-Americans  and  Negroes  in  Central 
America,  as  well  as  of  the  French  and  Americans  in  Louis- 
iana and  Canada,  and  others  that  have  been  occurring  con- 
tinually ail  over  the  world,  and  in  all  ages.  By  the  com- 
mingling of  these  new  characteristics,  other  new  combina- 
tions and  modifications  of  character  were  produced,  which 
again  re-combining  with  others  also  new,  produced  a  host  of 
others,  only  again  to  widen  and  augment  as  time  rolls  on,  as 
long  as  man  exists.  The  subjugation  of  the  Indies  and 
China  by  the  English,  will  open  a  new  vein  for  the  produc- 
tion of  liew  phases  of  character,  and  produce  physical  pecu- 
liarities hitherto  nnknown,  which,  instead  of  dying  with 
those  individuals  or  generations  in  which  they  originated,  will 
not  only  live  and  spread  throughout  the  countless  millions 
of  their  descendants,  but  also  form  new  bases  or  causes,  the 
product  of  which  will  be  phases  of  character  and  kinds  of 
talent  now  unknown  and  inconceivable  to  mankind.  And 
what  is  more,  the  same  principle  of  augmentation  already 
shown  to  appertain  to  the  number  of  parents  and  descend- 
ants, applies  with  increased  force  to  the  number  of  neio 
properties  now  being  brought  forth,  and  hereafter  to  be 
brought  forth  by  the  operation  of  this  prolific  principle.  Not 
that  new  primary  elements  or  facilities  are  to  be  produced, 
but  that  new  combinations  of  existing  07ies,  neiv  mod/f  cations 
of  temperam,ent.  neio  conditions  of  organization^  and  conse- 
quently, new  .products  of  mind  and  character,  including  new 
forms  of  disease,  new  deformities,  new  virtues,  new  vices, 
&c.,  &c.,  induced  by  favorable  or  imfavorable  conditions  of 
parents  while  becoming  parents,  and  by  other  causes  innu- 
merable continually  occurring  to  modify  the  characters  of 
children. 


S60       CONDITIONS   OF   PARENTS,  WHILE   EECOMIKG  PARENTS. 

No  two  persons  exacily  alike.  lllustraiion. 

Indeed,  it  may  with  propriety  be  said,  and  in  the  fallest 
sense  of  the  term,  that  every  child  born  differs  from  every 
-member  of  the  human  family,  and  that  no  one  individual 
that  ever  has  lived  or  ever  will  live,  has  ever  been,  or  ever 
will  be,  exactly  like  any  other  individual  that  ever  has  lived 
or  ever  will  live.  Who  has  ever  seen  two  persons  exactly 
alike  in  countenance,  size,  voice,  motion,  shape,  and  other 
merely  physical  qualities?  Who  believes  that  two  ever  ex- 
isted, or  ever  will  exist,  thus  precisely  alike  in  physical  con- 
ditions  merely  7  No  one.  And,  sin*ely,  the  diversity  existing 
among  mankind  touching  Qiiental  qualities — opinions,  feel- 
ings, the  order  and  character  of  thinking,  expression,  desire, 
•&c.,  &c.,  to  the  end  of  the  whole  chapter  of  human  charac- 
teristics— is  infinitely  greater  than  that  appertaining  to  their 
looks  and  other  merely  physical  conditions.  Nor, is  the  in- 
ference unphilosophical,  or  even  questionable,  that  every 
item  of  diversity  now  existing,  or  that  ever  has  existed,  or 
ever  will  exist,  has  had  or  will  have  its  cause.  Indeed,. suffi- 
cient proof  has  been  brought  forward  in  the  preceding  pages, 
to  warrant  the  inference,  that  hereditary  influences  cause 
inost  of  this  diversity.  Education  and  circumstances  of 
course  produce  a  small  portion  of  them,  but  all  that  is  radical., 
and  primitive^  and  constitutional  in  man.  and  consequently 
by  far  the  major  part  of  this  diversity,  is  the  product  of 
hereditary  influences. 

To  illustrate  this  whole  matter.  The  first  child  produced 
by  the  union  of  a  Caucasian  and  an  African  parent,  was  a 
mulatto,  diflering  in  color  and  form  of  body,  and  in  cast  of 
mind  and  tone  of  feeling,  f*rom  all  other  members  of  the 
human  family.  Nobody  like  him,  either  mentally  or  physi- 
cally, had  ever  before  existed.  His  children  tljen  intermar- 
ried, perhaps  with  whites,  perhaps  with  blacks,  and  pro- 
duced children  unlike  either  parent  or  ancestor,  because 
compounds  of  two  parents  the  like  of  one  of  which  had 
never  before  existed,  and  therefore  the  compound  of  this 
unique  parent  with  one  unlike  himself,  necessarily  produced 
another  sui  generis;  and  their  intermarriages,  others  pos- 
sessing a  mixture  of  qualities  never  before  exactly  equalled, 
or  if  equalled,  the  conditions  and  circumstances  of  the  pa* 


APPLICATION    OF    THE    SUBJECT.  261 

Iiihsritmg  diseases.  The  mother  of  Zer;ih  Colbiirn. 

rents  and  all  the  ancestors  of  these  two,  were  not  exactly 
alike.  The  same  may  be  said  of  all  Creoles.  Every  mu- 
latto differs  not  only  from  all  Creoles,  but  even  from  all  other 
mulattoes,  and  of  course  from  every  one  of  the  five  races. 
And  this  principle  applies  to  every  member  of  the  human 
family,  past,  present,  and  prospective ;  and  hence,  mainly,, 
the  diversity  of  the  human  character  and  physiology. 

Let  us  apply  this  principle  to  diseases.  The  author  knows 
a  family  of  children  who  inherit  consumption  from  one  pa- 
rent or  grand  parent,  insanity  from  another,  and  a  physical 
deformity  from  a  third.  Can  it  be  otherwise  than  that  this 
new  combination  of  several  diseases,  should  produce  in  their 
children  physiological  characteristics  now  unknown,  as  well 
as  new  forms  of  disease'?  And  are  not  these  new  pathological 
conditions  and  diseases  almost  certain  to  combine  with  other 
forms  of  disease,  by  their  or  their  descendants  intermarrying 
with  others  who  inherit  hereditary  tendencies  to  other  dis- 
eases ?  thereby  producing  still  other  forms  of  disease  to 
which  mankind  arc  now  strangers.  And  Vv^hat  end  is  there 
to  facts  coming  under  this  head,  but  assuming,  in  the  detail, 
'©very  possible  amplification,  phase,  and  diversity,  as  they 
flow  onward  to  generations  yet  unborn?  Fortunately,  hov/- 
lever,  when  cases  like  this  come  together,  the  family  rw^zs  outy^ 
and  all  inheriting  this  complication  of  diseases,  die.* 

Take  the  following  among  the  innumerable  throng  of  facts 
in  point.  The  mother  of  Zerah  CJolburn — a  highly  intelli- 
gent, thorough-going,  business  woman — while  carrying  her 
son,  was  weaving  a  piece  of  diaper  which  required  great 
study.  She  tried  and  tried,  thought  and  studied,  day  after 
day,  till,  becoming  completely  puzzled,  she  was  about  to  give 
it  up,  when  on«  night  she  dreamed  it  all  out  right,  and  the 

*  How  beautiful  that  arrangement  hy  wljicli  those  who  are  too  weakly 
in  body  or  mind  to  enjoy  life,  die  without  issue,  and  often  before  they  are 
capable  of  becoming  parents.  Frequently,  when  children  die,  it  is  be- 
cause they  have  inherited  either  so  much  disease  or  feebleness,  that  life 
would  be  a  burden  to  them  and  their  posterity.  Hence,  {lature  renders 
inany  mothers  childless,  or  removes  their  children  by  death,  to  prevent 
our  world  being  flooded  with  miserable,  diseased  wretches,  that  can 
neither  enjoy  life  themselves,  nor  transmit  any  thing  htvt  disease  to  otF" 
spring. 


262        CONDITIONS    OF    PARENTS,  WHILE    BECOBIING  PARENTS. 

Calculation  in  Colhurn.  Depravity. 

pext  morning  prosecuted  her  work  successfully  in  accordance 
with  her  dream.  In  weaving  this  kind  of  manufacture,  it 
Teqiiires  a  given  number  of  threads  to  appear  on  the  right 
side,  and  a  given  number  to  come  upon  the  other,  according 
to  the  figure  to  be  woven.  This  involves  mathematical  cal- 
culations more  and  more  complicated,  according  to  the  figure 
produced.  In  making  these  calculations,  Mrs.  C.  so  exer- 
cised Calculation  and  some  of  the  other  intellectual  faculties, 
as  to  leave  them  strongly  impressed  upon  the  mind  of  her 
luiborn  son  ;  and  accordingly,  as  soon  as  lie  could  talk  so  as 
to  connect  ideas,  he  would  stand  by  the  hour  and  calculate 
half  audibly,  thus  : — Two  of  this,  and  four  of  that,  and  three 
of  thai,  will  make  so  much  of  that.  At  the  age  of  six  years, 
he  was  taken  through  our  country,  England,  and  France,  as 
a  show,  and  would  solve,  off  hand,  any  mathematical  prob'^ 
lem  wbiatever  that  could  be  asked  him.  Whether  any  of  his 
children  possess  this  quality  or  not,  I  do  not  know;  but  from 
what  we  have  seen  in  preceding  pages,  they  or  their  children 
most  assuredly  will  inherit  it,  and  in  an  extraordinary  de- 
gree; by  which  a  new  phase  of  character  will  be  introduced 
into  the  human  family,  to  widen  as  it  descends,  and  perhaps, 
as  in  the  case  of  the  mathematical  talents  of  Enoch  Lewis, 
to  become  augmented  in  future  generations  by  its  exercise  in 
the  parents,  and  to  combine  with  other  characteristics  simi- 
larly introduced,  but  of  every  possible  diversity,  thereby 
involving  innumerable  and  truly  wonderful  phases  of  char- 
acter, combinations  of  talent,  and  shades,  or  rather  ranges 
of  feeling,  and  also  ideas,  principles,  modifications  of  thought, 
and  capabilities  for  discovering  new  truths  now  unseen  by 
man,  greater  in  richness  and  variety  than  it  is  possible  for 
'tis  to  conceive. 

Much  is  said  of  the  depravity  of  man — of  its  aggravation,  of 
-its  ever  varying  forms  and  inconceivably  multifarious  phases. 
But,  has  vice  yet  reached  its  acme?  Has  human  depravity 
yet  put  on  its  last  hydra  head  of  monstrosity  and  hideous  va- 
jiety?  I  trow  not.  If  it  be  not  yet  in  its  infancy^  it  is  only 
ibecause  the  principles  urged  in  this  work  are  about  to  be  un- 
<derstood  and  applied  to  the  production  of  virtuous  qualities 
in  the  embryo,  instead  of,  as  now,  sowing  seeds  of  wicked- 


APPLICATION   OP    THE    SUBJECT.  263 

Vices  of  parents  appear  in  the  children.  Choosing  companions. 

ness  in  the  first  stages  of  existence;  or  rather,  along  with  the 
existence  itself^  tares  with  and  in  the  wheat  at  generation. 

To  illustrate.  Let  us  suppose  one  parent  to  be  licentiouSy. 
and  the  other,  revengeful ;  their  progeny  must  necessarily 
inherit  the  licentiousness  of  the  one,  and  the  vindictive  spirit- 
of  the  other,  combined.  Let  these  children  marry  others  noted 
for  other  forms  of  depravity,  and  theii-  progeny  will  be  disfig- 
ured with  vices  caused  by  the  blending  of  all  the  vices  of  all 
their  ancestors,  only  to  be  re-augmented  by  indulgence,  and 
tran"smitted  in  a  more  aggravated,  odious  form,  to  countless 
throngs  of  their  posterity  yet  unborn.  And  these  heart-sick- 
ening results  are  augmented  by  the  fact  that  birds  of  a  feath- 
'  ex  flock  together — that  those  who  are  sinful  prefer  to  marry 
those  who  are  sinful.  But,  fortunately,  here  also,  as  in  the 
transmission  of  diseases,  death  steps  in  and  cuts  off  the  sinful, 
and  therefore  the  wretched  violators  of  the  laws  of  virtue, 
and  their  posterity  after  them,  cease  to  multiply.  Virtue  and 
length  of  life  are  sworn  friends,  but  the  twin  brother  of  vice 
is  premature  death.  Infinitely  better  that  they  die,  and  their 
children  or  children's  children  be  cut  off,  than  that  they  mul- 
tiply and  go  on  to  add  sin  to  sin,  and  consequently,  suffering  to 
suffering,  sowing  tares  of  wickedness  and  bitterness  through- 
out the  world.  Let  them  die,  but  let  those  who  wish  to  live 
or  leave  a  name  and  a  race  upon  the  earth,  ohey  the  laws  of 
their  'physical  and  mental  being  I  Let,  also,  those  who  wish 
their  posterity  to  be  happy,  be  careful  both  whom  they  mar- 
ry, and  into  whsit  family.  If  any  of  the  members  of  a  given 
family  tread  in  the  paths  of  licentiousness,  or  dishonesty,  or 
any  moral  deformity,  "  be  not  thou  united  unto  them." 

But  chose  companions  from  the  families  of  the  virtuous  and 
the  talented,  that  their  talents  and  virtues  may  offset  thy 
vices  or  frailties,  if  any  thou  hast,  or  else  combining  with  thy 
talents  and  thy  virtues,  may  form  new  virtues,  new  moral 
excellencies,  and  new  capabilities  for  perceiving  truth  and 
augmenting  human  happiness;  for  the  children  of  those  en- 
dowed with  highly  favorable  temperaments,  or  superior,  or 
diversified  talents,  or  transcendent  moral  virtues,  or  all  com- 
bined, must  necessarily  inherit  temperaments,  physical  organ- 
izations, mental  capabilities,  and  moral  excellencies  now  un~ 


2G4       CONOtTIONS    OF   PARENTS,  AVHILE    BECOMING   PARENTS, 
How  longevity  and  happiness  may  be  promoted. 

known  and  iinconceived,  as  well  as  arrive  at  a  state  of 
physical  and  moral  perfection  inconceivably  beyond  what 
mankind  now  enjoy. 

To  take  another  example  from  longevity.  Let  two  parties, 
each  from  long-lived  ancestors,  and  both  inheriting  great 
physical  stamina,  marry,  and  then  take  all  possible  pains  to 
augment  their  vital  energies  and  prolong  their  lives,  and,  as 
already  seen,  their  children  Avill  inherit  an  i?icrease  of  lon- 
gevity. Let  these  children  marry  again  those  who  have 
pursued  a  similar  course,  and  at  the  same  time,  re-augment 
their  already  powerful  constitutions  by  strict  obedience  to 
the  physical  laws,  and  they  will  both  live  still  longer  than 
their  parents,  and  transmit  a  new  augmentation  of  physical 
energy  to  iheb^  children,  to  be  again  transmitted  to  posterity, 
increasing  as  time  progresses,  till  the  strongest  of  our  race, 
now,  will  be  liliputians  compared  with  them,  and  the  oldest 
of  us,  young  in  age,  mental  attainments,  and  the  amount 
of  pleasure  enjoyed,  to  those  who  might  be  made  to  come  af- 
ter us.  To  these  glorious  results,  do  the  principles  contain- 
ed in  this  volume  necessarily  lead  us.  Our  world  is  yet 
young,  Man  is  yet  a  babe  in  every  thing.  These  princi- 
ples can  be  practised,  and  they  ivill  be  practised.  Vast,  in- 
conceivably vast,  is  the  range  of  improvement  opened  up  to 
man  by  this  principle  !  Who  hath  set  bounds  to  the  nature 
of  man,  that  it  cannot  pass  1  Where  is  the  goal  of  human  pro- 
gression which  cannot  be  passed  ?  Shall  space  be  illimitable, 
and  shall  not  the  nature  of  man  be  equally  so  7  It  is  so  : 
and  this  principle  presents  the  only  effectual  remedy  for  the 
evils  that  oppress  mankind,  and  the  only  effectual  method  of 
essentially  and  permanently  bettering  his  condition.  By 
applying  it,  our  world  can  again  become  a  garden  of  Eden, 
and  man  a  world  of  angels.  Though  the  reforms  of  the  day 
may  do  something  for  man,  yet  this  principle  alone,  can 
break  his  chains,  banish  misery,  and  fill  our  world  with  joy. 

Go  on,  then,  ye  soldiers  of  reform.  Labor  hard  and  ac- 
complish little  ;  for  you  are  beginning  at  the  wrong  end,  are 
working  up  hill.  You  are  better  than  nothing;  for,  a  moiety 
of  reform  is  better  than  nothing.  But  little  ca?i  ye  do.  Stilly 
do  that  little.     Labor  on. 


APPLICATION   OF    THE    SUBJECT.  265 

The  duty  of  teachers.  A  case  of  severe  suffering  in  a  child. 


But  ye  who  wish  to  lay  the  axe  of  reform  to  the  root  of  this 
tree  of  vice  and  misery,  and  to  plant  in  its  stead  a  root  of 
virtue,  lecture,  preach,  write,  on  hereditary  descent — on  the 
way  to  improve  the  stock  of  mankind.  Sound  the  tocsin  of 
alariii  in  the  ears  oi parents.  Warn  them,  that  by  indulging 
in  sin,  they  transmit  sinful  predispositions  and  propensities 
to  their  children — that  if  one  parent  indulges  in  one  sin,  and 
the  other  in  another,  their  children  will  be  imbued  with  the 
moral  deformities  of  both,  augmented;  and  probably  their 
children,  marrying  with  those  having  other  moral  blemishes, 
or  intellectual  weaknesses,  or  physical  diseases,  will  be  still 
more  sinful  and  miserable,  only  to  re-augment  the  crimes  and 
the  wretchedness  of  after  generations.  Scatter  light.  Lay 
this  matter  fully  before  parents.  They  love  their  children. 
They  would  not  curse  their  children  and  all  their  descendants 
knowingly?  What  emotion  is  stronger  than  parental  love? 
What  string  of  reform  can  be  pulled  with  equal  effect? 
What  will  soften  the  heart,  open  the  ear,  and  reform  a  pa- 
rent, equal  to  motives  drawn  from  his  children  7 

Parents,  do  you  love  your  children  ?  Is  not  their  suffering 
your  suffering,  their  happiness  your  happiness?  If  you 
neither  fear  God  nor  regard  man  as  far  as  concerns  yourselves, 
yet  listen,  oh  !  learn  and  discharge  your  parental  duties. 
Can  you  look  upon  your  children,  screaming  with  pain,'^  de- 
formed by  disease,  raving  with  insanity,  dying  of  consump- 
tion,  snarling  with  anger,   fighting  and  biting  each  other, 

*  In  Boston,  in  Nov.  1843,  the  author  saw  a  child  about  five  years  old, 
suffer  every  thing  from  a  most  acute  inflammatory  rheumatism,  or  tic 
doloreaux.  Every  motion  made  her  shriek  with  agony.  There  she  lay 
>  on  her  grand  mother's  lap,  who  was  compelled  to  move  occasionally  in 
order  to  take  food  and  change  her  position,  and  unable  to  get  more  than 
a  moment's  sleep  at  a  time,  for  weeks  together,  the  child  shrieking  out 
every  ^qw  moments  with  the  most  frightful  and  piercing  pain,  and  yet 
possessed  of  a  powerful  constitution,  so  that  she  still  held  on  to  life  with 
most  extraordinary  tenacity.  Her  mother  had  the  same  disease,  though 
with  less  severity,  and  two  of  her  mother's  cousins  died  with  it,  after 
suffering  more  than  tongue  can  tell.  Her  mother's  father  had  it,^and  two 
of  his  brothers,  and  many  more  of  this  afflicted  family.  Was  it  not  most 
wicked  in  these  parents  tlius  to  curse  their  descendants  with  so  painful 
and  excruciating  a  disease  ? 


266        CONDITIONS    OF    PARENTS,  WHILE    BECOMING   PARENTS. 
Closing  appeal  to  parents. 

plunged  in  debauchery,  or  perhaps  stained  with  crime,  and 
remember  that  you  are  the  cause  of  all  this,  and  not  go  away 
and  weep  over  your  children,  and  over  yourselves,  and  set 
about  a  reform  7  Oh  !  will  you  go  on  to  heap  curse  upon 
curse,  mental  and  physical,  upon  the  products  of  your  own 
body,  not  only  blighting  the  image  of  God,  but  even  in 
your  oion  dearly  beloved  ckildreii  and  children's  children  for- 
ever ?  Murderers,  all,  and  worse  than  murderers — destroyers 
of  both  soul  and  body,  producers  of  suffering  inconceivable, 
ye  who  transmit  mental  and  physical  diseases  to  your  poster- 
ity; but  the  greatest  benefactors  of  mankind,  and  on  the  lar- 
gest possible  scale,  ye  who  transmit  healthy  bodies,  strong 
minds,  and  good  moral  organizations — that  is,  every  possi- 
ble condition  of  hapjjiness — to  your  posterity,  especially  if  you 
teach  them  to  augment  these  qualities,  that  they  may  re- 
combine  them  with  other  mental  and  moral  excellencies,  and 
hand  them  down  from  generation  to  generation — the  current  of 
virtue  and  happiness  widening  and  deepening  as  it  flows  on, 
enriching  the  valley  of  time  as  it  meanders  along  through  it, 
till  it  loses  itself  in  the  ocean  of  infinite  perfection  and  eternal 
bliss,  bearing  on  its  happy  waters  countless  throngs  adorned 
in  every  department  of  their  nature  with  every  virtue,  and 
full  to  overflowing  in  every  element  of  their  minds  and  bod- 
ies, with  every  perfection,  every  pleasure,  which  it  is  possible 
for  the  wisdom  or  the  bounty  of  a  God  to  bestow,  or  the  na- 
ture of  man  to  yield;  and  all  stained  with  no  mental  or 
moral  blemish,  and  marred  by  no  physical  disease,  infirmity, 
or  pain  ! 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  SUBJECT— ITS  IMPORTANCE. 

Sect.  I. — The  Progeny  resemble  their  Parents, 7 

Reproduction.  Parentage  secures  uniformity.  Connubial  love.  Things 
produce  after  their  kind.     Facts  our  guide.     Difficulties. 

Sec^.  II. — Reproduction  governed  by  the  laws  of  Cause  and  Effect,  .  12 
Hereditary  laws.  Parents  the  causes — children  the  effects.  The  qualities 
of  children,  like  those  of  animals,  can  be  predicted  before  birth. 

Sect.  III. — Education  and  Parentage  contrasted,  ....  18 

The  original  constitution  more  important  than  education.     Elihu  Burritt. 

Sect.  IV. — Responsibility  of  Parents,        .......      22 

Where  reforms  must  commence.  The  great  importance  of  suitable  marriages 
to  future  generations.  A  good  parent  and  poor  companion,  better  than  a 
good  companion  and  poor  parent.  The  necessity  of  learning  the  parental 
duties  before  marriage.  On  the  choice  of  a  partner.  Find  out  the  hereditary 
descent  of  a  companion  before  marriage.     Information  ought  to  be  spread. 


CHAPTER  n. 

THE    CHARACTERISTICS    OF    RACES,    MASSES,   AND    NATIONS,   IN 
PART  HEREDITARY. 

Sect.  I.— The  Colored  Race, 33 

Races  differ.     Mulattoes.     The  African  head — nose.     Their  love  of  music. 

Sect.  II.— The  Indian  Race, 37 

Their  independence — their  eloquence.     Papoose  heads. 

Sect.  III.— The  Jews, 38 

Acquisitiveness  in  Abraham  and  his  descendants.  The  Rothschilds,  Girard, 
and  other  Jews.  Their  Inhahitiveness — desire  of  issue — hospitality — cun- 
ning— Destructiveness — physiognomy. 

Sect.  IV. — Nations  and  Masses,  generally, 46 

The  Chinese.    Casts  of  eastern  nations.    Hope  in  the  English  and  Americans. 


268  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  III. 
PHYSICAL  QUALITIES  HEREDITARY. 

Sect.  I. — Forms  of  Body  and  Face,  and  the  Expressions  of  Countenance,  49 
Family  likenesses.  Franklin,  Webster,  and  numerous  other  examples.  A 
large  father  and  small  mother.     Giants,     Inference. 

Sect.  II. — Marks  and  Excrescences  Hereditary, 56 

A  flaxen  lock  of  hair.  Porcupine  men.  Short  legs.  Twenty-four  fingers 
and  toes.     Fleshy  parents.     Wiliam  H.  Brown. 

Sect.  III. — Great  Physical  Strength  Hereditary,  ....  59 

A  strong  woman.  Anecdotes  of  Jonathan  and  Seymour  Fowler.  The  Bel- 
gian giant.     Feeble  parents  have  weakly  children. 

Sect.  IV. — Length  of  Life  Hereditary, 68 

Cases  of  longevity.    Old  Parr.    McDonald.    Predicting  the  age  of  ancestors. 

CHAPTER  IV. 
DISEASES   HEREDITARY. 

Sect.  I. — Consumption  Hereditary, .73 

Actual  disease  hereditary.  Former  error  on  ihis  subject.  Venereal  disease. 
Consumptive  persons  should  not  become  parents.  Consumptive  families 
talented.     Extract  from  Sir  James  Clark. 

Sect.  II. — Preventives  of  Consumption,        ......  82 

Cold  limbs  and  a  hot  head.  How  to  cure  consumption.  Bathing.  Friction. 
Keep  the  feet  warm  and  the  head  cool.  Ventilation.  Tight  lacing.  Hot 
drinks.     Exercise.     Diet.     Journeying.     Caution  to  young  women. 

Sect.  III. — Diseases  in  general  Hereditary, 97 

Dyspepsia.     Near-sightedness.     Blindness.     Gout  and  apoplexy.     Cancers. 

CHAPTER  V. 

MENTAL  DISEASES  HEREDITARY. 

Sect.  I. — Insanity  Hereditary, 99 

The  causes  of  insanity.  Extract  from  Dr.  Rush.  Numerous  cases  of  in- 
sanity.    This  disease  can  be  prevented.     Contracting  marriages. 

Sect.  II. — Preventives  of  Insanity, 117 

Sufferings  of  the  insane.     Much  sleep.     Avoid  excitement.     Bathing. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

MORAL  AND  INTELLECTUAL   QUALITIES  TRANSMISSIBLE. 

Sect.  I. — The  Mental  Qualities  as  the  Physical — both  Innate,  and  gov- 
erned by  the  same  Laws  of  Transmission,    ....     122 
Form  of  the  body  and  head  transmissible.     So  of  the  phrenological  organs. 
The  fallacy  of  tiie  doctrine  advocated  by  Nott,  Hamilton,  and  Burritt.     The 
duck  hatched  by  the  hen.     Faculties  must  exist  before  education. 


CONTENTS.  269 

Sect.  II. — Idiocy  and  Superior  Talents  Hereditary,  .  .  .  .  134 
What  conditions  in  parents  produce  idiocy  or  talents  in  children. 

Sect.  III. — Amativeness  and  the  Social  Faculties  Hereditary,  .         .     137 

Cases  of  Amativeness.  The  children  of  harlots.  Having  twins  hereditary. 
Having  large  or  small  families  hereditary.     Adhesiveness  hereditary. 

Sect.  IV. — The  Propensities  Hereditary, 145 

Combativeness  and  Destructiveness  hereditary.  Longings  of  mothers.  In- 
temperance hereditary.     Love  of  money.     Patty  Cannon,  and  other  cases. 

Sect.  V. — The  Moral  Faculties  of  Children  resemble  those  of  theij  Parents,  160 
Clergymen  the  sons  of  pious  mothers.  The  descendants  of  John  Rogers. 
The  Brainards.  The  Edwardses.  Cases  of  Conscientiousness.  John  Whit- 
man.    Large  organs  in  parents  increased  in  children.     Small  organs. 

Sect.  VI. — Ideality,  Constructiveness,  and  Calculation,  Hereditary,  .  171 
Poetic  talents  hereditary.  Cause  of  the  falling  off  of  talents  in  the  children 
of  great  men.  Enoch  Lewis.  Combining  qualities  in  parents  and  children. 
Mathematical  genius  of  the  Colburns.     Herschell  and  his  grand  son. 

Sect.  VII. — Intellect  Hereditary,  as  to  both  Kind  and  Amount,  .         179 

Tune  and  Language  hereditary.  Pairick  Henry  and  ancestors.  The  com- 
posing talent  hereditary  in  the  family  of  the  author.  Sale  of  the  author's 
works.  Burritt's  relatives.  Quotations  from  Joshua  Coffin.  The  mothers 
of  great  men.     The  Websters — Tappans — Coffins — Moodys — Adamses. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  CONDITIONS  OF  PARENTS,  WHILE  BECOMING  PARENTS. 

Sect.  I. — The  Respective  Influences  of  each  Parent,  ....  193 
How  the  law  that  children  resemble  their  parents  is  modified.  Causes  of  the 
difference  which  is  seen  in  children  of  the  same  parents.  Alexander  Walk- 
er's theory.  Rules  to  be  observed  in  marrying.  Husband  and  wives  grad- 
ually assimilate.  What  qualities  should  be  blended  in  marriage.  Are  talents 
inherited  mostly  from  the  father  or  the  mother .''  Imagination  of  the  mother 
influencing  the  child.  General  character  of  the  father  affecting  the  child. 
Happy  parents  have  amiable  children.     Rules  respecting  Amativeness. 

Sect.  II. — The  Office  of  the  Mother  in  nourishing  the  Embryo  and  Infant,  207 
The  connection  between  the  mother  and  the  unborn  infant.  Advice  to 
mothers  while  pregnant.  Children  destroyed  by  the  habits  of  mothers  dur- 
ing pregnancy.  The  murderous  effect  of  tight  lacing.  How  daughters 
should  be  trained.     Infants  affected  by  the  diet  of  nursing  mothers. 

Sect.  III. — Children  inherit  the  Mental  Conditions  of  their  Mothers 

during  Pregnancy,         ....  ...        218 

State  of  the  mother's  mind  transmitted.  Effect  produced  on  offspring  by 
fear  in  mothers  during  pregnancy.  A  child  that  resembled  a  monkey.  When 
the  different  faculties  of  the  child  are  formed.  Proofs  upon  this  subject. 
Advice  to  mothers. 

Sect.  IV. — Marks,  Deformities,  and  Monstrosities,  ....     224 

Children  marked  before  birth.  This  fact  accounted  for  by  animal  magnetism. 
A  child  half  fish.  Marks  and  deformities  must  have  a  cause.  Numerous 
cases  of  children  being  marked.  A  child  resembling  a  snake.  A  son  who 
never  spoke  to  his  father  till  he  was  thirty-five.  A  child  that  resembled  a 
cat  with  its  head  beat  in.     How  to  prevent  marks. 


270  CONTENTS. 

Sect.   V. — The  older  the  Parent,  the  more  Intellectual  and  less  Animal 

the  Child, »37 

Effects  of  immaturity  in  parents  on  their  children.  Case  of  Franklin.  Pa- 
rents should  bring  forth  no  more  children  than  they  can  provide  for. 

Sect.  VI. — Effects  of  Marrying  Blood  Relations, 941 

Effects  of  crossing  the  breed.  Number  of  our  ancestors — of  descendants. 
Numerous  facts  by  Joshua  Coffin,  showing  the  bad  effects  on  offspring  of 
marrying  cousins.     The  laws  of  Moses. 

Sect.  VII. — Summary;  or  Concluding  Inferences  and  Remarks,  .  250 
Great  men  from  long-lived  families.  The  women  of  our  nation.  The  fac- 
tory system — its  baneful  effects  on  future  mothers.  Aristocracy  of  birth — 
of  wealth.  The  value  of  information  respecting  ancestors.  Directions  to 
parents  who  are  barren  and  wish  for  children.  The  true  exposition  of  original 
sin.  Qualities  often  pass  one  generation.  Two  cases.  Application  of  the 
subject.  How  the  great  diversity  in  the  human  race  has  been  produced. 
No  two  persons  exactly  alike.  Inheriting  diseases.  Vices  of  parents  appear 
in  the  children.     Choosing  companions.     Appeal  to  parents. 


EXPLANATION  OF  THE  FOLLOWING  TABLE. 

The  long  columns,  formed  by  those  three  double  lines  that  run 
through  it  lengthwise,  and  separate  it  into  four  equal  parts,  marked 
A,  B,  C,  and  D,  are  designed  to  record  four  generations ;  or,  if 
five  is  desired,  as  the  first  will  contain  but  few,  let  two  or  three 
lines  be  struck  with  the  pen  above  the  table  for  the  Jirst  genera- 
tion. Then  record  each  generation  in  its  respective  column  ; 
taking  the  open  space  in  each  large  square  for  every  head  of  a 
particular  branch.  If  it  is  not  large  enough  for  this,  lengthen  it. 
Then  put  each  generation  of  the  descendants  in  the  squares 
around  that  opea  space  appropriated  to  the  ancestor.  Fill  up  the 
respective  smaller  squares  as  occasion  requires.  This  will  present 
the  degrees  of  relationship  at  one  view.  Then,  in  the  blank  paper 
that  may  easily  be  bound  in  after  it,  it  is  easy  to  specify  the 
meaning  of  each  figure.  Thus  :  place  the  figures  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6, 
7,  8,  9,  10,  &;c.,  according  as  the  individual  you  wish  to  record  is 
the  first,  second,  tenth,  &c.,  child,  in  the  large  square  A  a,  and  in 
whichever  small  square  you  please,  1,  24,  or  any  other,  and  then 
in  the  blank  paper,  tell  who  and  whose  descendants  are  recorded 
in  the  large  squares,  and  then,  who  is  designated  in  the  small  ones.. 
That  is,  make  of  this  table  an  index  to  such  as  it  is  wished  to 
record ;  using  it  as  you  please,  only  state  in  the  blank  paper  in 
writing  what  use  you  do  make  of  each  large  and  small  square. 
If  necessary,  several  tables  can  be  yut  together,  and  numbered, 
by  which  any  number  of  records  can  be  presented  in  one  view. 


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I 


RELIGION; 

NATURAL  AND  REVEALED: 

OR,   THE 

NATURAL  THEOLOGY 

AND 

MORAL  EEAMNGS  OF  PHEENOLOGY 

AND  PHYSIOLOGY: 

INCLUDING   THE 

DOCTRINES  TAUGHT  AND  DUTIES  INCULCATED 
THEREBY, 

COMPARED   WITH   THOSE 

ENJOINED  IN  THE  SCKIPTUKES. 

TOGETHER  WITH   THE 

PHRENOLOGICAL  EXPOSITION  OF  THE  DOCTRINES  OF  A  FUTURE  STATE, 

MATERIAI.ISM,   MOMNESS,   SIN, 

REWARDS,  PUNISHMENTS,  DEPRAVITY, 

A  CHANGE  OF  HEART,  WILL,  FOREORDINATION, 
FATALISM,  ETC.  ETC. 

BY  O.  S.  FOWLER, 

PRACTICAL  PHRENOLOGIST,  EDITOR  OP  THE  AM.  PHR.  JOURNAL, 
AUTHOR   OF   fowler's   PHRENOLOGY,    HEREDITARY  DESCENT,    PHRENOLOGY 
APPLIED   TO   EDUCATION   AND   SELF-IMPROVEMENT,   DO-    TO   MATRI- 
MONY,   DO.    TO   MEMORY,    TEMPERANCE,  ETC. 

Truth  always  harmonizes  with  itself. 

SECOND  EDITION— ENLARGED  AND  IMPROVED. 

NEW    YORK: 

Published  by  O.  S.  Fowler,  131  Nassau  St.,  Clinton  Hall;  Saxton  &  Peirce,  andJordan 
&  Co.,  Washington  St.,  Boston  ;  Colon  &  Co.,  Arcade,  Philadelphia;  J.  A.  Hop- 
kins &  Co.,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. ;  E.  A.  Smith,  Erwinton,  S.  C. ;  M.  J.  Grier, 
Hamilton,  Canada  West :  and  Booksellers  generally. 

1844: 


SEARI.^G   &   PRALL,    PRINTERS. 


'6^-'"  \  Conscien. 


14  I    18Veneratio». 

16    \  -^n 

Hope. 


V 

f  \  ^Oh      \  Cautiousaass.       I 

f4\      *"!     '  / 

»\     Adhesive.     /  Secreliveness.^  g 

\^\ /     ,  /7 


\% 


.36  \3^ 

Sublimity      \     lirm.     \^|[^.|    \       \  | 


/     20 

Acquisil-    J  '* 

iveness.     •-  ''       ■<■ 


■j^ 


:ality.  \32 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1844,  hy  0.  S.  Fowler,  in  the 
Clerk'' s  Office  of  the  U.  S,  Southern  District  Court  of  the  State  of  New-York. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE   FUNDAMENTAL   PRINCIPLES   OF   MAN's   MORAL   AND   RELIGIOUS 
NATURE. 

Sect.  I. — Man  constitutionally  moral  and  religious,        .         .         15 
II. — The  foundation  of  man's  moral  and  religious  nature,       29 


•  III. — The  location  of  the  moral  organs,  and  general  re- 
flections on  their  faculties,  .  .  .33 

CHAPTER  II. 

THE  ANALYSIS  OF  THE  MOP^AL  FACULTIES,  AND  THE  INFERENCES 
CONSEQUENT  THEREON. 

Sect.  I. — Veneration. — Its  analysis,  and  the  existence  of  a  God.     46 

II. — The  true  religion  and  the  false.  .  .  61 

III.— The  Sabbath,        .....        77 

IV. — Revivals  of  religion,     .  .  ,  ,  79 

V. — Religious  teachers,  or  preachers,     .  .  .83 

VI.— Religious  societies  or  associations,       .  .  86 

VII. — Prayer. — Its  duty. — Its  efficacy.  .  -  .89 

VIII. — Religious  creeds,  ceremonies,  observances,  &c.  92 

CHAPTER  III. 

THE   SPIRITUAL. 

Sect.  I. — Spirituality,  or  marvetlousness. —  Its  analysis  and 

bearings.  .  .  .  ,  ,94 

Sect.  II. — Spirituality  continued. — Inferences,         .         .         .102 


IV  CONTENTS. 

Sect.  III. — Special  providences. 106 

Sect.  IV. — Conversion ;    the  operations  of  the  Holy  Ghost ; 

Divine  grace ;  faith,  &c.  .  .  .  .109 
Sect.  V. — A  change  of  heart  continued — objections  answered.  Ill 
Sect.  VI. — Materialism. — Objection  answered.         .         .         .114 

CHAPTER  IV. 

HOPE,    AND    ITS    BEAPaNGS. A    FUTURE    STATE. 

Sect.  I. — Analysis,  location,  and  bearings  of  Hope.      -         .         117 
Sect.  II. — Hope  continued. — Miscellaneous  inferences.     .         .126 

CHAPTER  V. 

benevolence. ITS  ANALYSIS,  AND  THE  TRUTHS  TAUGHT  THEREBY. 

Sect.  I. — The  function  of  benevolence,  and  the  duty  and  plea- 
sure of  doing  good 128 

CHAPTER  VI. 

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS. ITS    ANALYSIS   AND    BEARINGS. 

SecT.  I. — Conscience  innate.         .         .         .         .         .         .       .140 

Sect.  II. — The  nature  and  rationale  of  right  and  wrong ;  or, 

the  foundation  of  moral  obligation.  .  .  .144 
Sect.  III. — What  is  right,  and  what  wrong  ?  .  .  .  .154 
Sect.  IV. — ^Depravity. — Its  origin — its  extent — its  conditions — 

its  causes — its  remedy .161 

Sect.  V. — Punishment,  here  and  hereafter,  ,         .         .         166 

Sect.  VI, — Penitence  and  pardon.  .         ,         .         .         .169 

Conclusion 174 


PREFACE  TO  THE  FIRST  EDITION. 


Probably  no  subject  whatever,  is  fraught  with  interest  more  in- 
tense, or  attended  with  consequences  more  momentous,  than  a  compa- 
rison of  the  doctrines  inculcated,  and  the  duties  required,  by  Phreno- 
logy, with  those  enjoined  by  the  Bible, 

For  about  1800  years,  has  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  for 
several  thousand  years,  have  the  Scriptures  exerted  an  all-control- 
ling influence  over  the  intellects,  the  emotions,  and  the  conduct  of 
mankind — engrossing  the  feelings,  shaping  the  lives,  occupying  the 
minds,  and  filling  the  souls,  of  untold  millions  of  the  human  family. 
Nor  does,  or  should  this  interest  diminish. 

Phrenology  is  also  now  every  where  becoming  a  subject  of  all- 
absorbing  interest ;  and  well  it  may,  for  it  is  founded  in  Truth.  It 
must^  it  will  prevail.  It  is  a  demonstrative  science.  It  is  built  upon 
FACTS,  infinite  in  both  variety  and  number.  It  developes  and  evolves 
those  laws  in  harmony  with  which  God  created  both  man  and  the 
whole  range  of  animated  nature.  Every  living  creature  that  now 
inhabits  earth,  air,  or  water,  is  a  living,  incontestible  evidence  of 
its  truth,  as  are  also  all  that  ever  have  lived,  or  that  will  ever  inhabit 
our  globe.  And  men  have  eyes  to  see  these  facts,  as  well  as  intellect 
enough  to  perceive  that  they  establish  the  truth  of  Phrenology  beyond 
all  cavil  or  controversy.  And  they  are  fast  opening  their  eyes  to 
these  facts,  and  yielding  to  the  irresistible  evidence  that  Phrenology 
is  true.  Nor  is  it  possible  for  any  intelligent  mind  candidly  to  exam- 
ine either  the  facts  or  the  principles  of  this  science,  without  becoming 
convinced  of  its  truth,  and  enamored  with  its  doctrines.  Men  cannot 
help  believing  it,  any  more  than  they  can  help  seeing  what  they  look 
at,  or  feeling  fire  when  they  touch  it.     All  must  and  will  admit  its 


Vm  PREFACE, 

truth.  Many  already  believe  it.  Indeed,  it  is  novsr  acquiring  and 
exerting  a  moral  power  which  nothing  —  absolutely  nothing — can 
gainsay  or  resist.  It  is  crushing  beneath  the  car  of  its  triumphal  pro- 
gress whatever  and  whoever  resist  or  oppose  its  advancement.  In 
connexion  with  a  sister  science,  it  is  sweeping  into  oblivion  those  old 
theories,  unnatural  customs,  and  erroneous  institutions,  by  which  past 
ages  have  been  enthralled,  and  even  the  present  is  yet  spell-bound. 
So  great  is  its  moral  power,  that  it  will  prostrate  and  ride  over  what- 
ever religious  doctrines,  forms,  or  practices  conflict  with  it.  If  even 
the  Bible  could  be  found  to  clash  therewith,  then  would  the  Bible  go  by 
the  board.  Nothing  could  save  it ;  for  it  would  war  with  Truth,  and 
must  suffer  defeat.  But,  if  it  be  found  to  harmonize  with  Phrenology, 
then  is  it  based  upon  the  rock  of  Truth,  and  defended  and  supported 
by  those  immutable  laws  of  Nature  Avhich  the  all-wise  Creator  has 
instituted  for  its  government ;  so  that  neither  can  infidelity  scathe  its 
walls,  nor  atheism  find  the  least  support  for  its  monstrocities ;  both 
being  overthrown  by  this  science. 

In  this  view  of  the  subject,  how  all-absorbing  the  interest,  how  over- 
whelming the  importance,  how  momentous  the  results,  of  a  compari- 
son of  the  religion  of  Phrenology  with  the  religion  of  the  Bible !  My 
pen  falters !  Must  I  proceed  ?  I  feel  utterly  inadequate  to  the  task, 
and  yet  I  feel  that  this  neglected  task  should  be  and  must  be  under- 
taken. Though  the  objections  that  Phrenology  favors  infidelity  and 
fatalism,  have  been  often  and  ably  refuted,  yet  the  real  principles  de- 
veloped, doctrines  taught,  and  life  required  by  Phrenology,  have  never 
yet  been  fully  and  fairly  compared  or  contrasted  with  the  theology 
and  code  of  morals  of  the  Bible.  That  is,  the  natural  theology  and 
moral  bearings  of  Phrenology,  and  the  theology  and  requirements  of 
the  Scriptures,  have  never  yet  been  placed  side  by  side,  to  see 
wherein  they  harmonize,  or  wherein  they  differ.  This  ought  cer- 
tainly to  be  done.  It  has  been  studiously,  if  not  improperly,  avoided. 
No  one  has  stood  in  the  breach,  while  erring  humanity  demands 
the  TRUTH  on  this  all-important  subject.  No  leaning  to  infidelity 
on  the  one  hand — ^no  truckling  to  sectarianisms  on  the  other.     Let  us 


PREFACE.  IX 

appeal  to  philosophy.  The  truth  is  required,  without  fear,  without 
favor,  without  stint. 

I  know  full  well  that  no  other  task  requires  more  moral  courage 
than  this.  I  know  that  men  cling  with  more  tenacity  to  their  religion 
than  to  all  else  besides.  What  enmity  is  as  strong,  what  prejudices 
are  as  inveterate,  as  those  awakened  by  tearing  one's  religion  from 
him  ?  Like  Micah,  he  exclaims,  "  Ye  have  taken  away  my  GODS, 
what  have  I  more?" 

Still,  I  despair  not.  My  hope  of  success  in  this  arduous  and  haz- 
ardous undertaking,  rests  in  the  power  of  truth.  This  power  will  ul- 
timately bear  down  all  prejudice,  and  break  through  all  opposition. 
It  wiU  force  men  to  abandon  their  religious  errors,  and  to  plant  them- 
selves upon  the  broad  platform  of  the  nature  of  man.  That  nature, 
Phrenology  unfolds.  Sooner  or  later,  must  the  religion  of  Phrenolo- 
gy become  the  religion  of  man.  The  outlines  of  that  religion,  will  be 
pointed  out  in  this  work.  The  present  generation  may  slumber  over 
these  truths — may  even  scout  and  reject  them.  Even  future  genera- 
tions may  live  uncheered  by  the  sun  of  moral  science,  and  die  unen- 
lightened by  its  rays.  But  the  time  will  come  when  its  general 
principles  will  govern  the  religious  creed  and  the  practices  of  man- 
kind. Then  will  the  fiery  star  of  sectarianism  set  in  eternal  night, 
never  more  to  torment  mankind  with  its  malignant  rays.  Then  will 
religious  bigotry  and  intolerance  cease  for  ever.  Then  will  unre- 
strained religious  liberty  pervade  our  happy  earth.  Then  will  all 
men  see  eye  to  eye  and  face  to  face.  Then  will  a  holy  life  and  a 
spotless  soul  in  this  world,  be  but  the  enterance  of  man  into  the  enjoy- 
ment of  the  immortal  and  boundless  bliss  which  his  moral  faculties  are 
calculated  to  pour  into  the  human  soul,  both  here  and  hereafter.  Come, 
glorious  day !  come  quickly. 

And  I  derive  no  little  encouragement,  that  it  is  "  nigh,  even  at  the 
door,"  from  the  fact  that  the  religious  belief  of  very  many  good  peo- 
ple, is  extremely  unsettled.  Now,  mankind  hardly  know  what  to 
believe.  Too  long  already  have,  they  been  getting  their  thinking 
done  out ;  and  they  begin  to  see  it.  They  are  no  longer  willmg  to 
have  it  done  by  proxy.    They  are  unwilling,  as  formerly,  to  pin  their 


X  PREFACE. 

faith  on  the  sleeve  even  of  the  parson.  They  desire  to  think  for  them- 
selves. They  are  even  determined  to  think  for  themselves.  But  they 
have  no  data — no  starting  points^  no  base  line,  no  fixed  and  settled 
first  principles — at  w^hich  to  commence,  and  Avith  which  to  compare. 
These  first  principles  are  to  be  found  in  the  naturai,  theology,  and 
the  NATURAL  RELIGION,  of  Phrenology.  This  science  dissects  and  un- 
folds man's  moral  nature — its  primary  faculties,  its  original  elements. 
It  does  this  so  clearly  that  man  cannot  fail  to  perceive  and  adopt  the 
religious  doctrines  it  teaches,  and  to  practice  the  duties  it  requires. 
Rid  any  mind  of  preconceived  prejudices,  and  in  one  year  will  the  truth 
of  Phrenology  thoroughly  renovate  that  mind,  and  purify  the  life. 
These  prejudices  are  giving  way.  The  last  ten  years  have  liberal- 
ized mankind  more  than  ages  have  ever  done  before.  The  next  ten 
years,  will  witness  a  moral  and  a  religious  revolution  greater  than  all 
past  ages  put  together  have  yet  witnessed.  Antiquated  errors  are  tot- 
tering at  their  base.  The  darkness  of  the  past  is  fleeing  before  the 
dawn  of  Millennial  truth.  That  truth  is  now  being  developed  by  the 
daily  and  astonishingly  rapid  spread  of  that  knowledge  of  the  moral 
nature  and  constitution  of  man  imparted  by  Phrenology.  To  expound 
this  moral  nature,  and  to  show  what  religious  fruit  grows  thereon,  is 
the  end  and  aim  of  this  little  volume.  Imperfect  in  authorship,  but 
rich  in  subject  matter.  Defective  in  style,  but  deep  in  fundamental 
truth.  Requiring  some  minor  qualifications,  but  tenable  in  every  ma- 
terial position,  as  well  as  unanswerable  in  every  leading  argument. 
It  asks  no  favor,  but  investigation — it  yields  nothing  to  the  religions 
that  be.  Its  pathway  is  philosophy.  Its  goal  is  eternal  right.  Strew- 
ed behind  it  in  all  its  course,  are  the  nauseating  carcasses  of  hydra- 
headed  error  in  allits  forms.  It  stands  high  on  the  hill  of  Science. 
Its  roots  run  deep  into  the  nature  of  man.  Its  branches  yield  all  man- 
ner of  delicious  fruits,  for  the  healing  of  the  nations,  and  the  renova- 
tion of  mankind.  Its  moral  truths  are  food  to  the  hungry,  a  cooling 
beverage  to  the  thirsty  soul,  a  foundation  to  those  whom  the  tides  of 
error  are  sweeping  onward  to  destruction,  and  a  feast  of  reason,  with 
a  flow  of  soul,  to  all — sight  to  the  blind,  feet  to  the  lame,  health  to  the 
invalid,  vitality  to  the  dying,  and  life  to  the  dead. 


PREFACE. 


A  word  in  reference  to  the  qualification  ot  its  Editor  for  properly 
presenting  this  subject.  That  he  is  thoroughly  versed  in  Phrenology, 
and  especially  in  that  practical  department  of  it  which  gives  him  just 
that  very  knowledge  of  the  workings  or  manifestations  of  the  moral 
faculties,  in  all  their  phases  and  combinations,  that  is  required,  almost 
every  American  reader  will  rest  assured  from  what  he  already  knows 
of  his  works  and  standing.  That  no  other  man,  his  brother  excepted, 
is  equally  well  qualified  in  this  respect,  is  a  matter  of  fact,  and  not  of 
egotism. 

Nor  is  he  ignorant,  either  theoretically  or  experimentally,  of  what 
is  considered  genuine  religion.  Brought  up  by  a  mother  eminently 
godly  and  devout,  and  by  a  father  long  a  deacon  and  a  staunch  pillar 
in  the  Congregational  Churches,  religiously  from  childhood,  and  fa- 
miliar with  both  the  Bible  and  the  peculiar  doctrines  of  most  of  the 
sects ;  he  brings  to  the  discussion  of  this  subject  not  only  an  intimate 
knowledge  of  that  science  in  which  his  deductions  are  based,  but  also 
a  minute  acquaintance  with  the  commonly  received  religious  notions 
and  practices  of  the  age. 

Nor  will  these  deductions  be  materially  affected  by  their  authorship. 
That  affects  only  the  manner  in  which  they  are  presented.  Still,  the 
only  drawback  experienced  by  the  work  consists  in  the  haste  with 
which  it  has  been  sent  to  press — a  haste  induced  by  a  literal  pressure 
of  professional  engagements,  lecturing,  business,  &c.,  which  must 
otherwise  have  postponed  it  indefinitely.  To  this,  the  public  would 
not  consent.  The  public  have  said  with  emphasis,  "  Let  its  have 
THE  WORK.  Be  it  imperfect  as  to  style — ^be  its  authorship  defective — 
still,  at  some  rate — at  all  events,  give  us  the  work."  And  the  Author 
feels  that  it  loill,  that  it  must,  do  good — the  sole  object  for  which  it 
was  written.  He  feels  that  no  one  can  rise  from  a  careful  perusal  of 
its  contents,  without  being  benefitted  thereby. 

It  remains  only  to  add,  that  the  Author  takes  it  for  granted,  that  the 
reader  admits  and  understands  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  Phre- 
nology. Taking  for  granted  that  the  truths  established  by  this 
science  are  admitted,  he  proceeds  to  investigate  the  moral  and  religious 


Xll  PREFACE. 

principles  laid  down,  and  the  duties  pointed  out,  thereby,  and  to  com- 
pare them  with  the  fundamental  doctrines  taught,  and  duties  enjoined, 
by  the  Bible.  Nor  will  there  be  any  evasion  of  knotty  points ;  any 
temporizing  with  popular  prejudices.  But  it  v/ill  contain  a  full,  fear- 
less, manly,  expounding  of  truth,  and  exposition  of  error.  Dismiss 
prejudice.  Read ;  ponder ;  investigate.  Decide.  Receive  the  good. 
Reject  the  bad. 


^ 

*■ 


PREFACE  TO  THE  SECOND  EDITION. 


In  less  than  nine  months  after  the  publication  of  this  work,  an  edi- 
tion of  over  two  thousand  copies  has  been  exhausted.  This  unex- 
pected sale  makes  it  necessary  to  put  a  second  edition  to  press  too 
soon  to  allow  the  Author  the  requisite  time  to  revise  it  for  that  pur- 
pose and  make  as  extensive  improvements  as  he  has  hitherto  contem- 
plated. Still,  he  has  taken  scraps  of  time  from  other  labors  to  rewrite 
some  portions  of  it,  transpose  others,  make  copious  additions,  and,  as 
a  whole,  greatly  to  improve  it. 

The  chapter  on  the  nature  of  right  and  wrong,  and  the  origin  or 
foundation  of  moral  obligation,  (or  on  the  constitutional  elements  of 
the  sinfulness  of  sin  and  the  virtue  of  holiness,)  as  well  as  on  the 
causes  and  cure  of  human  depravity,  will  be  not  only  new,  but  also 
directly  in  the  teeth  of  all  prevailing  notions  on  this  subject.  Of 
course,  therefore,  it  will  be  unpopular.  Be  it  so.  Be  it  as  it  may. 
With  that  matter,  the  Author  does  not  concern  himself  It  concerns 
the  reader — it  affects  his  happiness,  not  mine — whether  it  be  accepted 
or  rejected.  That  this  analysis  of  virtue  and  sin  cannot  be  contro- 
verted, is  certain.  That  it  will  plough  a  deep  and  wide  furrow 
through  the  field  of  truth,  now  overgrown  with  the  thorns  and  the 
brambles  of  popular  error,  is  also  certain.  But  it  will  prepare  that 
field  for  a  rich  harvest  of  human  happiness  and  virtue.  In  short,  let 
not  the  reader  be  startled  with  any  thing  contained  in  these  pages  ; 
but  let  him  come  up  with  bold,  manly  thought  to  an  unbiased  exami- 
nation of  their  entire  contents. 

The  first  edition  was  received  with  a  much  better  spirit  than  the 
Author  anticipated.  He  expected  that  its  fearless  exposition  of  secta- 
rianism, its  reproving  the  churches  for  admitting  the  fashions  into 


XIV  PK.EFACE. 

them  on  the  Sabbath,  &c.j  as  well  as  its  bold  advancement  of  some 
unpalatable  truths,  and  fearless  exposition  of  some  glaring  but  gene- 
rally received  errors ;  would  have  siibjected  it  and  him  to  odium. 
But  he  finds  that  men  can  bear  the  truth  much  better  than  he  sup- 
posed they  could.  He  finds  that  they  even  love  it.  He  expected  infi- 
delity would  come  down  upon  him  on  the  one  hand,  for  exposing 
some  of  its  errors ;  and  religionists  upon  the  other,  for  tearing  from 
them  some  of  their  darling  dogmas.  But  he  finds  that  nearly  all  like  it. 
He  finds,  that  in  matters  of  religion,  men  difier  much  less  than  they 
suppose  they  do.  They  divide  on  7iames  more  than  on  things.  And 
Avhat  is  more,  there  are  some  fundamental  religious  truths  which  all 
see  and  admit — a  broad  platform  of  common  ground,  which  all  re- 
cognize as  such.  And  Phrenology  will  bring  all  on  to  this  platform. 
And  may  this  little  volume  go  forth  upon  the  angry  sea  of  secta- 
rian contention,  to  calm  its  troubled  waters ;  to  harmonize  conflicting 
elements,  and  to  disseminate  truth,  and  love,  and  moral  purity  among 
mankind. 


EELIGION, 

NATURAL  AND  UEVEALED,  ETC. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  FUNDAMENTAL  PRINCIPLES  OF  MAN'S  MORAL  AND 
KELIGIGUS  NATURE. 


SECTION  I. 

MAN   CONSTITUTIONALLY   MORAL   AND   RiiLIGIOUS. 

Man  is  constitutionally  a  moral  being.  He  is  also  naturally  reli- 
gious. Indeed,  piety  of  some  kind,  and  religion  in  some  form,  have 
ever  constituted,  and  still  constitute,  one  of  the  leading  motives,  one  of 
the  all-engrossing  pursuits,  of  mankind.  Strike  from  the  page  of  his- 
tory, and  from  the  mind  and  conduct  of  mankind,  every  thing  apper- 
taining to  morals  and  religion,  and  the  identity  of  both  will  be  de- 
stroyed. Take  his  religion  from  the  conceited  Chinese,  or  from  the 
benighted  Hindoo,  or  from  the  degraded  Ethiopean,  or  from  the 
noble  son  of  the  forest,  and  each  in  his  turn,  with  Micah,  would 
exclaim,  "  Ye  have  taken  away  my  GODS!  what  have  I 
more?"  In  fact,  where  is  the  nation  or  tribe — when  and  where  have 
any  existed — ^whose  religion  did  not  enter  into  the  very  texture  of  their 
minds,  form  their  habits,  mould  their  characters,  shape  and  perpetuate 
their  government  and  institutions,  and  even  guide  their  intellect,  as 
well  as  govern  their  whole  conduct  ?  Without  these  moral  elements, 
how  ignoble,  how  depraved,  would  man  have  been !  But,  with  them, 
how  exalted,  how  angelic,  how  godlike,  is  he  capable  of  being  and  of 
becoming ! 

Nor  is  there  any  danger,  or  even  possibility,  that  man  will  ever 
become  less  religious  than  he  now  is  and  always  has  been,  any  more 
than  there  is  danger  of  his  ceasing  to  become  hungry  or  to  breathe  ; 


16  religion:   nattjual  and  revealed.  170 

for  religion  is  engrafted  upon  his  very  nature,  or,  rather,  forms  no 
inconsiderable  portion  thereof  This  fact,  established  by  the  whole 
history  of  man,  is  demonstrated  by  Phrenology,  in  its  showing  that  a 
large  portion  of  the  brain  is  appropriate  to  the  development  of  the  moral 
and  religious  organs.  Till,  therefore,  the  nature  of  man  is  essentially 
remodelled,  that  nature  will  compel  him  to  have  a  religion  of  some 
kind.  The  great  danger  is,  not  that  mankind  can  ever  become  irre- 
ligious, for  that  is  impossible,  but  that  his  religious  faculties  will  still 
continue  to  combine,  as  they  always  have  combined,  with  his  predo- 
minant propensities,  instead  of  with  his  feebler  intellect.  For  it  is  a 
fully  established  law  of  Phrenology,  that  large  organs  combine  in  ac- 
tion more  readily  and  powerfully  with  the  other  organs  that  are  large, 
than  with  those  that  are  smaller.  Man's  intellectual  lobe  being  usu- 
ally much  inferior  in  size  to  his  animal,  the  great  danger  is  that  his 
moral  faculties  will  still  continue  to  unite  with  his  propensities  ;  and 
hence,  that  he  will  still  make  his  religion  the  scape-goat  of  his  sins. 
Always  has  his  religion  been  the  servant  of  his  pride,  of  his  unbri- 
dled lusts,  of  his  sinful  passions.  It  continues  to  do  this.  So  thai 
his  religion,  designed  and  calculated  to  make  him  better,  actually 
makes  him  the  worse,  and  the  more  miserable.  But,  let  the  moral 
sentiments  combine  with  a  vigorous  and  an  unperverted  intellect,  in 
conjunction  with  a  healthy  organization,  and  incalculably  will  they 
ennoble,  adorn,  and  happify  mankind.  That  their  power,  both  for 
good  and  for  evil,  exceeds  all  computation,  is  evident  from  the  whole 
history  of  man,  as  well  as  from  the  nature  of  the  faculties  themselves. 

How  important,  then,  that  man  should  understand  his  moral  nature, 
and  obey  its  laws  !  In  common  with  every  other  department  of  his 
nature,  it  has  its  laAvs.  To  suppose  otherwise,  is  to  charge  God  fool- 
ishly, by  supposing  that  he  has  neglected  to  establish  the  dominion 
of  laws,  and  to  arrange  first  principles  in  one  of  the  most  important 
departments  of  the  nature  of  man.  With  this  neglect,  the  Almighty 
is  not  chargeable.  Of  the  benefits  resulting  from  the  establishment  of 
these  laws,  man  is  not  deprived.  So  far  therefrom,  fixed  laws,  im- 
mutable first  principles,  reign  supreme  in  this,  as  they  do  in  every 
other,  department  of  nature. 

Nor  are  these  laws  a  sealed  book  to  man.  They  are  not  locked  up 
from  his  moral  vision.  Like  the  glorious  sun  of  the  natural  day, 
they  were  made  to  rise  upon  every  son  and  daughter  of  creation, 
and  to  throw  a  clear  beam  of  light  and  truth  throughout  every  human 
soul.  Not  a  single  dark  corner  exists  but  is  capable  of  being  illumin- 
ed by  the  sun  of  moral  truth.    All  have  moral  eyes.  All  can  perceive 


171  MAN   A   MORAL   AND   RELIGIOUS   BEING.  17 

moral  truth.  All  can  follow  in  the  paths  of  morality  and  virtue.  None 
need  ever  stumble  upon  the  dark  mountains  of  error,  or  be  lost  in  the 
mist  of  superstition,  or  make  shipwreck  upon  the  rock  of  bigotry,  or 
be  swallowed  up  in  the  vortex  of  infidelity.  Moral  science  exists  as 
much  as  physical.  Moral  science  is  even  as  demonstrable  as  mathemati- 
cal or  anatomical,  or  any  other  science.  The  very  fact  that  man  has  a 
moral  nature,  is  prima  facie  evidence  that  nature  has  its  laws,  and  that 
those  laAvs  can  be  known  and  read  of  all  mankind.  To  suppose  that 
man  cannot  arrive  at  a  certain  knowledge  of  moral  and  religious 
truth,  is  to  suppose  that  the  Deity  has  sealed  or  blinded  the  eyes  Of 
man  touching  this  important  matter.  Who  believes  this?  No  one, 
surely.  All  men  can  com.e,  to  the  moral  light  of  our  nature.  Sectarian- 
ism need  not  exist.  It  should  not  exist.  Truth  is  the  sure  light. 
Truth  is  come-at-able,  to  use  a  common,  but  appropriate,  word. 
Error  in  this  matter  is  a  most  grievous  evil.  Moral  and  religious 
truth  is  most  desirable.  If  moral  laws  exist.  They  must  not  be 
violated.  They  must  be  obeyed.  They  may  be  known.  They  are 
not  a  candle  hid  under  a  bushel.  They  are  a  light  set  upon  an  hill. 
All  can  come,  should  come,  to  this  light,  and  be  saved  from  religious 
error  and  sin.  This  light  can  be  seen  afar  off,  even  unto  the  ends  ot 
the  earth,  and  by  all  flesh.  Diversity  of  religious  belief  or  prac- 
tice, need  not  and  should  not  exist.  Diversity  pre-supposes  error,  and 
the  greater  this  diversity,  the  greater  the  consequent  error.  And  the 
greater  this  error,  the  more  sinful,  the  more  unhappy,  the  subject  of 
that  error.  Sectarianism  has  no  excuse.  It  is  most  pernicious  ;  for 
errors  of  practice  grow  out  of  errors  in  belief.  And  the  greater  either, 
the  greater  the  other,  and  the  more  ruinous.  If  all  would  use  unbias- 
ed 7  easo'/t  along  with  their  moral  sentiments,  all  would  come  to  the 
same  results  ;  for,  truth  is  one,  and  always  consistent  with  itself  If 
men  would  only  employ  intellect  in  connexion  with  their  moral  na- 
ture, they  would  always  believe  right,  and  do  right,  and  be  perfect. 
Oh !  if  man  would  but  live  in  accordance  with  his  moral  constitution, 
how  holy,  how  happy,  would  he  be  !  Religious  errors,  and  dogmas 
would  disappear  like  the  morning  fog  before  the  rising  sun,  to  be  fol- 
lowed by  a  devotional  spirit,  and  a  virtuous  life.  But  now,  alas  !  we 
grope  our  way  in  the  midnight  of  superstition.  We  stumble  upon 
the  dark  mountains  of  error  on  the  one  hand,  while  on  the  other,  we 
plunge  headlong  into  the  miry  slough  of  superstition,  bigotry,  and 
zeal  without  knowledge.  And  most  sinful,  most  miserable,  does  this 
our  religious  nature,  render  us. 
2 


18  keligion:    naturai.  and  revealed,  172 

But,  light  is  breaking  in  upon  tlie  dark  mists  of  all  past  ages.  Ho, 
ye  who  would  return  from  your  wanderings  and  be  delivered  from 
your  thraldroms  and  your  errors,  follow  the  beacon  light  of  truth 
hoisted  by  Phrenology.  It  will  clear  up  all  difficulties.  It  will  solve 
all  moral  problems.  It  will  point  out  that  religion  which  harmonizes 
with  the  nature  of  man,  and  is  most  conducive  to  personal  happiness 
and  general  moral  purity.  For  it  is  self-evident — is  a  philosophical 
axiom — that  the  moral  nature  of  man  must  necessarily  be  in  perfect 
harmony  with  the  moral  government  of  God,  as  well  as  with  the 
moral  constitution  of  the  universe.  If,  therefore,  Phrenology  be  true, 
it  of  course  unfolds  the  moral  nature  of  man,  and,  consequently,  must 
be  in  perfect  harmony  therewith.  So  that,  on  the  principle  that  any 
two  things,  each  exactly  like  a  tliird,  are  therefore  like  each  other,  it 
follows  that  the  moral  doctrines  taught,  and  the  duties  inculcated,  by 
Phrenology,  must  harmonize  perfectly  with  the  moral  constitution  of 
the  universe ;  because  each,  by  supposition,  accords  with  the  nature  of 
man.  If  Phrenology  develope  and  harmonize  with  the  nature  of  man, 
(which  it  must  do  if  true,)  and  if  this  moral  nature  of  man  accord 
with  the  moral  constitution  of  things,  (which  it  must  do,  or  nature  will 
be  found  at  war  with  herself,)  then  Phrenology,  if  true,  must  neces- 
sarily harmonize  perfectly  with  the  moral  constitution  of  things.  And 
vice  versa.  So  that  the  moral  constitution  of  things,  the  moral  and 
religious  nature  of  man,  and  the  natural  theology,  the  moral  precepts, 
and  the  religious  teachings,  of  Phrenology,  must  each  harmonize  per- 
fectly with  all  the  others. 

And  what  is  more,  the  moral  constitution  of  the  universe,  and  the 
government  of  God,  must  of  course  each  harmonize  with  the  moral 
character  and  attributes  of  the  Deity,  as  well  as  with  his  natural 
kingdom.  Hence,  Phrenology,  if  true,  must  of  necessity  be  found  to 
harmonize  perfectly  with  the  moral  character,  attributes,  and  govern- 
ment of  the  great  Creator  and  Governor  of  the  universe.  And  if  the 
Bible  be  also  true,  its  doctrines,  too,  must  tally  exactly  with  those 
taught  by  Phrenology.  But,  if  it  be  untrue,  or,  as  far  as  it  is  erro- 
neous, will  this  science  expose  its  errors,  and  point  out "  a  more  excel- 
lent way."  If  the  original,  constitutional,  moral  nature  of  man,  as  point- 
ed out  by  Phrenology,  be  found  to  harmonize  with  the  Scriptures, 
they  are  confirmed  by  Phrenology,  and  derive  an  accession  of  evi- 
dence therefrom  which  no  sophist  can  evade,  or  skeptic  gainsay.  But 
if  they  clash,  then  are  they  building  their  hopes  of  immortality  upon  a 
lotten  foundation,  which  this  science  can  and  will  sweep  away.  In  other 
words ;  if  the  Bible  and  Phrenology  both  be  true,  the  moral  precepts 


173  EACH  KEQUIHES  THE  AID  OP  THE  OTHER.  19 

and  duties  inculcated  in  either,  will  harmonize  perfectly  with  those 
taught  in  the  other,  and  with  the  fundamental  principles  by  which  the 
universe  itself,  as  well  as  the  great  Creator  of  all  things,  are 
governed ;  but  if  either  be  erroneous,  it  will  conflict  with  the  other. 
Hence,  Christianity  has  nothing  to  fear,  but  every  thing  to  hope. 
If  it  be  built  upon  the  rock  of  truth,  it  will  be  confirmed  and  demon- 
strated. If  it  stand  on  a  sandy  foundation,  the  sooner  it  is  swept  from 
under  it,  the  better.  And  if  its  foundation,  like  the  feet  and  toes  of 
Nebuchadnezzar's  image,  be  partly  iron  and  partly  miry  clay — partly 
strong  and  partly  weak,  partly  true  and  partly  erroneous — we  here 
have  a  moral  touch-stone  by  which  to  try  and  test  every  moral  creed 
and  practice.  Let  us  embrace  it.  Let  all  study  its  principles  and 
follow  its  precepts,  and  they  will  be  the  better,  and  the  more  happy 
and  useful. 

If  it  be  objected,  that  the  Bible  is  already  an  unerring  moral  guide, 
and  a  perfect  standard  of  religious  faith  and  practice,  I  answer.  Then, 
why  does  every  religious  denomination  in  Christendom,  and  every 
member  of  every  religious  sect,  besides  multitudes  of  private  indivi- 
duals, all  claim  to  draw  their  peculiar  doctrines  and  practices  from 
the  Bible,  and  even  quote  Scripture  therefor,  and  that  though  their  dif- 
ference be  heaven  wide.  Do  not  Universalists  quote  chapter  and 
verse  as  plausibly  and  as  sincerely  to  prove  the  final  salvation  of  all 
men,  as  do  the  orthodox  in  proof  of  the  opposite  doctrine  that  some 
will  be  assigned  to  eternal  condemnation  ?  The  Unitarian  and  the 
Trinitarian  both  claim  to  prove  their  respective  but  conflicting  doc- 
trines each  to  the  perfect  satisfaction  of  himself  and  to  the  overthrow 
of  the  other,  from  the  same  Bible,  and  from  not  a  few  of  the  very  same 
texts.  The  Baptist  draws  his  doctrine  of  immersion  from  the  same 
Bible  from  which  sprinklers  draw  their  opposite  doctrine.  Contro- 
versies without  end  have  been  held,  and  volumes  Avithout  number 
written,  to  prove  and  to  disprove,  from  the  same  Bible,  doctrines  as  op- 
posite to  each  other  as  light  and  darkness,  or  heat  and  cold.  Nor  do 
the  schisms  of  the  Christian  churches  diminish.  Indeed,  they  are  in- 
creasing in  number,  and  Avidening  in  extent  continually.  Every  re- 
volving year  gives  birth  to  some  new  sect,  and  each  of  these  opposing 
sects  alone  claim  to  have  the  Bible  on  their  side,  and  give  it  as  autho- 
rity against  all  who  difl^er  from  them ;  and  from  the  same  pages  of 
the  same  Bible,  each  is  reading  himself  into  heaven,  and  all  who  dif- 
fer from  him,  into  perdition. 

Now,  if  the  Bible,  "  without  note  or  comment,"  be  an  all-sufficient 
guide  in  matters  of  religious  faith  and  practice,  why  this  religious  di- 


20  religion:    natural  and  revealed.  174 

versity  and  contention  ?  Why  does .  it  not  comfd  all  to  adopt  the 
same  doctrines  and  practices,  and  these  the  only  correct  ones?  If  ex- 
perinaent,  continued  for  four  thousand  years,  and  tried  in  all  ages  and 
by  a  vast  majority  of  Christendom,  can  prove  any  thing,  that  experi- 
ment, or,  rather,  its  total  failure,  and  that  too,  under  all  circumstances, 
has  proved  incontestibly,  that,  taking  man  as  he  is,  and  the  Bible  as 
it  is,  the  latter  is  not,  and  can  never  be,  the  all-sufficient  religious  guide 
and  standard  of  the  former.  Nor  is  it  possible  for  it  ever  to  be  so.  Not 
that  the  fault  is  in  the  Bible.  It  is  in  man.  But  the  Bible  requires  a 
hdp-vieet — something  to  accompany,  explain,  and  interpret  it,  as  well 
as  to  enforce  its  doctrines  and  precepts.  That  help-meet  is  to  be  found 
in  Phrenology.  This  science  gives  the  natural  constitution  of  man's 
moral  and  religious  nature.  That  constitution  is  right.  Whatever 
differs  from  it,  is  wrong.  Whatever  harmonizes  with  it,  is  right. 
Whatever  construction  may  be  put  upon  the  Bible,  not  in  strict  accord- 
ance with  that  nature,  is  a  wrong  construction.  Phrenology  covers 
the  same  ground  that  the  Bible  claims  to  cover — that  of  man's  moral 
nature.  Wherein  the  lines  of  the  two  run  parallel  to  each  other,  both 
are  correct.  But  wherein  the  Bible  is  so  construed  as  to  diverge  in 
the  least  from  Phrenology,  though  the  Bible  itself  may  be  right,  yet 
the  construction  put  upon  it,  is  wrong.  Hence,  with  the  book  of 
Phrenology  as  the  elements,  and  the  Bible  as  the  supplement,  of  reli- 
gion, it  is  to  decypher  out  what  is  true,  and  to  expose  what  is  errone- 
ous. Each  will  interpret  and  enforce  the  other,  and  the  two  together 
will  give  a  far  more  consistent  and  enlightened  view  of  the  true  reli- 
gion, and  of  correct  conduct,  than  either  could  do  alone,  as  well  as 
rectify  all  ignorant  or  bigoted  perversions  of  either. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark  in  this  connexion,  that  the  Bible  no  where 
attempts  to  prove  either  the  existence  of  a  God,  or  any  of  the  funda- 
mental triiths  of  natural  religion,  such  as  of  a  future  state,  or  the  exist 
ence  of  first  principles  of  right  and  wrong,  &c.  It  takes  these  mat- 
ters for  granted,  assuming  in  the  start,  that  man  already  admits  and 
understands  them.  This  is  fully  evinced  by  the  manner  of  its  com- 
mencement. It  opens  with  the  statement,  that  "In  the  beginning, 
God  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth,"  and  proceeds  to  tell  what  God 
said  and  did,  thus  presupposing  that  his  existence  is  already  admitted, 
and  his  attributes  understood.  I  do  not  now  recollect  a  single  argu- 
mentative attempt  to  prove  his  existence  throughout  the  whole  Bible. 
True,  David  breaks  forth  in  the  rapture,  "  The  heavens  declare  the 
glory  of  God,  and  the  earth  showeth  forth  his  handi-work,"  &c. ;  but 
this  is  only  an   exclamation  of  adoration  in  view  of  the  wonderous 


176  IMPORTANCE  OF  NATURAL  THEOLOGY.  21 

works  of  God,  not  an  argument  to  prove  his  existence.  Indeed,  the 
one  distinctive  object  of  Revelation,  seems  to  be  to  make  known  the  way 
of  salvation  hy  Christ,  not  to  prove  the  existence  or  attributes  of  God. 
The  latter  was  left  for  natural  theology — for  the  very  principles  we 
are  urging.  Modern  Christianity  makes  too  much  of  her  Bible,  by 
ascribing  to  it  more  than  it  claims,  or  was  ever  designed  to  accomplish. 
Christianity,  or  the  doctrines  of  the  Bible,  are  only  the  supplement  of 
religion,  while  natural  theology,  or  the  existence  of  a  God,  or  the  fun- 
damental principles  of  religion  to  be  presented  in  this  essay,  are  the 
foundation.  Revealed  religion  is  to  natural  reigion,  what  Algebra 
is  to  Arithmetic — what  the  foundation  is  to  the  superstructure,  or  the 
tree  to  its  roots.  The  latter  unfolds  the  moral  nature  of  man,  and 
with  it,  the  moral  constitution  of  the  universe  ;  the  former,  builds  on 
it  the  system,  doctrines,  and  conditions  of  salvation.  Now  the  true 
policy  of  Christians  should  be  to  give  to  natural  theology  all  the  im- 
portance that  really  belongs  to  it,  and  to  claim  no  more  for  Revelation 
than  it  claims  for  itself  It  nowhere  claims  to  be  the  whole  of  reli- 
gion. The  Bible  itself  maintains  that  the  nature  of  man  teaches 
him  natural  religion.  Thus :  "  Because  that  which  may  be  known 
of  God,  is  manifest  in  them."  "  For  the  invisible  things  of  him  from 
the  creation  of  the  world  are  clearly  seen,  being  understood  by  the 
things  that  are  made,  even  his  eternal  power  and  Godhead  ;  so  that 
they  are  without  excuse."  "  For  as  many  as  have  sinned  without  law, 
shall  also  perish  without  law :  and  as  many  as  have  sinned  in  the 
law,  shall  be  judged  by  the  law."  "  For  when  the  Gentiles,  which 
have  not  the  law,  do  by  nature  the  things  contained  in  the  law,  these 
having  not  the  law,  are  a  laAv  unto  themselves."  "  Which  shew  the 
work  of  the  law  written  in  their  hearts,  their  conscience  also  bearing 
witness,  and  their  thoughts  the  mean  while  accusing,  or  else  excusing 
one  another."  "And  shall  not  uncircurhci§ion  which  is  by  nature, 
if  it  fulfil  the  law,  judge  thee,  who  by  the  letter  and  circumcision  dost 
transgress  the  law?"  Rom.  c.  i.  &  ii.  And  before  the  great  truths  of 
Revelation  can  be  fully  enforced,  or  even  understood,  those  of  natural 
religion  must  be  studied.  And  this  is  the  great  error  of  the  Christian 
world.  They  make  the  Bible  the  Alpha  and  the  Omega,  the  all  and 
all  of  religion,  and  thrust  its  handmaid  and  twin  sister,  natural  the- 
ology, away  into  the  back  ground,  clear  down  out  of  sight  and  hear- 
ing, and  they  pay  the  forfeit  of  this  unholy  temerity  in  those  sectarian 
dogmas  which  now  disgrace  the  name  and  profession  of  Christianity. 
Take  natural  theology  along  as  an  interpreter  of  Revelation,  and  this 
religious  zeal  without  knowledge,  this  superstitious  bigotry  and  nar- 


22  ueligion:    natural  and  revealed.  176 

row-mindedness,  and  these  lame  and  distorted  religious  opinions  and 
practices,  which  now  dishonor  the  Christian  name,  and  degrade  man, 
and  exist  every  where  in  such  rich  abundance,  would  be  swept  from 
religion,  and  be  supplanted  by  moral  purity  and  correct  conduct. 
Millions  on  millions  of  works  on  didactic  and  sectarian  theology,  are 
pouring  forth  bigotry  and  sectarianism  from  the  teeming  press  in 
every  civilized  and  in  many  pagan  lands,  while  only  here  and  ther® 
one  on  natural  theology  is  published  or  read.  Paley's  "  Evidences  ' 
and  "Natural  Theology,"  Butler's  "Analogy."  Good's  "Book  of 
Nature,"  and  the  "  Bridgewater  Treatise,"  (each  of  which,  if  based  on 
Phrenology,  the  natural  basis  of  all  works  on  natural  theology,  would 
be  infinitely  more  valuable,)  with  Alcott's  "  The  house  I  live  in,"  con- 
stitute nearly  or  quite  all  the  valuable  works  on  natural  theology  ex- 
tant, and  yet  their  circulation  is  insignificant  compared  with  that  of 
some  party  religico-politico  works  on  some  creed  or  doctrinal  point. 
Witness  the  sale  of  Avorks  on  the  Puseyite  controversy.  No  works 
ever  sold  with  equal  rapidity  in  New-York.  And  yet,  every  man  of 
understanding,  ought  to  be  ashamed  to  give  a  moment's  attention  to 
the  points  in  discussion. 

Not  that  I  would  underrate  the  importance  of  the  study  of  the  Bible. 
But  I  would  exalt  the  study  of  natural  religion.  I  would  see  God, 
study  God,  in  clouds,  in  winds,  in  storms,  in  calms,  in  sunshine,  in 
darkness,  in  vegetation,  in  mineralization,  in  every  rill,  in  every  flow- 
er, in  every  tree,  and  bird,  and  beast,  and  thing  that  lives  or  is ;  and, 
above  all,  in  man,  anatomically,  physiologically,  and  phrenologically. 
I  would  make  natural  theology  the  basis  of  all  theology,  and  natural 
religion,  the  basis  of  all  religion.  I  would  teach  natural  religion  to 
children,  along  with  all  that  is  taught  them,  and  before  the  doctrines 
and  precepts  of  the  Bible  are  taught ;  and  for  the  same  reason  that  I 
would  teach  arithmetic  before  astronomy.     I  would  teach  them  to 

"  Look  through  Nature  up  to  Nature's  God.'' 

And,  afterwards^  would  teach  them  the  plan  of  Redemption  brought  to 
light  in  the  gospel.  They  cannot  understand,  they  cannot  appreci- 
ate, the  latter  till  they  have  studied  the  former.  And,  what  is  quite  as 
important,  the  human  mind  requires  somewhat  more  of  ^ wo/ than  it 
finds  in  the  Bible.  The  Bible  gives  us  its  i'pse  dixit  simply ;  but  the 
human  mind  requires  evidence — requires  to  understand  the  wTiy^  and 
the  wherefore^  and  the  philosophy,  of  that  which  it  receives.  That 
philosophy,  the  Bible  does  not  give ;  does  not  even  pretend  to  give. 
It  requires  belief  on  the  ground  of  a  "  Thus  saith  the  Lord,"  and 


177  IMTORTANCE   OF   NATURAL   RELIGION.  23 

there  leaves  it.  As  man  is  endowed  with  reason,  it  is  proper,  it  is 
imperative,  that  his  reason  be  satisfied.  He  will  reason.  He  should 
reaeon  And  natural  religion  will  give  him  his  fill  of  reason.  It  is 
all  reason,  and  reason  the  most  clear,  the  most  comprehensive,  the 
most  satisfactory.  Reason,  which,  while  it  exalts  and  fills  the  in- 
tellect, also  feasts  the  soul  with  the  most  sublime  ideas  of  God  it  can 
possibly  receive  or  contain.  And,  think  you,  that  infidelity,  and  irre- 
ligion,  and  impiety,  and  profanity,  would  stalk  abroad  thus  unblush- 
ingly,  if  natural  religion  were  taught  more,  and  taught  to  children? 
No,  never.  The  ideas  of  God  thus  inculcated,  would  be  too  sacred  to 
allow  them  ever  to  take  his  name  in  vain,  or  wantonly  to  break  his 
laws.  After  the  human  mind  has  studied  the  book  of  nature,  it  is 
prepared  to  turn  to  the  pages  of  the  Scriptures.  And  to  attempt  to 
teach  Bible  religion  before  natural  religion  is  taught,  is  to  plant  with- 
out preparing  the  ground — to  build  before  laying  the  foundation — ^to 
run  before  you  can  stand — or  to  be  a  man  before  you  are  a  child.  Nor 
can  any  thing  else  account  for  the  growing  impiety  of  the  age  ;  and 
that,  too,  in  the  very  teeth  of  those  mighty  religious  eiTorts  now  put 
forth,  de  fide  propaganda.  We  have  religious  teaching  enough,  but 
it  is  not  of  the  right  kind.  Enough  of  Sabbath  schools,  and  Bible 
classes,  and  preaching,  and  revivals,  but  not  of  the  right  character. 
We  require  more  philosophy,  in  which  to  base  it,  and  with  which  to 
enforce  it.  Phrenology  show^s,  that  all  the  other  faculties  must  be 
guided  and  governed  by  enlightened  intellect.  That  all  impressions 
made  upon  mankind,  to  be  either  permanent  or  useful,  must  be  made 
through  reason.  Nor  will  the  greatest  stickler  for  Revelation,  be  dis- 
posed to  question  the  great  point  I  now  urge — the  necessity  of  em- 
ploying reason  to  enforce  religion.  Still  less  will  he  maintain  that 
the  Bible  proves,  or  even  attempts  to  prove,  even  the  fundamentals  of 
religion,  much  less  its  details.  So  that  he  is  compelled  either  to  take 
natural  religion  along  with  his  Bible,  or  else  to  take  his  religion  along 
without  his  intellect. 

And,  surely,  no  field  within  the  range  of  human  inquiry  is  as  rich 
in  pure  philosophy,  as  religion.  None  more  deep  or  conclusive  in  its 
fundamental  principles ;  more  vast  or  variegated  in  the  pure,  unadul- 
terated truth  brought  to  light.  In  other  words :  The  moral  nature  of 
man  has  its  laws  equally  with  every  other  department  of  nature.  Its 
roots  strike  deep  into  the  constitution  of  the  human  mind.  Its  branches 
overshadow  no  slight  portion  of  that  nature.  Its  fruit  is  the  sweetest 
and  the  richest  borne  by  that  nature.  So  is  its  philosophy.  So  is  its 
morality.     Nor  was  this  tree  of  the  moral  nature  of  man  ever  design- 


24  religion:   natukal  and  revealed.  178 

ed  to  bear  the  thousands  of  different  and  conflicting  kinds  of  fruit  it 
now  bears.  Some,  bitter ;  some,  sour ;  some,  rotten ;  some,  green ; 
some,  hollow ;  some,  bloated  j  some,  shrivelled ;  some,  rank  poison. 
Little  healthy.  Most  of  it  injurious.  All  of  it  defective.  And  none 
of  it  fully  adapted  to  the  nature  of  man.  But  each  sect,  and  most  in- 
dividuals, have  cut  off  the  original  branch  or  twig,  on  which  they 
each  hang  their  souls,  and  engrafted  thereon  a  wild  scion,  whittled  out 
by  their  own  defective  or  depraved  religious  organization,  and  hang 
on  it,  fight  for  it,  die  on  it — sucking  to  the  last  the  poisonous  fruit  it 
bears,  and  rotting  in  every  limb,  every  joint,  with  the  moral  disease 
derived  therefrom.  Such  is  not  the  order  of  nature.  That  order  is, 
that  the  tree  of  natural  religion,  planted  by  the  God  of  heaven,  earth, 
and  man  in  the  soil  of  the  human  heart,  is  all  that  it  ought  to  be.  All 
that  it  can  be.  All  that  it  can  ever  be  made.  Bearing  fruit  inconceiva- 
ble in  abundance.  The  richest  possible  in  flavor.  The  most  nour- 
ishing possible  to  the  nature  of  man.  All  that  is  desired.  All  that  can 
be  required.  Filling  the  soul  to  its  utmost  capacity  with  an  exstacy  of 
joy  which  the  world  can  neither  give  nor  take  away.  The  original 
constitution  of  man  is  right.  It  is  all  that  even  God  could  make  it. 
Every  primary  faculty  is  all  that  it  ought  to  be ;  and,  the  whole  com- 
bined, surpass  in  excellence  all  the  rest  of  creation.  Man  is  the  last, 
the  greatest  work  of  God.  Man's  moral  nature,  is  the  last,  the  great- 
est, part  of  man.  Last  to  be  developed.  Last  to  die  on  earth ;  and  the 
heart,  the  centre,  of  his  immortality.  Nor  can  the  study  of  any  de- 
partment of  nature,  equal,  in  either  importance  or  beauty,  the  study 
of  that  nature.  Beauty  inimitable,  characterizes  every  joint ;  every 
muscle ;  every  physical  organ ;  every  propensity ;  every  element  of 
Man.  But  thou,  oh  I  thou  moral  nature  of  man,  "  excellest  them  all." 
They,  the  tree ;  thou,  the  fruit.  They,  the  subjects ;  thou,  the  queen. 
Perfect  in  every  feature.  Immaculate  in  every  part.  And  thy  face 
reflecting  the  image  of  thy  God.  If  we  may  not  see  God  and  live, 
yet  we  may  see  thee,  his  prototype,  in  whom  dwelleth  all  the  perfec- 
tions of  the  Divinity,  as  far  as  man  may  see  them. 

Metaphor  aside.  Whatever  man  can  know  of  God,  of  himself,  of 
any  thing,  he  must  know  through  his  faculties.  No  one  will  for  a 
moment  deny,  that  man  was  created  perfect  in  every  conceivable  re- 
spect. To  suppose  otherwise,  is  not  Bible ;  is  not  nature ;  is  not  truth. 
No  one  supposes  that  his  alleged  fall  took  away  any  original  moral 
element,  or  added  any  new  element  or  faculty  of  depravity.  This 
fall  could  onlj'  have  perverted  his  nature.  It  could  not  possibly  either 
add  or  destroy  one  jot  or  tittle  of  nature.     It  took  away  no  limb,  no 


179  THE   PEIMITIVE   CONSTITUTION   OF    MAN's    NATURE.  25 

muscle,  no  physical  organ.  It  added  no  phrenological  or  other  men- 
tal or  moral  faculty  or  power.  As  far  as  his  original  constitution 
was  concerned,  it  left  him  just  where  it  found  him.  It  simply  peo-- 
verted  his  nature,  but  did  not,  could  not,  change  its  original  ingredi- 
ents. They  are  what  they  were  in  the  beginning.  And  Phrenology 
tells  us  precisely  what  they  are  by  constitution.  It  puts  the  finger  of 
science  on  every  element  of  our  nature — animal,  intellectual,  moral. 
It  gives  us  both  the  warp  and  the  woof  of  that  nature.  Every  item 
of  it  separately.  All  of  it  collectively.  This,  none  will  deny  who 
admit,  what  this  work  presupposes  to  be  admitted,  namely,  that  Phre- 
nology is  true.  Hence,  in  telling  us  precisely  in  what  the  moral  na- 
ture of  man  consists,  it  reveals  all  the  doctrines,  all  the  practices,  that 
grow  on  that  nature.  That  are  adapted  to  that  nature.  That  that  nature 
teaches  or  requires.  Dispute  this,  and  you  charge  God  foolishly,  and 
show  your  own  incapacity  and  bigotry.  Allow  it,  and  you  allow  that 
that  nature  fully  known,  gives  us  a  knowledge  of  every  moral  duty, 
doctrine,  requirement.  That  obeyed,  we  should  obey  every  moral 
duty.  That  perfect,  in  development  and  in  action,  we  should  be  per- 
fect in  doctrine,  in  practice,  in  every  thing. 

^'  What,"  says  an  objector,  "  but  this  throws  the  whole  plan  of  sal- 
vation overboard."  Then  overboard  it  must  go.  "  It  does  away  with 
the  Bible.  It  does  away  with  the  Savior.  It  abrogates  the  Sabbath, 
It  sweeps  the  board  of  revealed  religion,  lengthwise,  breadthwise,  all 
wise."  Then,  must  the  Bible  be  done  away.  So  must  the  Savior, 
So  must  all  connected  therewith.  But,  this  is  not  my  logic.  It  is 
yours.  I  argue  thus : — The  fall  was  subsequent  to  the  nature  of  man. 
So  was  the  plan  of  salvation  by  Christ.  So  the  whole  paraphranalia 
of  accompanying  doctrines — all  the  doctrines  connected  with  that  sal- 
vation, or  growing  out  of  it.  They  are  extraneous,  to  the  nature  of 
man.  They  are  added  to  it  as  far  as  they  are  connected  with  it.  This 
is  clearly  the  doctrine  of  the  Bible.  Nothing  can  be  more  plain  or 
unequivocal  than  its  assertion  that  man  was  made  perfect  at  first.  He 
wa^  created  perfect.  His  original  constitution  was  perfection  itself. 
That  constitution.  Phrenology  unfolds.  It  reveals  it  all — every  shade, 
Every  phase.  Every  line.  Every  item.  It  teaches  every  doctrine 
man  needs  to  know-  Every  duty  he  is  required  to  perform.  Of 
course,  this  remark  excepts  every  doctrine  and  duty  connected  with 
the  fall.  And  if  man  will  but  fulfil  all  the  precepts,  and  obey  all  the 
requirements  of  his  original  nature — of  Phrenology — the  fall,  and  all 
its  effects,  will  pass  him  by.  He  will  need  no  Savior,  for  he  will  com- 


26  THE   FOUNDATION   OF   MAN's   MORAL   NATUPuE.  180 

mit  no  sin.     And,  by  consequence,  the  nearer  he  lives  up  to  that  na- 
ture, the  less  sinful,  and  the  more  holy  and  happy,  will  he  be. 

Intelligent  reader !  if  these  truths  run  athwart  any  of  thy  precon- 
ceived religious  views,  take  the  matter  coolly.  Go  over  the  ground 
again.  Scrutinize  the  bases  of  these  inferences.  Scrutinize  the  infer- 
ences themselves.  Give  reason  her  perfect  work.  Fear  not  for  the 
Bible.  Fear  not  for  Christianity.  Care  only  for  truth.  There  is  no 
danger  that  truth  will  ever  overthrow  either  Christianity  or  the  Bible. 
If  they  conflict  with  it,  let  them  go.  If  they  will  stand  the  test  of 
science,  all  well.  If  not,  surely  you  cannot  wish  to  build  your  eter- 
nal all  on  a  sandy  foundation.  Prove  all  things.  And  remember, 
that  the  moment  you  cast  overboard  the  chart  of  intellect^  and  the 
compass  of  reason,  you  are  left  completely  at  the  mercy  of  the  watery, 
windy  elements  of  mere  religious  feeling — are  carried  back  at  once 
to  paganism — to  idolatry.  The  very  fact,  that  the  reasoning  organs 
are  located  by  the  side  of  the  moral,  is  proof  positive  that  the  two  were 
designed  to  act  together.  Indeed,  he  who  will  not  reason  on  religion, 
cannot  and  should  not  know  or  enjoy  religion.  Why  reason  with  a 
man  who  says  in  the  start,  that  he  will  not  reason  ?  It  cannot  be  sup- 
posed, that  any  sensible  person  will  be  afraid  to  investigate  the  philo- 
sophy of  religion,  or  throw  away  the  unequivocal  deductions  of  reason, 
in  order  to  cling  to  preconceived,  but  erroneous,  doctrines.  Who- 
ever does,  let  them.     They  are  the  sinners  ;  they  the  sufferers. 

Let  not  the  preceding  be  construed  into  a  denial  of  the  fall  of  man, 
the  need  of  a  Savior,  and  the  doctrines  consequent  thereon.  I  am  per- 
suaded, that  the  reader  v/ill  find  them  confirmed  by  natural  religion,  as 
pointed  out  by  Phrenology,  and  analyzed  in  these  pages.  At  all  events, 
we  waive  these  points  for  the  present.  They  will  be  discussed  here- 
after. Our  object  now  is  simply  to  state  the  fundamental  truths  of  na- 
tural religion,  not  to  array  them  for  or  against  the  doctrines  of  the  Bi- 
ble. Nor  do  we  wish  to  place  them  above  the  Bible,  but  only  to  as- 
sign to  each  its  true  sphere  and  boundaries.  We  value  the  Bible. 
We  value  natural  religion.  "  These  things  ought  ye  to  have  done, 
but  not  to  have  left  the  other  undone."  We  require  both.  Neither, 
without  the  other.  Both,  with  the  other.  "  United,  we  stand ;  divid- 
ed, we  fall." 

In  view  of  these  premises,  what  can  be  more  interesting,  what 
more  important,  than  the  study  of  man's  moral  nature  and  relations  ? 
Standing,  as  they  do,  (in  connexion  with  reason,)  at  the  very  head  of 
nature,  the  subject  matter  of  no  study  can  equal  that  of  their  study. 
The  interest,  the  value,  the  importance,  of  any  study,  is  proportionate 


181  AVPE&l.   TO   THE   CANDID,  27 

to  the  elevation,  in  the  range  of  ereation,  of  the  subject  of  that  study. 
Thus :  to  study  vegetation,  its  qualities,  laws,  and  conditions,  together 
with  the  means  of  improving  it,  is  deeply  interesting  and  highly  im- 
portant, because  this  study  is  calculated  to  promote  human  happiness, 
both  in  the  intrinsic  interest  of  the  study  itself,  and  also  in  the  applica- 
tion of  the  truths  revealed  thereby  to  the  promotion  of  vegetation. 
So,  the  study  of  mineralogy,  geology,  geography,  astronomy,  mathe- 
matics, &c.,  are  interesting  in  themselves,  and  the  truths  they  teach 
are  highly  beneficial  in  their  application  to  the  promotion  of  general 
happiness.  So,  the  study  of  chemistry,  is  both  deeply  interesting, 
and  capable  of  being  applied  perhaps  as  extensively  as  any  of  the 
above-named  sciences,  to  the  promotion  of  human  happiness.  So,  the 
study  of  natural  history — of  birds,  animals,  and  whatever  lives  and 
moves — is  still  more  interesting  and  important ;  because  living  matter 
is  employed  for  a  higher  purpose,  and  has  expended  upon  its  construc- 
tion and  laws  a  greater  amount  of  Divine  wisdom  and  goodness,  than 
is  shared  by  inanimate  matter.  These  laws,  also,  are  quite  analogous 
to  those  that  govern  man ;  so  that  the  study  of  living  things,  teaches 
us  many  a  useful  lesson  as  to  the  laws  that  govern  our  own  nature 
and  open  into  a  field  so  near  home  that  we  can  gather  from  it  many  a 
rich  scientific  boquet  of  beautiful  flowers  ;  many  a  golden  apple  of 
truth  to  gratify  our  taste,  and  to  impart  health  and  strength  to  us  as 
we  pass  on  through  life.  So,  also,  the  study  of  man  physically — of 
the  wonderful  mechanical  arrangements  of  bones,  muscles,  joints, 
tendons,  &c. — -of  the  heart,  lungs,  stomach,  eyes,  head,  brain,  (fee. — is 
still  more  interesting  and  important ;  first,  because  its  subject  matter, 
(man),  is  more  important  than  the  subject  matter  of  any  of  the  other 
studies ;  and,  secondly,  because  it  opens  up  richer  mines  of  truth,  the 
application  ol  which  is  every  way  calculated  to  augment  human  hap- 
piness, more  than  any  of  the  other  studies  yet  named. 

But,  it  is  the  study  of  man's  immortal  mind — of  his  elements  of 
feeling  and  intellect — ^which  constitutes  the  climax  of  all  studies,  both 
as  to  the  intrinsic  interest  connected  with  its  subject  matter,  and  as  ta 
the  great  and  glorious  truths  revealed  thereby.  The  study  of  appetite— 
of  food,  nutrition,  the  effects  of  different  kinds  of  food,  and  times  of 
taking  it,  and  their  respective  influences  on  intellect  and  feeling,  as 
well  as  of  the  best  way  of  so  nourishing  the  body  as  to  prepare  it  in 
the  best  possible  manner  for  experiencing  enjoyment,  and  promoting  the 
pleasurable  action  of  mind — of  the  acquiring  propensity,  the  objects 
on  which  it  should  be  expended,  the  conditions  of  right  and  wrong  as 
to  property,  bargains,  dues,  &c.,  and  this  whole  subject  of  acquisition. 


28  man's  moe-al  nature  and  relations.  182 

— of  man's  social,  connubial,  parental,  filial,  and  political  relations, 
and  all  that  class  of  duties  and  relations  consequent  thereon  ;  as  well 
as  of  resistance,  fear,  character,  praise-worthiness,  and  shame,  and 
every  thing  connected  with  the  commendable  and  disgraceful, — rise 
still  higher  in  the  scale  of  interest  and  value,  both  as  a  study  and  as 
to  the  sublime  philosophical  truths  elicited  thereby.  Still  more  im- 
portant, still  more  useful,  is  the  study  of  intellect,  of  reason,  of  mental 
philosophy. 

But,  since  the  moral  nature  and  relations  of  man  stand  at  the  head  of 
man's  nature,  its  equal  and  twin  sister,  reason  alone,  always  excepted, 
it  follows,  that  the  proper  study  of  man's  moral  nature  and  relation — of 
religion,  theology,  duty,  religious  doctrines,  precepts,  and  practices — 
stands  at  the  head  of  all  other  subjects  of  study,  both  as  to  subject  mat- 
ter^  and  as  to  the  practical  utility  of  such  studies.  From  this  study 
alone  it  is,  that  we  can  learn  the  most  sublime  philosophical  truths, 
and  those  the  most  practical  which  it  is  possible  for  God  to  teach,  or 
man  to  know.  Though  this  study  is  not  the  substitute  of  all  other 
knowledge,  yet  it  is  the  crowning  excellence  of  every  other.  The 
grand  focus  to  which  all  others  tend.  The  great  mirror  of  nature, 
which  reflects  not  alone  all  that  is  beautiful  and  perfect  in  nature,  but 
even  God  himself,  in  all  his  beauty  ;  in  all  his  glory  !  If  man  but 
understand  and  obey  the  laws  and  requisitions  of  his  moral  nature, 
and  those  only,  he  will  be  more  virtuous  and  happy  than  if  he  under- 
stand and  obey  those  of  any  other  single  department  of  his  nature. 
But,  if  he  violate  these,  he  will  be  rendered  more  sinful  and  miserable 
than  he  coiiid  by  violating  any  other.  To  know  them,  is  the  very 
perfection  of  knowledge.  To  obey  them,  the  climax  of  virtue.  To 
violate  them,  the  quintescence  of  vice. 

Will  ye,  then,  Christians,  infidels,  and  neutrals,  one  and  all,  give  a 
listening  ear,  a  reasoning  mind,  and  unbiased  feelings,  to  the  sublime 
moral  truth  and  precepts  unfolded  by  Phrenology,  and  then  to  a  com- 
parison of  them  with  those  of  Revelation.  And  ye  who  are  prejudic- 
ed, "  strike,  but  hear}''  I  shall  doubtless  cross  the  track  of  many,  and 
offend  nearly  ail ;  but  wait,  and  "  think  on  these  things"  one  whole 
year,  pondering,  point  by  point,  and  then  "  receive  the  good  into  ves- 
sels, but  cast  the  bad  away."  Few  agree  in  matters  of  religious  faith 
and  practice  ;  therefore  most  are  necessarily  in  error.  Yet  all  think 
they  are  right,  and  are  positive  that  all  who  differ  from  them,  are 
wrong.  Who,  then,  will  take  it  upon  himself  to  assert  that  he.  alone 
is  right,  and  that  all  the  world  besides  is  wrong?    What  candid  mind 


182  THE    FOUNDATION   OF   M^VN's    MORAL   NATTJUE.  29 

bnt  Avill  rather  say :  I  onay  also  be  in  error,  and  will  examine  care- 
fully, and  judge  impartially. 

Taking  Phrenology  for  our  religious  chart  and  compass,  then,  let  us 
set  sail  on  our  moral  exploring  expedition,  and  see  to  what  religious  ha- 
ven it  may  conduct  us — whether  into  the  angry  waters  of  sectarian 
contention  and  recrimination,  or  into  the  peaceful  and  delightful  haven 
of  truth,  and  the  promised  land,  fruitful  in  happiness,  and  abounding 
in  every  virtue. 

SECTION  II. 

THE   FOtTNDATION   OF    MAN's    MORAL   AND    RELIGIOUS   NATURE. 

As  already  seen,  man  is  created  with  a  moral  nature.  He  has  a 
moral  constitution.  He  cannot,  therefore,  be  otherwise  than  moral 
and  religious.  As  well  live  without  air,  or  food,  or  life,  as  live  with- 
out moral  sentiments  of  some  kind,  and  religious  practices  of  some  sort ; 
because  they  are  just  as  much  a  part  of  his  constitution  as  reason,  or 
appetite,  or  affection,  or  breathing.  Nor  can  he  live  without  them 
any  more  than  without  a  stomach  or  a  brain.  This  fact  is  set  com- 
pletely at  rest  by  Phrenology.  This  science  shows,  that  his  moral 
feelings,  his  religious  susceptibilities,  are  not  creatures  of  education ; 
are  not  temporary  and  liable  to  fluctuation ;  but  that  they  constitute  a 
very  considerable  part  and  parcel  of  his  original  nature.  It  shows 
that  a  large  section  of  the  brain  is  set  apart  exclusively  for  the  exer- 
cise of  the  moral  and  religious  feelings.  And  this  shows,  that  he  has 
corresponding  moral  and  religious  faculties^  or  primary  elements  of 
mind,  the  spontaneous  action  of  which  both  constitutes  and  renders 
him  a  moral  and  religious  being. 

If  this  question  be  pushed  back  another  step.  If  it  be  asked,  what 
is,ih.e  foundation  of  ma.n^s  moral  naXniel  In  what  is  it  based ?  What 
relation  do  these  moral  faculties  hold  to  the  nature  of  things  7  In 
what  do  these  moral  elements  consist  ?  What  lies  at  the  entire  bottom 
of  that  nature  ?  In  what  does  this  religious  nature  originate  1  And 
what  are  its  relations  to  the  nature  of  things  %  What  is  its  rationale  ? 
I  answer:  The  same,  precisely,  that  causality  holds  to  the  laws  and 
causes  of  things.  The  same  that  the  construction  and  constitution  of 
the  eye  does  to  light  and  the  principles  of  vision.  The  same  that 
Amativeness  does  to  the  existence  of  the  sexes  and  the  propagation  of 
the  race.  The  same  that  Parental  love  does  to  the  infantile  state. 
The  Same  that  any,  every  phrenological  organ  and  faculty  do  to  their 


30  THE  PRIMITIVE   CONSTITDTIO!^    OP   Man's  NATURE.  184 

counterpart,  or  to  that  to  which  they  are  adapted.  Thus :  An  origi- 
nal arrangement  in  the  nature  of  man,  requires  that  he  partake  of 
food.  Hence,  adapted  to  this  constitutional  arrangement  and  requisi- 
tion for  food,  he  is  created  with  the  faculty  and  organ  of  Alimentive- 
ness  or  appetite. 

On  this  eating  basis  of  man's  nature,  grow  all  those  laws,  conditions, 
requirements,  pleasures,  pains,  &c.,  connected  with  eating,  or  de- 
pendent thereon,  or  affected  thereby.  Is  it  difficult,  in  this  view  of 
the  subject,  to  see  what  is  the  foundation^  the  rationale  of  appetite  ? 
It  is  so,  that  man  requires  to  lay  up  for  future  use  a  supply  of  food, 
clothing,  and  various  necessaries  of  life.  Hence  the  existence  of  the 
facuhy  of  acquisitiveness,  and  of  its  organ  and  relations.  Nor  will 
any  one  dispute  the  self-evident  inference,  that  all  the  functions,  laws, 
benefits,  evils — -all  that  can  be  said,  all  that  there  is,  all  that  there 
can  be,  touching  appetite,  touching  property,  is  based  in,  grows  out 
of,  this  primitive,  constitutional  adaptation  of  the  nature  of  man  to 
eating,  or  to  acquiring.  It  being  the  nature  of  man  to  eat,  there  are 
CQxiixin  conditions  of  eating  ;  some  beneficial,  others  injurious  ;  some 
in  harmony  with  its  constitutional  relations,  and  others  in  opposition 
thereto.  And  that  out  of  these  constitutional  relations,  grow  all  that 
is,good  and  bad,  virtuous  and  vicious,  right  and  wrong,  of  eating.  So 
of  acquiring.  So,  also,  it  is  so,  that  individual  things  exist,  and  that 
it  becomes  necessary  for  man  to  talie  cognizance  of  these  things. 
To  enable  him  to  do  this,  he  is  endowed  with  the  faculty  and  organ  of 
individuality,  the  constitutional  tendency  of  which  is  action  ;  and  this 
action  brings  to  liis  notice  those  things  which  it  is  necessary  for  him  to 
observe.  And  every  thing  connected  with  these  things,  or  dependent 
thereon,  has  its  foundation  and  counterpart  in  this  constitutional 
existence  and  function  of  individuality.  In  these  relations,  consist  the 
rationale  of  this  faculty,  and  of  all  connected  therewith.  It  is  so, 
that  man  enters  the  world  in  a  condition  so  utterly  helpless,  that  help 
of  some  kind,  assistance  from  some  quarter,  must  be  had.  Otherwise 
all  children  must  die,  and  our  race  soon  become  extinct.  Hence  the 
rationale,  the  fundamental  basis,  of  philoprogenitiveness.  Nor  will 
it  be  disputed  for  a  moment,  that  all  the  relations  of  parents  as  pa- 
rents,  to  their  children  aschildren,  grow  out  of  this  constitutional  ex- 
istence, function,  and  adaptation  of  this  faculty  to  its  counterpart. 
And  all  that  we  have  to  do  for  our  children,  or  to  them,  or  with  them, 
is  simply  to  do  what  the  constitutional  function  of  this  faculty,  pro- 
perly  developed  and  enlightened,  would  do,  or  requires  should  be  done. 
So  the  element  of  beauty  exists.     Some  things  are  beautiful ;  oth- 


185  THE   PRIMITIVE    CONSTITUTION    OF   MAN's   MORjVL   NATURE,  31 

ers  are  the  opposite.  And  if  it  be  asked,  what  is  the  nature  of  beau- 
ty— what  is  its  rationale  1  the  answer  is  ready — is  perfectly  simple. 
It  is  this.  It  is  so  constituted,  so  it  is,  that  the  condition  or  quality 
of  beauty  appertains  necessarily  to  things.  Adapted  to  this  exist- 
ence of  beauty,  man  is  created  with  the  faculty  of  ideality,  the  pri- 
mitive  function  of  which  is  to  appreciate  and  admire  this  element  of 
nature.  And  all  is  so  arranged,  that  this  faculty  acts  spontaneously 
in  the  perception  and  admiration  of  this  beauty,  whenever  it  is  pre- 
sented, and  wherever  it  can  be  found.  And  what  is  more — what  is 
most — all  that  can  be  known  or  conceived  of  beauty,  is  what  this 
faculty  teaches.  Fully  to  understand  the  whole  nature  of  this  facul- 
ty, is  to  know  all  that  can  be  known,  all  that  is,  of  this  beauty.  And 
this  knowledge  would  give  us  a  perfectly  full  and  correct  estimate  of 
all  the  conditions,  all  the  qualities,  all  the  degrees,  all  of  every  thing 
connected  with  beauty.  We  need  to  know  nothing  more,  we  can 
know  nothing  more,  of  beauty,  than  that  constitutional  nature  of  it 
which  this  faculty  unfolds.  I  am  aware  that  this  is  deep.  But  I 
trust  it  is  also  plain.  It  goes  down  to  the  last  round  of  the  ladder 
of  things.  There  is  but  one  thing  below  it — that  on  which  this  lad- 
der rests,  to  Avhich  we  shall  come  presently. 

Similar  illustrations  of  the  foundation,  the  basis,  the  constitutional- 
ity, the  rationale  of  things,  might  be  drawn  from  each  of  the  other 
faculties.  But  the  principle  aimed  at,  the  thought  presented,  is  now 
clear ;  sufficiently  so  at  least  to  enable  us  to  descry  the  bottom, 
the  fundamental  principle,  of  man's  moral  nature.  That  applica- 
tion is  this.  It  so  is,  that  man  suffers  and  enjoys.  And  it  also  so 
is,  that  mankind  can  both  promote  the  enjoyment,  and  enhance  the 
sufferings,  of  mankind.  Hence  the  existence  of  benevolence.  Its 
adaptation,  its  rationale  is,  to  promote  human  happiness,  and  pre- 
vent human  suffering.  This  is  its  foundation,  its  beginning,  its  end, 
its  constitutionality,  its  all  and  all.  And  every  thing  there  is 
about  benevolence — every  thing  appertaining  to  the  way  in  which  it 
should  be  exercised,  to  what  are,  and  what  are  not,  fit  objects  of  its  ex- 
ercise, to  its  degrees,  its  kinds ;  to  punishment,  here  or  hereafter — 
every  thing  connected  with  this  element,  depends  upon  the  primary 
function,  the  constitutional  arrangement  of  this  faculty.  When  we 
know  fully  the  rationale  of  this  faculty,  in  all  its  ramifications  and 
modifications,  we  shall  know  all  that  can  be  known,  all  that  w, 
concerning  this  faculty ;  its  duties,  its  requirements,  its  rights,  its 
wrongs,  and  every  thing  any  way  related  to  this  whole  class  of 
man's  nature  or  relations.     In  other  words,  the  complete  phrenologi- 


32  THE   FUNDAMENTAL   BASIS    OF   MAN's   MORAL   NATURE.  186 

cal  analysis  of  this  faculty  will  tell  us  all  that  is,  all  that  can  be, 
concerning  this  entire  department  of  the  nature  of  man,  and  all  its 
dependencies. 

So  of  veneration.  It  so  is,  that  man  worships,  just  as  it  so  is, 
that  he  eats  and  sleeps.  He  worships  a  Supreme  Being.  He  is  so 
constituted.  He  cannot  do  otherwise,  any  more  than  he  can  do  oth- 
erwise than  eat,  or  sleep,  or  die.  And  when  we  know  all  that 
Phrenology  can  tell  us  concerning  this  faculty,  we  shall  know  all 
that  is  (at  least  all  that  is  to  us,)  concerning  the  worship  of  a 
God.  All  that  can  be  known  of  times,  places,  and  modes  of  this  wor- 
ship. All  that  can  be  known,  all  that  is,  concerning  its  frequency, 
its  character,  and  its  effects.  All  that  it  is  possible  for  man  to  know 
concerning  the  existence,  character,  attributes,  works,  and  govern- 
ment of  this  Being.  In  short,  man's  whole  duty  touching  this  en- • 
tire  department  of  his  nature.  So  of  conscientiousness.  This  facul- 
ty exists.  Its  rationale,  its  fundamental  principle,  is  exactly  on  a 
footing  with  that  of  appetite,  and  acquisition,  and  parental  love,  and 
the  beautiful,  &c.,  as  already  seen.  That  foundation  is,  the  consti- 
tutional arrangement  of  right  and  wrong,  of  holiness  and  sin,  per  se. 
And  when  we  know  all  that  Phrenology  can  teach  us  of  this  faculty 
— of  the  conditions  of  its  action,  of  its  combination  in  action,  of  its  dic- 
tates, its  requirements,  and  its  nature, — we  shall  know  all  that  man 
can  know  as  to  what  is  right  and  wrong,  good  and  bad,  sinful  and 
holy.  All  that  can  be  known  of  duty,  of  penitence,  of  pardon,  of  re- 
wards, of  punishments,*  natural  and  artificial,  and  of  every  thing, 
little  and  great,  connected  with  this  whole  department  of  the  nature 
of  men.  Similar  remarks  will  apply  to  hope  and  a  future  state.  To 
marvellousness,  and  a  world  of  spirits,  spiritual  monitions,  impres- 
sions, existences,  &c.  But,  as  to  present  a  few  of  these  relations  of 
the  faculties  to  their  counterpart,  is  to  constitute  the  main  body  of 
the  work,  they  will  not  be  enlarged  upon  here.  Thus  much  has 
been  given,  because  it  was  deemed  necessary  to  explore  the  founda- 
tion of  morals  and  religion,  before  we  began  to  examine  the  super- 
structure. Nor  have  I  ever  before  seen  a  successful  attempt  to  go 
back  to  the  beginning  of  the  moral  and  religious  nature  of  man,  and 

•  Benevolence  was  also  said  to  teach  us  all  about  punishment.  Let  me  ex 
plain.  I  do  not  mean  that  the  function  or  knowledge  of  either  of  these  organs 
singly,  without  reference  to  their  combinations  and  other  relations,  will  do  this. 
I  mean  that  all  which  canbeknown  of  benevolence  in  combination  with  conscien- 
tiousness, and  all  the  other  organs,  and  every  thing  else  bearing  on  it,  will  do 
this.     So  of  conscientiousnes.    So  of  all  the  other  faculties. 


187  MAN   CONSTITUTIONALLY   MORAL   AND   RELIGIOUS.  83 

the  reader  is  earnestly  solicited  to  become  thoroughly  master  of  this 
point  before  he  proceeds.  Re-perusal  and  mature  reflection,  it  will 
certainly  require.  But  give  them.  The  subject  itself  will  repay  you. 
So  will  the  great  truth  unfolded.     So  will  subsequent  pages. 

It  was  promised  above,  to  go  still  one  step  lower  down  into  the  bot- 
tom of  the  subject — to  the  very  bottom  of  its  bottom.  And  that  bot- 
tom of  the  bottom,  is  the  happiness  enjoyed  in  the  right  exercise  of 
these  moral  faculties.  What  is  the  reason  of  the  existence  of  any 
and  every  faculty  of  man  ?  What  the  cause  of  this  cause  ?  The 
sub-stratum  of  all  ?  It  is  to  render  man  happy  in  the  exercise  of 
each.  Thus,  as  philoprogenitiveness  is  based  in  the  infantile  condi- 
tion of  man,  this  infantile  condition  is  based  in  the  happiness  of  both 
children  and  parent.  As  appetite  is  based  in  that  arrangement  of 
man's  nature  which  requires  food,  this  arrangement  itself  is  based  in 
the  happiness  of  man.  As  ideality  is  based  in  the  constitutional  ex- 
istence  of  the  beautiful,  this  existence  is  based  in  the  happiness  its 
exercise  confers  on  man.  So  of  each  of  the  moral  faculties.  The 
reason  of  the  rationale  of  benevolence,  is,  that  its  exercise  is  condu- 
cive to  the  best  interests  of  man.  But  as  this  has  been  fully  shown 
in  the  first  chapter  of  the  author's  work  on  Education,  it  need  only 
be  stated  here,  not  exemplified. 

And  now,  reader,  being  at  the  bottom  of  this  whole  subject,  let 
us  commence  our  ascent,  that  we  may  examine,  step  by  step, 
piece  by  piece,  individually  and  collectively,  all  the  constituent 
vessels  and  portions  of  this  wonderful  temple  of  the  moral  and  re- 
ligious  nature  and  constitution  of  man. 

SECTIOJf  III. 

THE   LOCATION   OF   THE   MORAL   ORGANS,    AND   GENERAL   REFLECTIONS 
ON   THEIR   FACULTIES. 

As  already  implied,  though  not  yet  presented  with  sufficient 
clearness  and  force.  Phrenology  renders  the  great  truth  demon- 
strative and  certain,  that  man  is  both  a  moral  and  a  religious  being, 
and  that  by  creation^  by  original  constitution.  It  shows  that  this 
religious  tendency  before  mentioned,  is  not  wholly  the  creature  of 
education,  or  habit,  but  of  the  spontaneous  action  of  his  primary 
elements.  The  demonstration  of  this  point  is  all  important.  It  should 
not  be  left  at  loose  ends.  Nor  is  it.  No  one  who  admits  the 
truth    of  Phrenology,   can  for  a  moment  deny  the  therefore,  that 


34  MAN   CONSTITUTIONALLY  MORAL   AND  RELIGIOUS,  18S 

man  is  constitutionally  moral  and  religious — so  by  creation,  not 
merely  by  education  or  habit.  This  truth  is  inseparable  from  this 
science.  It  is  not  necessary — it  is  too  plain,  too  self-evident  to  re- 
quire  any  thing  more  than  the  mere  statement — that  the  admission 
of  the  truth  of  this  science,  necessarily  brings  along  wiih  it  an  ad- 
mission that  man  has  moral  organs  and  faculties,  and  is  therefore 
a  moral  and  a  religious  being.  The  existence  of  this  moral  na- 
ture  of  man,  constitutes  a  part  and  parcel  of  Phrenology.  Since, 
therefore,  this  work  proceeds  upon  the  supposition  that  this  science 
is  true,  and  since  the  admission  of  the  truth  of  this  science  implies 
and  accompanies  the  admission  of  the  moral  organs  and  faculties, 
the  very  existence  merely  of  which  both  constitutes  and  proves  man 
a  moral  being,  it  is  no  more  necessary  to  argue  this  point  than,  the 
truth  of  arithmetic  being  admitted,  it  is  necessary  to  prove  by  ar- 
gument  that  two  and  three  make  five  ;  or  the  existence  of  the  eyes 
being  admitted,  it  is  necessary  to  prove  that  man  is  a  seeing  being  ; 
or  the  existence  of  the  reasoning  faculty  in  man  being  admitted,  it  is 
necessary  to  support,  by  facts  and  arguments,  the  fact  already  and  by 
supposition  admitted. 

Another  preliminary  remark.  Religion  being  constitutional,  it 
must  have  its  laws,  and  be  governed  by  its  first  principles. 
There  are  three  important  phrenological  principles  that  bear  on 
this  point,  which  require  elucidation  here.  The  first  is,  the  physical 
position  of  the  moral  organs  ;  the  second,  their  size  ;  and  the  third, 
their  function,  relatively,  as  to  the  animal  propensities  and  intellect. 

First.  The  fact  is  worthy  of  remark,  merely  as  a  fact — as  a 
beautiful  illustration  of  the  adaptation  of  the  location  of  organs  to 
their  function — as  well  as  teaching  us  an  important  lesson  touching 
their  function,  that  the  moral  organs  occupy  the  whole  of  the  top  of 
the  head.  This  denotes  the  elevation  of  their  function.  No  one  will 
fail  to  observe,  that  organs  are  higher  and  higher  in  the  body,  the 
more  important  and  elevated  their  function.  Thus  the  feet  are  the 
menials  of  the  body,  and  accordingly,  are  placed  at  the  bottom  of  all, 
because  they  are  the  servant  of  all,  and  because  they  can  discharge 
their  appropriate  function  there  better  than  if  placed  any  where  else. 
So,  the  organs  of  the  abdomen  are  still  more  serviceable,  still  more 
essential  to  life,  and  productive  of  a  still  higher  order  and  more  ex- 
alted quality  of  happiness,  than  the  feet.  But  they  perform  a  func- 
tion less  essential  to  life,  and  less  exalted,  than  the  stomach,  lungs, 
and  heart,  situated  higher  up,  and  as  high  up  as  they  can  well  be, 
and  yet  be  contained  within  the  body.     But  the  head  is  the  highest 


189  religion:    natxhial  and  revkaled.  35 

of  all,  and  its  function — the  function  of  mind,  of  feeling,  intellect, 
reason — is  the  highest  function  of  the  nature  of  man,  as  well  as  the 
most  pleasurable  or  painful.  And  then,  too,  different  sections  of  the 
brain,  perform  functions  still  more  elevated,*  still  more  pleasuraWe, 
if  pleasurable  at  all,  still  more  painful,  if  painful,  in  proportion  as 
they  are  located  higher  and  still  higher  up  in  the  head.  Thus, 
suppose  a  woman  to  be  endowed  with  as  much  of  affection,  relatively, 
as  Webster  is  of  intellect.  Though  we  should  honor  her,  yet  this 
quality  could  not  command  as  high  a  meed  of  praise,  or  be  as  exten- 
sively useful  to  mankind,  as  the  talents  of  a  Webster,  if  properly  di- 
rected, are  capable  of  becoming.  So,  let  two  men  be  each  equally 
remarkable,  the  one  for  high-toned  moral  feeling  and  conduct,  the 
other,  for  libertinism,  or  gluttony,  or  any  animal  propensity,  and  we 
honor  the  moral  man  more  than  the  sensualist.  It  is  the  constitution 
of  man  so  to  do.  It  is  not  possible  fov  a.  well-organized  mind  to  do 
otherwise.  A  similar  comparison  of  any  of  the  upper  faculties  and 
organs  with  any  of  the  lower,  will  be  productive  of  the  same  results. 
This  point  has  been  fully  presented  in  the  Phrenological  Journal, 
Vol.  vi.  No.  1,  Art.  II.,  and  requires  only  to  be  stated,  certainly  not 
to  be  argued. 

This  truth  once  admitted,  and  the  relative  importance  of  the  moral 
faculties  rises  to  the  superlative  degree,  and  assumes  the  front  rank 
in  the  nature  of  man,  having  by  their  side,  and  on  a  par  with  them- 
selves, the  reasoning  intellect,  but  eclipsing  every  other  element  in 
the  nature  of  man.  They  become  the  natural  governors  of  man. 
They  exercise  the  very  highest  functions  of  his  nature — the  throne 
of  the  kingdom  of  man.  They  ally  man  to  his  Maker,  giving  him 
the  same  kind  of  excellence  as  that  possessed  by  the  great  Giver  of 
every  good  and  perfect  gift,  and  differing  from  him  in  this  respect 
only  in  degree  of  function,  and,  therefore,  of  glory.  So,  also,  their 
exercise  renders  him  incomparably  more  happy  than  the  proportion- 
ate exercise  of  any  animal  pleasure.  Who  does  not  feel  more  exalt- 
ed pleasure  in  the  doing,  as  well  as  from  having  done,  a  benevolent 
act,  than  in  eating,  or  in  having  eaten  a  hearty  meal  ?     Who  does 

•  If  I  am  asked  what  it  is  that  constitutes  one  function  more  elevated  than 
another,  I  answer,  the  amount  of  happiness  produced  thereby.  And  this  amount 
is  governed  by  two  conditions  ;  the  one,  the  quantify  of  function;  the  other,  its 
quality,  or  the  purity,  and  the  sweetness  of  the  pleasure  afforded.  Thus ;  let  a 
man  exercise  an  equal  degree  of  appetite  and  of  conscience,  and  he  will  be  ren- 
dered more  happy  by  the  latter  than  by  the  former,  besides  also  feeling  that  the 
quality  of  the  pleasure  afforded  by  the  latter  is  more  exquisite,  more  rich,  more 
desirable  every  way,  than  that  of  the  former. 


36  Man's  moral,  nature  and  relations.  190 

not  feel  a  higher  order  of  pleasure,  as  well  as  a  greater  degree  of  it, 
in  the  exercise  of  justice^  and  from  the  reflection  of  having  done 
right,  than  in  the  mere  acquisition  of  property,  or  in  the  exercise  of 
anger,  or  cunning,  or  from  having  exercised  them  ?  Need  this  point 
be  further  enforced  ?  Does  not  every  well-constituted  mind  yield  a 
cordial  assent  to  it  ?  Is  it  not  self-evident  ?  A  moral  axiom,  even  ? 
Not  the  offspring  of  habit,  but  of  constitution  ?  Not  taught,  but  felt^ 
inherent,  an  original  arrangement  of  our  nature  ? 

This  harmonizes  beautifully  with  the  fact  that  the  moral  organs 
occupy  a  large  amount  of  brain.  It  is  a  law  of  Phrenology,  and,  in- 
deed also,  of  Physiology,  that  the  greater  the  amount  of  brain  brought 
into  action,  the  greater  the  pleasure  or  pain  caused  by  that  action. 
Thus  ;  not  only  does  a  large  organ  yield  more  pleasure,  when  its 
action  is  pleasurable,  than  a  small  one,  and  more  pain,  when  that 
action  is  painful — large  benevolence,  more  than  small  benevolence  ; 
large  friendship,  than  small  friendship ;  large  ideality,  than  small 
ideality  j  large  reasoning  organs,  than  small  reasoning  organs,  &c. 
— but,  some  organs  are  larger,  when  large  or  very  large,  than  oth- 
ers when  equally  developed.  Thus ;  the  amount  of  brain  occupied 
by,  and  the  periphera  of  scull  above,  benevolence,  or  conscientious, 
ness,  or  marvellousness,  or  any  moral  organ,  are  much  greater  than 
those  of  size,  or  weight,  or  order ;  though  not  greater  than  those  oc- 
cupied by  many  of  the  propensities. 

But  this  is  not  all,  nor  even  the  most  important  phreno-philosophi- 
cal  fact  bearing  on  this  point.  There  is  something  in  the  very  con- 
stitution of  the  moral  faculties,  which  places  them  at  the  head  of  the 
propensities ;  at  the  helm  of  man,  reason  alone  excepted  ;  or,  rather, 
in  conjunction  with  reason.  It  is  so,  that,  to  be  productive  of  happi- 
ness, every  animal  propensity  requires  to  be  governed  by  the  dictates 
of  enlightened  moral  sentiment — that  is,  by  the  moral  and  intellectual 
faculties  in  conjunction.  As  this  is  one  of  the  great  laws  of  the  mo- 
ral constitution  of  man — a  perfect  standard  of  virtue,  and  touch-stone 
of  what  is  right  and  wrong  in  conduct  and  feeling,  its  full  elucidation 
here  is  very  desirable,  to  say  the  least,  if  not  absolutely  indispensa- 
ble. It  has  been  already  presented  at  some  length  in  the  author's 
work  on  Education  and  Self-Improvement,  p.  149,  but,  as  many  of 
the  readers  of  these  pages  will  not  be  able  to  refer  to  the  passage 
mentioned,  and  as  many  who  can  refer  to  it  will  not  be  seriously 
injured  by  its  re-perusal,  but,  especially,  as  much  that  we  have  to 
say  in  this  work  touching  the  nature  of  holiness  and  sin,  virtue  and 
vice,  good  and  bad,  right  and  wrong,  happiness  and  misery — all  but 


191  IMrORTANCE    OP   THE   MORAL   FACULTIES.  37 

different  names  for  substantially  one  and  the  same  thing — depend  up- 
on itj  a  few  quotations  from  the  passage  mentioned,  will  not  only  be 
pardoned,  but  are  even  required^  and  therefore  given,  in  connexion, 
however,  with  some  important  additions,  improvements,  and  infer- 
ences : — 

"  Without  rendering  obedience  to  this  law,  there  is  no  virtue,  no  en- 
joyment in  life  ;  but,  this  law  obeyed,  all  is  peace  and  happiness.  A 
few  illustrations  will  serve  to  explain  both  the  law  itself,  and  its  im- 
portance. Let  it  still  be  borne  in  mind,  that  we  live  to  be  happy — 
that  whatever  augments  our  pleasures,  both  temporarily  and  ulti- 
mately, furthers  the  ends  of  our  being,  and  that  whatever  causes  pain, 
is  wrong,  and  should  be  avoided.  In  short,  we  need  only  to  be  selfish 
— to  promote  our  own  greatest  ultimate  good.  Our  own  happiness, 
then,  and  also  that  of  our  fellow-men,  require  that  Ave  govern  our  con- 
duct by  the  moral  sentiments  and  intellect — that  we  never  exercise  the 
propensities  but  "  by  and  with  the  consent,"  and  under  the  direction, 
of  the  intellectual  and  moral  faculties — that  every  exercise  of  the 
propensities  not  thus  governed,  results  in  misery,  both  to  the  indivi- 
dual, and  also  to  all  concerned. 

"  Thus  :  the  exercise  of  Appetite,  by  itself,  indulged  for  the  mere 
pleasures  of  the  palate,  and  without  the  intellect  to  choose  the  kind 
and  quality  of  our  food,  or  the  moral  sentiments  to  restrain  its  sxces- 
sive  action,  will  often  eat  unwholesome  food,  and  in  excessive  quantities, 
which  will  derange  the  stomach,  undermine  the  health,  blunt  the 
moral  sensibilities,  benumb  the  intellect,  and  sap  the  fountain-head  of 
nearly  all  our  physical  as  well  as  mental  and  moral  pleasures,  besides 
greatly  abridge  those  very  pleasures  of  the  palate  sought  in  its  indul- 
gence. But,  let  it  be  exercised  under  the  control  of  intellect — 'let  the 
latter  choose  the  best  kind,  and  dictate  the  proper  amount,  of  food,  and 
let  the  moral  sentiments  restrain  its  excess,  and  the  consequence  will 
be,  the  greatest  gustatory  enjoyment  that  we  are  capable  of  experi- 
encing, as  well  as  abundant  sustenance  to  all  the  other  physical  facul- 
ties, and  the  greatest  pleasures  in  the  expenditure  of  this  sustenance. 

"  If  Combativeness  be  exercised  alone,  without  the  sanctifying  influ- 
ences of  the  moral  sentiments,  and  in  opposition  to  the  dictates  of  rea- 
son, it  becomes  mere  brute  force,  mere  bravado  and  physical  fight, 
bursting  forth  on  all  occasions,  quarrelling  with  every  body,  not  only 
without  cause,  but  in  opposition  to  right,  and  making  its  possessor  ana 
all  around  him  miserable.  But,  let  this  organ  be  exercised  under  the 
direction  and  control  of  the  intellectual  and  moral  faculties,  and  it  be- 
comes moral  courage,  a  defence  oi  right  and  truth,  and  of  the  oppressed, 
and  opposes  whatever  is  wrong  and  pernicious  in  its  tendency — than 
which  no  element  of  our  nature  yields  its  possessor  a  richer  harvest  of 
the  most  pure  and  exalted  pleasure,  in  addition  to  the  pleasure  felt  in 
exercising  this  feeling,  and  the  beneficial  ends  obtained  thereby. 

"  Let  a  man  exercise  Acquisitiveness  as  the  robber  and  knave  exer- 
cise it,  without  intellect,  to  tell  him  that  this  course,  in  the  long  run, 
will  prevent  his  becoming  rich,  and  without  the  moral  sentiments  to 


38  THE  LOCATION  OP  THE  MORAL  OE.GANS.  192 

show  how  wrong  and  unjust  this  course,  (that  is,  let  hjm  exercise  this 
organ  without  intellect  to  point  out  the  most  successful  course,  or  the 
moral  sentiments  to  prevent  his  getting  it  by  extortion  and  robbery, 
and  other  similar  means,  however  unjust,)  and  this  organ  will  make 
him  wretched,  and  also  all  whom  he  wrongs  by  his  dishonesty.  Ill- 
gotten  wealth  injures  all  and  benefits  none.  .  But  let  intellect  guide  a 
man  so  that  he  choose  the  best  course  to  make  money,  and  then  let 
Conscientiousness  cause  him  to  make  money  honestly^  and  pay  all  he 
owes,  and  Benevolence  prevent  his  distressing  any  one  by  his  efforts 
to  acquire  property,  and  that  man  will  enjoy  his  money,  and  enjoy 
life,  infinitely  more  than  will  he  whose  Acquisitiveness  is  not  thus 
governed.  The  merchants  in  a  town  in  which  I  once  resided,  held 
their  goods  at  so  enormous  a  price,  that  they  drove  all  the  valuable 
custom  to  a  neighboring  town,  where  the  merchants  had  moral  feel- 
ing enough  to  ask  only  a  fair,  living  profit,  and  intellect  enough  to 
see  that  "  a  nimble  sixpence  is  better  than  a  slow  shilling."  The  for- 
mer merchants  failed,  and  thus  defeated  their  own  object,  but  the  lat- 
ter are  very  prosperous,  and  enjoy  much  more,  (both  in  the  possession 
of  their  wealth,  and  in  the  thought  that  they  obtained  it  honestly)  than 
the  former  class." 

Let  a  mother  be  ever  so  fond  of  her  darling  boy,  but  let  her  not 
guide  and  govern  her  maternal  love  by  the  dictates  of  the  intellectual 
and  the  moral  faculties  combined,  and  she  will  not  know  how  to  keep 
her  child  healthy ;  and  therefore  will  suffer  a  world  of  anxiety  on  ac- 
count of  his  being  sick,  and  still  more  if  he  should  die.  She  will  not 
know  how  to  operate  on  his  intellect  or  moral  feelings,  and  thus  una 
ble  to  govern  him,  will  be  rendered  miserable  for  life  on  account  of 
his  mischievous,  wicked  propensities  and  conduct.  Or,  she  will  spoil 
her  child  by  over-indulgence — an  occurrence  as  lamentable  as  it  is 
common — and  thereby  cause  unutterable  anguish  to  mother,  child, 
father,  society,  all  in  any  way  capable  of  being  affected  by  the  child 
or  the  man.  But  let  intellect  tell  her  what  physical  laws  she  must 
obey,  to  keep  her  child  always  well,  and  all  the  suffering  of  mother, 
of  boy,  of  all  concerned,  on  account  of  sickness  or  premature  death, 
can  be  avoided,  and,  in  their  stead,  the  perfect  health,  the  sprightli- 
ness,  happiness,  beauty,  and  growing  maturity  of  the  boy,  will  fill  the 
boy  himself,  will  swell  the  bosom  of  the  mother,  with  joy  unspeakable, 
and  be  always  increasing ;  thus  enabling  the  boy  himself  to  become  a 
boon,  a  blessing,  to  his  fellow  men.  And  the  more  so,  if  the  mother's 
intellect  enables  her  to  cultivate  and  develope  the  boy's  intellect  in  the 
best  possible  manner,  and  pour  a  continual  stream  of  useful  know- 
ledge, and  sage  maxims,  into  his  young  mind,  both  to  guide  his  con- 
duct, to  call  out  and  develope  all  the  powers  of  his  mind,  and  to  start 
the  object  of  her  deep-rooted,  but  well  guided,  maternal  affection  into 


193      SUPREMACY   OF   THE   MORAL   AND   INTELLECTtJAL   FACULTIES.  39 

the  paths  of  wisdom,  and  learning,  and  influence,  till,  standing  on  a 
commanding  intellectual  eminence,  he  controls  the  opinions,  and 
moulds  the  characters,  of  thousands  of  his  fellow  men ;  he  himself  en- 
joying all  that  mind  can  confer ;  his  mother  being  happy  beyond  de- 
scription in  her  son ;  and  society  owing  and  paying  a  tribute  of  praise 
^or  the  happiness  spread  abroad  by  this  well  educated  son  of  intellect. 
Still  more  will  these  results  be  heightened,  if  the  mother  add  high- 
toned  moral  feeling  to  this  powerful  and  well  directed  intellectual  edu- 
cation. Then  will  she  educate  him  morally,  as  well  as  intellectually 
and  physically.  She  will  train  him  up  in  the  way  he  should  go. 
She  will  imbue  him.  early  and  thoroughly  with  the  principles  of  vir- 
tue  and  morality.  She  will  elevate  all  his  aims.  Will  chasten  all 
his  feelings.  Will  write  as  with  the  point  of  a  diamond,  upon  the  tablet 
of  his  yet  plastic  and  susceptible  mind,  and  in  living,  burning  characters, 
never  to  be  erased :  "  My  son,  walk  thou  in  the  paths  of  virtue.  Turn 
thou  away  from  every  sinful  indulgence,"  and  he  will  obey  her.  Not 
only  will  his  moral  character  be  unblemished,  and  he  live  in  accord- 
ance with  the  principle  we  are  presenting,  and  therefore  be  happy  him- 
self, but  he  will  elevate  all  those  talents  already  presupposed  to  the 
cause  of  humanity  and  virtue,  and  thus  do  an  invaluable  amount  of 
good.  All  this  rich  harvest  of  happiness  to  him,  to  herself, -to  mankind, 
will  be  the  legitimate,  the  necessary  harvest  of  the  intellectual  and  moral 
seed  sown  by  his  mother.  It  will  all  flow  naturally  from  the  mother's 
following  the  law  we  are  urging,  of  governing  her  philoprogenitiveness 
by  the  dictates  of  intellectual  and  moral  feeling.  And  these  fruits  will 
be  still  farther  sweetened  and  augmented,  if  the  parents  go  still  farther 
back,  and  so  apply  the  laws  of  hereditary  descent  as  to  secure  a  good 
original,  physical,  moral,  and  intellectual  foundation  in  their  child,  on 
which  to  erect  this  glorious  superstructure. 

The  importance  of  this  principle  can  be  measured  only  by  the  heaven- 
wide  contrast  between  the  effects,  on  the  happiness  of  the  parent,  of  the 
goodness  and  badness,  of  the  health  and  sickness,  the  life  and  death,  of 
the  child.  If  but  this  law  were  observed,  Ave  should  have  no  premature 
sickness  or  death,  no  ebullitions  of  passion,  no  waywardness,  disobedi- 
ence, or  immorality  in  children,  to  wring  the  hearts  of  parents  with 
anguish  unutterable,  and  to  carry  them  down  to  their  graves  mourning. 
"  Even  if  the  parent  love  his  child  morally,  and  seek  to  make  him 
better,  but,  unguided  by  intellect,  actually  makes  him  worse,  a  course 
very  common,  then  his  child  is  a  torment  to  himself,  his  parents,  and 
all  concerned.  We  must  love  our  children  intellectually  and  morally, 
if  we  would  either  have  them  enjoy  life,  or  we  enjoy  our  children. 


40  THE   LOCATION  OF  THE   MOKAL   ORGANS.  194 

"  If  a  man  exercise  his  friendship,  without  the  governing  influ- 
ences of  intellect  and  the  sanctions  of  the  moral  sentiments,  he  will 
choose  low  and  immoral  associates,  who  will  lower  down  the  tone  of 
his  moral  feelings,  and  lead  him  into  the  paths  of  sin,  and  thus  make 
him  unhappy.  But,  if  he  exercise  his  friendship  under  the  sanction 
of  the  moral  faculties  and  intellect — if  he  choose  intellectual  and 
moral  companions,  they  will  expand  his  intellect  and  strengthen  his 
virtuous  feelings,  and  this  will  make  him  and  them  the  more  happy. 
Friendship,  founded  on  intellect  and  virtuous  feeling,  is  far  more  ex- 
alted in  its  character,  and  beneficial  in  its  influence,  than  when  found- 
ed on  any  other  considerations,  while  friendship  founded  on  the  fro- 
pensities,  will  increase  the  depravity  and  misery  of  all  concerned. 

"  Let  Approbativeness,  or  love  of  the  good  opinion  of  others,  he  go- 
verned by  the  moral  sentiments,  and  it  becomes  ambitious  to  excel  in 
works  of  philanthropy,  and  seeks  to  keep  the  moral  character  pure 
and  spotless  ;  and  let  it  be  guided  by  the  intellect,  and  it  becomes  in- 
tellectual ambition,  and  seeks  eminence  in  the  walks  of  literature  or 
the  fields  of  science  ;  but  when  not  thus  governed,  it  degenerates  into 
a  low,  animal,  grovelling,  sensual  ambition,  an  ambition  to  become  the 
greatest  eater,  or  fighter,  or  duellist,  or  dandy,  or  coquette,  which 
causes  unhappiness  to  the  possessor  and  to  all  concerned.  If  Self- 
Esteem  be  governed  by  intellect  and  moral  feeling,  it  imparts  noble- 
ness and  elevation  to  the  character  and  conduct,  which  sheds  a  beam 
of  exalted  pleasure  on  its  possessor  and  on  all  around  him ;  but  when 
Jiot  thus  governed,  it  degenerates  into  egotism,  self-conceit,  imperative- 
ness, and  superciliousness,  which  gives  pain  to  himself  and  to  all  af- 
fected by  this  quality  in  him. 

"  Let  Cautiousness  be  exercised  without  intellect,  that  is,  when  there 
is  no  reason  for  being  afraid,  and  it  produces  evil  only ;  but  let  intel- 
lect govern  it,  so  that  it  is  exercised  only  when  there  is  real  danger  to 
be  avoided,  or  let  it  be  exercised  with  Benevolence,  or  Justice,  making 
us  fearful  lest  we  do  wrong,  or  careful  not  to  injure  others,  and  its 
product  is  most  beneficial.  This  principle  might  be  illustrated  and 
enforced  by  Amativeness,  and  indeed  by  every  one  of  the  lower  or- 
gans, and  also  reversed  by  showing  how  happy  is  the  man  who  gov- 
erns his  principles  and  conduct  by  enlightened  intellect  and  high-toned 
moral  sentiments,  but  it  is  already  rendered  too  plain  to  require  it.  In 
short,  man  is  constituted  to  be  governed  thoughout  by  his  higher  fac- 
ulties, and  there  is  no  enjoyment  for  him  unless  he  puts  intellect  on 
the  throne  and  the  moral  sentimemts  as  joint  rulers  of  the  kingdom  of 
his  animal  nature.  Much  of  the  evil  existing  in  society,  much  of  the 
suffering  which  stares  at  us  wherever  we  turn  our  eyes,  have  their 
origin  in  the  violation  of  this  law.  Nor  is  the  misery,  so  extensive, 
to  be  wondered  at,  if  we  consider  that  nineteen-twentieth  of  the  time, 
desires,  pursuits,  pleasures,  anxieties,  &c.,  of  mankined  are  consumed 
in  feeding  and  gratifying  his  animal  nature  merely ;  in  scrambling 
after  property ;  in  getting  something  to  eat,  and  drink,  and  wear,  and 
live  in,  and  show  off'  with  ;  in  gratifying  his  love  or  power,  his  grasp- 
ing ambition ;  in  politics,  friendship,  and  family  cares ;  in  combating 


195  EXISTENCE   OF   MORAL   LAWS.  41 

contending,  backbiting,  lasciviousness,  and  like  animal  gratifications. 
War,  love,  money,  and  display,  sum  up  the  history  of  man  since  his 
creation  to  the  present  time.  Before  man  can  become  virtuous  and 
happy,  his  animal  nature  must  be  subjected  to  the  control  of  his  moral 
and  intellectual  faculties. 

"  This  animality  of  man  is  in  striking  harmony  with  the  fact,  that 
a  large  proportion  of  the  human  brain  is  in  the  region  of  the  feelings, 
while  but  a  small  moiety  is  found  in  the  region  of  the  intellect."  And 
before  man  can  enjoy  life,  he  must  take  time  from  the  fashionable 
world,  from  the  money-making  world,  from  the  red-hot  pursuit  of 
animal  gratification,  to  exercise,  cultivate,  and  adorn  his  moral  nature. 
To  be  happy,  man  must  be  eminently  moral  and  religious — ^must  sub- 
jugate the  entire  animal,  to  the  moral  and  the  intellectual.  And  he 
is  the  most  happy,  who  does  this  the  most  habitually,  the  most  effec- 
tually. 

For  three  reasons,  then,  (the  first,  that  the  moral  organs  occupy  the 
highest  position  in  the  head,  the  crowning  portion  of  man ;  the  second, 
that  they  occupy  so  large  a  section  of  the  brain,  and  the  third,  that  they 
are  the  natural,  constitutional  guides  and  governors  of  the  propensities,) 
should  the  moral  nature  of  man  be  known,  and  its  laws  be  obeyed.  No 
tongue  can  tell,  no  finite  mind  can  conceive,  the  amount  of  pleasure  and 
pain  it  is  in  the  power  of  the  moral  faculties  to  occasion.  All  the  abom- 
inations of  Paganism  are  caused  by  their  perversion.  All  the  blessings 
of  that  religion  which  is  peaceable,  pure,  and  undefiled,  and  that  fadeth 
not  away,  it  is  in  the  power  of  the  moral  faculties  to  bestow.  Theirs 
it  is,  to  sweeten  every  pleasure  of  life,  and  to  blacken  and  deepen  every 
crime  which  it  is  possible  for  man  to  commit. 

How  all-important,  then,  that  we  xmderstand  their  true  function — that 
we  derive  therefrom  all  the  happiness  they  are  capable  of  affording,  and 
escape  all  the  pains  it  is  in  their  power  to  inflict.  This  knowledge  will 
set  us  right.  It  will  banish  sectarianism.  It  will  tell  us  just  how  to  live 
in  harmony  with  our  nature.  It  will  tell  us  what  is  right  and  what  is 
wrong.  And  Phrenology  will  certainly  impart  this  knowledge.  It  will 
give  us  the  science  of  man's  moral  nature.  It  will  tell  us  every  line, 
every  lineament  of  our  moral  constitution.  In  telling  us  this,  it  will  also 
tell  us  what  doctrines,  what  practices,  harmonize  with  that  nature,  and 
what  conflict  therewith.  It  will  unravel  the  whole  web  of  true  religion, 
of  pure  morality.  That  man's  moral  nature  has  its  laws,  there  is  no 
question.  Some  things  are  right :  some  things  are  wrong.  The  for- 
mer are  right  because  they  harmonize  with  these  laws.  There  is  a  mo- 
ral science,  as  much  as  physical.  Wherever  there  are  laws,  there  sci- 
ence exists.  And  to  suppose  that  this  department  of  man's  nature  is 
nngoverned  by  law,  is  to  suppose  that  the  Author  of  nature  has  forgotten 


42  THE    LOCATION   OF   THE    MORAL    ORGANS.  IQfi 

or  omitted  to  institute  that  system  of  laws,  causes  and  effects,  in  this  de- 
partment of  his  works  which  are  so  eminently  wise  and  beneficial  in 
every  other  department  of  nature.  Is  this  whole  field  of  human  nature 
indeed  a  barren  waste?  No  right?  No  wrong?  No  laws?  No 
causes?  No  happpiness?  No  suffering?  Preposterous  in  theory! 
Contradicted  by  fact!  No!  There  is  a  right.  There  is  a  wrong. 
Right  is  right,  because  it  harmonizes  with  these  laws,  just  shown  to  exist. 
The  wrong  is  wrong,  and  wrong  because  it  violates  these  laws.  Nor 
are  these  laws  either  above  his  comprehension,  or  beneath  his  notice. 
Neither  too  abstruce  to  be  deciphered,  nor  too  simple  to  be  worth 
investigation.  They  are  completely  within  the  scope  of  his  mental 
vision,  the  range  of  his  intellectual  powers.  He  can  even  comprehend 
all  that  is  necessary  for  him  to  know.  Nor  need  any  more  doubt  hang 
around  this  subject  than  now  hangs  about  a  mathematical  problem,  or 
about  any  other  scientific  truth.  Not  only  does  there  exist  a  moral 
science,  but  that  science  is  demonstrable.  I  use  the  word  demonstrable 
in  its  true  signification.  I  mean  that  we  can  prove — can  demonstrate — 
any  moral  truth  just  as  clearly,  just  as  conclusively,  as  we  can  demon- 
strate any  mathematical  problem,  any  anatomical  fact,  any  scientific 
truth.  Of  all  this  sectarian  contention,  there  is  no  need.  It  is  even 
culpable.  There  is  a  right,  and  man  can  ascertain  that  right.  Truth 
exists.  It  is  obtainable.  And  when  attained,  it  will  harmonize  every 
discordant  opinion,  every  conflicting  feeling.  Wherever  there  is  op- 
position of  views,  there  error  exists.  Truth  is  one.  Truth  always 
harmonizes  with  truth.  Error  always  clashes  with  truth,  and  usually 
with  error.  If  there  be  two  conflicting  opinions  touching  the  same 
point,  one  of  them  is  certomZ^^  wrong.  The  other  is  liable  to  be.  And 
if  there  be  ten,  then  nine  of  the  ten  are  erroneous,  and  perhaps  the  tenth 
also.  This  is  certain.  So  that  all  but  one  of  the  conflicting  creeds  and 
sects  out  of  the  whole  two  thousand  that  exist,  are  wrong,  and  that  one  is 
not  sure  to  be  right.  And  out  of  these  errors  of  belief  grow  all  manner 
of  errors  of  practice,  all  sorts  and  sizes  of  sins  and  sufferings.  If  a  man 
believe  murder  to  be  right,  errors  of  conduct,  and  consequent  unhappi- 
ness  to  him,  to  others,  grow  out  of  these  errors  of  belief  If  another  be- 
lieves it  right  to  steal,  or  lie,  his  erroneous  belief  will  lead  him  astray  in 
conduct,  and  render  him  miserable,  and  all  affected  by  this  belief,  or  the 
conduct  induced  thereby,  also  miserable.  The  ancients  believed  unbri- 
dled licentiousness  to  be  right,  or,  at  least,  made  public  prostitution  a 
part  of  their  religion,  and  suffered  the  consequent  penalty  of  the  sin 
induced  thereby.  True,  to  do  right,  it  is  not  always  necessary  to  know 
what  is  right,  for  a  man  may  do  right  from  intuition,  or  instinct ;  that  is 


197  MOEAL    SCIENCE.  43 

by  simply  folloAving  the  original  impulses  of  his  nature.  Still,  to  helieve 
wrong  to  be  right,  is  almost  certain  to  induce  wrong  conduct,  the  ne- 
cessary consequences  of  which  are  pain. 

But  how  shall  we  know  what  is  right,  and  what  wrong.  By  what 
standard  shall  we  try  all  our  creeds,  all  our  practices  ?  By  the  stand- 
ard of  the  nature  of  man.  That  nature  is  all  right — is  perfection  itself 
— as  perfect  as  even  a  God  could  make  it.  To  suppose  otherwise  is  to 
arraign  the  workmanship  of  the  Deity.  Hence,  to  follow  that  nature 
in  belief,  in  practice,  is  to  believe  right — to  do  right.  That  nature  has 
its  laws.  The  fulfilling  of  these  laws  is  the  cause  of  right,  the  cause  of 
happiness.     Their  violation,  is  the  cause  of  sin,  the  cause  of  suffering. 

But  where  can  we  find  an  unerring  exposition  of  the  moral  nature 
of  man  ?  Such  an  expositor,  once  found,  is  our  talisman,  our  philoso- 
pher's stone,  in  all  matters  of  religious  belief  and  practice.  That  found, 
we  need  nothing  else.  That  obeyed,  we  are  as  perfect  in  conduct  as 
we  are  by  creation.  Where,  then,  can  that  stone  be  found  ?  In  heaven  ? 
No,  for  we  cannot  get  at  it  there.  In  the  decalogue  1  No,  it  is  too 
short.  In  the  Bible  ?  No,  not  all  of  it.  But  in  the  pages  of  Phreno- 
logy. That  dissects,  it  lays  man's  moral  nature  completely  open,  and 
reveals  every  shread  and  fibre  of  it.  Every  law,  every  requirement, 
every  doctrine,  every  action,  required  by  the  nature  of  man,  will  be 
found  in  this  book  of  man's  moral  and  religious  nature.  And  this  sci- 
ence puts,  all  these  doctrines,  all  these  requirements,  on  a  scientific 
basis,  on  that  same  basis  of  positive,  actual /ac^,  on  which  the  science  of 
mathematics  places  every  mathematical  truth ;  or  of  astronomy,  any 
astronomical  truth ;  or  of  anatomy,  any  anatomical  truth ;  or  of 
chymistry,  any  chymical  fact ;  or  of  induction,  any  matter  of  inductive 
philosophy.  It  is  all  put  upon  this  basis.  Nothing  is  left  at  loose  ends. 
It  is  all  exact.  All  demonstrable.  All  certain.  And  all  plain,  too. 
No  mist  envelopes  any  point  of  it.  No  dark  spots  remain  upon  its 
horizon.  Every  fact  is  as  light  as  the  noon  day  sun  of  eternal  truth,  and 
unquestionable  science,  can  make  it.  And  I  hail  with  joy  the  science 
that  can  do  this.  That  is  now  actually  doi7ig  all  this.  That  is  des- 
tined, ultimately,  to  do  all  this,  yea,  even  greater  works  than  these. 
That  will  both  banish  all  sectarian  deformities  and  parrisites,  so  that 
not  a  sect,  not  a  sectarian,  shall  exist,  but  which  will  throw  a  literal 
flood  of  light  and  truth  on  this  whole  department  of  the  nature  of  man, 
which  it  would  dazzle  our  now  benighted  vision  to  behold. 

Gracious  heaven !  Is  there  indeed  such  a  treasure  within  our  reach  ? 
Has  so  glorious  a  moral  sun  indeed  dawned  upon  the  sectarian  dark- 
ness and  bigotry  of  ages  ?     Aye,  verily.     Let  us  proceed  cautiously, 


44  THE  MORAL  FACULTIES  PECULIAR  TO  MAN,  198 

but  thoroughly,  to  unravel  this  thread  of  man's  moral  and  religious 
texture  and  constitution.  Let  us  bury  preconceived  doctrines.  Let  us 
come  up  to  this  work  as  sincere  inquirers  after  truth.  Let  us  learn 
from  it  our  moral  duties,  our  moral  destinies. 

But,  in  order  fully  to  comprehend  the  moral  bearings,  precepts,  and 
principles  taught  by  Phrenology,  we  must  analyze  the  moral  faculties. 
This  will  teach  us  their  nature  and  true  functions,  and,  therewith,  the 
moral  nature  and  constitution  of  man,  as  well  as  show  what  doctrines 
they  teach,  what  conduct  they  require. 

It  should  here  be  added,  what  has  all  along  been  implied,  that  the 
moral  faculties  themselves,  unenlightened  by  reason,  are  but  blind  feel- 
ings, mere  religious  impulses.  To  produce  the  good  effects  above 
ascribed  to  them,  it  is  indispensably  necessary  that  they  be  guided  by 
enlightened  intellect,  and  governed  entirely  by  the  dictates  of  reason, 
as  will  be  more  fully  seen  hereafter. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  ANALYSIS  OF  THE  MORAL  FACULTIES,  AND  THE  INFER- 
ENCES CONSEQUENT  THEREON. 

The  organs  of  the  moral  faculties  are  all  located  together  in  a  kind 
of  family  group,  upon  the  top  of  the  head.  They  are  thus  removed  as 
far  as  possible  from  the  body,  so  that  their  bland,  mild,  softening,  hea- 
venly, harmonious  action  may  be  interrupted  as  little  as  possible  by 
those  causes  which  disease,  disorder,  or  inflame  the  body,  and,  thereby, 
the  propensities  in  particular.  When  fully  developed,  they  cause  the 
head  to  rise  far  above  the  ears,  and  become  elongated  upon  the  top, 
thereby  rendering  it  high  and  long  upon  the  top,  rather  than  wide  and 
conical.  They  may  be  very  correctly  measured,  by  observing  the 
amount  of  brain  located  above  Cautiousness  and  Causality.  They  are 
much  larger  in  woman  than  in  man,  and  their  faculties  are  stronger,  as 
is  evinced  by  the  fact,  that  about  two-thirds  of  our  church  members  are 
females,  and  that  piety  in  woman  is  the  crowning  excellence  of  her 
sex,  while  its  absence  is  a  moral  blemish  which  no  cluster  of  virtues 
can  efface. 

They  are  peculiar  to  man.  In  the  brute  creation,  they  are  wanting, 
or  too  much  so  to  be  taken  into  the  account.     They  are  equally  defi- 


199  ANALYSIS  OF  VENERATION.  45 

cient  in  th^ii*  character.  Thus,  a  dog  cannot  be  taught  to  worship 
God;  nor  a  .tiger,  to  pray;  because  neither  is  endowed  by  nature 
with  either  the  moral  or  religious  organs  or  faculties.  And  this  dou- 
ble absence  of  both  organ  and  faculty,  forms  a  strong  proof  of  the 
truth  of  Phrenology,  while  the  presence  of  either,  without  the  other, 
would  prostrate  the  science.  But,  it  so  is,  that  man  is  both  the  only 
animal  possessed  of  the  moral  organs,  and  also  the  only  terrestrial  be- 
ing endowed  with  the  moral  and  religious  faculties  that  accompany 
them.  This  fact  furnishes  a  positive  proof  of  the  truth  of  Phrenology 
as  extensive,  as  diversified,  as  the  whole  human  family,  on  the  one 
hand,  and  the  entire  brute  creation,  on  the  other,  can  render  it. 


SECTION  I. 

VENERATION. ITS   ANALYSIS,   AND   THE   EXISTENCE    OF   A    GOD. 

Adoration  of  a  God;  the  Spiritxial  worship  of  a  Supreme  Being;  Devotion; 
Reverence  for  religion  and  things  sacred ;  Disposition  to  pray  and  to  observe 
religious  rites  and  ordinances. 

Gall,  the  discoverer  of  this  organ  and  faculty,  observed,  that  his 
brother,  whom  his  father  intended  and  had  fitted  for  the  mercantile 
calling,  but  whose  religious  feelings  were  so  strong  as  to  tear  him 
from  all  other  pursuits,  overcome  all  obstacles,  and  finally  force  him 
to  enter  the  clerical  profession,  was  largely  developed  upon  the  top  of 
his  head.  He  afterwards  observed,  that  the  heads  of  those  who  visit- 
ed the  temples  for  prayer  and  religious  observances  most  frequently, 
and  remained  longest  at  their  devotions,  were  similarly  developed. 
He  at  first,  called  it  the  organ  of  Theosophy,  or  the  science  of  reli- 
gion. 

It  creates  the  feeling  of  awe  of  God.  It  excites  the  spirit  of  prayer 
and  praise  to  the  Supreme  Ruler  of  the  universe.  It  delights  to  me- 
ditate on  his  character,  and  to  study  his  works.  It  induces  a  general, 
spiritual  state  of  mind,  a  devout,  religious  feeling,  which  fills  the  soul 
with  holy  aspirations  and  heavenly  pleasures,  and  attaches  its  posses- 
sor to  those  religious  observances  which  are  considered  as  an  expres- 
sion of  these  feelings.  It  creates  a  sense  of  the  Divine  presence,  a  feel- 
ing of  nearness  to  God,  and  desire  to  hold  communion  with  the  Crea- 
tor of  all  things.  It  elevates  the  soul  above  the  things  of  earth,  and 
places  it  on  Divine  things,  and  delights  to  contemplate  his  character, 
and  to  bow  before  his  throne  in  devout  adoration  and  praise. 


46  ANALYSIS  OF   A^ENERATION.  200 

This  organ  is  divided.  While  the  back  part,  next  to  Firmness  and 
Conscientiousness,  gives  the  devout,  religious  feeling  just  ascribed  to 
it,  the  frontal  portion,  creates  respect  for  elders  and  superiors,  and  vene- 
rates the  ancient  and  sacred.  It  is  the  conservative  faculty,  and,  while 
the  other  faculties  reform  abuses,  this  faculty  prevents  sudden  changes, 
and  discountenances  radicalism.  It  is  usually  small  in  the  American 
head  and  character,  being  rendered  so,  doubtless,  by  the  necessary  ten- 
dency of  our  republican  institutions.  I  would  not  urge  adherence  to 
what  is  wrong,  but  I  would  respect,  aye,  pay  deference  to  superiors, 
and  show  respect  towards  all.  Let  a  deferential  feeling  be  cultivated ' 
in  our  youth.  Let  impudence,  and  disorder,  be  discountenanced.  Let 
this  faculty  be  cultivated,  or  our  liberty  will  become  lawlessness,  and 
our  republic  but  an  unmeaning  name. 

The  existence  and  analysis  of  this  organ,  establishes,  past  all  cavil 
and  controversy,  the  existance  of  a  God.  The  argument,  or  rather 
fact,  by  which  this  great  truth  is  established,  is  this :  Every  organ 
has  its  own  primitive,  natural  function,  and  also  adaptation.  Or, 
rather,  the  primordial  function  of  every  organ,  is  adapted  to  some  one 
law  of  nature  or  want  of  man.  Thus,  Parental  Love  is  adapted  to 
the  infantile  condition  of  man.  Causality  adapts  man  to  a  world 
governed  by  causes  and  effeets,  and  enables  him  to  apply  these 
causes  to  the  production  of  desired  results.  Cautiousness  is  adapted 
to  a  world  of  danger.  Combativeness,  to  difficulties.  Individuality, 
to  the  identity  or  existence  of  things.  Form,  to  the  great  arrange- 
ment of  shape  or  configuration.  Size,  to  that  of  bulk,  or  of  big  and 
little.  Color,  to  the  primitive  colors.  Weight,  to  the  laws  of  gravity. 
Order,  to  that  perfect  system  which  characterizes  all  nature.  Locality, 
to  space.  Ideality,  to  the  beautiful  in  nature  and  art.  Constructive- 
ness,  to  our  need  of  garments,  houses,  tools  and  things  made.  Appetite, 
to  the  great  arrangement,  or  demand  and  supply,  of  nutrition.  Ac- 
quisitiveness, to  our  need  of  property.  Amativeness,  to  the  different 
sexes,  &c. 

Veneration,  therefore,  has  its  adaptation  or  counterpart  in  the  na- 
ture of  things ;  and  that  adaptation  is  to  the  existence  and  worship  of 
a  Divine  Being.  This  argumeat  is  short,  but  perfectly  demonstra- 
tive. It  cannot  be  evaded.  It  leaves  no  chance  for  cavil.  Phreno- 
logy establishes  the  existence  of  the  organ,  and  the  nature  of  its  func- 
tion, namely,  the  worship  of  God.  Therefore,  there  is  a  God  to  be 
worshipped — a  Spiritual  Being,  adapted  to  Veneration,  to  whom  this 
organ  can  lift  up  its  prayers,  and  with  whom  hold  sweet  communion. 
Throughout  all  nature,  whenever  and  wherever  one  thing  exists  and 


201  EXISTENCE   OF   A   GOD,  47 

is  adapted  to  a  second,  the  existence  of  the  second  is  sure^  else  nature 
would  be  at  fault.  If  this  argument  is  not  proof  positive,  then  there 
is  no  proof,  and  no  argument  can  ever  prove  any  thing ;  for  this  is 
proof  of  the  strongest  possible  kind.  An  anomaly  like  the  existence 
of  any  one  thing  in  nature,  adapted  to  that  which  never  existed,  can 
no  where  be  found.  No  axiom  in  philosophy  is  more  fully  establish- 
ed than  this,  that  when  one  thing  exists,  and  is  adapted  to  a  second, 
the  second  also  exists,  or  has  existed.  Ransack  all  nature,  and  not 
one  solitary  instance  can  be  found,  either  in  the  world  of  mind  or 
matter,  of  one  thing's  being  adapted  to  another  thing  which  does  not  ex- 
ist, or  has  not  existed.  Thus :  If  you  find  a  tooth,  you  feel  as  sure  that  a 
socket  exists  or  has  existed,  to  which  this  tooth  is  adapted,  as  of  your 
o.wn  existence.  If  you  find  an  eye  adapted  to  its  socket,  or  a  bone 
adapted  to  articulate  upon  another  bone,  you  feel  quite  certain  of  the 
present  or  past  existence  of  the  socket,  or  the  bone  to  which  it  is 
adapted.    So  of  every  thing  else  in  the  world  of  either  mind  or  matter. 

Veneration,  therefore,  has  its  adaptation,  and  that  adaptation  is  to 
the  existence  and  worship  of  a  God,  as  much  as  the  eye  is  adapted  to 
seeing,  or  the  ear  to  hearing.  As  the  existence  of  the  eye,  and  its 
adaptation  to  light,  pre-suppose  and  necessarily  imply  the  existence  of 
that  light  to  which  it  is  adapted  ;  as  the  existence  of  the  stomach,  and 
its  adaptation  to  food,  pre-suppose  and  necessarily  imply  the  existence 
of  food  adapted  to  it ;  the  adaptation  of  the  lungs  to  air,  and  the  air  to 
the  lungs ;  of  Causality  to  the  laws  of  Causation,  and  laws  of  Causa- 
tion to  Causality ;  and  so  of  illustrations  innumerable  scattered  through- 
out nature,  and  indeed  constituting  a  great  portion  of  nature ;  so  the 
existence  of  Veneration,  and  its  adaptation  to  Divine  worship,  pre- 
suppose and  necessarily  imply  the  existence  of  a  Deity  to  be  wor- 
shipped. 

This  argument  is  short,  but  on  that  very  account,  the  more  unan- 
swerable. It  has  but  two  points :  the  one,  that  one  thing's  being 
adapted  to  another,  proves  the  existence  of  the  other — a  principle  of 
philosophy  which  allows  of  no  exceptions ;  and  the  other  point,  the 
fact  of  the  adaptation  of  Veneration  to  this  Divine  worship.  The  first 
admits  of  no  cavil  whatever,  and  the  second  of  none  that  is  available. 
If  it  be  objected,  that  its  adaptation  is  to  superiors,  and  that  its  fnnction 
is  that  of  deference  and  obedience  to  men,  I  answer:  We  have  ano- 
ther facnlty  expressly  adapted  to  that  office ;  namely,  the  fore  part  of 
Veneration. 

Besides,  man  does  certainly  worship  a  God.  Where  is  the  human 
being  who  has  never  feared,  loved,  or  worshipped  a  Divine  spirit,  the 
great  Architect  of  heaven  and  earth,  the  great  prime-moving  Cause 


48  WORSHIP  OP   GOD   A   PROnTTVE   PACULTY.  202 

of  causes.  Standing  upon  the  top  of  some  lofty  eminence  which  com- 
mands a  view  of  some  vast,  variegated,  indescribably  bea^^tifyl  plain 
below,  loaded  with  nature's  choicest  treasures,  and  skirted  ■\vitk  yon- 
der bold  cliffs  and  rugged  mountains,  rising  one  above  another  till 
they  hide  their  majestic  heads  in  the  clouds  j  or  beholding,  in  mute 
astonishment,  the  cataract  of  Niagara,  in  all  its  sublimity  and  gran- 
deur ;  or  watching  the  swift  lightning,  and  hearing  peal  on  peal  of 
roaring  thunder  ;  or  witnessing  the  commotion  of  the  elements,  and  the 
raging  and  dashing  of  the  angry  seas ;  or  examining  minutely  the 
parts  of  the  flower,  and  the  adaptation  of  every  part  to  the  perform- 
ance of  its  own  appropriate  function ;  or  the  organs  and  adaptions  of 
our  own  wonderful  mechanism  ;  or,  indeed,  scrutinizing  any  of  the 
innumerable  contrivances  and  adaptations  with  which  all  nature  is 
teeming ;  where  is  the  moral  man,  endowed  with  an  intellect  capable 
of  perceiving  these  wonders  and  beauties,  whose  heart  does  not  kindle 
with  glowing  emotions  of  adoration  and  praise,  rising,  not  alone  to 
nature  herself,  but  mainly  to  the  Architect  and  Author  of  nature  1 
Who  that  has  never  felt — never  realized — the  existence  of  a  spirit  in  na- 
ture analogous  to  the  God  of  the  Christian  ?  And  if,  perchance,  in 
some  dark  corner  of  our  earth,  a  human  soul  should  be  found,  which 
never  felt  this  sentiment  of  Divine  worship,  just  as  there  are  some 
whose  organs  of  Color  are  too  small  to  perceive  the  colors  of  the  rain- 
bow, does  this  prove  that  this  sentiment  does  not  exist  in  any  other 
soul  ?  Shall  the  blind  man  who  can  see  no  sun,  assert  that  therefore 
there  is  none  ?  Shall  those  who  cannot  see,  guide  those  who  can  ? 
Shall  those  who  experience  this  heaven-born  emotion,  be  argued 
out  of  the  existence  of  this  emotion,  because,  forsooth,  some  self-made 
Atheist  says  he  has  never  experienced  it?  If  one  does  not  experi- 
ence this  sentiment,  another  does,  and  this  argument  rests  not  on  the 
fact  that  all  experience  this  emotion,  but  on  the  fact  that  any  do.  If, 
from  the  first  opening  of  the  eyes  of  Adam  upon  the  surrounding 
beauties  of  creation,  down  to  the  present  time,  a  single  human  soul 
has  poured  forth  a  single  heart-felt  offering  of  prayer  and  thanksgiv- 
ing to  a  Divine  spirit,  he  has  exercised  sonxQ-organixi  this  worship,  and 
that  organ  is  Veneration.  This  organ,  this  alone,  worships  a  God. 
Each  of  the  other  organs  has  its  own  specific  function  to  perform,  so 
that  no  other  organ  can  perform  this  function.  But  the  function 
of  Divine  worship  is  exercised  by  man.  As  well  tell  me  that  the 
sun  never  shined,  as  to  tell  me  that  man  has  never  worshipped  a 
Spiritual  Being.  What  mean  yonder  towering  steeples,  yonaer 
houses  erected  in  every  town  and  hamlet,  in  Christian  and  in  Pagan 
lands,  to  the  worship  of  God  ?     What  means  yonder  Hindoo  widow, 


203  EXISTENCE    OF    A    GOD.  49 

voluntarily  ascending  the  funeral  pile  of  her  departed  husband,  or  yon- 
der mother  committing  her  darling  child  to  the  deified  waters  of  the 
Ganges  ?  Seest  thou  yonder  towering  pagoda ;  yonder  temple  of 
Juggernaut ;  yonder  thronged  mosque ;  yonder  altar,  reeking  with 
human  gore,  just  offered  up  in  sacrifice  to  God  ;  yonder  solemn  eon- 
vent  ;  yonder  crowded  sanctuary  ?  Hark  !  Hearest  thou,  in  yonder 
secret  closet,  the  soft  accents  of  heart-felt  prayer  and  praise  to  the  Al- 
mighty Giver  of  every  good  ?  Look  again.  Dost  thou  see  yonder 
domestic  group,  bowed  down  around  the  family  altar,  all  offering  up 
their  morning  or  evening  sacrifices  of  prayer  and  thanksgiving  to  the 
God  of  every  mercy  and  blessing,  and  supplicating  their  continuance  ? 
Tellest  thou  me,  these  do  not  sincerely  worship  a  Deity  ?  Indeed, 
nothing  is  more  plain,  no  fact  is  more  apparent  and  universal  than 
this,  that  vian  does  tvorship  a  God ;  and  the  amouiit  of  this  worship  is 
inconceivably  great.  It  is  natural  for  man  thus  to  worship.  He  can 
no  more  live  and  be  happy  without  adoring  a  God,  than  without  rea- 
son,-or  any  other  equally  essential  faculty.  Man  worships  a  Deity, 
and  has  an  organ  of  Veneration  adapting  him  to  that  worship ;  there- 
fore, there  is  a  God  adapted  to  this  organ. 

Besides  :  every  other  organ  and  faculty  are  completely  engrossed  in 
performing  each  its  own  function,  leaving  no  other  one  but  Venera- 
tion to  exercise  this  devotional  feeling.  Thus,  Philoprogenitiveness 
is  completely  engrossed  in  loving  and  providing  for  children.  It  has 
no  time,  no  capacity  to  worship.  Combativeness  is  all  engrossed  in 
resisting  and  defending,  so  that  it  cannot  worship,  nor  is  it  capable  of 
exercising  any  other  than  its  own  appropriate  feeling.  So,  Appetite 
is  all  taken  up  with  table  luxuries.  It  is  too  greedy  ever  to  think  of 
exercising  the  feeling  of  worship.  And,  besides,  it  could  not  if  it 
would.  So,  Acquisitiveness  is  exclusively  occupied  in  hoarding,  and 
does  nothing  else.  Cautiousness  is  full  of  its  alarms.  It  does  not,  it 
cannot,  worship.  Ideality  is  so  completely  absorbed  in  contemplating 
and  admiring  the  glowing  beauties  that  throng  in  upon  its  delighted, 
extatic  vision  from  every  quarter,  that,  though  it  may  admire  the  beau- 
ties of  creation,  yet  it  cannot  worship  their  Author.  Causality  does 
not,  cannot  worship  a  God.  It  is  completely  engrossed  in  searching 
out  and  applying  causes.  Though  it  may  reason  out  the  fact  of  the 
existence  of  a  great  first  cause,  yet  it  goes  no  farther.  It  can  do  no 
more.  It  does  not,  it  never  can,  fall  down  on  the  bended  knees  of  de- 
votion, and  worship  Him  ;  because,  to  investigate  and  apply  causes,  is 
its  sole  function.  Its  constitution  precludes  its  exercising  any  other. 
Similar  remarks  apply  to  Benevolence,  to  Comparison,  to  each  of  the 


50  EXISTENCE    OF   A   GOD.  204 

intellectual  faculties,  to  each  of  the  propensities  and  feelings,  and  to 
every  mental  and  moral  element  of  man.  So  that  there  is  no  other 
organ  or  faculty  but  Veneration  left  to  exercise  this  worshipping 
function.  But  this  function  is  exercised  as  just  seen.  And  the  amount 
of  its  exercise  is  inconceivably  great.  Too  great  to  be  the  result  of 
habit.  Too  universal  to  be  the  product  of  education.  If  this  senti 
ment  were  not  engrafted  upon  the  nature  of  man,  it  would  not  be  pos 
sible  for  education  to  perpetuate  it.  It  would  be  as  if  eating  were  not 
constitutional,  and  therefore  a  perfect  drudge,  all  up-hill  work,  and  se 
thoroughly  irksome  as  to  be  soon  forgotten  and  lost  in  the  oblivion  of 
the  past.  I  repeat :  Nothing  but  the  fact  that  the  sentiment  of  wor 
ship  is  constitutmial^  is  inwrought  into  the  nature  of  man,  is  a  consti 
tuent  part  and  parcel  of  his  very  self,  just  as  is  breathing^  or  sleeping^ 
or  eating,  could  account  for  either  its  perpetuity  or  its  universality,  or 
its  power  over  tjie  feelings  and  conduct  of  mankind.  It  must  be  consti- 
tutional. It  is  constitutional.  And  rendered  so  by  the  existence,  in 
man,  of  a  primitive  faculty,  the  sole  office  of  which  is  to  worship  a  Su- 
preme Being,  the  great  Cause  of  causes,  the  God  of  heaven  and 
earth. 

Again,  every  organ  performs  some  important  function.  Without 
any  Causality,  or  power  of  reasoning  and  adapting  means  to  ends, 
what  a  great  hiatus  would  exist  in  the  human  mind  ?  If  all  power 
of  observation  were  destroyed ;  or  if  Individuality  were  wholly  wan- 
ting ;  if  Weight  were  entirely  inert,  so  that  we  could  not  stand  or 
move ;  if  any  one  of  man's  faculties  were  annihilated,  the  chasm,  the 
aching  void  thus  formed,  would  be  great  indeed ;  because,  every 
organ  performs  a  function  indispensable  to  man's  happiness.  Vener- 
ation has  some  function,  some  important  function,  some  function,  the 
loss  of  which  would  create  an  aching  void  quite  as  great  as  the  loss 
of  those  already  mentioned.  What,  then,  is  that  function '?  Deference 
for  man  ?  But  this  is  preformed  by  another  faculty.  There  is  no 
function  left,  important  or  unimportant,  for  Veneration  to  exercise  but 
that  of  worshipping  God. 

Turning  to  the  history  of  its  discovery,  we  find  this  view  reiterated 
and  confirmed.  Gall  and  Spurzheim,  our  highest  authorities  in  this 
matter,  both  regarded  its  function  as  that  of  worship  of  God,  and  so  does 
every  Phrenologist  worth  referring  to.  In  fact,  that  is  its  function. 
Man  does  worship  his  God  by  means  of  it,  and  that  worship  is  its  na- 
tural, not  its  distorted,  perverted,  exotic  function.  It  is  adapted  to  the 
worship  of  a  God  ;  therefore,  there  is  a  God  adapted  to  this  faculty,  or 
to  receiving  the  homage  it  was  created  to  offer  up. 


205  THE   EXEPXISE   OF   THE  FUNCTION    OF   WOE.SHH',  51 

If  any  doubt  remain  on  this  point,  it  is  obviated  by  Phreno-Magnet- 
ism.  On  magnetizing  any  organ,  the  spontaneous  fonction  of  its  fac- 
ulty bursts  forth  instantaneously  and  powerfully.  Every  faculty  is 
thus  stripped  of  all  artificial  influences,  and  exhibits  itself  in  its  naked, 
primitive  state.  I  have  never  seen  the  back  part  of  Veneration  mag- 
netized, without  also  seeing  the  subject  clasp  and  raise  the  hands  in  the 
attitude  of  worship,  assume  a  devotional  aspect  and  tone  of  voice,  and 
express  a  desire  to  pray,  or  else  break  forth  in  the  worship  of  God,  en- 
raptured in  contemplating  him.  Thus  is  the  loorshipping  function  of 
this  faculty  established  by  Phrenology  beyond  all  dispute.  No  pro- 
position in  Geometry  is  more  fully  proved  than  this  ;  and  the  infer- 
ence that  therefore  there  is  a  God,  follows  as  a  necessary  consequence. 

If  to  this  it  be  objected  that  "  most  men  adopt  those  religious  views 
and  practices  in  which  they  were  educated,"  and  that  therefore  religion 
is  taught,  I  answer,  that  before  any  one  can  be  taught  any  thing,  he 
must  have  some  original,  primary  quality  capable  of  being  taught. 
Can  you  teach  a  dog  to  be  solemn  in  church,  or  a  swine  to  pray  ?  But 
why  not  1  For  the  same  reason  that  you  cannot  teach  a  blind  man  to 
see,  or  a  deaf  man  to  hear,  or  a  man  without  limbs  to  use  them ;  namely, 
because  he  has  no  original,  primitive  faculty,  capable  of  being  taught. 
And  the  very  fact  that  men  can  be  taught  to  pray  and  to  worship 
God,  proves  that  they  have  that  very  primitive  faculty  of  prayer  con- 
tended for. 

In  thus  establishing  the  function  of  worship  as  appertaining  to  the 
human  mind,  Phrenology  also  establishes  and  enforces  the  duty  and 
utility  of  its  exercise.  Every  organ  was  made  to  be  exercised,  and 
hence  that  exercise  becomes  a  duty,  and  also  a  privilege ;  for,  the 
right  exercise  of  every  faculty,  gives  pleasure  in  proportion  to  the 
size  of  its  organ.  Veneration  is  a  large  organ,  and  as  such,  its  exer 
cise  affords  a  fountain  of  the  richest  and  most  exalted  pleasure. 
Every  living  mortal,  then,  should  daily  and  hourly  breathe  forth  holy 
aspirations  of  prayer  and  praise  to  his  Maker — should  "  keep  the 
fear  of  God  continually  before  his  eyes;"  should  cultivate  pious 
feelings  always.     Thus  saith  Phrenology. 

And  now,  reader,  art  thou  satisfied  as  to  whether  Phrenology  leads 
to  infidelity  and  atheism  ?  Is  not  its  moral  bearing  in  this  respect 
in  beautiful  harmony  with  the  requirements  of  Revelation?  The 
one  requires  all  human  beings  to  worship  God  in  spirit  and  in  truth, 
and  to  remember  that  "  Thou  God  seest  me,"  and  the  other,  by  im- 
planting this  Divine  sentiment  in  the  breast  of  every  man,  also  re- 


52  SECTARIANISM ITS    CAUSE    AND   REMEDY.  206 

quires  of  him  that  he  exercise  it  daili/  and  hahitually  in  religious 
worship. 

To  this  doctrine  that  Phrenology  proves  the  existence  of  a  God, 
by  pointing  out  a  natural  sentiment  of  worshipping  a  God,  it  is  often 
objected,  that,  "  If  this  religious  sentiment  were  natural,  it  would  lead 
all  men  to  entertain  similar  and  correct  religious  opinions,  and  give 
all  the  sa.'nie  views  in  regard  to  right  and  wrong.  But  men's  relig- 
ious opinions  differ  as  much  as  do  their  faces  ;  producing  all  our  sec- 
tarian diversities,  as  well  as  every  form  of  Pagan  worship,  however 
revolting  and  criminal."  To  this  I  answer,  (and  this  answer  not  only 
satisfactorily  explains  the  cause  of  these  religious  differences,  but  also 
developes  the  only  true  religion,  and  teaches  us  the  true  attributes  of 
the  Deity,)  that  every  phrenological  faculty  constitutes  a  medium,  or 
as,  it  were,  the  colored  glass,  through  which  the  mind  looks  at  all  ob- 
jects. As,  when  we  look  at  objects  through  green  glasses,  they  look 
green ;  when  through  yellow  glasses,  they  look  yellow  ;  when 
through  dark  shaded  or  smoky  glasses,  they  look  dark,  gloomy,  or 
smoky  ;  when  through  glasses  that  are  light  shaded,  they  look  light ; 
when  through  red  glasses,  every  thing  beheld  assumes  a  fiery  red 
aspect,  and  that,  too,  whatever  may  be  the  actual  color  of  those  ob- 
jects observed — so  the  phrenological  organs  constitute  the  mental 
glasses  through  which  we  look  at  mental  and  moral  objects.  Thus, 
those  in  whom  Acquisitiveness  or  love  of  money,  prevails,  look  at 
every  thing,  whether  matters  of  science,  or  religion,  or  politics,  or 
buisness,  not  in  the  light  of  pliilosophy,  or  the  welfare  of  man,  or  of 
right  and  moral  obligation,  but  in  the  light  o^dollars  and  cents  alone. 
But  he  in  whom  Benevolence  predominates,  looks  at  all  matters,  not 
in  the  light  of  their  effects  on  his  pockets,  but  in  their  bearing  on  the 
happiness  of  man.  He  in  whom  Conscientiousness  predominates, 
looks  at,  and  judges  of,  things,  neither  in  the  light  of  expediency,  nor 
of  their  pecuniary  advantages,  nor  self-interest  or  popularity,  but  in 
that  of  rigkt  and  duty,  and  dJosixdiCi  justice.  But  he  in  whom  Appro- 
bativeness  prevails,  seeks  popular  favor,  and  when  any  new  thing  is 
presented  to  his  mind,  say  Phrenology,  or  Magnetism,  or  any  thing 
v/hatever,  asks,  as  the  first  and  main  question,  not,  "  Is  it  true  ?"  nor, 
"  Is  it  philosophical  ?"  but,  "  What  will  the  folks  say  about  it,  and 
about  me  for  embracing  it?"  The  man  in  whom  the  Reasoning 
organs  predominate,  asks,  "  Is  it  reasonable  1  What  are  its  laws  ? 
Is  it  consistant  with,  itself  and  with  nature?"  and  looks  at  every  thing 
through  the  glasses  of  philosophy. 


207  SECTARLINISM   ACCOUNTED   POR   AND   ENPOSED.  53 

We  find  an  additional  illustration  of  this  principle,  in  appetite  for 
diiferent  kinds  of  food.  The  argument  is  just  as  conclusive  that  ap- 
petite is  not  a  natural,  constitutional  element  of  the  human  mind  be- 
cause some  men  love  some  things  and  dislike  others,  vs^hiie  others 
like  what  is  disliked  by  the  former,  and  dislike  what  is  liked  by  them, 
as  that  the  element  of  worship  is  not  a  primitive  faculty,  because  men's 
religious  tastes  and  opinions  differ.  Unless  appetite  were  natural, 
there  could  be  no  diversity  even.  No  such  idea  could  be  entertained 
or  conceived.  And  the  very  fact  of  such  diversity,  proves  the  point 
at  issue,  and  leaves  us  to  account  for  the  fact  of  this  diversity,  just  as 
we  are  left  to  account  for  diversity  in  appetites,  opinions,  &c. 

A  story  in  point : — A  man  born  blind,  was  once  asked,  what  idea 
he  had  of  colors.  He  answered  by  saying,  that  he  had  no  very  dis- 
tinct idea  of  them  any  way.  Pressed  still  farther,  and  asked  to  com- 
pare his  idea  of  them  to  something  as  nearly  like  them  as  possible, 
he  said  that  he  might  not  perhaps  be  right,  but  he  thought  they  very 
much  resembled  the  sound  of  a  trumpet.  Without  some  primitive 
faculty  for  perceiving  the  existence  of  a  God,  and  experiencing  the 
sentiment  of  Divine  worship,  men  could  no  more  form  an  estimate  of 
this  whole  matter,  than  the  blind  man  did  of  colors.  And  the  fact, 
that  men  do  form  these  ideas,  proves  the  existence  of  the  primary  fa- 
culty of  devotion ;  while  the  fact,  that  men  differ  as  to  their  ideas  of  a 
God,  shows  that  they  have  these  ideas,  and  therefore  have  the  faculty 
in  question,  while  the  fact  that  they  differ  is  perfectly  explainable  on 
the  ground  that  the  other  faculties  modify  these  ideas,  and  therefore 
that  this  is  caused  by  diversity  in  other  faculties. 

To  illustrate  still  father :  A  minister,  or  speaker,  has  the  motive 
or  powerful  temperament,  yet  with  none  of  the  pathetic,  together  with 
large  reasoning  organs,  and  large  conscientiousness,  but  small  ideality, 
eventuality,  and  language.  He  is  therefore  a  strong  reasoner,  and  a 
good  writer  and  theologian,  yet  he  has  no  eloquence,  no  emotion,  and 
no  beauty  of  style,  together  with  a  most  unfortunate  delivery.  Those 
hearers  who  are  similarly  organized,  have  their  organs  called  out  and 
gratified,  and  therefore  like  him  much.  But  others  who  have  an  op- 
posite organization,  finding  no  food  for  their  prevailing  faculties,  but 
seeing  the  full  force  of  every  defect,  dislike  him  as  much  as  the  others 
like  him — ^the  one  liking,  the  other  disliking  him,  for  precisely  the 
same  qualities.  Another  minister,  having  an  opposite  organization, 
will  be  liked  by  those  who  disliked  the  former,  and  disliked  by  those 
who  like  him.  This  shows  why  some  men  think  a  given  man 
highly  talented,  while  others,  who  know  him  equally  well,  think  him 


54  EXISTENCE   OF    A    GOD.  208 

a  simpleton — why,  in  short,  men  differ  in  their  tastes,  desires,  pur- 
suits, opinions.  Still,  as  this  diversity  of  opinion  in  matters  of  taste, 
does  not  prove  that  there  are  no  first  principles  of  taste  in  things,  or  fa- 
culty of  taste  in  men,  &c. ;  so,  the  corresponding  diversity  of  opinions 
as  to  the  character  of  a  God,  does  not  prove  that  there  is  no  primary 
element  in  man  for  the  worship  of  God. 

Should  a  picture,  perfect  in  every  respect,  be  hung  up  for  inspection, 
if  the  beholder  have  the  organ  of  size  only,  he  will  take  cognizance 
of  the  proportion  of  its  parts  and  admirable  perspective  only^  all  its 
other  qualities  being  a  dead  letter  to  him,  because  he  has  not  the  fac- 
ulties that  perceive  or  admire  them.  But,  add  the  organ  of  color,  and 
he  perceives  a  new  beauty  in  the  picture,  namely,  its  rich  and  variega- 
ted shades,  tints,  hues,  varnishes,  &c. ;  and  is  now  doubly  delighted  be- 
cause two  organs  are  agreeably  exercised.  Add  large  form,  and  a 
third  beauty  now  breaks  in  upon  him,  namely,  the  perfection  of  the 
likeness^  and  the  exquisiteness  o( figures  or  shape  given  to  the  persons 
and  things  represented  in  the  pkture.  Add  ideality,  and  still  another 
source  of  beauty  opens  upon  him — its  richness  of  taste,  its  admirable 
designs,  its  creations  of  fancy,  i!s  perfection  and  harmony  of  parts. 
Add  causality,  and  he  sees  the  moral  taught  and  the  sentiment  ex- 
pressed in  it,  and  so  of  the  other  organs.  His  views  of  the  picture  are 
more  and  more  perfect,  and  his  delight  greater,  and  stiU  greater,  by 
every  new  organ  added. 

So  of  Judgment.  The  man  who  has  large  color,  is  a  good  judge 
of  colors,  but  if  causality  be  small,  he  is  a  poor  judge  of  ways  and 
means  ;  but  he  in  whom  causality  is  large  and  color  small,  is  a  good 
judge  of  plans,  ways  and  means,  the  feasibility  of  measures,  and 
every  thing  requiring  the  exercise  of  causality,  but  a  poor  judge  of 
every  thing  appertaining  to  colors.  If  ideality  be  large  and  con- 
structiveness  be  small,  his  judgment  of  poetry,  propriety,  and  matters 
of  taste,  will  be  good,  but  of  mechanics,  poor.  If  size  be  large  and 
conscientiousness  be  small,  he  is  a  good  judge  of  bulk,  and  the 
weight  of  things  by  looking  at  them,  of  height,  perpendicularity,  &c. 
yet  a  poor  one  in  matters  of  right  and  wrong.  If  one's  perceptive 
organs  and  acquisitiveness  be  large,  and  conscientiousness  and 
causality  be  moderate,  his  juugmemt  of  the  value  of  property,  the 
qualities  of  goods,  a  good  bargain,  or  horse,  or  any  thing  appertaining 
to  those  organs,  will  be  good,  but  of  moral  reasoning  and  of  what  is 
right  between  man  and  man,  poor  indeed.  But  he  who  has  all  the 
organs  fully  and  evenly  developed  will  take  consistent  and  correct 
views  of  all  subjects,  have  good  judgment  about  every  thing,  and  en- 


209         SECTARIANISM  ACCUNTED  FOR.  AND  EXPOSED,  55 

tertain  comprehensive  and  consistent  opinions.  This  principle  of 
Phrenology  is  clear,  and  its  application  universal.  Hence  the  Phre- 
nological developments  of  a  man,  tell  us  w^hat  is  the  color  of  the  glasses 
through  virhich  he  looks,  and  what  kind  of  judgment  is  poor  and 
what  good. 

Now  let  us  apply  this  principle  to  the  religious  opinions  of  mankind, 
for  it  holds  equally  true  of  his  religious  judgment,  feelings,  and  opin- 
ions. Veneration  worships  God,  but  the  other  organs  color  our  views 
of  the  character  and  attributes  of  God.  Thus,  the  ancient  Greeks  and 
Romans  had  large  veneration,  and  were  very  religious,  but  their  other 
moral  organs  were  small,  and  their  animal  propensities  were  strong, 
so  that  they  worshipped  gods  of  various  animal  passions.  Their 
large  veneration,  combining  with  their  very  large  amativeness, 
worshipped  a  Venus,  or  the  goddess  of  love  and  beauty ;  combining 
with  their  very  large  combativeness  and  destructiveness,  worshipped 
a  Mars,  or  the  god  of  war,  and  carnage,  and  blood  ;  with  their  pow- 
erful alimentiveness,  worshipped  a  Bacchus,  or  the  god  of  feasting, 
revelry,  and  wine ;  with  their  large  acquisitiveness,  worshipped  the 
god  Terminus,  who  guarded  their  boundaries,  and  protected  their 
goods  from  pillage ;  Avith  large  secretiveness,  worshipped  a  Mercury, 
or  the  god  of  cunning,  finesse,,  duplicity,  theft,  &-c.  But  they  had 
large  intellectual  organs,  as  well  as  powerful,  unbridled  passions. 
Hence,  they  worshipped  a  Jupiter,  the  great  director  and  manager  of 
the  universe,  and  the  governor  of  the  gods ;  but  a  god  full  of  most 
disgusting  amours,  most  vindictive  and  revengeful,  without  moral 
principle,  and  swayed  by  a  power  of  animal  passions  as  much  above 
that  of  mortals  as  he  himself  was  rated  superior  to  them. 

And  now,  ye  sectarians,  do  ye  see  why  ye  differ  and  quarrel  about 
religion  ?  Your  organs  differ,  and  this  diversifies  and  distracts  your 
religious  views  and  feelings.  One  sect  has  one  set  of  organs,  or  looks 
through  glasses  of  one  color,  and  another  sect  has  on  glasses  of  anoth- 
er color,  and  both  are  looking  at  the  same  object  and  quarrelling 
about  its  color.  One  has  got  on  green  glasses,  and  is  stoutly  contend- 
ing that  God  is  green ;  another,  with  yellow  glasses  on,  is  as  stoutly 
contradicting  the  greenness*  of  the  Deity,  and  maintaining  that  he  is 
yellow.  But  the  Atheist  has  black  glasses  on,  Avhich  shut  out  all  light, 
and  therefore  he  maintains  that  there  is  no  God,  because  he  can  see 
none.     Foolish  all .     Take  off  your  glasses.     Look  at  God  with  the 

*  Far  be  it  from  me  to  make  light  of  things  sacred,  but  I  do  design  to  ridicule 
sectarianism  for  maintaining  absm-dities  as  great  as  that  God  is  green,  or  yellcw. 


56  EXISTENCE    OF   A    GOD.  210 

natural  eye  of  fully  and  evenly  developed  moral  organs,  and  you  will 
"behold  him  as  he  is,"  and  "worship  him  in  spirit  and  in  truth." 

In  accordance  with  this  principle,  each  modern  religious  sect  has 
its  own  peculiar  set  of  phrenological  developments,  which  harmonizes 
perfectly  which  the  peculiarities  of  its  creed.  To  show  minutely  what 
developments  characterize  each,  and  their  departures  from  the  only 
true  standard  of  religious  faith  and  practice  involved  in  this  principle, 
would  be  to  thrust  my  face  into  a  hornet's  nest  of  the  worst  character, 
which  is  unnecessary,  yet  I  will  give  a  few  illustrations.  Universa- 
lists  almost  invariably  have  large  veneration,  combined  with  predom- 
inant benevolence  and  adhesiveness,  and  moderate  destructiveness, 
and  hence  they  adore  God  for  his  goodness  mainly,  and  dwell  in 
glowing  colors  upon  his  love ;  while  the  old-fashioned  Calvinists 
usually  have  large  veneration,  with  predominant  self-esteem  and 
firmness,  and  large  conscientiousness,  and  accordingly  adore  the 
sovereignty  and  unbending  justice  of  God.  Has  not  the  reader  often 
seen  stiff  orthodox  deacons,  whose  heads  rose  rapidly  from  the  intellec- 
tual organs  to  firmness  and  self-esteem,  showing  more  reverence 
than  benevolence,  and  more  firmness  and  conscientiousness  than 
either,  with  a  tolerably  Avide  head  1  But  did  a  Methodist,  or  Univer- 
salist,  or  Unitarian,  or  Episcopalian,  ever  have  this  form  of  head  ? 
These  remarks  do  not  apply,  however,  to  Congregationalists,  nor  to  be- 
lievers in  the  "New  School"  doctrines,  whose  conscientiousness  usu- 
ally predominates  and  self-esteem  is  only  moderate,  and  destructive- 
ness seldom  more  than- full,  and  whose  high-toned,  or  rather  ultra 
Calvinistic  notions,  are  materially  softened  down.  In  them,  amative- 
ness  is  usually  moderate,  and  accordingly  they  abhor  no  sin  more  than 
its  perversion.  Episcopalians  usually  have  large  veneration,  with 
predominant  benevolence  and  large  ideality,  firmness,  self-esteem 
and  social  faculties,  consicentiousness  being  not  always  large,  though 
often  full ;  and  hence  they  place  their  religion  in  works  of  charity, 
and  in  attending  "  the  church,-'  rather  than  in  penitence,  and  are  not 
as  strict  and  rigid  as  the  orthodox ;  yet  they  are  always  genteel,  rather 
exclusive,  and  eminently  social.  Nearly  all  their  women  have  su- 
perior heads,  are  remarkable  for  devotion,  good  sense,  for  the  domes- 
tic qualities,  and  especially  for  benevolence.  The  duakers  have  no 
characteristic  moral  developments,  and  accordingly  allow  their  mem- 
bers to  hold  any  and  every  belief,  provided  they  do  thus  and  so.  In- 
fidels, Deists,  &c.,  usually  have  moderate  hope,  small  veneration, 
scarcely  the  least  marvellousness,  large  benevolence,  and  conscien- 


211         SECTARIANISM  ACCOUNTED  FOR  AND  EXPOSED.  57 

tiousness  variable.  I  never  saw  one  of  Infidel  sentiments  who  had  not 
a  poorly  balanced  moral  head.* 

Those  who  have  conscientiousnes  predominant,  Avith  small  vener- 
ation and  marvellousness,  place  their  religion  in  doing  right,  or  in 
honesty  and  morality,  but  disregard  the  externals  of  religion,  while 
those  in  whom  these  organs  are  reversed,  attend  to  its  outward  forms 
and  ceremonies :  but,  though  they  are  devout,  yet  they  are  often  unjust 
and  immoral.  Those  in  whom  benevolence  predominates,  place  their 
religion  in  doing  good,  to  the  neglect  of  other  Christian  duties ;  those  in 
whom  marvellousness  is  great,  regard  religion  as  consisting  in  faith, 
and  implicit  reliance  upon  Divine  providence ;  but  those  in  whom  this 
organ  is  small,  do  not  feel  that  awe  of  God,  that  sense  of  the  Divine 
presence,  which  this  faculty  inspires,  but  attribute  all  events  to  cause 
and  effect.  But  those  in  whom  all  these  organs  are  fully  and  evenly 
developed,  "  put  on  the  whole  armor  of  righteousness."  They  do 
good,  do  right,  worship  their  God,  and  trust  in  his  providence  ; 
which,  united,  constitute  the  very  ^e?/ec^io?z.  of  the  Christian  charac- 
ter. Such  live  a  blameless  life,  worthy  of  admiration  and  imitation  ; 
whilst  imperfect  religious  faith  or  practice  is  the  natural  fruit  of  un- 
evenly developed  moral  organs. 

In  harmony  with  this  principle,  that  each  phrenological  organ 
stamps  its  impress  upon  the  religious  opinions  of  its  possessor,  it  fol- 
lows, that  those  in  whom  all  the  moral  organs  are  fully  and  evenly 
developed,  will  entertain  consistent  and  correct  religious  opinions, 
and  view  the  character  and  attributes  of  the  Deity  as  they  are.  If,  as 
already  seen,  veneration,  with  predominant  benevolence,  worship  a 
God  of  kindness  ;  with  predominant  conscientiousness,  a  God  of  un- 
bending justice  ;  with  large  causality,  as  the  great  first  Cause  of  all 
things  ;  with  large  self-esteem  and  firmness,  as  the  great  Sovereign  of 
the  universe,  immutable,  omnipotent,  unchanging  and  unchangable ; 
clothed  with  authority,  and  doing  his  own  will  and  pleasure  in  the 

*  The  proverb  that  we  judge  others  by  ourselves,  is  in  harmony  with  this 
principle,  and  illustrates  it.  Thousands  of  times  in  my  professional  practice, 
when  I  have  ascribed  to  a  man  a  strong  ruling  passion,  say  love  of  praise,  for 
example,  telling  him  that  he  is  excessively  sensitive  to  praise  and  reproach, 
<'  And  so  is  every  one,"  is  the  usual  reply.  Perhaps  the  next  man  I  examine, 
will  have  small  Approbativeness  and  large  Self-Esteem.  I  tell  him  that  he  does 
not  care  a  straw  for  the  opinions  of  others.  "  Well,  who  does  ?  for  I'm  sure  I 
don't,"  or,  "  He's  a  fool  who  does,"  is  apt  to  be  the  response.  What  we  love 
desire,  hate,  &c.,  we  are  almost  sure  to  think  others  love,  desire,  hate,  &e.,  and 
most  men  Judge  others  by  themselves,  which  is  only  another  illustration  of  thia 
principle. 


68  EXISTENCE   OF   A   GOD.  212 

armies  of  heaven  above,  and  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  be- 
neath, &c. ;  then  one  in  whom  benevolence  is  large,  will  worship 
him  for  his  great  goodness  to  the  children  of  men ;  in  whom  benev- 
olence and  Conscientiousness  both  predominate,  as  kind  but  just ;  and 
with  firmness,  combativeness,  destructiveness,  and  self-esteem  add- 
ed, as  "  a  God  merciful  and  gracious,  long-suffering,  and  abundant 
in  goodness  and  truth,  and  who  will  by  no  means  clear  the  guilty ;" 
as  perfectly  holy  himself,  and  requiring  holiness  in  all  his  creatures ; 
as  creating  and  governing  them  with  a  wise  reference  to  their  great- 
est ultimate  good,  and  in  doing  this,  as  rewarding  those  who  obey  his 
laws,  and  as  punishing  those  who  disobey ;  or,  rather,  as  infinitely 
benevolent,  yet  as  a  God  who  will  "  not  let  the  wicked  go  unpunish- 
ed;" with  large  cautiousness  and  philoprogenitivenes,  as  exercising 
a  fatherly  care  over  his  children,  and  providing  a  bountiful  supply 
for  all  their  wants,  &c.  Hence,  one  having  all  these  organs  fully 
and  evenly  developed,  will  take  all*  the  characteristics  of  the  Deity 
into  account,  and  give  each  their  due  proportion ;  because  the  moral 
constitution  of  things  must  necessarily  harmonize  with  the  moral 
character  and  attributes  of  God,  and  man's'  moral  character,  as  far 
as  it  goes,  must  tally  with  the  attributes  of  the  Deity,  as  already  seen. 
Consequently,  if  an  individual  possess  a  well-balanced  and  a  perfectly 
developed  phrenological  organization, f  or  have  all  the  organs  large 
and  unperverted ;  his  views  of  the  character,  attributes,  and  govern- 
ment of  God,  Avill  be  consistent  and  correct.  And  the  nearer  one's  head 
approaches  to  this  phrenological  standard  of  perfection,  the  more  cor- 
rect will  be  his  moral  feelings  and  conduct,  as  well  as  his  religious 
opinions  and  worship.  But  the  further  one's  head  departs  from  this 
standard,  that  is,  the  more  uneven  one's  head,  and  more  imperfectly 
balanced  his  organs^  the  more  erroneous  will  be  his  religious  opin- 
ions, and  proportionally  imperfect  his  moral  conduct  and  his  worship. 

*  For  ought  we  know,  the  Deity  may  have  other  attributes  as  conspicuous  in 
his  character  as  his  benevolence,  or  justice,  or  wisdom,  which  man  has  now  no 
faculty  for  perceiviug,  and.  to  which  he  has  no  faculty  adapted,  just  as  the  bmte 
creation  have  no  faculty  adapted  to,  or  capable  of  perceiving,  either  his  existence 
or  any  of  his  attributes.  This,  however,  is  all  conjecture  ;  but  as  far  as  man's 
faculties  do  go,  they  harmonize  with  and  lead  him  to  adore  God  as  he  is  to 
man. 

t  In  my  work  on  Education  and  Self-Tmprovment.  p. 11.5,  the  reader  will  fincl 
this  pinciple  carried  out  and  applied  to  the  phrenological  definition  of  a  good, 
or  rather  perfect,  head  and  character — a  principle  than  which  none  is  more  im 
portant,  and  the  application  of  which  will  heal  most  of  the  religious  and  other 
differences  existin"  among  men. 


213  VENERATION   SUBDUES  THE  PROPENSITIES.  59 

By  the  application  of  this  principle  to  his  own  head,  every  individ- 
ual can  see  at  a  glance  the  departures  of  his  own  religious  opinions 
and  practices  from  this  the  true  standard  of  our  nature,  pointed  out  by 
Phrenology.  If  his  veneration  be  moderate  or  small,  he  thinks  too 
little  of  divine  things,  and  should  cultivate  his  sentiment  of  devotion. 
If  his  firmness,  self-esteem,  combativeness,  and  conscientiousness 
predominate  over  his  benevolence,  that  is,  if  his  head  rises  higher  on 
the  back  part  of  the  top  than  on  the  fore  part  of  the  top,  and  forms  a 
kind  of  apex  near  the  crown,  his  notions  of  the  character  and  govern- 
ment of  God  are  too  austere  and  orthodox.  But,  on  the  other 
hand,  if  his  benevolence  rises  high,  and  his  conscientiousness,  cau- 
tiousness and  destructiveness  be  only  moderately  developed,  he 
takes  the  other  extreme,  and  regards  God  as  all  kindness,  but  not 
retributive.  If  causality  and  conscientiousness  predominate,  and  venera- 
tion and  marvellousness  be  moderate  or  small,  he  is  too  radical  and  ultra. 
He  is  speculative,  hypothetical,  and  more  moral  than  pious.  Let  him 
pray  more,  and  theorise  less.  So,  if  veneration  be  larger  than  reason, 
let  him  remember,  that  he  is  too  apt  to  believe  as  he  is  told  to  believe, 
and  requires  to  use  more  intellect  along  with  his  religious  feeling. 
But  the  principle  is  before  the  reader.  Let  each  apply  accordingly 
as  his  developments  may  require,  and  let  all  profit  by  the  great  lesson 
taught  thereby.  By  this  standard — this  moral  formula — any  and 
every  one  should  test  his  religion,  and  then  should  both  cultivate  the 
deficient  moral  organs,  and  also  put  his  intellect  over  against  his 
warped  and  contracted  feelings.  By  analyzing  the  phrenological  or- 
gans, his  intellect  can  and  should  inform  him  what  is  the  true  and 
natural  standard  of  religious  belief  and  practice,  and  to' this  standard 
let  all  conform.  Then  will  sectarianism  hide  its  hydra  head.  Then 
will  all  embrace  the  same  doctrines  of  truth,  and  "  do  works  meet  for 
repentance."     "  He  that  is  wise,  is  wise /or  himsetf.'^ 

It  should  be  added  that  the  physical  position  or  location  of  venera- 
tion, as  regards  the  other  moral  organs,  is  in  beautiful  keeping  with 
its  powerful  influence  over  the  feelings  and  conduct  of  man.  As  al- 
ready seen,  the  moral  organs  are  grouped  together  in  the  top  of  the 
head,  and  veneration  occupies  the  centre  of  this  group,  where  it  can 
unite  and  control,  in  no  small  degree,  the  action  of  the  others.  In 
harmony  with  this  fact  it  is,  that  no  organ  in  the  human  head  is  more 
promotive  of  virtue  and  happiness,  none  exerts  a  greater  or  more  salu" 
tary  influence  over  the  animal  passions  of  man,  or  modifies  his  conduct 
more,  than  the  worship  of  God,  and  his  religious  opinions.  What 
exalts,  ennobles,  and  purifies  the  soul  of  man  more — what  more  efFec- 


60  THE    TKUE    ST^VNDjiE,D    OF   RELIGION.  214 

tually  restrains  his  boiling,  furious  passions,  than  the  thought,  "  Thou, 
God,  seest  me"  ?  Who,  while  realizing  that  the  eye  of  his  Maker 
and  final  Judge  is  steadfastly  fixed  upon  him,  can  knowingly  commit 
sin  ?  And  if  you  wish  effectually  to  restrain  childhood  and  youth,  praT/ 
with  the  erring  sinner,  and  you  will  subdue  him  and  his  passions. 
Or  if  your  own  animal  luslings  require  restraint,  if  temptation  be 
strong  and  resistance  be  weak,  pray  to  thy  Father  who  seeth  in  secret, 
pray  fervently  and  cultivate  an  abiding  sense  of  his  presence,  and  he 
will  succor  thee,  and  give  thee  the  victory  over  thy  easily  desetting  sins ; 
for,  veneration  is  the  7iatural  antagonist  of  the  animal  propensities. 
Nor  is  it  till  the  propensities  have  wheedled  and  cajoled  veneration  into 
the  adoption  of  a  religion  in  which  they  can  find  gratification,  that 
man  can  be  wicked  and  yet  he  devout.  Think  you,  that,  unless  the 
excessive  approbativness,  or  the  besetting  vanity  of  modern,  so  ealled, 
Christians,  had  cast  dust  in  the  eyes  of  intellect,  and  coaxed  veneration 
into  a  tacit  admission,  that  decent  attire  is  promotive  of  worship,  ven- 
eration Avould  have  at  all  tolerated  the  disgnsting  and  wicked  vanity, 
and  show,  and  fashionable  glitter  of  our  fashionable  worshippers  ? 
But  for  this  perversion  of  veneration,  long  ago  would  she  have 
driven  every  fashonable  bonnet,  and  dress,  and  cloak,  and  coat,  and 
hat,  and  corset,  and  bustle  from  the  sanctuary,  and  mterdicted  church 
fellowship  to  every  fashion-loving  man  and  woman,  and  because  they 
loved  the  fashions  more  than  the  plain-dressed  Savior  of  mankind. 
Ye  fashion-loving,  gaudy  religionists,  let  this  merited  rebuke  sink 
deep  into  your  hearts  ;  for,  remember,  that  the  more  you  think  of  out- 
side appearances,  the  less  you  think  of  the  true,  spiritual  worship  of 
God. 


215  THE   TRUE   RELIGION   AND    THE   FALSE.  61 

SECTION  11. 

THE   TRUE   RELIGION    AND    THE   FALSE. 

■  And  now,  reader,  dost  thou  ask,  what  kind  of  religion  is  that  re- 
quired by  Phrenology  ?  I  answer,  unhesitatingly — I  answer,  in  the 
name  of  this  great  principle  of  man's  nature — That  which  harmo- 
nizes with  all  the  faculties  of  man  in  their  normal,  constitutional  ac- 
tion. That  which  calls  out  all ;  which  blends  with  all ;  which  satis- 
fies all.  Thus,  the  socal  and  domestic  feelings  should  each,  all,  be 
exercised  in  conjunction  with  the  religious  sentiments.  Connubial 
love — that  sacred,  heaven-born  emotion  of  the  soul  of  man — should 
be  exercised  with  prayer.  Animal  love — lust — may  not — does  not — 
invoke  the  blessing  of  heaven.  But  I  believe  it  to  be  natural  for  those 
who  feel  the  sacrad  fires  of  pure,  connubial  love  warming  their  in- 
most souls,  and  cementing  their  affections,  to  pray  for,  to  pray  Avith, 
the  object  of  their  love.  Husbands  and  wives,  and  also  lovers,  ought 
always,  as  their  hearts  go  out  to  each  other,  to  let  them  also  go  out 
after  God.  They  ought  to  hold  sweet  coihmunion  together  upon  hea- 
ven and  heavenly  things  ;  ought  to  excite  each  other  to  holy  deeds 
and  heavenly  aspirations,  as  well  as  to  season  all  their  conversation, 
their  whole  conduct,  with  the  savor  of  religion.  I  do  aver,  in  the 
light  of  this  clearly  established  principle,  about  which  there  can  be  no 
question,  that  true  love  cannot  exist,  in  all  its  power  and  loveliness, 
without  co-existing  with  religion,  and,  vice  versa^  that  true  religion 
cannot  exist  in  all  its  glory  and  power,  without  commingling  with  this 
sacred  element.  To  be  truly  pious,  and  to  the  fullest  extent,  it  is  in- 
dispensable, not  only  that  the  person  be  married,  really  if  not  nomi- 
nally, but  that  the  partner  of  his  joys  and  sorrows,  be  also  a  partaker 
in  his  holy  aspirations.  This  principle  exhorts,  commands  husbands 
and  wives  to  cultivate  this  reciprocity  of  religious  feeling.  And  it 
admonishes  those  who  talk  religion  to  others,  but  not  to  their  families, 
that  they  are  inconsistent.  That  where  they  require  the  most,  there 
they  have  the  least. 

It  also,  and  for  the  same  reason,  requires  parents  to  cultivate 
the  religious  sentiment  in  their  children.  Parents  can  do  this  far  bet- 
ter than  the  clergyman  can.  The  latter  see  children  but  seldom,  and 
then  do  not  always  improve  every  opportunity  to  excite  the  religious 
feelings.  And  then,  too,  it  is  not  possible  for  any  one  but  those  who 
have  the  care  of  childhood,  and  are  constantly  loith  then,  to  cultivate 


62  THE  TRUE   RELIGION   AND   THE   FALSE.  216 

this  element.  The  Sabbath  school  teacher  sees  the  pupil  but  once  a 
week,  and  then  but  an  hour,  and  what  is  more,  he  spends  that  hour 
in  expounding  some  religico-doctrinal  point.  He  rarely  excites  the  re- 
ligious spirit.  To  teach  a  cbild  religion,  you  must  get  the  love  of 
that  child.  Parents  can  do  this  more  effectually  than  all  others  com- 
bined. Clergymen  cannot  do  it.  Sabbath  school  and  Bible  class 
teachers  cannot  do  it.  Parents  must  do  it.  And  I  fear  that  these  re- 
ligious schools  called  Sabbath  schools  and  Bible  classes,  will  do  more 
harm  than  good ;  because  parents  will  rely  on  them  to  do  up  the  reli- 
gion for  their  children,  and  thus  fail  to  discharge  that  daily  duty,  or, 
rather  pleasure,  which  devolves  especially  on  parents.  And  then,  too, 
they  are  generally  used  to  teach  sectarianism.  This,  I  abominate.  1 
would  have  parents  teach  their  children  religion  along  with  science. 
I  would  have  them  ^teach  God  in  all  that  is  taught.  Would  have  pa- 
rents explain  the  book  of  nature  to  their  children — expound  God  in 
every  thing.  I  would  have  them  taught  science,  but  I  Avould  have  no 
fact  taught  them  without  teaching  natural  theology  along  with  sci- 
ence, pari  passu. 

So,  Phrenology  recommends,  even  enjoins,  family  prayer.  Family 
prayer  blends  the  social  and  the  devotional  so  beautifully  !  It  pro- 
motes family  affection.  It  secures  family  obedience.  It,  especially 
in  the  evening,  calms  and  quiets  the  mind,  and  prepares  it  for  sleep. 
Indeed,  families  should  set  as  much  by  the  family  altar,  as  by  the  fa- 
mily table.  So,  Phrenology  recommends  saying  grace  before  meals — • 
that  is,  of  exercising  devotion  along  with  appetite.  Social,  neighbor- 
hood prayer  meetings,  and  the  exciting  of  our  neighbours  and  friends  to 
religious  exercises,  &c.,  are  also  recommended,  even  enjoined,  by  this 
principle.  At  the  south,  where  neighbors  live  too  far  apart  to  see 
each  other  often,  it  is  quite  the  custom  to  stay  an  hour  after  service, 
and  gratify  the  social  feeling,  by  exchanging  compliments,  news, 
friendly  feelings,  neighborhood  incidents,  &c.,  and  its  participators 
describe  it  as  most  delightful.  So  the  duaker,  strict  to  attend  church, 
asks  his  friends  home  to  dinner  or  supper ;  and  then  a  cordial,  friend- 
ly interchange  of  sentiments  and  pleasureable  feeling  ensues,  where 
all  ceremony,  all  restraint,  are  banished,  and  you  indeed  feel  at  home 
and  happy.  This  is  as  it  should  be.  At  all  events,  let  us  have  con- 
nubial religion,  parental  religion,  family  religion,  and  friendly  reli- 
gion, and  let  neither  be  separated  from  the  other. 

So,  we  should  make  money,  but  we  should  never  let  love  of  riches 
interfere  with  religion.  It  should  indeed  be  a  part  of  our  religion  to 
acquire  sufficient  of  this  world's  goods  to  live  comfortably.     And  I 


217  RICH   RELIGION.  63 

am  plain  to  say,  that  I  think  giving  money  in  order  to  promote  reli- 
gion, is  clearly  engrafted  on  this  principle.  I  believe  it  to  be  right — 
to  be  promotive  of  our  own  happiness — that  we  give  money  to  ad- 
vance the  cause  of  religion. 

It  would  be  quite  in  place  here  to  animadvert  upon  the  prevailing 
spirit  of  money-making  which  characterizes  our  age  and  nation,  and 
is  not  wholly  unknown  to  professors  cf  rehgion.  Well  has  the  Bible 
pronounced  the  love  of  money  to  be  the  "  root  of  all  evil."  Many — 
most — of  the  other  vices  that  disgrace  and  torment  man,  come  from 
this  prolific  source.  All  our  robberies,  burglaries,  defalcations,  dis- 
honesty, forgeries,  gambling,  racing,  betting,  &c.  &c.  to  an  unlimited 
extent.  Many  of  our  murders.  Much  of  the  vice  and  wretchedness 
of  the  rich,  and  most  of  the  grasping,  shark-like  selfishness  and  rapa- 
city of  all  classes.  This  is  not  Bible  religion.  It  is  not  phrenologi- 
cal religion.  The  former  is  full  of  denunciations  against  it.  The 
latter  reiterates  these  denunciations,  and  enforces  them  by  the  sanc- 
tions of  the  natural  laws.  Why  is  it,  then,  that  those  who  bear  the 
name  of  Christ,  and  profess  to  be  his  followers,  should,  in  the  very 
teeth  of  the  Bible,  in  the  face  of  natural  religion,  and  in  the  eyes  of 
their  own  and  their  children's  virtue  and  happiness,  allow  them- 
selves to  amass  immense  wealth,  and  so  set  their  hearts  upon  it  ?  I 
do  not  see  but  that  there  is  about  as  much  of  this  worldly  spirit,  this 
lusting  after  "mammon,"  and  this  idolatrous  worship  of  it,  too,  in  the 
church  as  there  is  out  of  it.  I  do  not  see  but  that  the  pretended  fol- 
lowers of  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus,  who  was  so  poor  that  he  had  not 
where  to  lay  his  head,  have  as  much  aristocratical  exclusiveness  on 
account  of  wealth,  as  those  who  make  no  such  pretentions.  I  do  not 
see  that  they  give  more — that  they  give  as  much — for  the  promulga- 
tion of  the  peace-giving,  soul-cleansing  "  gospel  of  the  son  of  man,''  as 
politicians  do  to  secure  party  elections  ;  as  pleasure  lovers  do  to  se- 
cure pleasure ;  as  other  men  do  to  secure  other  objects.  This  ought 
not  so  to  be.  Surely,  the  objects,  ends,  of  the  true  Christian,  infinitely 
supersede  those  of  the  man  of  the  world.  Why,  then,  should  not  ef- 
forts to  promote  the  ends  of  religion,  be  made  with  corresponding  vi- 
gor 1  I  do  not  say  but  that  religionists  often  give  liberally  to  promote 
their  sectarian  creeds — ^to  build  up  their  church — to  secure  the  ser- 
vices of  some  renowned  minister,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing.  But,  is 
that  piety  ?  Does  it  really  promote  the  cause  of  either  true  religion 
or  human  happiness  ? 

So,  too,  I  do  not  see  but  that  wealth  gives  a  man  as  much  charac- 
ter in  the  church  as  out  of  it.     Be  a  man  but  rich  in  the  church,  and 


64  ,  PERNICIOUS   INFLUENCE    OF   MAMMON.  218 

he  has  the  say.  He  is  the  leader.  Ministers,  be  thej;-  ever  so  good, 
are  his  play-things.  The  managing  committee  know  full  well,  that 
they  must  choose  and  dismiss  siich  ministers  as  he  says,  or,  possibly, 
which  his  sinful  propensities  say,  or  else  lose  his  subscription ;  and 
that  of  course  must  be  secured,  right  or  wrong,  come  what  may. 
And  ministers,  too,  sometimes  bow  to  the  rich  men  of  their  parishes. 
Sometimes — hush !  "  Tell  it  not  in  Gath."  Let  such  church  mana- 
gers, and  such  ministers,  too,  humble  themselves  in  sackcloth  and 
ashes.  Behold  the  spectacle !  Religion,  with  all  its  high  and  holy 
claims — all  its  eternal  sanctions — kneeling  do\vn  and  doing  homage 
to  the  idol  of  mammon !  Bowing  her  sacred  neck  to  his  infernal 
chains !  Oh  !  Jesus,  are  these  thy  sheep  1  Do  they  bear  thy  image, 
and  hear  thy  voice  ?  I  now  submit,  whether  this  pretty  widely  ex- 
tended fact,  as  to  the  religion  of  the  day,  does  not  say,  and  in  the  lan- 
guage of  the  Bible,  "  Ye  have  no  part  nor  lot  in  this  matter."  This 
mammon-loving,  or  the  Christ-following  spirit  and  conduct,  form  a 
kind  of  test  of  true  Christianity,  and,  tried  by  this  test,  weighed  in 
this  balance,  I  submit  to  nine-tenths  of  the  professed  followers  of  Jesus 
Christ,  whether  you  are  really  his  followers  or  his  betrayers.  I  know 
this  is  plain  talk,  but,  remember,  it  has  both  science  and  the  Bible  on 
its  side,  and  only  a  miserly,  penurious,  bauble-loving  propensity 
against  it.  The  Bible  says,  "  Be  ye  not  conformed  to  this  world." 
"  Unless  ye  forsake  all,  and  follow  me,  ye  cannot  be  my  disciples," 
&c.,  to  almost  any  number  of  like  passages.  And  Phrenology  says, 
never  let  animal  Acquisitiveness  rule  spiritual  Devotion :  Subject 
thy  love  of  money  to  thy  love  of  God.  Exercise  thy  love  of  money 
never,  but  in  obedience  to  thy  moral  sentiments. 

Reader !  AHoav  me  to  call  your  attention  to  the  harmony  between 
this  precept  of  the  Bible,  and  this  requisition  of  Phrenology ;  and  then 
to  ask  how  many  tares  there  are  growing  within  the  folds  of  the 
Christian  churches  to  every  stalk  of  wheat  ?  I  recommend  those  whose 
names  are  enrolled  on  our  church  records,  to  read  a  small  work  enti- 
tled "  Mammon,  the  Sin  of  the  Christian  Church,"  and  then  read  the 
great  law  of  the  nature  of  man,  which  requires  that  all  the  animal 
propensities  be  subjected  to  the  royal  family  of  the  moral  sentiments, 
whose  President  is,  Veneration.  I  call  upon  rich  Christians  [?  hot  ice  !j 
to  empty  their  coffers,  or  erase  their  names.  I  tell  ministers — I  tell 
churches — but  ye  know,  now.     See  that  ye  do. 

It  was  said  above,  that  appetite  should  be  exercised  in  conjunction 
with  veneration,  as  well  as  all  the  other  organs.  The  Jewish  passover 
furnishes  an  illustration  of  this  principle,  and  so  does  or  should  our ' 


219  THE    SACRAMENTS.  65 

thanksgivings.  It  is  proper  that  we  eat  with  special  reference  to  the 
exercise  of  the  religious  feelings.  I  do  not  say  that  all  our  eating 
should  be  of  that  class,  nor  that  we  should,  or  should  not,  have  par- 
ticular days  and  seasons — annual,  periodical  or  otherwise,  for  reli- 
gious festivals.  I  rather  think,  however,  that  we  should ;  partly  as 
tallismen  of  the  lapse  of  time,  and  partly  that  friends  at  a  distance  may 
know  that  on  particular  days,  a  gathering  of  old  friends  will  take 
place,  as  on  thanksgiving,  or  christmas,  or  other  occasions. 

So,  also,  tune  should  be  exercised  with  veneration.  It  is  proper 
that  we  sing  religion,  as  well  as  converse  religion,  &c.  Sacred  mu- 
sic is  natural  to  man — grows  spontaneously  on  the  tree  of  man's  na- 
ture. Remarks  on  the  character  of  church  music  would  be  in  place 
here,  but  suffice  it  for  the  present  merely,  that  we  have  called  the  at- 
tention to  this  doctrine  of  Phrenology. 

In  like  manner,  man  should  exercise  his  mirthfulness  along  with 
his  religious  feelings.  Let  us  have  no  gloomy,  acetic  piety.  No  fears 
that  we  are  too  great  sinners  to  be  pardoned — no  oppressive  feelings 
of  self-condemnation.  Let  us  mingle  cheerfulness,  and  even  a  spor- 
tive mirth-making  disposition,  perhaps  evenlaughter,along  with  reli- 
gion. The  idea  that  to  make  fun  is  wrong — to  be  jocose  and  witty 
are  sinful — is  erroneous,  and  yet  quite  common.  Many,  in  ignorance 
of  this  principle,  suffer  great  condemnation  for  doing  what  it  is  per- 
fectly right  that  they  should  do,  namely,  being  lively  and  jocose.  If 
to  be  witty  and  funny  had  been  sinful  in  itself,  God  would  never  have 
created  the  organ  and  faculty  in  man.  But  the  exercise  of  this  facul- 
ty, besides  being  so  rich  a  source  of  enjoyment,  is  pre-eminently 
healthy  and  promotive  of  all  the  great  functions  of  life — digestion,  re- 
spiration, circulation,  vitality,  and  all  their  attendant  blessings.  I  re- 
gard the  proper  exercise  of  mirthfulness  as  pre-eminently  a  religous 
duty,  as  well  as  most  happy  in  all  its  effects. 

So,  also,  we  should  exercise  our  intellect  along  with  our  religion. 
We  should  study  the  works  of  God,  and  the  character  of  God  as  ex- 
hibited in  his  works.  And  we  should  especially  exercise  reason  along 
with  our  religion.  It  is  entirely  proper  also  to  open  literary  societies 
with  prayer,  and  to  introduce  natural  theology  into  the  pulpit.  If  our 
clergymen  would  take  the  eye,  and  by  unfolding  its  constructions, 
show  how  beautifully  and  wonderfully  every  part  of  it  is  adapted  to 
seeing,  and  to  light — if  they  would  unfold  man  anatomically,  physio- 
logically, phrenologically — would  expound  and  present  nature  in  her 
never-ending  adaptations  and  contrivances,  and  then  lead  the  delight- 
ed audience  up  from  those  wonderful  works  to  their  Author,  showing 
them  his  existence  and  character^  as  evinced  in  those  works,  what  a 


66  THE    TUTJE   RELIGION   AND   THE   FALSE.  220 

vast  amount  of  information  would  they  thus  scatter !  How  draw  in 
the  thoughtless  and  the  ungodly  to  their  meetings,  for  the  sake  of  the 
intellectual  feasts  thus  served  up  to  them,  and  then  convince  and  per- 
suad  their  intellects,  and  draw  out  their  souls  in  devout  adoration 
and  praise. ! 

The  phrenology  of  this  course  is  this.  The  more  organs  brought 
into  combined  and  harmonious  action,  the  greater  the  pleasure  and 
profit  experienced  thereby.  By  thus  introducing  natural  facts,  the 
perceptive  organs  are  delighted  and  gratified ;  so  are  also  those  of  rea- 
son, in  tracing  out  their  adaptations,  or  their  fitness  in  relation  to  their 
ends.  And  this  high  intellectual  action  reacts  upon  the  moral  feel- 
ings, greatly  increasing  their  intensity  and  flow,  and  thus,  blended 
into  one  harmonious  whole,  gratify  and  improve  the  human  mind 
more  than  any  other  class  of  emotions  it  can  experience.  For  my 
own  part,  nothing  gives  me  such  exalted  views  of  God,  of  his  charac- 
ter, wisdom,  goodness,  &c,  as  does  the  study  of  his  works.  Nothing 
kindles  my  veneration  to  its  highest  pitch  of  delighted  and  exalted 
action,  equal  to  a  beautiful  landscape,  a  lofty  summit,  a  wonderful 
adaptation  of  means  to  ends.  Under  the  open  canopy  of  heaven,  sur- 
rounded by  the  beauties  of  nature,  admiring  the  glories  of  the  rising  or 
setting  sun,  or  gazing  at  the  starry  expanse  over  my  head,  it  is  that 
my  soul  is  lifted  up  to  the  third  heaven  of  delight  and  devotion,  while 
sectarian  religious  worship  is  stale  and  insipid  compared  with  it. 
And  yet  our  clergymen  rarely  ever  think  of  introducing  natural  the- 
ology into  their  sermons,  at  least,  except  by  passing  allusions.  They 
too  often  assume — some  one  doctrine,  or,  more  properly,  dogma,  and 
another,  another,  to  thousands  of  isms,  and  then  go  on  and  build  up 
dogma  upon  dogma  ;  the  blind  leading  the  blind  into  the  dark  laby- 
rinths of  error  and  superstition. 

I  insist  upon  it,  that  science  should  be  taught  along  with  religion, 
and  particularly,  the  laws  of  Physiology  and  Phrenology.  Without 
obeying  the  laws  they  unfold,  it  is  impossible  to  be  virtuous  or  happy. 
And  to  facilitate  this  obedience,  let  them  be  taught,  along  Avith  our  ot- 
our  moral  duties,  which  it  most  assuredly  is,  the  duty  of  preserving 
health.  Indeed,  I  know  of  no  virtue,  no  duty,  that  will  compare  in 
point  of  importance  with  that  of  obeying  the  laws  of  Physiology — pre- 
serving health,  prolonging  life,  and  keeping  the  body  in  that  state 
which  is  most  promotive  of  virtue  and  enjoyment.  That  to  be  sick  is 
to  be  sinful,  and  sinful  in  proportion  as  you  are  sick,  has  been  demon- 
strated in  my  work  on  Education,  and  will  be  still  further  enforced  in 
the  forthcoming  works  on  Physiology  and  Amativeness.      I  have 


221  A    SHORT    CATECHISM.  ^1 

there  shown  that  sin  is  generally  the  product  of  physical  disorder. 
This  point  I  deem  all-important.  I  shall  enforce  this  point,  also,  in 
this  work.  At  all  events,  I  consider  clergymen  almost  culpable  for 
not  preaching  more  Physiology  and  Phrenology.  I  would  have 
them  carry  their  manikin  into  the  desk,  in  the  one  hand,  and  their 
anatomical  and  physiological  preparations  in  the  other,  to  be  followed 
by  herbariums,  specimens  of  animals,  of  all  kinds — birds,  beasts,  in- 
sects, fish,  and  the  whole  range  of  nature,  animate  and  inanimate, 
and  preach  on  astronomy,  on  electricity,  on  chemistry,  natural  history, 
&c. — on  all  the  works  of  God — his  noblest  work  of  course  the  most 

"  Oh,  horrible !  Blasphemy !  What  a  profanation  of  the  Sabbath, 
of  the  sanctuary,  of  things  sacred,  would  this  be!"  Indeed?  indeed! 
The  house  of  God  so  very  holy,  that  the  works  of  God  will  profane  it? 
Very  holy,  that.  Somewhat  holier  than  heaven  itself,  I  doubt  not! 
Why  was  not  nature  packed  up  and  put  out  of  sight  every  seventh 
day,  lest  its  presence  should  profane  the  Sabbath  ?  But,  as  I  shall 
take  up  this  matter  of  the  Sabbath,  of  religious  teachers,  &c.  hereafter, 
I  dismiss  it  with  a  short  catechism. 

Question.  Phren. — "  Well,  Mr.  Universalist,  please  take  the  stand, 
and  tell  the  jury,  whether  you  do  or  do  not  think  that  every  orthodox 
minister  in  Christendom  would  preach  more  truth  and  less  error,  and 
do  much  more  good  in  the  world,  if  he  should  preach  natural  theolo- 
gy — God,  as  manifested  in  his  works — than  he  now  does  by  preach- 
ing orthodoxy." 

Answer.  Universalist— '■'■  Most  certainly  I  do  ;  because  now  he  is 
preaching  a  doctrine  erroneous  in  itself,  injurious  in  its  tendency,  de- 
rogatory to  God — an  outrage'- — 

Q.  P. — "  That  will  do.  Mr.  Orthodox,  do  you  not  think  that 
Mr.  Universalist  would  do  more  good  and  less  injury  if  he  should 
lecture  to  his  people  on  science,  and  especially,  on  science  as  connect- 
ed with  religion,  than  he  now  does  ?" 

A.  O. — "  Beyond  all  question.  Then  he  would  certainly  do  no 
harm.  He  would  even  dispel  ignorance,  and  do  good ;  whereas  now, 
he  is  tearing  up  the  good  old  land-marks  ;  is  a  stepping  stone  to  infi- 
delity ;  is  even  fast  ruining  souls,  by  crying  peace  to  the  wicked 
when  there  is  no  peace.  No  ten  infidels  in  this  place  are  doing  as 
much  damage  to  the  cause  of  virtue,  and  to  young  people  in  particu- 
lar, as  he  is  doing." 

Q.  P. — "  And,  Mr.  Unitarian,  what  do  you  thiuk  ?  Would  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Trinitarian  do  more  good  or^evil  than  he  now  does,  if  he 


^8  THE   TRUE   RELIGION   AND   THE    FALSE.  222 

would  cease  preaching  the  peculiarity  of  his  creed,  and  preach  sci- 
ence and  natural  religion?" 

A.  U.  —  "I  think  this  truth  is  always  beneficial.  Error  is  al- 
ways pernicious.  He  is  now  preaching  error,  and  therefore  doing 
harm.  Then,  he  would  at  least  preach  truth,  and  convey  much  valu- 
able information.  Now,  he  is  doing  a  positive  injury  to  society.  Then, 
he  would  do  a  positive  good." 

Q.  P. — "  And,  Mr.  Trinitarian,  what  think  you  as  to  the  preach- 
ing of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Unitarian.  Would  he  profane  the  Sabbath  and 
the  sanctuary  more  or  less  by  adopting  the  course  under  discussion?" 

A.  T. — '•  Less,  decidedly.  I  consider  error  to  be  a  profanation  of 
things  sacred ;  but  truth  can  never  profane  any  thing.  He  might 
then  do  some  good,  but  now  he  is  certainly  doing  inunense  injury  to 
society.  He  is  sowing  the  seeds  of  a  fatal  error,  that  cannot  fail  to 
make  shipwreck  of  many  an  immortal  soul.  I  advocate  the  change 
most  cordially." 

Q.  P.—"  And,  Mr.  Pope,  what  say  you?"  "  Say  I?  Why,  I  say 
you  cannot  possibly  profane  what  is  not  holy.     Their  churches" 

Q.  P. — "  Whose  churches  ?"  "  Why,  all  the  churches — all  the 
orthodox  churches,  (and  a  pretty  application  of  names  indeed,  to  call 
those  orthodox,  [?]  who  maintain  errors  as  palpable,  as  fundamental, 
as  do  those  to  whom  this  title  is  usually  applied.  A  rose  by  any 
other  name  would  smell  as  sweetly — all  Episcopalian  churches,  all 
Unitarian  churches,  all  Methodist  churches,  all  Baptist  churches,  all 
churches,  of  all  names  and  kinds,  not  consecrated  by  the  apostolic  suc- 
cession, are  no  more  sacred  than  so  many  old  barns.  To  talk  about 
profaning  them,  therefore,  is  to  talk  of  spoiling  rotten  eggs.  I  consi- 
der them  all  heretics,  enemies  of ." 

That  will  do,  Mr.  Catholic.     Your  opinion  is  all  we  want. 

Q.  P. — "  Come  up  to  the  stand,  all  ye  Protestants,  in  a  row.  All 
answer  together :  Do  you  think  that  Catholics  would  profane  the 
Sabbath  as  much,  the  house  of  God  as  much,  if  they  should  carry 
their  philosophical  aparatus  into  their  pulpits,  and  explain  the  laws 
and  phenomena  of  nature ;  should  expound  man,  and  tell  the  people 
the  laws  of  life,  health,  mind,  and  virtue,  as  deduced  therefrom,  as 
they  now  do  ?" 

A.  All — "NO,"  with  one  loud,  long,  united,  emphatic  response, 
which  makes  the  gates  of  Rome  tremble,  and  thunders  in  the  ears  of 
the  Pope  and  the  Vatican,  that  they  think  him  just  about  as  holy  [? 
as  he  thinks  them. 


223  PULPITS   WANTED   TO   PROPAGATE    SECTARIANISM  69 

This  cateclii'sm  might  be  continued  till  it  embraced  every  religious 
and  anti-religious  sect,  and  every  fragment  of  every  sect  in  Christen- 
dom, and  in  pagandom  too.  And,  what  is  more,  what  is  most,  all  but 
owe  must  of  course  bewrong,and  that  one  might  not  be  right.  If 
such  sublime,  intellectual,  and  moral  truths  as  those  presented  in. 
"  Good's  Book  of  Nature,"  Chalmer's  work  on  a  similar  subject, 
"  Combe  on  the  Constitution  of  Man,"  "  Paley's  Natural  Theology," 
&c.,  are  not  good  enough  for  the  Sabbath  and  the  sanctuary,  then 
must  the  latter  be  too  good,  too  holy,  for  man,  for  earth !  But  they 
are  not.  We  shall  soon  see  how  holy  the  Sabbath  is — how  holy  the 
churches  are — and  can  then  judge  whether  they  are  so  holy  that  na- 
ture, pure,  immaculate,  God-made  Nature,  will  profane  them.  The 
plain  English  of  this  whole  matter  is  simply  this :  Our  Sabbaths,  and 
our  pulpits,  are  wanted  for  another  and  a  meaner  purpose  than  to  pre- 
sent the  sublime  principles  of  natural  religion.  They  are  wanted  as 
party  religico-hacks^  to  be  mounted  and  rode  to  death.,  for  the  exclu- 
sive purpose  of  propagating  those  particular  religious  tenets  that  built 
them  up.  Every  Unitarian  pulpit  is  wanted  to  propagate  Unitarian- 
ism.  Every  Calvinistic  pulpit,  is  plied  to  its  utmost  to  defend  and 
extend  Calvinism.  Every  Methodist  pulpit,  is  wanted  exclusively  to 
propagate  the  faith  delivered  to  the  saints  by  John  Wesley.  So  of 
Universalists.  So  of  all  those  even  who  pretend  to  be  liberal.  Nor 
do  I  remember  ever  lo  have  heard  a  single  sermon  from  any  sectarian 
pulpit — that  is,  in  any  pulpit ;  for,  where  is  the  pulpit  that  is  not  a 
sectarian  pulpit,  except  where  a  church  is  owned  by  all  in  common, 
and  is  therefore  dressed  out  in  orthodoxy  one  Sabbath,  in  Universal- 
ism  the  next,  in  Trinitarianism  the  next,  &c. — ^the  nub  or  butt-end, 
drift,  and  texture  of  which  did  not  consist  of  the  particular  tenets  of  the 
sect  that  owned  the  pulpit.  Or,  if  some  of  the  "  Evangelicals"  ex- 
change, those  points  are  urged  which  are  held  in  common  by  both 
sects.  Indeed,  this  is  the  object  of  sectarian  pulpits  and  sectarian 
churches — an  object  so  much  more  "  holy,"  and  "  sacred,"  and  "  so- 
lemn," than  the  preaching  of  God  in  his  toorks,  that  the  latter  actually 
profane  the  former.  The  holiness  of  heaven  itself  is  but  as  a  flicker- 
ing rush-light,  compared  with  the  transcendantly  dazzling  glorifica- 
tion of  sectarian  pulpits ! 

Irony  aside.  The  moral  sentiments  themselves  are  stone  blind, 
mere  impulses,  and  as  capable  of  receiving  a  bad  direction  as  a  good 
one.  We  have  already  seen,  that  they  combine  with  the  other  organs 
that  are  the  largest.  If,  therefore,  they  do  not  combine  with  intellect, 
they  must  of  course  combine  with  the  propensities.     It  cannot  be  oth- 


70   THE  MORAL  SENTIMENTS  KEQUIRE  INTELLECTUAL  GUIDANCE.   224 

erwise.  And  when  they  thus  combine,  we  have  a  religion  of  entire 
animal  propensity.  When,  as  in  the  ancients,  they  combine  with 
amativeness,  we  have  a  religion  made  up,  in  warp  and  woof,  of  public, 
shameless,  unbridled  prostitution,  to  the  temples  of  which  crowds  of 
worshippers  throng,  of  both  sexes,  and  all  ages ;  each  more  eager 
than  the  other  in  the  unblushing  indulgence  of  unhallowed  lust,  he 
or  she  being  the  most  pious  who  indulge  the  most  in  venerial  inter- 
course. Combining  with  appetite,  and  unguided  by  intellect,  they 
make  a  religion  of  their  bachanalian  revels,  he  being  the  most  reli- 
gious who  can  drink  and  carouse  most.  Combining  with  secretive- 
ness  and  acquisitiveness,  they  make  religion  to  consist  in  stealing,  and 
lying,  and  knavery.  Combining  with  cautiousness,  and  ungoverned 
by  intellect,  they  look  upon  God  with  dread,  and  trembling  fear,  in- 
stead of  with  love,  and  offer  sacrifices  to  appease  the  wrath  of  offended 
Deity — a  species  of  animal  religion,  not  entirely  unknown  to  some  of 
the  pious  of  the  present  day.  And  so  of  its  other  animal  combinations. 
Look  at  the  animal  religion  of  the  ignorant,  superstitious  negro  of 
southern  slavery.  His  intellect  untrained.  His  prayers  perfect  blas- 
phemy. His  preaching — look,  ye  who  can  look,  at  the  negro's  reli- 
gion. And  all,  because  he  cannot,  must  not,  read ;  cannot,  must  not, 
think ;  and  hence,  by  a  necessary  consequence,  that  combination  of 
veneration  with  the  propensities  which  produces  his  heathenish  no- 
tions of  religion.  And  all  solely  because  he  has  no  intellect,  to  ele- 
vate, and  enlighten,  and  direct  his  blind  religious  impulses.  I  wish 
to  be  fully  understood.  I  say,  in  broad,  unequivocal  terms,  that  the 
moral  sentiments,  to  be  productive  of  good,  and  not  to  be  the  worst 
engines  of  depravity  extant,  must  in  all  cases,  be  enlightened,  and 
guided  by  intellect,  by  science,  by  reason,  by  knowledge.  And,  sure- 
ly, no  species  of  knowledge — neither  political  knowledge,  nor  novel 
knowledge,  nor  polite  literature  knowledge,  nor  any  other  form  of 
knowledge — will  sanctify  and  direct  the  moral  sentiments  as  effectu- 
ally as  will  a  knowledge  of  Nature,  so  presented  as  to  teach  us  God, 
his  character,  his  laws,  his  government — man's'  duty.  I  say,  in  the 
name  of  this  incontrovertible  principle,  that  we  cannot  have  a  religion, 
"pure  and  undefiled,"  without  basing  it  in  natural  science,  and  mak- 
ing it  consist  of  natural  theology.  No  other  views  of  religion  can  be 
correct.  No  other  can  make  man  better.  All  others  render  him 
blind,  bigoted,  sinful,  miserable.  They  satisfy  the  religious  sentiment, 
without  improving  the  morals,  or  seasoning  the  conduct.    ' 

And  now,  intelligent  reader,  let  us  test  the  religion  of  the  day,  by  this 
fully  establiehed  law  of  Phrenology  and  of  mind.     Does  the  religion 


225  MODERN  RELIGION   TESTED   BT  THIS   PRINCIPLE.  71 

of  the  day  call  out  and  expand  the  intellects  of  men  ?  Does  it  impart 
knowledge,  particularly  the  knowledge  already  shown  to  be  needed 
by  the  moral  sentiments — a  knowledge  of  nature  1  No ;  not  at  all. 
As  mute  as  a  mole  on  all  matters  of  science.  And  I  always  find  ten 
times  more  difficulty  in  getting  religionists,  particularly  old-fashioned, 
old-school  Baptists  and  Presbyterians,  to  look  at  Phrenology,  than  I 
do  to  get  all  the  world  besides  to  examine  it.  I  find,  that  where  reli- 
gion reigns  with  the  most  complete  sway,  there  Phrenology  is  inter- 
dicted ;  Physiology,  excluded ;  Geology,  rejected ;  and  the  other  na- 
tural sciences  are  uncultivated !  The  new-school  men,  of  all  denomi- 
nations, and  reformers  of  all  kinds,  go  in,  heart  and  soul,  for  Phreno- 
logy ;  but  deacons — and  these  furnish  a  better  test  than  clergymen — 
and  the  leaders  m  our  churches — as  well  as  the  ladies  of  church  ton — 
I  submit  to  the  reader,  where,  in  the  ranks  of  science,  are  they  to  be 
found  ?  Last,  always.  And  not  at  all,  till  popularity  compels  their 
tacit  ascent.  I  submit,  who,  but  clergymen,  and  those,  too,  made  up 
of  doubled-and-twisted  orthodoxy,  have  ever  raised  a  dissenting  voice 
against  Geology  1  Who  imprisoned  Gallileo  ?  Who  are  the  most 
illiberal,  the  most  bigoted,  narrow-minded,  anti-scientific  men  of  any 
and  every  community  1  And,  per  contra,  who  are  the  most  scientific  ? 
Who  patronize  scientific  lectures  most?  Who  are  the  most  liberal- 
minded  ?  The  most  candid  inquirers  after  truth^  as  well  as  its  most 
cordial  devotees  %  I  leave  the  fact  to  answer.  1  leave  this  principle 
to  draw  the  inference.  I  leave  the  two  united,  to  say,  whether  men 
are  rendered  more  wise,  or  more  ignorant,  (that  is,  the  better  or  the 
worse,)  by  the  religion  that  is.  If  that  religion  advances  science,  it 
makes  men's  moral  faculties  expand  more  generally  and  powerfully 
than  they  otherwise  would,  with  the  intellectual — which,  as  just  seen, 
sanctifies  the  moral,  and  alone  prevents  their  doing  injury.  But,  if  it 
retard  the  progress  of  science  (which  is,  beyond  all  question,  the  fact,) 
it  is  a  damage  to  mankind.  Nothing  can  be  more  injurious.  And  no- 
thing more  beneficial  than  that  which  cultivates  the  intellectual  facul- 
ties, in  connexion  with  the  moral. 

Another  test  of  the  anti-scientific  spirit  of  the  religion  of  the  day, 
and  of  course,  proof  that  it  is  injurious,  is  to  be  found  in  the  refusal  of 
the  great  majority  to  allow  their  churches  to  be  used  for  scientific  lec- 
tures. These  churches  might  be,  ought  to  be,  the  promoters  of  science, 
by  offering  those  facilities  which  their  spacious  walls,  comfortable 
pews,  and  central  locations,  always  and  every  where  might  afford  for 
lectures  on  science — particularly  the  science  of  man.  But,  the  blue- 
stocking orthodoxy  utterly  refuse  their  houses  to  all  and  every  thing, 


72  OBJECTION    THAT   KELIGIONISTS   EEASON.  22G 

except  the  promulgation  of  their  contracted  tenets.  Andover  religion 
would  not  open  her  doors  to  lectures  on  Phrenology.  Hence,  other 
denominations,  who  otherwise  would  open  their  churches,  follow 
suit,  in  order  to  keep  up  the  dignity  of  the  house  of  God,  till  even 
Unitarians  and  Universalists,  who  claim  to  he  liberal,  also  lock  all 
but  Universalism  and  Unitarianism  out  of  their  houses.  And  yet, 
they  claim  to  be  liberal !  Away  with  professions  without  practice  \ 
It  is  in  your  power,  if  you  would  but  improve  the  noble  opportunity 
offered,  to  steal  the  march  on  bigotry  and  intolerance,  to  show  your 
liberality,  and  thus  commend  your  sect,  by  opening  your  doors  to  the 
cause  of  science,  and  even  paying  something  as  societies,  to  promote 
the  cause  of  science.  But,  suit  yourselves.  Pursue  the  illiberal 
course,  and  it  will  ruin  you.  Pursue  the  liberal  policy,  and  it  will 
save  you.  The  views  here  presented,  will  prevail.  Oppose  them, 
and  you  die.  Science  asks  no  odds  at  your  hands.  Take  care  of 
yourselves.     That  is  all.     That  is  quite  enough  for  you. 

I  ought  here  to  state  unequivocally,  that  I  find  clergymen  much  in 
advance  of  the  deacons,  and  those  church  aristocrats  who  govern 
both  priest  and  people.  I  also  find  that  those  called  "  new  school^' 
men  of  each  of  the  sects,  particularly  of  the  orthodox,  generally  take 
liberal  views  of  things,  are  generally  ready  to  open  their  churches, 
and  are  decided  advocates  of  Physiology,  Phrenology,  Magnetism,  &c. 
This  is  right.  They  are  the  salt  of  the  churches.  God  grant  that 
they  may  go  on  to  banish  bigotry  and  invite  science  into  the  sanc- 
tuary, and  thus  purify  the  religion  of  the  day  from  the  dross,  the  in- 
tolerance, the  ignorance  of  the  dark  ages,  and  of  the  present  age,  and 
bring  intellect  into  delightful  action  with  the  moral  sentiments. 

"  But,"  says  an  advocate  of  the  religions  that  be,  "  does  not  much 
of  the  preaching  of  the  day,-  particularly  orthodox  preaching,  employ 
reason,  and  appeal  to  reason  ?  Where  do  you  find  more  logic,  more 
of  consecutive  argumentation  tlian  is  found  in  much  of  the  preaching 
of  the  day?" 

Theorizing,  you  mean.  I  grant  that  they  employ  a  show  of  reason 
— a  mushroon,  spurious,  deceptive  species  of  reasoning,  but  it  is  a  spe- 
cies of  reasoning  that  proves  and  disproves  any  thing  and  every  thing. 
It  proves  orthodoxy,  and  the  decrees,  and  partial  salvation,  and  the 
trinity,  to  a  perfect  demonstration,  while  it  is  at  the  same  instant,  in  a 
pulpit  over  the  way  there,  engaged  in  disproving  these  very  doctrines, 
and  proving  their  opposites.  In  one  pulpit,  it  proves  most  conclu- 
sively the  final  perseverance  of  the  saints,  and  in  the  next  pulpit,  is 


227  DRESSING   ON    THE    SABBATH.  73 

disproving  this  doctrine,  and  proves*  that  it  is  possible,  to  fall  from 
grace.  Indeed,  that  there  is  great  danger  of  it.  In  a  Methodist 
pulpit,  it  reasons  out  to  a  demonstration,  that  Armenianism  is  the  true 
doctrine  of  the  "word  of  God,"  while  in  an  orthodox  pulpit,  it  is 
proved  quite  as  logically  and  incontestibly,  that  the  opposite  doctrines 
of  rigid  Calvinism  are  true.  In  a  Trinitarian  pulpit,  the  divinity  of 
Christ  is  proved  to  be  bible,  to  be  reason.  In  a  Unitarian  pulpit,  the 
same  doctrine  is  overthrown — shown  to  be  anti-reason,  anti-bible — and 
its  opposite  doctrine  established  as  truth.  So  of  the  peculiarities  of 
all  other  creeds.  I  submit  to  one,  to  all  of  the  believers  of  these  doc- 
trines, whether  ministers  do  not  each  reason  out  their  peculiar  tenets 
logically,  and  forcibly,  and  also  show  by  reason  the  absurdity  of  the 
doctrines  opposed  thereto  1  I  ask  Trinitarians  if  they  do  not  think 
their  ministers  reason  out  the  three-fold  nature  of  the  Godhead  as 
clearly  and  cogently  as  Unitarians  think  their  ministers  reason  out 
their  opposite  doctrine  ?  So  of  each  sect,  as  to  its  peculiar  tenets.  And 
yet  the  fact,  that  truth  always  harmonizes  with  truth,  and  reason  with 
reason,  renders  it  self-evident  and  certain  that  most  of  their  reasoning 
is  spurious.  They  do  not  reason.  They  simply  theorize.  They 
give  a  therefore  without  a  wherefore.  They  reason  through  colored 
glasses.  Diversities  in  their  religious  and  other  organs,  warp  intellect, 
and  render  their  reasoning  unreasonable. 

My  conscience  constrains  me  here  to  censure,  what  I  wish  I  could 
let  pass  in  silence.  I  refer  to  the  gay,  dressy  religion  of  the  age.  If 
dress  had  no  moral  character,  or  were  harmless  in  its  effects,  most 
gladly  would  I  say  nothing  about  it.  But,  it  is  not  so.  It  is  most 
pernicious.  Scarcely  any  thing  is  more  so.  To  two  points,  illustra- 
tive of  its  evils,  allow  me  to  advert.  First,  to  the  amount  of  extra 
sewing  required  thereby,  and  to  the  deleterious  influence  of  so  much 
sewing  on  the  female  constitution,  and  thereby  on  the  race.  I  do  feel 
that  a  vast  many  of  our  blooming  daughters,  first  lose  their  health  and 
are  rendered  miserable  for  life  by  sitting  and  sewing  so  steadily.  I 
call  attention  to  this  point.  Ye  who  regard  suicide  as  sinful,  open 
your  eyes,  I  beseech  you,  to  this  lamentable  subject.  If  our  fabrics 
were  made  strong,  and  a  uniform  fashion  prevailed,  I  venture  to  affirm 

*  I  use  the  woi-d  proving  here  aud  occasionally  elsewhere,  not  by  any  means 
in  its  true  sense,  but  ironically.  This  is  so  palpable,  that  the  reader  hardly  re- 
quires to  be  put  on  his  guard  by  this  note.  I  generally  use  words  in  their  true 
sense;  always,  indeed,  except  where  the  subject  itself  cannot  fail  to  give  them 
the  signification  intended.  To  save  circumlocution,  I  generally  use  the  word 
orthodox,  however,  in  its  popular,  generally  received  sense,  rather  than  in  ita 
tri^e  sense. 


74  DRESSING   ON   THE    Sj\BBATIL  228 

that  at  the  lowest  estimation,  nine-tenths  of  the  sewing  now  performed, 
might  be  avoided,  and  men  and  women  be  just  as  comfortable  as  now. 
and  infinitely  more  happy  than  following  these  fashions  can  possibly 
render  them. 

Secondly:  Look,  and  weep,  in  view  of  the  vast  sacrifice  of  life  and 
virtue,  caused  by  tight-lacing.  I  will  not  enlarge.  Nearly  half  of 
the  deaths  of  women  and  children,  are  caused  by  this  accursed  fashion, 
besides  an  amount  and  aggravation  of  misery  which  no  tongue  can 
tell,  no  finite  mind  conceive. 

"  And  what  has  religion  to  do  with  this,  or  this  to  do  ^vith  religion?" 
says  one.  A  story.  In  making  a  recent  Phrenological  examination 
of  a  woman,  I  saw  and  told  her  that  she  had  almost  ruined  both  body 
and  mind  by  tight-lacing.  She  answered,  that  she  never  laced  more 
than  one  day  in  the  week.  Reader,  what  day  do  you  suppose  that 
one  was  ?  In  what  one  day  of  the  week  is  committed  more  suicidal 
and  infanticidal  corsetting,  than  in  all  the  other  six,  and  that  by  hun- 
dreds to  one  ?  And  yet  ministers  administer  the  sacrament  to  wo- 
men by  thousands,  while  in  the  very  act  of  committing  both  suicide 
and  infanticide.  I  pity  clergymen.  An  excellent  class  of  men,  taken 
by  and  large.  They  would  fain  do  their  duty,  and  speak  out.  But 
the  daughter  of  the  rich  church-member  mentioned  above,  exercises 
her  pious  Approbativeness,  by  attending  church  richly  dressed  and 
tightly  corsetted,  in  order  to  be  the  ton  of  the  meeting.  Let  the  cler- 
gyman open  his  mouth  against  this  life-destroying  sin  if  he  dare,  and 
he  will  get  his  walking  papers  pretty  soon.  Sometimes  ministers  defy 
consequences,  but  alas,  Avhat  can  they  do  ?  A  living  they  must  have, 
and  they  yield  to  stern  necessity.  They  put  on  the  shackles,  and  bow 
their  knees.  But,  ye  ministers  of  God  and  of  truth,  I  submit  whether 
it  is  right  thus  to  let  this  crying  sin  pass  unrebuked  1  Starve  if  you 
must,  but  tell  the  truth ;  "  whether  they  will  hear,  or  whether  they 
will  forbear."  Be  no  longer  "  dead  dogs"  in  reference  to  this  subject 
of  life  and  death.  Your  silence  gives  consent.  Bond  yourselves  to- 
gether, and  you  can  rid  our  land,  our  world,  of  a  far  greater  sin  than 
intemperance  is  or  ever  was.  If  you  do  not  know  both  its  evils 
and  their  extent,  it  is  high  time  for  you  to  learn  them.  If  you 
do  know  them,  but  dare  not,  or  do  not,  sound  the  alarm,  aban- 
don your  calling.  Yield  your  post  to  those  who  will  not  let  a  sin  as 
glaring  as  this  go  unrebuked.  Do  your  duty.  Imploring  millions 
yet  unborn,  say,  do  your  duty. 

But,  I  have  not  yet  lashed  this  lacing  and  these  fashions  on  where 
they  belong.     They  go  along  with,  they  are  propagated  by,  religious 


229  THE   IMFLUENCE   OF   FASHIOn.  75 

meetings,  particularly  on  the  sabbath.  Where  do  those  who  wish  to 
learn  the  fashions  as  soon  as  they  are  out,  go  ?  To  church,  of  course. 
Nor  need  they  go  any  where  else.  Neither  the  ball-room  nor  the 
theatre,  nor  the  social  party,  get  the  fashions  as  soon,  or  propagate 
them  a  hundreth  part  as  effectually,  as  do  our  religious  meetings  on 
the  sabbath.  I  am  plain  to  declare,  what  every  mind  of  common  in- 
telligence will  admit,  that  if  I  wished  to  amass  a  fortune  by  the  popu- 
larity of  some  fashion,  even  though  it  might  be  pernicious,  I  would 
not  attempt  to  introduce  it  into  the  ball-room  or  theatre,  but  if  I  could 
introduce  it  among  the  ton  of^  some  D.  D.'s  church,  in  some  populous 
city,  my  end  would  be  attained,  for  then  all  the  other  dressingly  religious 
maids  and  matrons  must  also  have  it,  both  in  that  church,  and  in  all 
the  churches  of  the  land.  And  if  they  have  it,  surely  those  who  do 
not  profess  religion  must  also  have  it.  Besides,  who  does  not  know, 
that  unless  a  woman  dresses  well  at  church,  she  loses  caste.  And,  I 
submit  to  any  candid  observer  of  the  facts  of  the  case,  whether  nine- 
tenths  of  those  women  who  labor  for  wages,  do  not  spend  nine-tenths  of 
these  scanty  earnings,  for  somethmg  "  descent,"  (that  is,  fashionable,) 
with  which  to  appear  in  church  on  the  sabbath.  Nearly  every  new 
coat,  new  hat,  new  bonnet,  new  dress,  new  fashion,  new  every  thing, 
goes  to  church  first — goes  to  church  mainly.  And  sometimes  the  piti- 
ful wages  paid  to  our  laboring  women,  do  not  allow  them  to  get  as 
many  "  decent"  things  as  fashion  requires,  with  which  to  go  to  meet- 
ing on  Sunday ;  and,  not  having  fathers  or  brothers  on  whom  to  rely  for 
"  pin-meney,"  much  as  they  love  virtue,  much  as  they  abhor  moral 
pollution,  bedeck  their  persons  on  the  sabbath  with  the  wages  of  sin ! 
If  even  religion  did  not  compel  them  to  dress,  they  had  retained  their 
virtue ;  and  I  verily  believe  more  than  half  of  the  prostitution  of  the 
land,  private  as  well  as  public,  is  chargeable  to  the  sabbath  dressing 
sanctioned,  aye,  even  demanded,  by  the  religion  of  the  day.  But  not 
by  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ.  He  no  where  requires  his  followers 
<o  wear  bustles,  or  corsets,  or  fashionable  attire.  He  dressed  in  swad 
dling  clothes.  He  loves  you  none  the  better,  ye  painted,  padded,  bus- 
tled, ribboned,  milliner-made  Zat^y-christians,  because  you  go  up  to  the 
sanctuary  attired  in  the  latest  fashions,  with  your  gilt-edged  prayer- 
book  or  Bible  in  hand,  &c. — in  that  nipping,  swinging,  artificial  walk, 
and  affected  manners  —  the  natural  language  of  self-esteem  and  Ap- 
probativeness.  Indeed,  such  he  does  not  love  at  all.  Ye  cannot 
serve  two  masters.  If  ye  will  dress  fashionably,  ye  cannot  be  the 
disciples  of  the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus. 
6 


76  THE  INTELLECTUAL  AND  MORAL  FACULTIES  SHOULD  GOVERN.       230 

Methodists  !  I  have  one  word  to  say  to  you.  Ye  did  run  welL 
What  hath  hindered  you  ?  Ye  once  interdicted  church  fellowship  to 
the  daughters  of  fashion.  But  "  ye  have  fallen  from  grace.  Have 
glided  along  down  that  swift  current  of  fashion  which  is  sweeping 
away  all  that  is  pure  and  lovely  in  the  religion  of  the  Bible,  of  the 
cross.     Watchmen !  to  your  posts.     Sound  the  alarm  ! 

If  any  reader  suspects  that  I  have  chained  the  fashions  on  to  the  car 
of  religion  a  little  more  closely  than  truth  will  Avarrant,  I  defend,  I 
even  advance,  my  position,  by  calling  your  attention  to  Saturday  af- 
ternoon and  evening ;  and  bring  shop-keepers,  milliners,  seamstresses, 
&c.,  as  my  witnesses.  These  things  speak  volumes.  They  tell  a 
tale  which  religion  should  blush  to  hear. 

It  remains  to  add,  that  thus  the  exalted  heavenly  emotions  of  Vene- 
ration, are  not  enhancsd,  but  grievously  retarded  by  this  parasite  of 
approbativeness.  It  is  that  jpropensity-xeWgion,  all  along  shown  to  be 
so  injurious  in  its  effects,  and  so  unholy  in  its  exercise.  True,  it  is 
not  quite  as  low  as  the  licentious  worship  of  Venus,  the  revelling  wor- 
ship of  a  Bacchus,  or  the  murderous  worship  of  a  Mars,  of  the  an- 
cients ;  because  Veneration  now  combines  with  organs  a  little  higher 
in  the  head,  and  less  animal  in  character,  than  with  them.  Still,  it  is 
aiiimal  religion  yet.  It  is  not  the  religion  of  either  enlightened  intel- 
lect or  high  moral  sentiment.  It  is  in  the  teeth  of  the  nature  of  man, 
and  of  the  requirements  of  Phrenology. 

I  might  say  more.  I  may  rue  my  having  said  so  much.  Be  it  so. 
But  it  is  true — only  that  "  the  half  is  not  told." 

From  these  few  applications  of  this  great  principle,  that  correct  re- 
ligious doctrines  and  practices  involve  the  combined  and  harmonious 
action  of  all  the  faculties,  with  the  moral  and  intellectual  in  the  ascen- 
dency, the  reader  will  see  its  sweep,  its  power.  That  it  forms  a  cor- 
rect test  and  touchstone  of  true  and  false  religion,  cannot  be  doubted. 
That  it  criticises  effectually  much  that  now  passes  for  religion,  is  self- 
evident.  That  these  few  are  but  the  beginnings  of  its  application,  is 
also  apparent.  Still,  as  these  applications  will  be  rendered  much  more 
clear,  general,  and  powerful  after  we  have  analyzed  a  few  more  of  the 
moral  faculties,  and  demonstrated  a  few  more  fundamental  principles, 
we  postpone  them  for  the  present-  Perhaps  entirely ;  for  two  reasons ; 
first,  the  reader  can  apply  them — cannot  help  applying  them  for  him- 
self; and  secondly,  the  task  is  most  painful  thus  to  criticise  what  so 
many  good  people  hold  as  so  sacred. 


23  i  THE   SABBATir,  77 

SECTION  III. 

THE    SABBATH. 

Having  proved  the  existence  of  a  God,  and  the  duty  of  man  to  wor- 
ship him,  and  laid  open  the  great  principle,  by  applying  which  we 
may  form  correct  views  of  the  character,  attributes,  and  worship  of 
God ;  the  inquiry  comes  home  Avith  great  force,  "  What  in  regard  to 
the  SABBATH?  What  says  the  nature  of  man  touching  this  religious 
institution  1  Does  Phrenology  recognize  any  sabbath  1  If  so,  which  1 
The  Jewish,  or  the  Christian  1  Does  the  nature  of  man  set  apart,  or 
require  to  be  set  apart,  any  portion  of  time  for  religious  worship  ?  If 
so,  what  portion  1 

Phrenology  answers  this  question  thus  :  "  Man,  worship  thy  God. 
Worship  daily.  Worship  habitually.  Exercise  thy  religious  feel- 
ings, not  by  fits  and  starts,  not  at  given  times  and  seasons,  but  continu- 
ally. Make  this  worship  a  part  and  parcel  of  thy  daily  avocations,  or, 
rather,  pleasures."  It  saith,  "  Arise,  thee,  in  the  morning  betimes,  and 
as  the  glorious  sun  is  lighting  up  and  animating  all  nature  with  his 
presence,  do  thou  pour  forth  thy  heart  in  praise  and  adoration  to  the 
Maker  of  the  sun,  and  to  the  Author  of  all  those  beauties  that  surround 
thee.  And  when  the  setting  sun  is  shedding  on  delighted  earth  his 
last  rays  of  glory  for  the  day,  and  spreading  his  golden  hues  over  na- 
ture, to  wrap  her  in  the  mantle  of  night,  do  thou  offer  thy  evening 
orisons  of  thanksgiving  for  the  mercies  of  the  day,  and  supplicate  pro- 
tection for  the  night."  Instead  of  spending  all  thy  energies  in  amass- 
ing wealth,  or  in  pursuing  merely  animal,  worldly  objects,  Phrenology 
saith,  "  Take  a  little  time  to  feed  thy  immortal  soul."  Phrenology 
says,  thou  mayest  go  to  church  if  thou  pleasest,  or  not  go  if  thou  ob- 
jectest.  It  says,  that  place  and  mode  are  nothing;  that  the  worship  is 
the  maiw  thing.  We  should  think  as  much  of  thus  feasting  our  im- 
mortal souls  with  thoughts  of  God  and  heaven,  as  of  feeding  our  frail 
bodies  with  our  daily  bread.  Should  exercise  worship  as  often  and 
as  much  as  we  exercise  appetite  or  vision.  Should  take  time — should 
make  a  business  of  one  as  much  as  of  the  other.  I  enjoy  neither  food, 
nor  sleep,  nor  life  itself,  more  than  I  enjoy  this  communion  with  my 
God.  I  look  upon  these  seasons  as  the  brightest  spots  upon  the  page 
of  life.    The  most  pleasurable.    The  most  profitable. 

5.  At  least,  it  is  lawful  to  walk  abroad  in  the  fields  on  the  sabbath, 
enjoy  the  fresh  breezes,  and  pick  and  eat  fruit,  and  what  we  like. 
This  shutting  ourselves  up  in-doors,  is  positively  wronj;.     It  dixnin- 


232  NO   SABBATH   ACCORDmG   TO   PHRENOLOGY.  78 

ishes  circulation,  and  tkis  deadens  the  action  of  the  brain  and  nervous 
system,  and,  by  consequence,  of  the  niind  and  religious  feelings.  In 
order  that  the  worshipping  feeling  should  be  most  active,  the  body  also 
must  be  in  motion.  This  is  founded  clearly  in  a  physiological  prin- 
ciple. It  is  as  necessary  that  we  take  exercise  on  the  sabbath  as 
that  we  eat.  If  the  day  be  indeed  so  very  holy,  why  are  not  all  the 
physiological  laws  suspended  on  that  day?  If  the  day  is  too  holy  in 
which  to  take  exercise,  it  is,  of  course,  too  holy  in  which  to  eat,  or 
breathe,  or  live.  Why  does  not  the  heart  stop  its  wanted  pulsations 
the  moment  Sunday  begins,  and  resume  them  the  instant  it  terminates  ? 
For,  if  it  be  right  to  eat  or  breath  on  the  sabbath  it  is  equally,  and  for 
precisely  the  same  reason,  right  that  we  exercise,  recreate,  pick  flowers 
and  fruits,  enjoy  nature,  enjoy  life. 

Besides,  this  enormous  stuffing  on  the  sabbath,  is  ruinous  alike 
to  the  religious  sentiment,  to  the  whole  mind.  Baked  beans  and 
pork,  the  most  indigestible  of  all  things,  is  the  Yankee  dish  for  a  sun- 
day  dinner  as  sure  as  Sunday  comes.  Precious  little  piety,  at  least, 
in  pork.  Above  all  things,  children  should  not  be  confined  on  the 
sabbath,  nor  on  any  day.  The  law  of  their  nature  that  demands  phy- 
sical exercise  almost  constantly  during  the  waking  hours  of  childhood 
and  youth,  is  imperious,  inexorable,  even  on  the  sabbath,  and  must 
not  be  violated.     Cannot  be,  with  impunity. 

"  Oh,  but,"  says  one,  "  let  us  at  least  have  a  sabbath  as  a  day  of  rest 
from  the  toils  and  burdens  of  the  week.  As  a  civil  institution,  it  has 
no  parallel  in  value.  Our  horses  and  servants  need  rest.  We  all 
require  one  day  to  clean  up,  refresh  our  weary  bodies,  banish  the  cares 
and  vexations  of  business,  and  place  our  distracted  minds  on  heaven 
and  heavenly  things."  I  know,  indeed,  that  z/men  will  work  too  hard 
one  day,  they  require  to  rest  the  next.  Not  so  if  they  do  not  over  do. 
Indeed,  perfect  health  requires  a  given,  equal  amount  of  labor  daily. 
So,  if  a  man  will  eat  too  much,  he  will  be  benefitted  by  fasting.  Not, 
however,  when  he  has  eaten  just  enough.  If  you  will  not  Avork  your 
beasts  too  much  week  days,  they  will  need  no  rest  sundajs.  If  you 
do  not  follow  the  world  too  closely  six  days  in  the  week,  you  will 
not  feel  the  need  of  resting  from  it  on  the  seventh,  but  will  be  the  bet- 
ter for  not  resting.  So,  if  you  will  exercise  Veneration  sufficiently 
during  the  week,  you  will  need  no  sabbath  to  increase  its  energies. 
Live  just  as  you  ought  to  during  the  week,  and  you  will  require  to 
live  just  the  same  on  the  sabbath.  I  might  enforce  this  point,  by  al- 
luding to  the  force  of  habil.,  but,  as  habit  only  requires  the  applica- 


79  REVIVALS   OF  RELIGION.  233 

tion  of  that  same  great  law  of  proportionate  action  already  pointed  out, 
and  is  therefore  already  embraced  in  effect,  enlargement  is  hardly 
necessary. 


SECTION   IV. 


REVIVALS   OF   RELIGION. 


Governed  by  the  same  principles,  and  so  nearly  related  as  to  de- 
serve notice  in  the  same  connexion  with  the  sabbath,  is  the  doctrine 
of'remyaZs."  Phrenology  discards  them  entirely.  First,  on  the  fun- 
damental principle  of  Phrenology,  and  the  great  law  of  mind  already 
brought  to  bear  on  the  Sabbath,  (namely,  that  uniformity^  proportion- 
ate action,  is  the  great  law  of  perfection,)  revivals  are  to  the  mind 
what  artificial  stimulants  are  to  the  body.  They  elate  only  propor- 
tionably  to  depress.  It  is  a  law  of  mind,  that  extreme  action  induces 
the  opposite  extreme.  Now,  if  it  be  desireable  to  render  our  religion 
purely  periodical — the  ebbing  and  flowing  tide,  or  the  mountain  torrent 
-—rather  than  the  quiet,  steady,  stern,  then  get  up  revivals.  But, 
we  have  shown,  that  these  extremes  violate  a  law  of  mind,  and  that  a 
most  important  one.  "  To  the  law  and  to  the  testimony"  of  man's 
nature,  I  submit  this  point,  as  also  the  kindred  one,  touching  sudden 
convictions.  Q,uick  convertions,  on  the  principle  that  "  the  hottest  love 
is  soonest  cold,"  is  like  a  fire  made  of  shavings,  blazes, and  scorches, 
and  dies,  leaving  no  valuable  influences  behind.  To  be  productive  of 
permanent  good  the  moral  organs  must  be  exercised  habitually.  No- 
thing but  continual,  long  continued  exercise,  can  essentially  either 
promote  the  growth  of  the  organs,  or  improve  the  tone  and  vigor  of 
the  faculities.  Let  this  great  truth,  elsewhere  demonstrated,  (that  all 
improvement  of  the  faculties  must  be  brought  about  by  improving 
their  organs,)  be  borne  constantly  in  mind,  and  also  that  this  improve- 
ment can  be  effected  only  by  a  perpetual  exercise  of  both  faculty  and 
organ.  Fitful  action  will  not,  cannot  do  this.  Permanent  action  ' 
alone  can  do  it.  This  doctrine  is  opposed  to  revivals.  That  is,  the 
revival  principle. 

Besides :  These  revivals  are  sometimes  got  up ;  and,  indeed,  I 
cpeak  the  sentiments  of  all  their  advocates,  when  I  say  that  they  are 
always  got  up  by  means  of  protracted  meetings,  powerful  appeals,  &c. 
I  know  something  about  this,  for  I  have  got  up  revivals  and  religious 


234  EVILS    OF   PERIODICAL   RELIGION.  80 

excitements  myself.  I  say,  then,  without  any  fear  of  contradiction, 
that  religious  excitements  are  produced  just  as  we  produce  impressions 
or  excitements  about  Physiology,  Magnetism,  Singing,  Temperance, 
&.C.  They  are  induced  by  their  own  appropriate  means,  just  as  any 
and  every  thing  else  in  the  physical  and  the  moral  world.  The 
means  used  bring  them  to  their  crisis  sooner,  or  protract  them  longer, 
according  to  the  nature  of  the  means  used.  I  advocate,  then,  that 
they  be  protr-acted  so  as  to  have  a  permanent  revival.  I  do  not  object 
to  revivals,  as  creating  too  much  religious  feeling.  I  would  have  as 
much  religion  always  as  there  is  in  any  revival,  divested,  perhaps,  of 
some  extraneous  matter.  But  1  uncompromisingly  oppose  periodical 
religion  ;  or,  rather,  annual  religion ;  for,  revival  matters  are  so  man- 
aged as  to  "  get  up''''  revivals  at  stated  seasons  of  the  year.  It  will  not 
take  much  of  the  spirit  of  prophecy  to  foretell,  that  about  next  January 
revival  meetings  and  efforts  will  begin  to  multiply,  and  begin  to  pro- 
duce copious  showers  of  "Divine  grace"  by  February,  only  to  be 
completely  dissipated  by  April. 

But,  why  do  April  showers,  perhaps  the  chilly  winds  of  March, 
dissipate  or  supersede  the  showers  of  Divine  grace  1  Because  revivals 
must  give  way  to  business.  January  brings  leisure  to  merchants, 
tradesmen,  &c.,  to  get  up  revivals  till  the  money-making  season  again 
returns.  I  submit,  to  Christian  and  to  all,  if  this  periodicity  of  revi- 
vals, and  at  such  times  and  seasons,  too,  does  not  tell  a  story  touching 
revivals  that  should  make  those  blush  whom  it  may  concern. 

Let  me  not,  by  any  means,  be  understood  to  speak  against  man's 
exercising  the  religious  feeling.  So  far  from  it,  I  would  advocate  our 
exercising  the  religious  sentiments  more  all  the  time,  than  they  are 
now  exercised  even  in  revivals.  But,  I  would  not  have  these  exer- 
cises fitful,  but  perennial.  The  day  of  Pentecost  should  have  lasted 
till  now,  and  even  swept  down  the  vista  of  all  coming  time,  till  the 
last  human  being  gave  up  the  ghost.  The  principles  advocated  in 
this  essay,  show  that  religion  should  be  the  paramount  feeling,  pur- 
suit, occupation,  of  man,  and  not  a  winter's  coat,  that  he  can  put  on 
when  he  cannot  make  money,  only  to  be  put  off  when  he  can.  Mo- 
ney should  be  the  one  to  give  place  to  religion,  and  not  religion  to 
money-making.  And  this  subjecting  the  "  Spirit  of  God,"  as  revival 
influences  are  called,  to  the  worldly  spirit,  tells  a  deep,-  dark  story  on 
the  religion  of  the  day — ^tells  it  that  it  is  both  animal,  and  secondary  at 
that,  while  it  should  be  primary,  and  in-wrought  into  the  very  texture 
of  all  we  do,  say,  feel.  This  is  the  revival  doctrine  and  spirit  of 
Phrenology,  and  of  the  nature  of  man,  if  not  of  the  pages  of  the  Bible. 


gj  ^  REVIVALS    GOT    UP.  235 

Indeed,  I  am  fully  persuaded,  that  the  Bible  does  not  inculcate,  does 
not  even  sanction  the  revival  spirit,  or  measures,  or  converts,  of  the 
day.  For,  those  that  are  converted  by  impulse,  must,  by  a  law  of 
mind,  be  impulsive,  periodical  Christians,  and  therefore  disqualified 
to  enjoy  constant,  permanent  religion,  as  well  as  to  shine  as  a  steady 
Christian  light  upon  the  sinful  darkness  of  the  surrounding  world. 

But,  if  others  entertain  other  views,  let  them.  Let  those  cultivate 
annual  religion  who  have  no  better  religioa.  But,  let  me  live  near  to 
my  God  always.  Let  me  pray  toithout  ceasing.  Like  Blackhawk, 
let  me  never  take  the  refreshing  draft  from  the  bubbling  spring,  with- 
out offering  up  thanksgiving  and  praise  to  the  Author  of  all  good. 
Let  me  be  as  religious  in  August  as  in  February.  Let  my  religion 
not  be  the  changeable  garment ;  but,  let  it  be  in  me,  and  form  the 
major  part  of  me.  No  annual  piety.  No  weekly,  Sunday  piety, 
even.  But  daily.,  and  hourly,  and  constantly,  may  my  soul  hold 
sweet  communion  with  the  God  of  nature.  And  I  am  persuaded, 
that  these  views  will  accord  with  both  the  intellect  and  the  better  feel- 
ings of  those  who  have  either.  At  least,  I  shall  not  concern  myself 
with  those  who  differ  from  me ;  for  the  very  good  reason,  that  I  consi- 
der them  in  error. 

I  know  that  I  have  now  touched  two  of  the  four  tender  places  of  the 
religion  of  the  day — the  Sabbath,  and  Revivals.  I  know  that  I  shall 
excite  against  me  the  prescriptive  spirit*  of  the  religion  of  the  age. 
Be  it  so.  I  stand  where  even  their  anathemas,  (I  know  they  are 
more  powerful,  more  unrelenting  than  the  anathemas,  the  proscrip- 
tions, the  tyrany,  of  any  thing  else  in  this  world,)  cannot  essentially 
harm  me.  The  truth  of  Phrenology  is  above  their  reach.  So  is  my 
professional  reputation.  If  they  say  1  do  not  understand  my  business? 
the  spontaneous  voice  of  the  entire  community  will  give  them  the  lie, 
and  react  against  them.,  not  me.  So  that  if  they  commend,  or  if  they 
condemn,  my  patrimony  is  beyond  their  reach.  I  fear  them  not. 
Why,  then,  should  I  turn  aside  for  them,  or  even  bow  and  scrape  to 
curry  their  favor.  I  have  more  business  on  hand  constantly  than  ten 
nmen  can  execute.  So  that,  if  they  even  do  operate  against  me,  they 
cannot  hurt  me.  My  bread  and  butter  is  beyond  their  reach.  Let 
them  do  their  worst.     I  bow  not.     I  ask  no  favors.     I  grant  none. 

*  There  is  no  better  proof  that  the  religion  of  the  day  is  no  better  than  it 
ought  to  be,  than  the  way  it  treats  its  opposers.  When  one  cheek  is  smitten, 
it  does  not  turn  the  other  also.  It  proscribes,  anathamizes,  aye,  even  punishes 
And  punishes,  too,  those  who  are  sincere  in  tlieir  belief.  But  I  may  take  up 
tliis  point  separately. 


236  APOLOGY  FOE,  TELLING  THE  TRUTH.  82 

And,  oh!  if  I  ever  thanked  my  God  for  any  thing,  it  is  that  I  stand 
in  a  position  where  I  can  tell  the  truth,  and  defy  the  consequences. 
It  is  awful,  to  have  truth  struggling  within  one's  soul,  reel  and  rum- 
bling like  the  earth,  when  its  pent-up  fires  are  seeking  vent.  I  appeal 
to  ministers,  who  ache  to  tell  truths  which  they  know  will  cost  them 
their  salaries.  But,  it  is  glorious  to  be  able  to  utter  truth,  in  all  its 
dignity,  in  all  its  power.  To  see  it  cut  its  own  way,  and  prostrate 
whatever  opposes  it.  To  see  it  make  those  in  error  wince  and  writhe 
under  its  folds,  only  to  be  overcome  and  prostrated  by  their  own  vam 
struggles.  To  see  the  human  mind  delivered  from  those  thraldoms 
by  which  it  has  been  spell-bound,  and  come  out  free  as  air  into  the 
glorious  liberty  of  the  sons  of  truth.  To  see  error  and  misery  sup- 
planted by  virtue  and  happiness.  To  see  thirsty  souls  drink  in  truth, 
and  be  refreshed,  and  to  be  re-invigorated,  and  become  regenerated 
thereby.  That  glory,  I  enjoy.  I  glory  in  the  mere  utterance  of 
truth.  I  glory  in  being  the  instrument  of  good  to  man  thereby.  1 
glory  in  not  being  obliged  to  truckle  even  to  religious  bigotry  and  ty- 
ranny, the  worst  form  of  tyranny,  proscription,  intolerance  on  our  globe. 
Even  it,  cannot  harm  me.  I  snufFthe  wind  of  its  threats  in  my  nostrils, 
and  sing,  aha,  aha !  And  I  tell  all  whom  it  may  concern,  that  I  ask 
no  odds  of  any  one.  I  have  got  the  American  ear ;  the  confidence 
of  Americans.  And  I  shall  use  that  confidence  without  abusing  it ; 
and  so  as  even  to  increase  it.  It  cannot  be  taken  from  me.  There  is 
a  power  in  TRUTH  which  will  make  ten  friends  to  one  enemy.  I 
can  live  without  ever  making  another  cent.  I  can  satisfy  my  con- 
science, by  telling  the  whole  truth,  and  am  able  to  father  its  conse- 
quences. So,  reader,  you  may  hear  or  forbear.  You  may  laud  or 
cavil.  What  you  say  and  do  for  or  against  these  things,  will  react 
on  you  for  good  or  for  evil.  Better  take  it  kindly,  then,  and  profit  by 
the  lessons  it  teaches. 

Hence,  when  I  come  to  the  other  two  places — (corns !  on  the  feet 
of  modern  Religion,  that  make  her  limp  and  hobble  along) — I  shall 
tread  on  them  just  as  though  they  were  not  there.  Temporize,  I  need 
not.  Suppress  truth,  1  will  not.  So  that  the  reader  may  calculate  on 
straight-forward,  thorough  work. 


83  RELIGIOUS   TEACHERS  USEFUL,  237 


SECTION  T. 

RELIGIOUS   TEACHERS,    OR   PREACHERS, 

Since  it  is  beneficial,  necessary,  for  man  to  be  religious,  the  question 
recurs  on  the  expediency  of  having  religious  teachers,  preachers,  &c. 
Phrenology,  I  thing,  favors  the  existence  of  this  profession.  xMan  is 
capable  of  being  influenced  by  his  fellow  men.  Hence,  those  who 
are  truly  religious,  are  capable  of  infusing  the  religious  spirit  into  their 
fellow  men.  Still,  that  profession,  as  now  conducted,  is  sadly  faulty, 
and  comes  far  short  of  effecting  the  good  it  is  capable  of  accom- 
plishing. Ministers  are  able  to  do  immense  good,  but  they  not  un- 
frequently  wield  their  tremendous  influence  to  the  injury  of  mankind- 
How  often  do  they  become  dogs  in  the  manger,  neither  eating  the  hay 
of  science  themselves,  nor  letting  those  under  their  influence  eat  it. 
This  is  strikingly  true,  in  regard  to  Phrenology.  And,  indeed,  not 
unfrequently  in  regard  to  other  great  reforms  in  mankind.  Their  in- 
fluence is  entirely  too  conservative.  They  hold  society  back  from 
effecting  those  changes  that  are  evidently  beneficial  to  society.  As  a 
class,  they  hang  on  too  tenaciously  to  the  old  ways,  and  set  their  faces 
against  Phrenology,  Magnetism,  Science,  Geology  included,  &c.  &c. 
and  thus  greatly  retard  human  improvement,  whereas  they  should 
be  the  first  to  descry  improvements,  and  urge  their  adoption. 

A  single  illustration :  Let  there  be  one  stifle,  hard-headed  orthodox 
in  any  place,  and  he  will  be  the  nucleus  around  which  all  the  anti-re- 
form influence  of  the  place  will  gather ;  and  will  make  many  bigoted 
who  would  otherwise  take  liberal  views  of  subjects.  AD.  D.,  cler- 
gyman in  a  certain  old-fashioned  town  in  New  England,  is  a  cordial, 
whole-souled  opponent  of  Phrenology,  and  censures  severely  some  of 
his  family  who  have  been  compelled  to  believe  it ;  besides  keeping 
\i  out  of  other  ministers'  churches,  who,  but  that  he  is  a  leader  or  ex- 
ampler  among  them,  would  favor  it,  and  open  their  churches  for  lec- 
tures, &c.  But  they  must  keep  up  their  dignity  by  doing  as  he  does  ; 
thus  employing  the  same  principle  of  augmentation  mentioned  on  p. 
71,    to  appertain  to  the  opening  of  churches. 

And  then  there  is  something  radically  wrong  in  their  education. 
They  are  educated  to  be  sectarian,  and  they  are  sectarian — the  main 
propagators  of  sectarian  influences.  I  confess,  I  have  no  faith  what- 
ever in  the  present  method  of  manufacturing  ministers.     They  are 


84  EDUEATION    OP    MINISTETS.  238 

made  to  order  as  a  tailor  would  make  a  coat.  They  must  all  go 
through  certain  mills^  called  the  Academy,  the  College,  the  Seminary, 
and  be  ground  out,  all  ready  for  taking  holy  orders,  and  cooking  up 
sectarian  sermons.  They  must  know  nothing  of  Physiology.  Oh,  no; 
they  have  other  more  important  things  to  which  to  attend.  They 
come  out  of  College,  the  Seminary,  and  all,  ignorant  of  nearly  every 
law  of  health,  and  generally  with  impaired  constitutions;  and,  often, 
soon  become  confirmed  invalids,  and  die  young.  They  do  not  even 
know,  that  to  preserve  the  health  is  a  moral  duty  ;  or  even  that  life  and 
health  can  be  preserved.  They  even  generally  think  that  sick- 
ness and  premature  death  are  providential^  and  not  the  products  of 
causation.  And  if,  perchance,  some  of  them  do  find  out  that  to  be 
sick  is  to  be  sinful,  they  must  not  preach  on  health,  its  duty,  or  its  con- 
ditions, but  must  preach  sectarianism.  The  palpable  ignorance,  or 
else  culpable  neglect  of  both  Physiology  and  Phrenology,  is  the 
main  fault  I  have  to  find  Avith  them.  As  a  class,  they  are  excellent, 
moral  men.  They  mean  better  than  they  do.  They  have  been  look- 
ing at  kais  gars,&Lc.  till  they  have  contracted  the  scope  of  their  in- 
tellectual vision  into  the  arena  of  their  own  sectarian  dogmas,  and  there 
they  stay.  Still,  as  a  class,  their  motives  are  as  good  as  those  of  any 
other  class.  They  do  as  well  as  they  know  how.  I  pity  their  ignor- 
ance and  contraction  more  than  blame  their  motives.  I  say  ignorance. 
Not  of  sectarianism.  Not  of  Theological  lore.  Not  of  old-fash- 
ioned science,  "  falsely  so  call."  But  of  that  practical  knowledge  of 
men  and  things,  and  plain  common  sense,  which  constitutes  the  basis 
of  all  true  knowledge.  Of  mind,  its  laws,  its  elements,  and  the  means  of 
operating  on  it,  they  know  very  little,  and  most  of  that  little  they  need 
to  unlearn.  To  be  good  ministers,  it  is  necessary  that  they  all  be  good 
Phrenologists.  Then  will  they  understand  the  human  mind,  and 
how  to  operate  on  it.  And  I  tell  Clergymen  that  they  can  turn  tlieir 
attention  to  no  branch  of  study  that  will  equally  fit  them  for  the  station 
they  occupy. 

'^  It  is  customary  for  the  professors  at  Andover  to  let  tlieir  chapels  to  such 
lectures  as  they  think  it  proper  for  their  unfledged  ministers  to  attend.  I  ac 
cordiiigly  applied  for  it,  in  which  to  lecture  on  Phrenology  and  Physiology,  and 
their  bearings.  My  application  was  Drought  forwai'd  at  a  regular  meeting  of  the 
faculty,  and  negatived.  The  answer  returned  was,  that  the  attention  of  the 
students  was  pre-occupied  with  other  more  important  matters.  This  refusal  was 
tantamout  to  a  public  condemnation  of  Phi-enology.      So  much  Andover  knows 


239  DEPENDENCE    OP   MINISTEK.S.  85 

I  repeat :  They  are  generally  honest,  sincere,  well-meaning  men, 
and  most  of  their  faults  are  faults  of  education,  (or  rather,  the  want  of 
it,)  not  of  motives.  I  am  far  from  joining  in  the  general  tirade 
against  ministers,  or  trumpeting  their  faults.  Faults  they  certainly 
have.  But  they  are  faults  that  grow  out  of  their  habits,  and  the 
temptations  to  which  they  are  exposed. 

The  second  fault  of  ministers,  is  that  they  do  not  labor  sufficiently 
either  for  healthj  or  talent,  or  moral  feeling.  They  are  feasted  to  death, 
because  they  eat  much  from  home,  and  must  live  on  the  fat  of  the  land  ; 
every  table  to  which  they  are  set  being  loaded  with  the  good  things. 
Then  they  write  and  preach  too  much,  and  allow  themselves  very  little 
time  for  recreation  or  exercise.  Every  minister  ought  to  have  several 
acres  of  land,  and  to  work  enough,  on  it  to  raise  most  of  the  eatables 
for  his  family.  This,  besides  vastly  improving  his  health,  and,  conse- 
quently, his  talents,  will  render  him  more  independent  than  he  now 
is.  I  do  say,  that  no  religious  teacher  should  depend  on  his  preach- 
ing for  his  living,  for  two  reasons : — 

First :  It  renders  them  more  mercenary  than  is  consistent  with  their 
station — hirelings,  that  preach  for  wages.  How  can  this  help  season- 
ing their  preaching,  and  making  them  have  an  eye  to  higher  salaries  ? 

But  the  main  reason  is,  that  it  incapacitates  them  for  telling  the  truth. 
And  hence,  though  consicous  that  certain  unpopular  doctrines  are 
true,  and  ought  to  be  preached,  they  yet  keep  one  eye  upon  the 
loaves  and  fishes.  It  cannot  be  otherwise.  This  makes  them 
temporize  with  the  sins  of  the  rich  men  of  their  parish,  or  with  the 
sins  of  their  wives,  or  sons,  or  daughters,  so  as  to  augment  their  own 
salaries.  Let  those  who  are  so  disposed,  give.  But  let  the  minister  be 
able  to  support  himself,  if  he  must,  so  that  he  may  be  free  and  bold  to 
declare  the  whole  truth,  without  fear  or  favor. 

I  would  also  have  them  mingle  somewhat  more  with  their  flock 
and  be  more  familiar  with  them,  and  talk  religion,  and  live  religion; 
to  them  daily.  Having  these  set  seasons  for  religion  is  not  the  thing. 
It  renders  it  formal.  Besides,  we  require  to  have  our  religious  feel- 
ings kept  perpetually  in  action ;  and  these  organs  can  be  operated 
upon  only  as  can  all  the  others,  namely,  by  presenting  their  appro- 
priate food,  daily,  hourly.  And,  particulary,  by  living  religion.  I 
confess,  the  Gluaker  notions  as  to  ministers,  come  nearer  to  the  doc- 
trines of  Phrenology,  in  this  respect,  than  any  others. 

One  thing  more:  Preachers  of  morals  should  also  be  teachers  of 
science.  Religion  and  science  ought  never  to  be  separated.  They 
are  twm  sisters.  Their  organs  occupy  contiguous  portions  of  the  head. 


86  MINISTERS    SHOULD    MINGLE    HOKE    WITH   THEIU   FLOCK.  2i3 

Their  functions  naturally  blend,  and  excite  each  other.  I  have  de- 
monstrated the  principle  which  settles  this  matter.  All  their  hom- 
ilies should  be  based  in  science,  and  mixed  through  science,  and  all 
science  should  be  accompanied  with  religion.  Thus  says  Phenology. 
It  also  saith :  Let  no  man  become  a  religious  teacher,  unless  prompt- 
ed by  the  religious  feelings  ;  and  let  him  never  attempt  to  preach, 
pray,  exhort,  unless  when  imbued  with  this  sentiment;  so  that  it 
will  gush  forth  in  every  Avord,  in  every  action.  Let  us  have  no  for- 
mal preaching  or  praying. 

I  think  one  evil  grows  out  of  our  having  a  set  ministry :  And  th&t 
is,  that  the  people  rely  on  them  to  do  up  their  preaching,  prayinj^, 
piety.  They  do  not  exhort  their  neighbors  to  love  and  good  work?, 
because  they  pay  their  minister  to  do  that.  And  so  of  many  other  re- 
ligious duties  and  feelings.  Now  piety  cannot  be  done  up  by  proxy. 
Every  one  must  be  religious /or  himself.  If  to  shurk  this  private, 
personal  piety  off  on  to  the  ministers,  were  the  natural,  necessary  con- 
sequence of  having  ministers.  Phrenology  Avould  utterly  condemn 
having  any  minister,  yet  I  do  not  think  it  is  necesary,  only  accidental, 
caused  by  a  low  state  of  religious  feelings. 

But,  after  all,  though  religious  teachers  are  good  in  their  places, 
and  though  rfiey  may  perhaps  do  good  by  exciting  their  fellow  men 
to  religious  feeling  and  good  Avorks,  still  no  one  can  pray  or  be  reli- 
gious for  any  other.  Every  one  must  be  good  and  do  good  for  him- 
self. Ministers  cannot  pray  instead  of  their  flock,  and  thus  excuse 
the  latter.  Nor  believe  for  them.  Nor  be  benevolent  for  them.  Nor 
do  works  meet  for  repentance  for  them.  "  Every  man  for  himself." 
And  I  really  fear,  that  the  mere  fact  of  the  existence  of  ministers  of 
religion,  is  generally  abused  in  this  way.  We  would  fain  be  reli- 
ligious  by  proxy.  Better  not  have  any  ministers  at  all.  Then,  we 
shall  not  rely  upon  them  to  our  soul's  injury.  Nor  need  the  fact  be 
disguised,  that  many  do  rely  upon  their  minister  to  do  up  their  reli- 
gious thinking,  and  their  religious  feeling  for  them.  As  well  get  your 
minister  to  eat  for  you,  or  sleep  for  you,  or  live  for  you.  And  let  us 
be  religious  for  our  own  selves,  and  also  do  all  that  in  us  lies  to  pro- 
mote holy  feeling  and  godly  conduct  among  mankind. 

As  to  the  way  they  make  ministers,  by  laying  on  of  hands,  ordain- 
ing, &c.  it  is  all  useless.  All  the  ordinations  and  holy  orders  of  all 
Christendom,  from  St.  l^eter  down  to  the  latest  dates,  cannot  make  a 
person  one  whit  the  better  man,  the  better  minister.  But  they  some- 
times work  injnry,  by  leading  the  people  to  suppose  a  man  to  be  good 
because  he  has  been  ordained.     As  to  laying  on  of  hands,  mentioned 


241  RELIGIOUS   SOCIETIES   OR   ASSOCIATIONS.  87 

in  the  Bible,  it  was  evidently,  simply  a  magnetizing  of  the  moral  sen- 
timents. As  far  as  the  "  fathers"  in  the  ministry  actually  charge  the 
moral  organs  of  their  seminary-made  minister  with  the  religious 
fluid  or  impulse,  by  holding  their  hands  on  the  top  of  his  head,  this 
ordaining  process  may  do  some  good.     In  no  other  way. 

A  word  in  this  connexion,  about  the  consecration  of  houses  of  wor- 
ship. How  much  more  holy,  sacred,  is  that  church  as  a  church,  or 
the  wood  and  morter  that  compose  it,  after  its  consecration  than  be- 
fore 1  Does  the  quality  of  holiness  belong  to  matter  1  Does  it  not 
belong  exclusively  to  mind  1  Perfect  nonsense  to  consecrate,  holify 
wood,  plaster,  pews,  steeple !  Too  absurd  to  require  exposition. 
And  yet,  to  make  it  a  profanation  of  holy  things,  a  desecration  of  the 
sanctuary,  to  allow  any  but  an  ordained  minister  to  mount  the  pulpit, 
or  any  thing  but  the  sectarian  dogma  that  consecrated  it  may  allow  to  be 
uttered  within  its  walls  !  Science — Nature — Man  !  Oh.  horrible  !  what 
Profanity !  Desecration  !  And  then  too,  a  bishop,  a  church,  conse- 
crated by  Catholics,  is  catholic-holy,  but  tm-holy  to  all  Protestants ; 
while  priests  and  churches  consecrated  by  Trinitarians,  are  trinitari- 
an-holy,  but  unitarian-unholy  ;  and  so  on  of  all  the  sects.  I  have  no 
patience  with  sectarian  religion,  sectarian  holiness,  sectarian  church- 
es, ministers,  doctrines,  any  thing  sectarian. 


SECTION  VI. 

RELIGIOUS    SOCIETIES,    OR   ASSQCIATIONS. 

Next  to  Clergyman,  come  Religious  Societies,  or  bodies  of  relig- 
ionists associated  together  for  religious  objects.  Is  this  Phrenologi- 
cal 1  Clearly  so.  The  principle  already  explained,  that  the  social 
affections  should  combine  with  the  moral  sentiments,  decides  this 
matter  in  favor  of  religious  organizations.  But,  it  also  says,  that  the 
basis  of  such  organizations  should  be  voluntary  association^  and 
without  one  iota  of  compulsion  or  restraint.  Phrenology  goes  in  for 
the  largest  liberty,  especially  as  regards  the  moral  sentiments.  It 
does  not  believe  in  creeds,  in  any  form ;  for  this  implies  that  they 
must  govern  our  belief,  and  this  trammels  that  perfect  liberty  which  the 
nature  of  man  requires.  All  prescription,  all  proscription,  are  abhor- 
rent to  this  science.    I  will  not  here  stop  to  inquiry  wherein,  but  shall 


88  RELIGIOUS   LIBERTY.  242 

probably  demonstrate  this  principle  hereafter.  Suffice  it  for  the  pre- 
sent to  observe,  that  the  faculty  of  will,  in  like  manner  Avith  all  the 
other  faculties,  should  combine  with  the  moral  faculties.  Where  there 
is  compulsion  of  any  kind,  in  any  form,  there  liberty  is  abridged,  and 
with  it  virtue  and  enjoyment.  Man  Avas  never  made  to  think  by 
proxy,  or  to  pin  his  faith  on  creeds  or  on  leaders.  Every  man  has  or 
should  have,  religious  feelings,  intellect,  and  will,  and  should  exercise 
all  three  together.  Should  think  for  himself  Avithout  let  or  hindrance, 
and  take  the  consequences.  Perfect  liberty  of  thought  and  action  is 
a  cardinal  doctrine  of  Phrenology.  But  all  creeds,  and  all  the  reli- 
gious organizations  of  the  day,  operate  against  this  liberty.  Think  of 
it !  The  Council  of  Trent  legislating  for  the  consciences  of  men  !  The 
General  Assembly,  telling  their  churches  and  members  what  they 
shall  believe,  and  Avhat  not !  The  Pope  of  Rome,  telling  intelligent 
beings  what  is  heresy,  and  Avhat  not !  Or  the  Methodist  Conference 
saying,  believe  this,  reject  that !  Every  thing  of  this  kind^the  entire 
paraphrenalia  of  modern  religious  associations — in  character.,  is  on 
a  par  Avith  the  fires  of  Smithfield,  and  the  Inquisition.  There  are  fag- 
gots and  inquisitions  in  our  day,  in  our  midst,  and  I  doubt  not  but  that 
some  readers  have  been  scorched.  I  have,  and  expect  to  be  again. 
But,  having  on  the  coat  of  truth,  Avoven  Avith  asbestos,  I  tell  them  to 
iire  aAvay,  for  they  are  only  scorching  themselves.  I  boldly  aver,  that 
there  is  more  of  religious  tyranny  than  of  all  other  kinds  of  tyranny 
put  together.  Men  must  think  in  the  traces — must  believe  by  rule — or 
else  have  all  their  business,  all  their  influence,  taken  from  them. 
We  declaim  against  the  intolerance  of  the  Catholics.  They  are  in- 
tolerant. But  the  Protestants  are  about  as  much  so.  I  verily  believe, 
that  if  the  civil  laAV  did  not  step  in  and  prevent,  religionists  of  our  day 
would  burn  each  other  at  the  stake,  for  opinion's  sake — as  the  honest 
and  virtuous  Gluaker  has  been  burnt — as  Salem  Avitches  were  mur- 
dered !  They  do  all  but  hang  and  burn  noAV.  They  do  even  Avorse. 
They  rob  of  character.  They  slander,  and  do  the  worst  they  can.  In- 
stance the  treatment  of  the  Come-outers.*   If  they  had  been  very  devils, 

*  I  do  not  choose  this  illustration  in  order  to  side  with  the  Come-outers.  I 
say  they  are  persecuted,  but  I  also  say  that  they  show  precisely  the  intolerent 
epirit  towards  their  enemies  that  their  enemies  do  towards  them.  Both  deserve 
censure.  At  least,  it  is  all  wrong  for  them  to  disturb  the  meetings  of  others. 
If  others  want  meetings,  or  ministers,  or  what  not,  be  it  even  liquor,  let  them 
have  them.  Let  all  men  do  exactly  as  they  please.  Simply  point  out  their  er- 
rors, in  the  spkit  of  kindness  of  course,  and  then  let  them  chose  and  act  for 
themselves. 


243  RELIGIOUS   INTOLEEANCE.  '  89 

they  should  not  have  been  treated  as  many  of  them  undoubtedly 
were.  Would  not  some  folks  like  to  burn  a  Rodgers  now  alive,  as 
somebody  burnt  his  ancestor  1  Shame !  a  burning  shame !  Forbid- 
den by  the  Bible !  In  the  teeth  of  Phenology !  And  for  opinion's  sake  ! 
Put  on  the  straight-jacket  of  creeds,  and  hew  every  man's  mind 
down  to  it,  lengthwise,  breadthwise,  all  wise  (if  you  hew  him  in 
pieces)  so  that  you  but  make  him  fit  into  the  hole  dug  out  for  him ! 
And  then  call  that  religion !  Religion  it  is,  but  it  is  that  of  popery. 
It  is  propensitTf-veligion.  It  has  not  one  generous  trait  to  recom- 
mend it.  And  Avhat  is  more,  each  sect  has  got  its  own  straight-jacket, 
and  is  trying  to  fit  not  only  their  own  members  to  it,  but  also  all  the 
world  besides. 

But  the  worst  of  all  is,  that  they  require  us  to  believe  lies,  and  then 
put  us  into  the  Inquisition,  because  we  will  not  comply.  To  be  com- 
pelled to  believe  any  thing,  even  the  truth,  is  horrible.  But  to  be 
obliged  to  believe  error,  or  else  to  be  put  upon  the  rack ! — don't  call 
yourselves  Christians  !  "  A  rose  by  any  other  name  may  small  as 
sweetly."  The  Bible  speaks  of  that  day  as  most  glorious,  when  every 
man  shall  worship  God  "  under  his  own  vine  and  fig-tree."  And  so 
it  will  be  ;  but,  though  man  is  a  little  nearer  to  that  blessed  period  than 
in  the  dark  ages,  he  is  a  long  way  from  it  yet.  Men  are  yet  at- 
tempting to  cram  their  creeds  down  each  others  throats  ;  and  "  might 
is  right."  What  moral  man  but  dispises  the  politics  of  the  day,  for 
turning  men  out  of  office,  and  putting  them  in,  for  opinion's  sake,  and 
thus  destroying  the  freedom  of  the  elective  franchise.  Contemptible? 
And  much  the  very  same  spirit  of  proscription  runs  through  nearly 
every  sect,  only  that  it  is  plied  with  greater  minuteness  and  efficacy 
by  the  latter  than  by  the  former.  Why  did  not  Jesus  Christ  catch 
Judas  by  his  collar,  and,  after  jerking  and  twiching  him  about,  cuffing 
and  pelting  him  almost  to  death,  pitch  him  out  of  the  pale  of  disciple- 
ship  ?  And  what  would  you  have  thought  of  him  if  he  had  thus 
treated  even  Judas  ?  What  do  you  think  of  yourselves !  and  that  too 
though  your  opponents  are  as  sincere  in  belief,  irreproachable  in 
life,  as  yourself,  perhaps  more  so  ?  Away !  It  is  not  Christianity — it 
is  narrow-minded,  bigotted,  tyrannical,  sectarian  deviltry.  I  mean, 
to  esteem,  or  treat  voluntary/  man  any  the  better  or  worse  because 
he  does  or  does  not  believe  as  you  do.  Let  him  believe  as  he  pleases, 
and  you  believe  as  you  please,  yet  both  continue  to  be  as  cordial 
friends  as  ever.  But  enough  of  this  painfully  disgusting  subject^ 
Let  us  all  do  unto  others  as  we  would  have  them  do  unto  us.  As  we 
all  like  to  thmkandact  for  ourselves,  let  us  yield  the  same  liberty  to 


so 


PRAYER. ITS   DUTY. ITS    EFFICACY.  244 


Others,  and  yet  not  think  any  the  worse  of  them  therefore.  And  let 
intellect  be  the  only  weapon  with  which  to  propagate  the  peaceful  re- 
ligion of  Jesus  Christ.  Let  Mahomet  make  men  religious  by  the 
sword.  Let  the  Pope  propagate  popery  by  means  of  the  Inquisition. 
Let  Protestant  dissenters  employ  in  effect  the  same  odious,  anti-repub 
lican,  anti-christian  spirit  against  which  they  themselves  protested  and 
rebelled.  But  let  Phrenologists  take  the  atheist  by  the  hand  as  cor- 
dially as  they  do  the  faithful,  and  give  and  take  the  largest  liberty. 

The  only  principle  on  which  all  religious  associations,  and  indeed 
all  associations,  should  proceed,  is  that  of  the  natural  attractions  ot 
kindred  minds  for  each  other.  No  formal  reception.  No  expulsion. 
Let  members  come  and  go  at  pleasure,  and  believe  and  do  what  they 
please,  influenced  only  through  the  medium  of  intellect.  Let  the 
pleasure  taken  in  each  others  society  be  our  only  creed — our  only 
bond  of  union. 


SECTION  VII. 

PRAYER. ITS    DUTY. ITS   EFFICACY. 

Veneration  prays.  Prayer  is  then  our  duty,  as  it  certainly  is 
our  pleasure.  This  has  been  already  shown.  But  it  remains  to  an- 
swer the  question  :  Does  praying  for  any  given  thing  have  any  tenden- 
cy to  bring  about  the  end  desired  ?  Does  it  alter  the  course  of  the  De- 
ity ?  Does  it  change  the  immutable  plans  of  the  Almighty  ?  Does  it 
set  aside  the  laws  of  cause  and  effect  ?  No,  neither.  Then,  "  How  can 
it  be  efficacious,  which  the  Bible  abundantly  assures  us  it  is  ?"  Sim- 
ply thus  :  We  cannot  pray  for  a  thing  very  earnestly  without  desiring 
it  as  earnestly.  Indeed,  prayer  is  but  desire,  and  each  is  proportion- 
ate to  the  other.  Now,  who  does  not  know  that  when  we  desire  a 
given  thing  very  much,  we  naturally,  necessarily  put  forth  corres- 
ponding efforts  to  obtain  the  thing  desired ;  or,  what  is  the  same 
thing,  prayed  for  ?  And  who  does  not  know  that  this  effort,  this  ap- 
plication of  appropriate  causes  to  the  production  of  the  effects  desired, 
tends  to  bring  about  the  end  prayed  for  just  as  we  produce  a  crop  of 
corn,  or  wheat,  or  peas,  or  whatever  else  we  pray  for.  We  pray  for 
every  thing  we  want,  and  every  single  thing  we  effect,  is  but  an  answer 
to  prayer.  To  pray  for  a  thing  and  not  to  put  forth  the  corresponding 
effort  is  but  mockery — is  no  prayer,  no  desire,  for  desire  and  effort 


^5  PKAYER. ^HOW   IT   IS   ANSWERED.  9| 

go  together  pari  passu.*  Neither  can  be  without  the  other,  and  the 
degree  of  either  is  the  measure  of  the  other,  and  generally,  of  the  effi- 
cacy of  the  prayer ;  though  that  is  also  effected  by  the  amount  of 
causality  brought  to  bear  upon  the  end  prayed  and  labored  for. 
Causality  must  accompany  veneration — ^a  doctrine  already  urged. 

"  But,"  says  a  truly  pious  Christian,  "  we  sometimes  pray  for 
things  beyond  our  power  to  effect,  and  on  which  causes  cannot  be, 
and  are  not,  brought  to  bear.  For  instance,  I  prayed  earnestly  for 
the  conversion  of  a  certain  impenitent  sinner.  I  said  not  a  word  to 
him.  I  used  no  means.  But  he  was  converted,  and  in  answer  to 
my  prayere."  Agreed.  "  A  mother  prays  for  her  son  who  is  far 
off,  and  wrestles  in  spirit  for  days,  but  holds  no  communication  with 
him.  Stillj  he  is  converted.  So,  with  hardened  sinners  sometimes  in 
revivals.  So,  in  regard  to  praying  for  the  sick,  and  their  almost  mi- 
raculous recovery,  and  in  cases  innumerable  where  your  plausible 
exposition  will  not  apply." 

First :  In  the  next  chapter,  I  shall  present  a  doctrine  in  relation  to 
spiritual  influences  which  wilt  show  how  it  is  that  your  prayers  for 
an  impenitent  sinner  operated  as  causes,  to  bring  him  to  repentance. 
Men  commune  with  each  other  spiritually  as  well  as  sensibly.  Man 
has  a  spiritual  nature,  a  magnetic,  immaterial  nature,  that  is  not  al- 
ways chained  down  to  his  body,  but,  bursting  the  shackles  of  clay, 
leaps  over  immeasurable  space,  and  knows  neither  time  nor  distance, 
but  is  indeed  and  in  truth  a  spirit.  This  state  is  pre-eminently  a  state  of 
prayer.  And  in  this  state,  though  the  mother  sees  not  her  son  with 
material  eyes,  or  addresses  him  with  her  voice,  yet  her  spirit  holds 
communion  with  his  spirit,  and  his  with  hers.  Though  you  see  not, 
speak  not  to  the  impenitent  sinner  for  whom  you  pray,  yet  your  spirit 
yearns  for  his  spirit,  and  impresses  him  with  that  religious  feeling 
which  pervades,  engrosses,  your  own  soul,  which  becomes  the 
cause,  and  his  convertion,  the  effect.  The  organs  are  all  catching. 
The  exercise  of  any  faculty  in  onC;  naturally,  necessarily,  ex- 
cites the  same  faculty  in  another.  Anger  in  one  electrifies  all 
around  him  with  the  same  angry  feeling.  So  with  the  religious 
spirit.  The  religious  feelings  becoming  roused  in  one,  excite  the 
same  in  another.  These  two  combine  and  reaugment  and  rekindle 
similar  feelings  in  the  souls  of  others,  and  thus  the  "  revival"  goes 
on  till  the  very  atmosphere  becomes  charged  with  the  religious  fluid 

*  "  With  even  pace,"  I  sometimes  quote  Latin  because  it  is  often  appropriate 
and  expressive,  and  because  I  could  wish  men  generally  knew  more  about  lan- 
guages. 


52  PRAYEE   CANNOT   CHANGE   TIIE   PURPOSES    OF   GOD.  246 

thrown  off  by  so  many,  which  spirit  impresses  the  impenitent  and  fi- 
nally converts  them. 

Secondly  :  Our  world  is  governed  throughout  by  cause  and  effect. 
Nothing  occurs  that  is  not  caused.  And  this  is  as  true  of  the  world 
of  mind  as  of  that  of  matter.  For  one,  I  am  not  atheist  enough  to 
believe  that  the  first  thing  ever  occurred  without  being  caused.  .  Nor 
can  I  admit  that,  after  the  Deity  has  got  his  plan  all  laid  right  in  in- 
finite wisdom  and  for  the  greatest  good  of  the  greatest  number,  that 
the  prayers  of  mortals  will  either  change  the  purpose  of  high  Hea 
ven,*  or  nullify  the  laws  of  causation  as  to  the  thing  prayed  for. 
Such  are  not  ray  views  of  God  or  nature.  If,  reader,  they  are  yours, 
I  pity  you.  I  pray  that  you  may  see  your  error,  and  I  will  do  my 
best  to  get  my  prayer  answered  ;  that  is,  to  convince  you  that  such 
notions  show  your  views  of  God  to  be  extremely  limited  and  er- 
roneous. 

Intelligent  reader ;  while  this  view  of  prayer  diminishes  nought 
from  the  efficacy  of  prayer,  it  presents  the  character  of  God  in  a  dig- 
nified  light,  and  sustains  the  great  arrangement  of  cause  and  effect 
in  all  its  power,  in  all  its  universality. 

It  remains  to  add,  that  both  verbal  prayer  and  also  public  prayer, 
find  their  counterpart  in  Phrenology ;  the  former  in  the  spontaneous 
disposition  of  language  to  clothe  thoughts  and  feelings  in  appropriate 
expressions,  and  of  adhesiveness,  which,  Avith  veneration,  inculcates 
social  prayer.  On  these  two  principles,  grow  both  vocal  prayer  and 
that  social  prayer  in  which  one  is  spokesman  for  the  others.  Praying 
with  and  for  others,  intensifies  the  action  and  extends  the  scope  of 
veneration,  and  thereby  increases  the  pleasure  and  the  profit  to  be 
derived  from  its  exercise. 

*  In  making  this  allusion  to  the  doctrine  of  Divine  decrees,  I  do  not  wish  to 
be  understood  to  advocate  the  existence  of  such  decrees ;  nor  do  I  now  wish 
to  be  understood  as  abrogating  this  doctrine.  I  simply  say  let  it  stand  untouch- 
ed for  the  present. 


247  RELIGIOUS   CREEDS,   CEREMONIES,   OBSERVANECSj   ETC. 


SECTION  VIII. 

RELIGIOUS    CREEDS,    CEREMONIES,    OBSERVANCES,    ETC. 

We  cannot  well  close  our  observations  on  this  faculty  without  re- 
marking upon  religious  foiTQS,  ceremonies,  rites,  observances  &cc. 
Do  they  aid  veneration,  or  augment  its  action  ?  If  so,  they  are  good. 
If  not,  they  are  useless,  besides  being  liable  to  cheat  us  with  the 
shadow  without  the  substance. 

Phrenology  answers  this  question  negatively.  It  sa^rs,  that  asftiend- 
ship  is  imfeded  by  ceremonies,  so  is  veneration.  Gushing  friendship 
is  all  cordiality.  It  knows  no  intervention  between  the  feeling  and  the 
expression.  It  requires  to  go  through  no  ceremony  in  order  to  express 
itself  So  with  the  religous  feelings.  And  as,  when  a  would-be 
friend  receives  you  very  politely  and  ceremoniously .^  you  may  know 
that  he  does  not  feel  friendship,  but  only  puts  on  its  semblance,  so 
when  religious  ceremonies  are  rigidly  observed,  take  it  for  granted, 
that  it  is  mainly  ceremony.  That  there  is  very  little  soul  or  religion 
in  it. 

And  I  cannot  but  think  thi**to  be  the  New  Testament  view  of  this 
matter.  I  do  think,  that  Christ  took  special  pains  to  do  away  with  all 
rites,  ceremonies,  forms,  &c.  except  the  two  baptism  and  the  comm- 
union, and  has  not  left  one  form^  except  a  short  prayer,  on  record. 
He  does  not  say  that  we  shall  begin  our  set  worship,  (or  even  that  we 
shall  have  any  set,  formal  worship,)  with  asking  a  blessing ;  to  be  fol- 
lowed by  reading  a  portion  of  the  Bible,  and  this,  by  singing,  and  this 
by  a  long  prayer ;  this  again  by  singing,  this  by  a  sermon,  and  this  by 
a  short  prayer,  a  sing,  and  the  benediction.  One  would  think  this 
specific  routine,  if  not  absolutely  necessary  to  salvation,  at  least  had 
some  saving  virtue-  in  it,  and  hence  its  universal  adoption.  Phrenol- 
ogy sees  no  special  virtue  in  the  Episcopalian  or  Catholic  form  of  ser- 
vice.— (No  heaven-wide  difference  between  them.)  It  sets  no  store 
by  creeds,  by  councils,  by  religious  liturgies,  prayer-books,  homi- 
lies, and  all  the  attache  of  modern  religion.  Away  Avith  them  all. 
They  but  interrupt  thy  communion  with  God  from  thy  heart.  And 
if  thy  religious  feelings  and  aspirations  are  so  weak  that  these  printed 
prayers  and  set  forms  are  necessary,  are  even  helps  to  devotion,  why 
thy  religion  is  weak  indeed !  and  thou  art  making  it  still  weaker. 


Vi  VOLUNTATcY  ASSOCIATION  THE  ONLY  PROPER  BOND  OF  UNION.        248 

Break  away  from  all  shadows.  Regard  only  the  substatvce.  Exer- 
cise the  religious  feelings.  Forms  or  no  forms,  printed  prayers  or 
vocal  prayers,  or  no  formal,  outward  expression  of  prayers  at  all,  so 
that  thy  heart  but  communes  with  God.  So  that  thy  feelings  are 
but  softened  down  by  prayer's  subduing  influences  ;  so  that  thy  soul 
is  bedewed  with  the  holy,  happy,  soul-satisfying  worship  of  thy  God. 
But,  beware  that  these  ceremonies  do  not  leave  thee  the  shadow  for 
the  substance. 

Quite  analogous  to  ceremonies,  are  creeds,  articles  of  faith,  <fec. 
Phrenology  discards  them.  It  is  like  measuring  out  a  given  kind  of 
food  to  each  and  all  members  of  the  human  family,  and  then  compel- 
ling them  to  eat  this  particular  dish,  (perhaps  dose,)  and  to  eat  no  more, 
no  Jess,  nothing  else.  And  that  dish,  too,  all  embittered  and  even 
poisoned  with  soine  ism.  It  is  like  making  a  bedstead,  and  stretching 
those  who  are  too  short  to  fill  it,  and  cutting  off  unfeelingly  those  who 
are  too  long  till  they  come  within  its  iron  dimensions.  It  also  abridges 
liberty  of  thought.  Above  all  things,  it  is .  odious  to  coerce  belief 
Many  a  hypocrite  do  these  creeds  make ;  for  he  who  is  true  to  the  faith, 
gets  patronized^  and  he  who  is  not,  is  not  only  neglected,  but  is  pro- 
scribed, by  a  silent  influence  to  be  sure,  but  "  by  a  mighty  hand  and 
a  stretched  out  arm"  notwithstanding.  And  modern  religion  gets  paid 
for  ihis  in  her  having  so  many  tares,  and  so  little  wheat.  Phrenology 
says,  patronize  men  none  the  less,  respect  them  none  the  less  for  opin- 
ion's sake.  Let  a  man  be  an  infidel,  so  that  he  is  sincere,  treat  him 
just  as  though  he  believed  with  you.  Agree  to  disagree.  Proscrip- 
tions for  opinion's  sake,  are  detestable.  Out  upon  politicians  for  giv- 
ing offices  exclusively  to  their  otvn  partizans.  It  is  a  direct- and  pal- 
pable interference  with  the  elective  franchise,  with  that  pretended,  air- 
bubble  liberty^  in  which  we  glorify  ourselves.  It  must  bring  even 
politics,  (scandalous,  contemptible,  as  they  are  any  how,)  into  disgrace 
with  every  sensible  man.  But,  to  carry  this  proscription  into  religion 
— to  buy  up  religion  as  they  buy  up  votes — shameful,  despicable ! 
And  yet  this  is  the  nature  of  all  creeds. 

"Oh,  but,"  say  you,  "  we  want  it  as  a  test  of  their  belief  We  want 
none  with  us  who  do  not  believe  with  us."  I  repeat :  Let  members 
come  and  go  at  pleasure.  Let  the  natural  bonds  of  friendship  and 
adhesion  alone  operate.  Let  those  form  themeselves  into  religious 
associations  whose  opinions  and  feelings  naturally,  mutually,  attract 
each  other.  Let  those  go  elsewhere  whose  pleasure  in  the  association 
will  not  bind  them  to  it.  Let  those  come  in  who  are  attracted  to  it, 
just  as  the  literary  seek  the  society  of  the  literary ;  and  so  of  other 


249  SPIRITUALITY   OF   MARVELLOUSNESS.  95 

instances  of  association.  Phrenology  advocates  the  largest  liberty. 
Tliis  liberty,  especially  of  opinion,  is  the  glorious  birth-right  of  every 
human  being.  Upon  this  liberty,  creeds  trespass.  It  sets  articles  of 
faith  to  thinking  for  those  who  subscribe  thereto.  They  can  be  val- 
uable only  as  they  are  minute;  and  if  they  are  minute,  they  divide, 
bewilder,  injure  their  subscribers,  injure  all. 

This  train  of  remark,  or  these  applications  of  Phrenology,  might  be 
extended  at  pleasure,  but  I  forbear.  Reader,  carry  them  out  for  your- 
self Drink  in  the  fundamental  principles,  and  then  run  them  up 
and  out  for  yourself  in  their  most  beautiful,  most  interesting  appli- 
cations. 


CHAPTER  III. 


TH^E   SPIRITUAL. 

God  is  a  Spirit ;  and  they  that  worship  Him,  must  worship  Him  in  spirit 
and  in  truth. 


SECTION  I. 

SPIRITUALITY,   OR   MARVELLOUSNESS. ITS   ANALYSIS   AND   BEARINGS. 

Perception  and  feeling  of  the  spiritual ;  belief  in  the  superhuman ;  trust  in  Divine 
providences  for  guidance  ;  intuitive  perception  of  future  events  ;  the  spirit  of 
prophecy ;  prescience ;  that  spiritual  state  of  mind  and  feeling,  which,  as  it 
were,  separates  the  soul  from  the  body,  and  perceives  things  independently 
of  the  physical  senses  or  other  faculties  ;  Faith. 

Man  has  a  soul — a  spiritual  essence — which  sees  without  eyes, 
hears  without  ears,  operates  disembodied,  and  connects  him  with 
heaven,  and  with  God.  Without  this  soul,  this  spirituality,  this  dis- 
embodied susceptibility,  how  could  he  form  the  least  idea  of  a  spiritual 
state,  of  spiritual  beings,  or  of  God  as  a  Spirit,  or  of  any  thing  at  all 
related  to  the  spiritual  ?  What  better  idea  of  any  thing  spiritual,  of 
any  thing  material,  than  the  blind  man,  (mentioned  on  p.  53,)  did  of 
colors?  How  completely  foreign  to  all  his  perceptions  would  be 
even  the  being  of  a  God  ?  He  could  conceive  of  him  only  as  a  ma- 
teral  being  or  thing,  and  could  form  no  conception  whatever  either, 
right  or  wrong,  of  any  being,  thing,  state,  independent  of  matter,  any 


Q6  ANALYSIS    OF    MARVELLOUSNESS.  ^^^ 

more  than  the  blind  man  could  of  colors,  or  the  total  idiot  of  first 
principles. 

But,  man  has  these  perceptions  and  feelings.  They  are  in-wrought 
into  his  moral  constitution,  his  very  bting.  They  are  not  creatures 
of  education  j  for  how  can  that  be  educated  which  does  not  exist  ? 
How  cultivate  the  spiritual,  when  we  can  form  no  idea  whatever  of 
the  thing  to  be  cultivated  ?  And  the  universality  of  this  sentiment,  in 
the  form  of  a  belief  in  ghosts,  in  an  hereafter,  in  transmigration,  a 
heaven,  a  hell,  and  the  like,  in  all  ages,  and  among  all  mankind,  esta- 
l)lishes  the  existence  of  some  faculty  analogous  to  the  definition  given 
above,  from  the  exercise  of  which  these  perceptions  and  feelings  pro- 
ceed. Precisely  the  same  argument,  mutalis  mutandis,*  which  prov- 
ed .the  existence  of  veneration,  will  equally  prove  the  existence  of  this 
faculty.  And  this  existence  and  analogy  established,  the  same  argu- 
ment of  adaptation  which  established  the  existence  of  a  God,  (p.  47,) 
will  establish  both  the  existence  of  a  spiritual  state,  the  spiritual  exist- 
ence of  God,  and  the  existence  of  spiritual  beings.     Let  us  apply  it. 

Belief  in  a  spiritual  existence,  is  universal.  From  the  earliest  re- 
cords of  man,  he  has  held  converse  with  spiritual  beings,  and  has  had 
his  heaven  and  hell.  Adam,  Cain,  Enoch,  Noah,  Abraham,  Isaac, 
Jacob,  Hagar,  Esau,  Moses,  Aaron,  Joshua,  David,  Solomon,  the 
Prophets,  in  sacred  history ;  the  druids  of  our  ancestors ;  Eneas,  and 
all  the  ancients  ;  all  paganism,  all  Christendom,  all  mankind,  in  all 
ages,  have  talked  with  Jehovah,  or  with  gods,  or  angels,  or  devils,  or 
departed  spirits.  Indeed,  the  entire  texture  and  frame-work  of  the 
Bible,  of  ancient  mythology,  of  Hindoo  worship,  of  Indian  worship, 
of  all  religion,  is  a  spiritual  existence.  To  deny  that  man  has  the  sen. 
timent  of  the  spiritual,  is  utter  folly.  To  assert  that  it  is  formed  by 
education,  is  equal  folly ;  for  education  can  never  create  any  thing, 
only  develop  primary  powers.  Education  must  have  some  original 
faculty  upon  which  to  operate ;  else  it  is  powerless.  And,  as  of  vene- 
ration, so  of  the  spiritual  feeling.  If  it  were  not  indigenous,  it  would 
soon  be  eradicated.  At  least,  it  could  not  pervade  the  whole  human 
family,  and  govern  them,  too,  so  energetically.  A  foreign  element,  a 
parasite,  a  feeling  for  which  man  had  no  predisposition,  and  that  was 
foreign,  and  therefore  repugnant,  to  the  nature  of  man,  could  not  pos- 
sibly fasten  itself  upon  that  nature  and  stay  fastened,  and  then  infuse 
itself  all  through  that  nature  as  this  faculty  has  done.  The 
supposition  is '  preposterous.  For,  the  mental  nature  of  man,  like  his 
physical,  would  soon  expell  a  foreign  intruder,  or  else  merely  furnish 
*  "  Those  things  being  changed  that  require  to  be  changed." 


251  MAN   REQUIRES   A   SPIRITTTAL   NATURE.  ,97 

it  room^  but  would  separate  itself  therefrom  completely.  I  cannot  see 
that  this  point  requires  argument ;  namely,  that  this  sentiment  of  the 
spiritual  is  constitutional  in  man. 

Besides :  Man  requires  such  a  faculty.  Many  things  can  be  known 
only  by  its  instrumentality.  We  often  require  to  know  what  causality 
cannot  reach,  because  it  has  no  data  on  which  to  operate,  or  because 
unknown  contingencies  will  render  the  results  unknown ;  in  short, 
which  can  be  arrived  at  through  no  other  faculty,  but  which  can  be 
by  this.  Which  often  is  by  this.  Man  has  a  power  of  vision  which 
the  light  of  the  sun  cannot  enlighten,  cannot  bedim.  Which  thick 
darkness  cannot  obstruct.  Which  penetrates  the  unknown  future. 
Which  dives  deep  into  the  sea  of  time,  and  gathers  pearls  from  its 
bottomless  abyss.  Which  distance  does  not  intercept.  Which  sees, 
not  with  the  natural  eye,  but  uses  the  telescope  of  angels.  Which 
reads  the  book  of  fate  before  time  has  broken  its  seals.  Which  de- 
scries danger,  and  either  shuns  it  or  prepares  therefor.  Which  pre- 
cedes time  and  plucks  many  a  golden  apple,  a  delicious  fruit,  before 
Saturn*  opens  them  to  the  gaze  and  the  contemplation  of  ail.  Which 
looks  down  the  long  vista  of  time,  and  surveys  all  coming  ages  at  one 
great  view.  Which  soars  above  the  clouds  of  heaven.  Which  leaps 
death's  dark  hiatus,  and  reveals  to  man  what  shall  be  hereafter,  when 
the  moon  dies,  the  sun  goes  out,  and  rolling  ages  speed  their  onward 
flight  through  eternity! 

But  to  be  specific.  First :  Man  needs  some  element  in  his  nature 
to  spiritualize  that  nature.  To  throw  off  its  terrestriality,  and  ethereal- 
ize  his  soul.  To  shake  off  the  materiality  of  his  nature,  and  clothe 
himself  with  immateriality,  as  with  a  garment  of  glory.  To  elevate 
his  entire  nature.  To  ^vhisper  constantly  in  his  ears  that  God  is  a 
spirit ;  that  he  himself  is  a  spirit ;  that  anon,  he  will  join  a  spiritual 
throng  which  no  man  can  number,  whose  bodies  will  not  wear  out ; . 
will  onljT'  brighten  with  age.  Oh  !  thou  God  of  spirits  innumerable ! 
Can  we  ever  duly  love  Thee,  duly  praise  Thee,  for  this  the  most  glo- 
rious department  of  our  nature  ?  Oh !  do  Thou  spiritualize  our  in- 
most souls,  that  we  may  see  Thee,  worship  Thee,  as  Thou  art !  That 
we  may  cheer  on  earth  by  tastes,  by  bountiful  repasts,  of  heaven."  I 
do  certainly  regard  this  view  of  the  nature  of  man  as  beauntiful,  glo- 
rious, beyond  all  expression,  all  conception.  Without  it,  existence, 
how  tame !  Death,  our  extinction !  Life,  transient !  Eternity,  ban- 
ished !  No  conception  of  an  hereafter,  of  a  God !  But,  blessed  be 
God,  for  this  element  of  Spirituality.  For  the  lessons  of  immortality, 
of  divinity  it  teaches. 

*  The  god  of  time, 


98  FOREWARNINGS. — UPSHER. KENNON,  252 

Secondly:  The  spirit  of  man  does  certainly  reveal  his  coming 
destiny.  Man  is  often  forewarned.  Often  impressed  with  the  feeling 
that  that  will  happen  which  is  about  to  happen.     A  few  examples : — 

The  lamented  Upsher,  at  the  very  time  when  the  fatal  gun  was 
loading  that  blew  him  to  atoms,  and  immediately  before  its  disas- 
terous  explosion,  in  drinking  a  toast,  took  up  an  empty  bottle,  and 
remarked,  that  these  dead  bodies^  (empty  bottles,)  must  be  cleared  away 
before  he  could  drink  his  toast.  Setting  it  aside,  he  took  up,  by  chance, 
another  empty  bottle,  *  repeated,  that  he  eould  not  give  his  toast  till  the 
dead  bodies  Avere  cleared  away.  Nor  did  he.  In  a  few  seconds  his 
own  dead  body,  along  with  many  others,  were  indeed  "  cleared  away." 
In  conjunction,  read  what  follows  from  a  correspondent  of  the  Boston 
Daily  Advertiser,  who  says: — 

"  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  as  a  singular  instance  of  pre-supposed 
danger,  that  the  late  Secretary  of  State,  Mr.  Upshur,  could  not  be  pre- 
vailed upon  to  join  in  either  of  the  previous  excursions  in  the  Prince- 
ton down  the  Potomac,  assigning  as  a  reason  his  fears  of  some  disaster 
from  the  big  cannon.  It  was  only  by  much  persuasion  that  his  preju- 
dices were  surmounted,  and  he  prevailed  upon  to  unite  Avith  other 
members  of  the  Cabinet,  and  many  personal  friends,  in  accompanying 
the  President  on  that  greatly  to  be  deplored  occasion.  Of  this  re- 
markable fact  there  can  be  no  doubt,  for  I  have  it  from  one  who  heard 
it  from  the  Secretary's  own  lips,  wondering  at  the  same  time  that  an 
""vidual  possessed  of  so  much  good  sense,  and  strong  nerve,  should 
permit  his  fears  or  prejudices  thus  to  influence  him." 

While  going  down  to  the  Prmceton  m  the  morning,  Com.  Kennon, 
another  of  the  killed,  remarked  to  Capt.  Saunders,  that  if  any  accident 
should  befall  him  on  this  occasion,  he  [Capt.  S,]  would  be  the  next  in 
command  at  the  Navy  Yard. 

Judge  Wilkins  had  a  similar  premonition,  to  which  he  took  heed, 
and  by  which  his  life  Avas  saved.  As  the  fatal  gun  Avas  about  to  be  fired, 
he  remarked,  pleasantly,  "  Though  Secretary  of  War,  I  don't  like  this 
firing,  and  believe  I  shall  run  ;"  and  suiting  the  action  to  the  Avord, 
he  retreated  to  a  place  of  safety.  If  Judge  Upsher  or  Com.  Kennon 
had  heeded  their  premonitions,  so  plain,  so  poAverful  that  they  were 
uttered,  and  in  the  face  of  the  ridicule  with  Avhich  they  were  met,  they 
too  would  have  been  saved.  So  loud  was  the  voice  of  this  spiritual 
monitor  in  Judge  Upsher,  that  he  could  hardly  be  persuaded  to  go  on 

*  From  all  accounts,  it  Avould  seem,  that  they  had  a  real  drinking  frolic  on 
board,  and  that  many  were  intoxicated.  I  do  not  mean  entirely  dnink,  but  "  es- 
eentially  corned."  What  examples  for  our  rulers  to  set!  What  a  national 
curse  Buch  rulers !  And  Avhose  money  bought  that  fatal  wine  ?  Seaaer,  it  was 
ours,    Comment  each  for  himself. 


253  FACTS   IN   ILLUSTRATION  OF   INTOTTIVE   PERCEPTION.  99 

board,  and,  when  on  board,  could  talk  only  of  "  dead  bodies}^  These 
facts  are  undoubted.  Their  inferences  are  palpable.  These  facts  are 
recent  and  striking,  but  they  are  by  no  means  alone.     Another : 

Sudden  Death.  The  Bay  State  Democrat  of  last  evening  announces 
the  death,  on  Sunday  morning,  of  the  Rev.  David  Damon,  Pastor 
of  the  Unitarian  Society  at  West  Cambridge.  He  was  engaged  at 
Reading  on  Friday  afternoon  last,  in  preaching  a  funeral  sermon, 
when  he  was  attacked  with  a  fit  of  apoplexy,  which  has  thus  proved 
fatal.  A  short  time  since,  while  delivering  an  address  at  a  consecration 
of  a  rural  cemetery  at  West  Cambridge,  he  made  the  remark,  that 
possibly  he  should  be  the  first  to  repose  in  death  beneath  its  shades  ; 
and  the  words  of  the  speaker  have  literally  proved  true ! — Courier. 

Maria  Martin  was  killed  by  her  sweetheart,  William  Corder,  and 
buried  in  a  barn  at  Ipswich,  England ;  and  he  left  for  London.  Her 
mother-in-law  dreamed  three  nights  in  succession,  that  she  had  been 
killed,  and  her  body  buried  in  a  certain  red  barn.  Her  dreams  alone 
induced  a  search  in  the  barn,  where  they  discovered  the  body,  and  in 
the  exact  place  where  she  dreamed  it  was,  and  dressed  in  men's 
clothes,  as  she  dreamed  it  was  dressed.     He  was  executed  in  1827. 

The  mother  of  McCoy,  the  Sabbath  before  he  was  killed  in  the  ring 
at  White  Plains,  while  lying  down  to  rest  was  awakened  by  a  horrible 
dream  which  so  terrified  her  that  she  sprung  from  her  bed,  and  run 
into  the  room  where  the  rest  of  the  family  were,  exclaiming,  "  I  see 
him  horribly  bea'""""  *^^he  blood  gushing  from  his  head  with  great 
fury."  The  next  T^esw'ay,  he  wac  beaten  till  he  was  blind,  and  died 
from  profuse  bleeding. 

A  highly  nervous  woman,  insisted  that  her  sons  should  tackle  up  one 
cold  night,  and  go  a  given  distance  in  a  certain  direction,  where  they 
would  find  some  persons  in  distress.  She  had  had  other  premonitions_ 
which  they  had  found  to  be  as  she  directed,  and  therefore  went,  and 
found  some  persons  who  had  been  turned  over  in  the  snow,  and  but 
for  this  timely  assistance,  would  have  perished.  With  her,  such  pro- 
phesies were  so  common,  and  so  certain,  that  her  family  always  fol- 
lowed her  visions,  because  they  always  found  them  so  uniformly  cor- 
rect. 

The  wife  of  the  Adams  who  was  murdered  by  Colt,  dreamed,  two 
successive  nights,  before  the  murder,  that  she  saw  the  lifeless  corpse 
of  her  husband,  all  mangled,  wrapped  in  a  sail,  and  packed  away  in 
a  box.  She  told  this  to  her  husband,  and  remonstrated  almost  with 
frantic  earnestness  the  last  time  he  went  out,  to  prevent  his  going, 
urging  as  her  sole  reason,  that  he  would  be  murdered.     So  deep  was 


10©  INTUITIVE   PE^CEPTIOir,  254 

the  saddening  impression  left  upon  her  mind^  that  she  felt  little  sur- 
prise at  his  not  returning,  alleging  that  he  had  been  murdered. 

Mr.  R.  S.  says,  he  always  dreams  out  any  thing  remarkable  before 
it  happens.  He  dreamed  one  night  that  he  struck  a  young  friend  of 
his,  and  that  the  blsod  gushed  out  of  the  wound.  In  a  day  or  two 
afterwards^  this  same  young  friend  of  whom  he  dreamed^  becoming 
intoxicated^  demanded  his  wages.  Mr.  S.  refused  to  give  them  to  hira 
till  he  got  sober,  because  he  knev/  he  would  waste  them,  and  told  him 
to  come  sober  to-morrow,  and  he  should  have  them.  But  no,  he  must 
have  them  then,  and  took  up  a  club  to  beat  Mr.  S.,  who  was  obliged 
to  clinch  in  with  him,  in  order  to  save  himself  This  young  friend 
em^braded  his  hands  in  the  hair  of  Mr.  S.,  and  tried  to  choke  him,,  till 
Mr.  S.,  after  remonstrating  with  him,  and  telling  him  he  should  have 
to  hurt  him,  finally  struck,  and  ruptured  a  blood  vessel,  which  caused 
copious  bleeding.  The  young  man,  however,  recovered,  and  thank- 
ed Mr.  S.  for  not  paying  him.. 

A  friend  of  mine,  living  in  Albion,  Orleans  county^  N.  Y.,  tackled 
up  his  horses  to  go  a  few  miles,  and,  before  starting,  called  his  family 
together,  and,  what  he  had  never  before  been  known  to  do,  kissing 
them  affectionately,  bid  them  all  good  by.  ''-Why,  husband,  what  in 
the  matter?  Are  you  not  coming  back  soon ?"  said  his  wife.  "  Yes^ 
I  calculate  to  return  about  three  o'clock :  but,  somehow  or  other,  if 
seems  to  me  just  as  though  I  never  should  see  you  again,"  was  his 
answer.  He  started.  His  horses  took  fright,  ran  away,  and  killed 
him,  and  he  was  brought  back  to  his  family  a  corpse.  This  I  had 
from  his  wife. 

Abercombie  states  several  analogous  facts.  Time  would  fail  me  to 
narrate  what  I  have  seen,  felt,  and  heard  fully  authenticated.  Indeed^ 
the  Avorld  is  full  of  them.  So  full,,  that  it  requires  a  greater  stretch  of 
Marvellousness  to  disbelieve  and  account  for  them,  than  to  ascribe 
them  to  the  natural  workings  of  this  faculty.  How  often,  when  our 
sky  is  cloudless,  and  every  prospect  bright,  does  a  strange  feeling  fiis 
lightly  cross  our  mind,  whisping  bad  news  or  trouble  in  oar  ears — 
faintly,  perhaps,  but  so  that  we  feel  it,  and  so  it  turns  out  to  be.  And^ 
again,  haw  often,  when  hope  is  blasted,  our  way  is  hedged  in  with 
thorns,  and  no  bright  spot  appears ,  on  our  horizon,  do  we  internally 
feel  that  all  will  yet  be  well,  and  so  it  comes  to  pass  ?  So  strong  is 
this  sentiment  in  man,  that  it  has  given  rise  to  the  proverb,.  "  I  feel  ii 
in  my  bones." 

But  more :  The  canon  of  prophecy  is  not  yet  sealed.  Men  pro- 
phesy in  this  our  day.  Their  spiritual  vision  precedes  the  rapid 
flight  of  time  aiid  fore-shadows  coming  events,    A  few  feicts : — 


255  INTUITIVE  PERCEPTION,  101 

Elias  Hicks  prophesied  many  years  ago,  that,  in  1842,  England 
would  be  without  a  King,  the  United  States  without  a  President,  and 
the  times  hard  in  the  extreme.     And  so  it  came  to  pass. 

There  are  many  now  living  in  Boston,  who,  eleven  years  ago, 
heard  Dr.  Beecher  prophesy,  that,  in  ten  years,  Tremont  Theatre 
would  be  converted  into  a  church,  and  he  should  preach  in  it.  "  And 
it  was  30."  Just  ten  years  after  uttering  this  prophesy,  he  preached 
its  dedication  sermon.  And  what  is  more,  he  uttered  the  prophesy 
when  there  was  no  shadow  of  a  prospect  of  its  being  fulfilled.  The 
main  theatre  of  Boston -—of  New-England — popular;  every  thing 
against  the  prophecy.  But  it  has  literally  been  fulfilled,  and  "  at  the 
time  appointed."  And  what  is  still  more,  this  prophecy  Vi^as  uttered 
during  a  revival,  in  whieh  this  faculty  was  of  course  unusually  active. 

Josephine  was  Bonaparte's  prophetess.  He  generally  followed  her 
advice.  She  told  nim  not  to  go  to  Russia  that  year.  He  disobeyed. 
He  fell.  Indeed,  I  do  not  believe  the  great  man  ever  lived  who  had 
•not  some  bosom  friend,  generally  a  female,  a  wife,  a  sister,  a  mother, 
a  friend  of  childhood,  or  some  female  friend,  whose  whole  soul  is  in 
the  cause  to  which  he  devotes  his  life,  to  give  the  required  advice. 
This  spirituality,  this  intuition,  is  in  the  organization  of  woman,  in 
the  head  of  woman.  But  enough.  1  shall  not  be  believed.  Then,  I  do 
not  put  forth  these  views  as  positively  as  most  others  that  I  advance. 
Still,  I  think  them  correct.  I  think  I  find  them  advanced  by  Phreno- 
logy. If  others  think  otherwise,  they  have  as  good  a  right  to  their 
opinion  as  I  have  to  mine. 

Thiudly.  Man  requires  and  uses  this  faculty  as  a  guide  to  truth. 
^'  There  is  a  divinity  within"  some  men  that  siezes  truth  by  a  kind  of 
mtuition,  and  without  the  aid  of  intellect.  That  sce7bts  truth,  as  the 
hound,  the  fox.  That  drinks  it  in  as  the  fish  drinks  in  the  water,  and 
with  evidence,  without  evidence,  in  spite  of  fallacious  evidence,  ar- 
rives at  truth.  It  aids  causality  in  reasoning.  It  helps  comparison 
propound  analogies.  It  joins  ideality  in  her  sublime  reveries,  and 
opens  a  door  for  the  reception  of  truth  through  that  channel.  It  guides 
the  social  affections  upon  proper  objects.  It  warns  us  of  hypocrites, 
and  tells  us  v/hom  to  shun,  whom  to  trust.  Man  has,  or  can  have,  in 
his  own  soul,  a  directory  and  a  compass,  to  spy  out  his  coming  destiny, 
which,  unperverted  and  properly  cukivated,  will  warn  him  of  ap- 
proaching danger  and  point  out  the  road  to  success  and  happiness. 

But  I  am  talking  Greek  to  many.  To  most.  Few  have  this  organ, 
except  very  feebly  developed.  Miserably  small  in  the  American  head ! 
Usually,  a  deep  cavity^  and  that  in  so-called  Christians.  They  evea 
fride  themselves  in  rejecting  Phrenology,  Magnetism,  every  thing. 


102  THH   PROOF  THAT  THERE   IS   A  WORLD    OF   SPIRITS.  256 

till  they  can  see  and  understand.  Till  the  reasons,  and  the  whys  and 
hows,  are  given,  and  so  fully  as  to  breakdown  all  disbelief.  Why  the 
existence  of  this  organ,  unless  to  be  exercised?  Its  absence  is  a  great 
defect.  Its  presence  constitutes  a  part  of  every  well  balanced  and 
truly  philosophical  mind.  If  the  human  mind  were  so  constituted  as 
to  admit  nothing  which  it  did  not  see,  or  else  fully  comprehend  and 
understand,  its  progress  in  knowledge  would  be  exceedingly  slow, 
and  its  attainments  very  limited.  Children  could  know  little  or  no- 
thing, for  they  are  incapable  of  profound  reasoning  or  extensive  ob- 
servation. Indeed,  we  are  obliged  to  receive  much  of  knowledge  on 
testimony.  The  importance  of  the  function  of  this  faculty,  and  of 
duly  exercising  it,  and  the  utter  folly  of  those  who  refuse  to  believe 
till  they  can  see,  know,  and  understand,  is  thus  too  apparent  to  require 
comment. 

But,  since  we  take  Phrenology  for  granted  in  the  start,  why  at- 
tempt to  prove  what  this  science  has  already  proved  at  our  hands  ? 
The  existence  of  the  faculty,  and  its  analysis  in  substance,  as  I  have 
given  it,  or  what  is  tanamount  to  it,  is  set  at  rest  by  Phrenology.  It 
not  only  shows,  as  in  the  case  of  veneration,  that  all  the  other  facuities 
are  exclusively  engrossed  each  with  other  functions,  but  that  these 
apparitions  and  spiritual  impressions  are  made  upon  the  mind  by 
means  of  this  faculty.  Phrenology  drivos  the  nail  of  its  existence  and 
then  clinches  it.  It  rendars  its  existence  and  functions  demonstrably 
certain. 

And  glorious  indeed  are  the  results  to  which  these  inferences  con- 
dnct  us  !  They  open  immortality  upon  our  vision.  They  reveal  a 
spiritual  principle  in  man  which  age  only  invigorates,  and  which  will 
be  young  far  into  the  vista  of  eternity.  Veneration  tells  us  that  there 
is  a  God.  Spirituality  tells  us  that  he  is  a  Spirit,  and  hope  tells  us 
that  we  shall  one  day  see  him  as  he  is,  and  be  like  him.  Infinitely 
does  it  exalt  the  character  and  ennoble  the  nature  of  man !  Glory ! 
Hallaluia ! 

The  argument  by  which  this  existence  of  a  world  of  spirits  is  esta- 
blished, is  analogous  to  that  employed  in  proving  the  existence  of  a 
God,  from  the  adaptation  of  veneration  to  that  existence.  Spirituality 
exists  in  man.  It  even  forms  no  inconsiderable  a  part  of  his  primi- 
tive constitution,  one  of  his  original  elements  of  mind.  This  faculty 
has  its  counterpart,  its  adaptation.  That  adaptation  is  to  a  spiritual 
state.  Therefore  there  is  a  spiritual  state  of  being  adapted  to  this  fa- 
culty. Short,  but  demonstrative.  But  two  points.  The  existence  of 
this  faculty  in  man,  which  Phrenology  sets  completely  at  rest ;  and 
♦.hat  great  law  that  one  thing  being  adapted  to  a  second,  proves  the  ex- 


257  SPIRITUALITY   CONTINUED.— INFERENCES.  103 

istence  of  this  second.  Phrenology  says  that  this  faculty  exists,  and 
the  inference  that  a  spiritual  state  also  exists,  that  God  is  a  spirit,  that 
man  has  a  spiritual  department  in  his  nature,  that  man  can  commune 
with  God,  with  spirits,  and  with  eternity,  and  kindred  inferences,  fol- 
low as  a  necessary  consequence. 


SECTION  II. 

spiRiTUALrry  continued,     inferences. 
"  To  be  spiritually  minded,  is  life." 

Having  demonstrated  the  existence  of  this  faculty,  it  remains  to 
point  out  its  legitimate  function,  and  then  to  draw  those  inferences  de- 
pendent thereon. 

Prayer — spiritual  communion  with  God — is  one  of  its  functions. 
I  have  my  doubts  whether  the  spirit  of  prayer  is  fully  understood — 
whether  its  true  analysis  has  yet  been  given.  The  general  impres- 
sion is  that  its  main  object  should  be  to  bring  about  something — to 
supplicate  some  blessing,  obtain  some  gift  from  God.  This  interpre- 
tation cannot  be  sanctioned  by  Phrenology.  This  science  shows — all 
nature  shows — ^that  the  whole  universe,  God  himself  included,  is  go- 
verned by  immutable,  unalterable  laws — that  causes  and  effects  reign 
supreme,  and  allow  not  the  least  chance  for  prayer  to  effect  the  least 
change  in  effects,  because  it  cannot  change  their  causes.  And  to 
suppose  that  human  entreaties  can  change  the  mind,  the  will,  the  eter- 
nal purpose  of  the  Almighty,  is  utter  folly — is  downright  blasphemy. 
These  notions  are  revolting  to  correct  notions  of  the  Supreme  Ruler 
of  the  universe.  But,  having  already  refuted  the  doctrine,  let  us  in- 
quire, What  is  the  true  function  of  prayer,  and  what  its  effect  ? 

Its  function  is  the  exercise  of  the  self  same  spiritual  feeling  already 
pointed  out.  The  value  of  this  spiritual  feeling,  has  been  already 
shown,  and  prayer  induces  this  spiritual  state  of  mind.  "  No  man 
hath  seen  God  at  any  time,  so  that  we  do  not,  perhaps  cannot,  know 
his  nature,  or  the  mode  of  his  existence ;  but,  be  he  what  he  may, 
prayer  assimilates  our  souls  to  his  soul,  and,  by  frequently  throwing 
us  into  a  spiritual,  holy  frame  of  mind,  it  induces  a  permanency  of 
this  spiritual  state  which  foreknows  the  future,  and  perceives  the  truth, 
as  if  by  magic.  When  particularly  anxious  to  perceive  and  enforce 
truth,  I  feel  like  praying,  perhaps  not  audibly,  but  like  throwing  my- 
self into  this  spiritual  state  in  which  truth  flows  into  my  own  soul, 


104  WHERE  TO   EXERCISE  THE  PRAYERFUL   SPIRIT.  258 

from  which  it  radiates  into  the  souls  of  all  who  hear  me.  I  hope  I 
am  fully  understood  as  to  the  effect  of  prayer  on  the  soul.  Hence 
Paul  says,  "  If  any  man  lack  wisdom,  let  him  ask  of  God,  who  giveth 
to  all  liberally  and  upbraideth  not."  We  see,  in  this  aspect  of  prayer, 
how  it  is  that  God  giveth  wisdom,  namely,  that  by  and  in  the  very  act 
of  praying,  we  throw  our  minds  into  that  spiritual  state  in  which  we 
perceive  truth  as  if  by  intuition.  As  a  means  of  arriving  at  truth, 
nothing  equals  prayer,  and  he  who  does  not  pray,  is  compelled  to  fol- 
low on  after  truth  through  the  paths  of  intellect  merely,  and  plod  and 
dig  for  that  which  a  prayerful  spirit  perceives  at  once,  and  with  per- 
fect certainty.  And,  then,  how  happy,  holy,  pure  is  the  praying  soul ! 
How  transported  from  earth  into  that  blessed  state  that  awaits  the  pure 
in  heart !  Let  scoffers  laugh  at  prayer.  Let  the  sons  of  sin  and  lust 
forget  to  pray.  But  let  me  bow  the  knee  of  humble  prayer,  and  lift 
the  eyes  of  devotion  to  my  God,  and  hold  sweet  communion  with  him 
till  I  become  embued  with  his  spirit,  and  am  transformed  into  his 
image ! 

I  cannot  forbear  expressing  the  conviction  not  only  that  prayer  is 
not  generally  understood,  but  also  that  there  is  much  less  prayer  in 
the  world  than  is  supposed.  Many  of  our  clergymen  preach  in  their 
prayers,  and  pray  as  if  trying  to  impress  some  truth  upon  the  mind 
of  the  hearers  rather  than  to  call  out  their  soul  in  pure  devotion.  Let 
ministers  preach  when  they  preach,  and  pray  when  they  pray.  These 
preaching  prayers  are  out  of  place.  Besides,  they  substitute  the  form 
for  the  thing,  and  thus  satisfy  the  praying  appetite,  without  feeding  the 
praying  spirit. 

As  to  the  best  place  for  exercising  the  prayerful  spirit,  Phrenology 
is  unequivocal  in  recommending  nature,  the  open  fields,  the  velvet 
lawn  bedecked  with  flowers,  the  shaded  brook,  the  mountain  cliff 
The  works  of  God  are  wonderfully  calculated  to  impress  his  being, 
his  attributes  upon  the  soul.  They  call  out  the  spiritual  feeling. 
They  bring  us  near  to  God.  They  assimilate  us  to  him.  And  I 
fully  believe,  that  our  churches  should  be  generally  in  the  fields  of 
flowers,  in  the  bosom  of  nature,  rather  than  in  houses  made  with 
hands.  If  I  were  to  erect  a  church,  upon  the  plan  propounded  by 
Phrenology,  I  should  build  it  of  trees  unsawed  rather  than  of  timbers, 
and  of  flowers,  not  with  nails.  Verdant  leaves  should  be  my  roof. 
Paths  among  flowers  should  be  my  aisles.  A  projecting  rock  should 
be  my  pulpit.  Fragrant  trees  and  flowers  should  be  my  perfumery. 
Boquets  should  be  my  psalm-books.  The  chirping  songsters  of  the 
grove  should  echo  to  my  notes  of  praise,  and  the  balmy  breezes 
should  waft  my  prayers  to  heaven.  Suppose  that  immense  sum  ex* 
8 


259  spmrruALiTY. — inferences.  105 

pended  in  building  Trinity  Church,  in  New- York,  had  been  spent  in 
making  a  magnificent  pleasure  park,  adapted  expressly  to  call  out  the 
religious  sentiments,  how  infinitely  more  real  homage  would  be  of- 
fered up  to  God  than  will  ever  be  exercised  within  its  massive,  fash- 
ionable walls !  I  have  no  objection  to  having  churches.  If  they  pro- 
mote the  religious  feelings,  they  are  useful.  If  not,  they  are  injurious. 
But,  be  they  good  or  bad,  to  spend  so  much  money  in  their  erection, 
is  making  but  a  poor  use  of  what,  if  properly  applied,  spent  in  works 
of  charity,  would  do  a  vast  amount  of  good. 

By  spiritualizing  the  soul,  prayer  prevents  grossness  and  sinful  ani- 
mal indulgence,  and  refines,  elevates,  purifies,  and  exalts  the  soul  more 
than  words  can  tell,  but  not  more  than  may  every  reader  experience. 

The  reader  will  see  an  additional  reason,  from  the  analysis  of  this 
faculty,  why  revivals  of  religion  and  religious  exercises  should  be 
permanent,  not  transcient.  The  prevalence  of  a  belief  in  ghosts  is  in 
point,  and  strengthens  our  position  of  spiritual  premonitions.  If  you 
ask  me  whether  I  believe  in  the  existence  and  appearance  of  ghosts,  I 
say  yes,  with  emphasis.  Not  that  I  ever  saw  one.  Nor  is  it  the  tes- 
timony of  others  that  imparts  this  confidence.  li  is  this  principle.  I 
never  saw  an  apparition.  My  organ  of  spirituality  is  too  small  ever 
to  see  one.  But  I  believe  this  principle.  It  will  not  lie.  I  believe  that 
the  spirits  of  departed  friends  hover  over  us,  and  conduct  our  choice, 
our  course.  I  believe  the  spirit  of  my  departed  mother  has  watched 
over  her  son,  guided  his  footsteps  into  the  paths  of  Phrenology,  and 
still  continues  to  throw  around  him  those  spiritual  impressions  which 
tells  him  what  is  truth,  and  guides  him  in  its  exposition.  She  prayed 
for  her  oldest  son  on  her  dying  bed,  and  even  while  death  was  sever- 
ing her  spirit  from  her  body.  To  these  spiritual  exercises,  readerj 
you  may  possibly  owe  a  small  debt  of  gratitude.  And  if  this  be  delu- 
sion, let  me  be  deluded.     Let  me  be  joined  to  this  idol,  if  idol  it  be. 

I  believe  farther :  If  we  were  sufficiently  spiritualized,  we  might 
hold  converse  with  the  spirits  of  our  departed  friends,  with  angels, 
and  with  God !  I  believe  they  might  become  our  guardian  angels,  to 
tell  us  all  what  we  should  do,  and  what  avoid.  I  believe  we  might 
talk  with  them,  as  did  Abraham,  Moses,  and  the  prophets !  And 
when  our  friends  die,  we  need  not  be  separated  from  them,  though 
we  live  and  they  are  dead.  They  are  in  a  state  more  exalted  than 
ours,  but,  if  we  were  as  spiritually  minded  as  we  are  capable  of  being, 
we  could  still  hold  direct  communion  with  them,  and  they  would  be- 
come spiritual  conductors,  carr3dng  a  torch-light  by  which  we  could 
guide  our  erring  footsteps  into  the  paths  of  success,  of  holiness,  of  hap' 
piness. 


106  MR.  TENANT  THREE  DATS  EN  A  TRANCE.  260 

If  this  be  so,  man  has  in  his  own  bosom  a  directory,  a  spy  on  his 
coming  destiny,  which,  unperverted  and  properly  cultivated,  will 
warn  him  of  approaching  danger,  and  point  out  the  course  of  success 
and  happiness. 

Animal  Magnetism  also  establishes  the  spiritual,  immaterial  exist, 
ence  of  mind  in  a  state  separate  from  matter,  as  clearly  as  any  fact  in 
nature  can  be  demonstrated  by  experiment ;  for,  first,  it  throws  the 
mind  into  a  state  probably  analogous  to  that  after  death,  in  which  the 
body  has  little  control  over  it,  in  which  time  and  space  are  unknown, 
in  which  it  sees  without  the  eyes,  or  as  disembodied  mind  sees  by 
a  spiritual  cognizance,  and  in  its  independent  capacity  as  mind ;  and, 
2dly,  when  the  magnetizer  and  the  magnetized  are  both  pure  mind- 
ed, the  latter  sees  and  holds  converse  with  the  spirits  of  the  departed, 
and  receives  from  them  warnings,  directions,  council,  for  those  who 
make  the  proper  inquiry.  Words  cannot  express  what  I  have  seen 
in  this  respect.  And,  oh !  If  I  have  ever  seen  a  happy  soul,  it  was 
one  in  this  state,  with  the  moral  organs  highly  charged,  and  all  ex- 
citement removed  from  the  propensities.  Description  would  be  sacri- 
lige !  And  then  to  have  this  holy  spell  broken  in  upon  by  exciting 
one  or  more  of  the  propensities  at  the  same  time  !  But  I  am  utterly 
incapable  of  describing  the  scene.  Still,  I  saw  how  ineffably  holy  and 
happy  the  human  soul  could  become  by  the  exercise  of  the  moral  sen- 
timents, and  particularly  that  faculty  under  consideration.  The  Rev- 
erend Mr.  Tenant  of  New  Jersey,  who  was  in  a  trance  three  days,  and 
who,  in  that  state  saw  and  heard  what  mortal  tongue  may  not,  could 
not  tell,  was  in  this  spiritual  state.  So  are  those  at  religious  meetings, 
particularly  camp-meetings,  who  pray  and  sing  till  they  "  have  the 
power,"  as  it  was  formerly  called.  This  having  the  power,  fanatical 
as  most  religious  men  call  it,  is  sanctioned  by  Phrenology.  It  requires 
guiding,  but  it  could,  should  be  exercised  till  it  transformed  earth  into 
heaven,  and  feasted  our  souls  with  rich  foretastes  of  those  joys  which 
"  eye  hath  not  seen,  nor  ear  heard,  nor  hath  it  entered  into  the  heart 
of  man  to  conceive,"  but  which  are  laid  up  for  the  spiritually  minded. 
But  enough,  I  am  treading  on  holy  ground.  Few  will  appreciate. 
Fewer  still  experience.  But  woman  will  appreciate,  will  feel.  To 
her  I  commend  these  remarks.  Her  I  exhort  to  breathe  forth  these 
holy  aspirations,  "  for  in  due  time,  ye  shall  reap  if  ye  faint  not." 
And,  oh !  such  a  harvest.  A  feast  on  the  food  of  angels !  A  ban- 
quet served  up  in  the  palaces  of  heaven  !  Fruit  from  the  tree  of  eter- 
nity !  Reach  forth.  It  is  Avithin  your  grasp.  Pluck  and  eat,  and  give 
to  others,  that  they  may  eat  and  live. 


261  SPECIAL  PROVIDENCES.  107 

SECTION  III. 

SPECIAL     PROVIDENCES 
"  Trust  in  the  Lord." 

Closely  connected  with  this  subject,  and  deserving  of  remark  in  this 
connection,  is  the  doctrine  of  "  Divine  Providences"  so  called.  Spiri- 
tual guidance,  has  already  been  seen  to  be  recognized  by  Phrenology. 
But  about  providential  interpositions  it  knows  nothing.  Whatever 
effects  do  not  result  from  causation^  or,  especially,  whatever  iyiterrupts 
causation,  it  discards.  Nature  never  allows  anything  to  step  in  be- 
tween causes  and  effects.  Spiritual  impressions  may  guide,  and  hence 
may  be  called  providential  interpositions  by  their  guiding  our  choice  ; 
but,  they  never  cut  off  legitimate  effects  from  their  true  causes,  and  sub 
stitute  others.  Still,  an  event  is  none  the  less  providential  when  a  spi 
ritual  precaution  or  monition  forewarns  us  to  escape  danger,  or  induces 
us  to  choose  our  best  good,  than  if  the  laws  of  nature  were  interrupted 
and  the  great  arrangement  of  cause  and  effect  rendered  null  and  void ; 
for  the  results  are  equally  beneficial  to  us.  If  our  organization  be 
fine,  and  if  this  feeling  of  spirituality  be  cultivated,  we  shall  be  pre- 
served from  all  harm  thereby,  and  guided  into  the  right  course,  so  that 
our  happiness  be  secured.  And  the  fact  is  beautiful  to  philosophy,  and 
encouraging  to  mortals,  that  those  who  are  the  most  perfectly  organi 
zed,  should  receive  most  of  this  heavenly  guidance.  By  cultivating 
those  highest  elements  of  our  nature,  already  specified,  we  shall  be 
most  effectually  promoting  our  own  highest  happiness. 

But  we  cannot  dismiss  this  subject  of  providence  Avithout  exposing 
a  prevailing  error  in  regard  to  what  are  considered  providences.  Spi- 
rituality perceives,  follows,  and  trusts  in  these  spiritual  guidings ;  hope 
expects  good  to  result  therefrom;  veneration  adores  God  therefor; 
and  benevolence  adoring  God  for  his  kindness,  trusts  in  him  that  these 
spiritual  guidings  will  be  for  good;  and  all,  guided  by  causality,  that 
they  will  harmonize  with  fixed  laws.  This  principle  leads  to  the  in- 
ference that  all  spiritual  guidings  and  providences,  as  far  as  these  pro- 
vidences exist,  are  for  good — are  never  afflictive,  but  always  pleasura- 
ble. Nor  does  the  benevolent  Creator  of  all  things  do  evil  that  good 
may  come.  He  does  not  give  pain  first,  that  he  may  give  pleasure 
afterwards.  In  every  single  instance  throughout  creation,  he  so  ar- 
ranges it  as  to  give  all  pleasure,  and  no  pain  in  order  to  arrive  at  that 


i08      CHARGING  TO  PROVIDENCE  WHAT  WE  INFLICT  OURSELVES.       262 

pleasure.  What  right  have  we,  then,  to  suppose  that  he  makes  us 
suffer  in  order  afterward  to  cause  us  enjoyment,  for  this  would  be  a 
ioto  celo  departure  from  every  principle,  every  fact  of  his  entire  gov- 
ernment,  and  in  direct  conflict  with  that  view  of  the  divine  character  and 
government  already  evolved  from  Phrenology.  No ;  afflictive  pro- 
vidences do  not  exist.  All  pain  is  but  punishment^  not  providences — 
the  natural  consequences  of  violated  law,  not  divine  chastisements. 
God  does  not  carelessly  dip  the  arrow  of  affliction  in  the  wormwood  of 
his  malignity  or  wrath,  and  thrust  it  causelessly  into  the  soul  of  man. 
All  that  God  does,  from  beginning  to  end,  is  all  promotive  of  happi- 
ness. The  idea,  so  often  held  forth  from  the  pulpit,  that  sickness  and 
death  in  the  prime  of  life,  are  afflictive  providences,  sent  to  chastise  us,  is 
onerous  ;  for  they  are  the  penalties  of  violated  physical  laws.  Sick- 
ness and  premature  death  are  as  much  the  effects  of  their  legitimate 
causes,  as  any  other  event  is  an  effect  of  its  cause.  A  child  dies,  and 
the  parents,  while  bleeding  under  the  wounds  of  lacerated  parental 
love,  console  themselves  by  "  The  Lord  gave,  the  Lord  hath  taken 
away.  Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord."  "  It  is  the  Lord's  doings," 
&c. ;  whereas  they  killed  their  child.  They  allowed  it  to  disorder  its 
stomach  and  bowels  by  eating  cucumbers,  or  green  corn,  or  unripe 
fruit,  or  too  much  fruit,  and  then  it  was  exposed  and  took  cold,  was 
badly  doctored,  had  the  summer  complaint,  and  died.  Or,  in  the  fall 
and  spring,  it  was  exposed  till  it  took  a  violent  cold  ;  a  fever  set  in, 
and  fastening  upon  the  throat,  it  had  the  croup  and  died.  Or,  upon 
the  head,  and  it  died  of  brain  fever.  Its  sickness  and  death  were  caused, 
and  that  by  violations  of  the  physical  laws.  It  was  murdered  by  neg- 
lect or  improper  treatment,  and  then  all  this  blame  is  thrown  off  from 
the  guilty  perpetrators,  by  charging  it  to  the  providence  of  God.  Just 
as  though  God  killed  your  child  ! 

An  anecdote  in  point.  One  Christmas  evening,  the  parents  of  a 
child  tickled  it  mightily  with  the  idea,  that  if  it  would  hang  up  its 
stocking,  Santa  Glaus  would  come  in  the  night  and  fill  it  full  of  good 
things.  She  did  so,  and  in  the  morning  while  yet  in  bed  called  for 
her  stocking,  which  she  found  filled  with  raisins,  nuts,  rich  cakes,  &c., 
and  which  she  continued  to  eat  till  she  had  swallowed  the  whole. 
She  was  plied  through  the  early  part  of  the  day  with  additional  good 
things  ;  till  at  three  o'clock  she  was  taken  in  a  fit,  and  died  at  night. 
Dissection  showed  the  cause  of  her  death  to  have  been  simply,  solely, 
an  overloaded  stomach,  and  yet,  at  her  funeral,  the  good  old  minister 
soothed  the  lacerated  feelings  of  parental  anguish  by  telling  the  pa- 
rents that  "  It  was  the  Lord's  doings,  to  which  they  must  bow  in  silence 


263  SPECIAL   PROVIDENCES.  109 

— that  it  was  a  mysterious  providence,  sent  as  a  chastisement,  to  wean 
them  from  earth  and  earthly  things,  and  place  their  souls  on  heaven 
and  heavenly  things."  And  yet  both  the  gormandizing  of  the  child 
and  also  the  dissection,  showed  its  death  to  have  been  caused  solely 
by  parental  indulgence.  I  doubt  not  but  every  reader  has  seen  eases 
in  point.  And  then,  what  idea  must  he  have  of  God,  who  supposes  he 
killed  the  child,  not  only  without  law,  but  directly  in  the  teeth  of  those 
very  laws  v/hich  he  himself  has  established.  And  even  if  they  think 
he  meant  it  for  their  good,  just  as  though  he  did  not  know  how  to 
seek  their  good  without  making  them  thus  miserable. 

Similar  remairks  appertain  to  the  sickness  of  adults.  We  go  on  to 
violate  every  law  of  physiology,  and  for  a  series  of  years,  and  then, 
when  nature  would  fain  vindicate  her  laws  by  punishing  their  aggres- 
sion, we  deafen  our  ears  and  harden  our  hearts  to  her  remonstrances 
by  accusing  the  Deity  of  stepping  aside  from  his  laws,  and  tormenting 
us  by  his  afflictive  providences.  The  plain  fact  is  this,  that  we  need 
never  be  sick.  We  have  no  right  to  be  sick.  We  are  culpable  for 
being  sick,  for  all  of  every  thing  is  caused.  All  sickness  is  caused^ 
and  caused  directly  by  the  violation  of  some  physiological  law.  Let 
parents  as  parents,  obey  these  laws,  and  then  let  children  be  brought 
up  in  their  obedience,  and  then  continue  therein  all  the  days  of  their 
lives,  no  sickness.,  no  pain,  would,  could  occur.  Every  organ  of  the 
body  was  made  to  be  healthy,  none  to  be  sickly.  Health  is  but  the 
natural,  primitive,  action  of  them  all,  while  sickness  is  their  abnormal 
or  painful  action.  Let  them  alone,  save  giving  them  their  unnatural 
stimulants,  and  they  will  all  go  on  to  perform  their  normal,  healthy 
function  from  the  cradle  to  the  grave.  No  truth  is  more  self-evident, 
than  that  health  is  the  natural  function  of  every  faculty,  and  sickness 
their  perverted  function.  If  we  do  not  make  ourselves  sick,  we  shall 
always  be  well.  Teeth  were  never  made  to  ache.  They  were  made 
to  masticate  food.  They  give  us  pain  only  when  we  cause  their  decay 
by  abusing  them.  The  Indian  never  has  decayed  or  aching  teeth,  nor 
need  we  if  we  take  proper  care  of  them.  So  with  every  other  organ 
of  the  body.  They  all  give  us  pain  only  after  we  have  abused  them, 
and  in  consequence  of  that  abuse.  And  the  natural  order  of  death  is, 
that,  like  the  setting  sun,  we  should  gradually  descend  the  hill  of  life 
and  die  by  slow  and  imperceptible  degrees,  just  as  the  western  sky  be- 
comes less  and  less  bright,  till,  finally,  the  last  rays  have  taken  their 
departure.  Violent  death,  in  the  prime  of  life,  is  most  abhorrent — is 
inconceivably  shocking  to  Benevolence,  and  forms  no  part  of  the  natiu- 
ral  order  of  things,  or  of  the  Providence  of  God.    We  die  in  spite  of 


110  CONVERSION.  264 

Providence,  instead  of  by  its  hand.  "  We  give  ourselves  the  wounds 
we  feel.  We  drink  the  poisonous  gall,  and  then  sickness  and  death 
punish  us  for  our  transgressions. 

If  these  principles  were  not  rendered  perfectly  demonstrative  by 
physiology,  I  would  cut  off  my  right  hand  rather  than  pen  them  ;  for 
they  are  most  unpopular,  and  especially  will  excite  religious  prejudice 
against  me.  But  they  are  irue,  and  will  ultimately  bear  sway. 
Reader,  let  me  entreat  thee  to  examine  this  point  carefully  one  full 
year,  and  then  you  will  coincide  with  me.  I  grant  that  sickness  and 
death  are  often  induced  by  parents,  either  as  parents,  in  their  having 
some  hereditary  disease,  or  by  their  not  understanding  how  to  preserve 
the  healths  of  their  children ;  still,  they  are  never  providential,  but 
always  punishments,  and  imply  guilt  some  where. 

If  I  be  asked,  why  I  bring  forward  a  point  so  unpopular,  I  answer, 
to  save  life.  As  long  as  men  continue  to  regard  sickness  and  death  as 
providential,  they  will  not  be  led  to  obey  the  natural  laws.  But  the 
doctrine  urged  above,  cannot  be  believed  without  powerfully  enforcing 
obedience  to  those  laws  ;  and  I  doubt  not  but  a  knowledge  of  this  very 
principle  will  enable  many  a  reader  to  escape  many  an  afflictive  provi- 
dence, and  to  enjoy  the  society  of  his  children,  companions,  and 
friends  many  years  longer  than  he  otherwise  would — ^reason  enough, 
surely. 


SECTION  IV. 

conversion;   the  operations  of  the  holy  ghost;  divine  grace; 

faith,  etc. 

"  Unless  ye  be  converted,  &c.  ye  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God." 

The  principles  thus  represented  teach  us  the  true  doctrine  of  those 
spiritual  influences  called  conversion,  the  operation  of  Divine  grace, 
the  Holy  Spirit,  &c.  That  a  Divine  Spirit  exists,  has  been  already 
shown.  Also,  that  it  is  in  every  place.  And  that  prayer  communes 
with  him,  &c.  But,  the  tendency  of  the  principles  already  presented, 
shows  that  we  seek  him,  not  he  us.  He  does  not  turn  aside  from  the 
usual  operations  of  nature,  to  pour  out  his  spirit  upon  mankind.  Or, 
rather,  that  spirit  is  like  the  wind  that  blows  every  where,  except 
where  it  is  excluded,  and  that  v»/^ill  blow  even  there,  and  with  the  same 
freedom,  if  the  doors  and  windows  of  the  human  soul  be  but  opened 


265     CONVERSION. — ^THE  OPERATION  OP  THE  HOLY  GHOST.      Ill 

for  its  reception.  In  conversion,  I  believe.  It  consists  simply  in  that 
spiritualization  of  our  natures  already  pointed  out,  the  main  medium 
of  which  is  marvellousness.  By  operating  upon  this  faculty  and  or- 
gan, it  extends  the  range  of  its  action  so  as  to  quicken  benevolence, 
veneration,  hope,  conscientiousness,  and  the  whole  moral  group ;  and 
this  gives  them  that  ascendency  over  the  propensities  which  we  have 
already  shown  to  constitute  virtue,  the  product  of  which  is  "joy  in  the 
Holy  Ghost,"  moral  purity,  and  consequently  happiness.  Natural,  it  is  ; 
supernatural,  it  is  not.  Not  for  the  chosen  few — the  elect.  But  as 
free  as  the  air  of  heaven,  or  the  gushing  fountain.  All  can,  who  will, 
drink  in  these  heavenly  influences — be  converted — be  holy — be  hap- 
py. Nor  should  any  wait  to  be  operated  on.  They  must  operate  on 
themselves — must  pray — must  spiritualize  themselves.  And  so  we 
must  spiritualize,  convert,  one  another ;  for  all  the  organs  are  capable 
of  being  excited.  The  exercise  of  these  spiritual  feelings  in  one,  will 
tend  to  excite  them  in  others,  and  then  again  in  others  ;  thus  widening 
their  influences  and  happifying  mankind  beyond  what  tongue  can  ex- 
press or  mind  conceive. 

Prayer,  being  an  exercise  of  this  spiritual  feeling,  is  eminently  cal- 
culated to  promote  it  in  others  ;  that  is,  to  convert  others — to  convert 
ourselves.  So,  praying  for  the  impenitent  is  equally  calculated,  as  al- 
ready shown,  to  spiritualize,  convert,  them.  And  let  all  seek  these 
religious,  elevating  influences,  for  the  same  reason  that  they  should  eat, 
or  think,  or  talk ;  namely,  to  be  happy  in  their  exercise. 

But,  let  these  exercises  be  permanent^  not  transient.  To  sudden 
conversions,  the  same  principles  apply  that  are  already  shown  to  go- 
vern revivals.     But,  the  mere  statement  of  the  principle  is  sufficient. 

Is  it  not  highly  probable,  that  these  principles  throw  some  light  on 
the  existence  of  what  is  called  the  Holy  Spirit ;  the  Holy  Ghost ;  the 
Spirit  of  God,  &c.  ?  Do  not  these  phrases  refer  simply,  solely,  to  that 
spiritual  existence  of  God  already  pointed  out,  and  refer  to  the  mode 
of  Divine  existence,  rather  than  to  separate  personages  of  the  Deity? 
At  all  events,  other  than  this.  Phrenology,  as  far  as  I  am  now  able  to 
interpret  it,  knows  nothing  of  the  existence  of  a  separate  part  or  per- 
son of  the  Deity  corresponding  with  the  usual  doctrines  of  the  Holy 
Ghost 


112  A  CHANGE  OF  HEART.  265 

SECTION  V. 

A   CHANGE    OF   HEART   CONTINUED. OBJECTION   ANSWERED. 

Many  believers  in  the  doctrine  of  a  change  of  heart  and  life,  are  un- 
able to  reconcile  this  doctrine  with  the  principles  of  Phrenology.  And 
as  the  following  quotation  from  page  410  of  "  Fowler's  Practical  Phre- 
nology," states  and  answers  this  objection  satisfactorily,  it  is  inserted 
accordingly. 

" '  To  the  Messrs.  Fowlers : 

"  '  Sirs, — At  your  laext  lecture,  I  wish  you  to  explain,  according  to  the 
principles  of  jDhrenology,  how  any  material  or  radical  change  in  a  man's  moral 
character,  disposition,  or  conduct,  can  take  place.  For  example  ;  we  frequently 
see  the  infidel  and  in-eligious  man,  suddenly  and  radically  change  his  sentiments 
and  practices  in  life,  and  become  pious,  reverential  and  devotional;  No^w,  ac- 
cording to  the  principles  of  your  system,  it  seems  to  follow,  that,  in  reality,  there 
are  no  such  changes,  and  that  they  are  wholly  imaginaiy  or  hypocritical,  or  else, 
that  there  must  be  a  corresponding  change  of  the  phrenological  organs,  namely, 
a  sudden  diminution  of  one  class  of  organs,  and  an  equally  sudden  enlargement 
of  another  class,  whose  functions  are  directly  opposite. 

"  '  That  men  do  often  experience  these  changes,  is  evident  to  every  one ;  but 
that  the  bumps  of  the  cranium,  are  subject  to  such  sudden  growth  and  depres- 
sion, is  certainly  most  doubtful :  and,  if  these  organs  do  not  coirespoud  with  a 
man's  changes  in  conduct  and  disposition,  how  can  they  have  any  reciprocal 
relation  to  his  true  character  ?  D.  J.  MALLI80N,  M.  D.' " 

"  Admitting  this  doctrine  of  a  change  of  character  and  conduct,  called 
regeneration,  as  believed  in  and  taught  by  orthodox  Christians,  to  be 
correct,  and  the  first  question  to  be  considered  in  relation  to  its  bearings 
upon  the  doctrines  of  Phrenology,  is,  in  lohat  does  this  change  consist  ? 
From  even  a  superficial  view  of  the  subject,  it  is  evident,  that  it  does 
7iot  consist  either  in  a  substitution  of  one  primary  mental  faculty  for  an 
other  opposite  faculty,  or  in  a  change  of  the  origiiial  nature  and  cha- 
racter of  the  faculties,  or  of  their  proportional  strength ;  for,  if  the 
subject  of  this  change  possessed  a  strong  and  original  intellect  before 
conversion,  he  has  just  as  strong  and  as  original  an  intellect  after  con- 
version ;  but,  if  he  is  weak-minded  before,  he  still  remains  so.  Even 
his  leading  peculiarities  of  mind,  thought,  and  feeling,  remain  unal- 
tered. If,  before  conversion,  he  possessed  a  remarkably  retentive  me- 
mory of  incidents,  of  faces,  of  dates,  of  principles,  and  of  places,  his 
memory  of  these  things  is  equally  tenacious  afterwards ;  but,  if  his 
memory  of  any  of  these  things  was  weak  before,  it  is  equally  so  after- 
wards. If,  before,  he  was  remarkable  for  his  mechanical  or  any  other 
talents,  he  is  uniformly  found  to  possess  these  very  same  talents,  and  in 
the  same  degree,  afterwards.  If  he  be  possessed  of  a  superior  musical 
talent  before  he  meets  this  change,  he  possesses  the  very  same  talent, 
and  in  the  same  degree  of  excellence,  after  this  event. 


267  A  CHANGE  OF  HEART.  113 

"  In  what,  then,  does  this  change  consist  ?  Simply  and  solely  in  a 
change  of  the  direction  of  these  respective  faculties^  or  of  the  objects 
wpon  %vhich  they  are  exercised^  and  not  in  a  change  of  their  nature 
and  character^  or  of  their  relative  power.  For  example  :  if  the  per- 
son converted,  had  a  great  talent  for  music,  the  effect  of  his  conversion 
is  to  change  the  direction  of  this  faculty  :  thus,  before  conversion,  it 
was  chiefly  exercised  in  singing  songs,  lively  airs,  &c.,  whereas,  it  is 
now  chiefly  exercised  upon  pieces  of  sacred  music.  If,  before  conver- 
sion, his  reasoning  powers  were  great,  but  exercised  principally  upon 
political,  philosophical,  or  scientific  subjects,  they  are  afterwards 
equally  powerful,  but  directed  mainly  to  religious  and  theological  sub- 
jects. Benevolence,  which  was  before  manifested  in  relieving  the 
physical  suffering,  and  promoting  the  temporal  wants  and  earthly  hap- 
piness of  his  fellow-men,  is  now  directed  to  a  different  and  far  more 
elevated,  object,  namely,  the  salvation  and  eternal  happiness  of 
mankind.  And  so  of  every  other  feeling,  faculty,  and  talent,  of  the 
individual. 

"  Now,  inasmuch  as  the  relative  power  of  the  faculties  themselves, 
remains  unchanged,  though  directed  to  different  objects,  there  is  no 
call  for  alteration  in  the  proportionate  size  of  the  organs.^  and,  of  course, 
no  need  of  a  sudden  diminution  of  one  class  of  organs,  and  an  equally 
sudden  enlargement  of  another  class.  But,  if  this  change  of  heart 
did  necessarily  involve  a  change  of  the  nature  and  the  constitution  of 
the  primary  mental  powers  the  inevitable  conclusion  Avould  be,  that 
these  faculties  were  not  well  made  at  the  first,  and  therefore,  require 
remodelling,  or,  rather,  re-creating,  which  would  necessarily  imply 
imperfection  on  the  part  of  the  Creator  ;  and,  not  only  so,  but  this  radi- 
cal change  in  the  nature  of  the  faculties  themselves,  would  certainly 
destroy  the  identity  of  the  person  converted,  thus  making  him,  not  a 
new,  but  another,  being. 

"  Again :  if  this  conversion  were  to  change  the  relative  power  of  the 
primary  faculties,  the  same  inferences  hold  good.  Whilst,  then,  the 
nature  of  the  faculties  themselves  remain  unchanged,  and  their  propor- 
tionate strength  the  same  as  it  was  before,  the  amount  of  it  is,  that  divine 
grace  simply  gives  to  the  faculties  as  they  originally  or  previously  were, 

a  NEW  DIRECTION. 

"  An  illustration  will,  perhaps,  make  the  point  clear.  A  steamboat, 
which  is  made  perfect  and  beautiful  throughout,  is  being  propelled 
down  a  river,  by  the  power  of  steam.  The  rudder  is  turned,  and  the 
same  boat  is  noio  propelled  up  the  river,  by  the  same  power,  and  by 
means  of  the  same  apparatus.  But  the  boat  is  not  changed,  or  trans- 
formed ;  for  it  is,  by  supposition,  made  perfect ;  nor  is  the  nature  of 
the  steam  changed,  nor  the  character  or  proportionate  strength  of  any 
one  thing  about  the  boat.  This  is  not  necessary.  The  boat  is  perfect. 
Its  direction,  merely,  is  altered  ;  and  that  by  means  of  the  co-operation 
of  the  power  of  the  boat  and  that  of  her  commander.  So  it  is  in  the 
matter  of  conversion.  The  sinner  is  sailing  smoothly  down  the  rapid 
current  of  sin  and  worldly  pleasure.  He  is  arrested,  and  changes,  not 
the  nature  of  the  thinking  faculties  themselves,hut  meiely  the  direction 


114  OBJECTIONS   ANSWERED,  268 

of  the  thoughts  produced — not  the  nature  of  the  'propelling  jiowers  them- 
selves^ but  the  drift  and  current  of  the  feelings  that  flow  from  those 
powers,  by  setting  before  them  a  different  object  to  stimulate  and  occupy 
those  powers. 

"  The  analogy  of  the  steamboat,  does  not,  of  course,  hold  good 
throughout ;  for  man  is  a  moral  agent,  the  steamboat,  a  mere  machine. 
It,  however,  holds  good  as  far  as  I  have  occasion  to  apply  it.  Men  are 
depraved,  7wt  because  they  have  depraved  faculties,  but  because  they 
make  a  depraved  use  of  good  faculties :  see  last  proposition  under  the 
last  objection,  p.  403  of  Fowler's  Practical  Phrenology. 

"  You  allude  to  a  '  sudden^  change.  So  far  as  the  change  is  sud- 
den, it  is  not  a  change,  either  oi  faculties,  or  of  their  relative  strength. 
This  change  of  the  proportionate  strength  of  the  faculties  is  always 
gradual.  The  man  whose  besetting  sin  before  conversion,  was  an 
inordinate  craving  for  money,  has  the  same  craving  afterwards,  with 
this  difference  merely,  that,  by  the  grace  given  him  at  conversion,  it 
is  restrained  from  breaking  out  into  overt  acts  of  wickedness.  The 
same  is  true  of  the  passionate  man,  &c.  Paul  speaks  of  carrying  on  a 
'  warfare  against  the  lusts  of  the  flesh  ;'  and  the  Bible  everywhere 
holds  out  the  idea  that  victory  over  our  depraved  propensities,  must  be 
gradual,  and  can  be  obtained  07ily  by  long  continued  and  laborious 
effort — by  watching  and  praying,  and  severe  self-denial.  Christian 
experience  is  compared  to  the  'rising  light,  which,'  from  a  feeble 
gleaming,  '  groweth  brighter  and  brighter  till  the  perfect  day' — '  to  a 
grain  of  mustard  seed,  which,'  from  the  smallest  of  seeds,  '  becomes  a 
great  tree  ;'  plainly  implying,  that,  as  far  as  the  relative  strength  of  the 
faculties  is  changed,  so  far  the  change  is  gradual. 

"  I  would  ask  any  true  Christian,  if  he  is  not  obliged  to  hold  in  with 
a  strong  rein,  those  propensities  that  predominated  before  his  conver- 
sion ;  and,  if  a  long  time  is  not  requisite  effectually  to  subdue  "  those 
sins  that  most  easily  beset  him,"  so  that  their  instinctive  promptings 
are  not  plainly  felt.  By  the  time,  then,  that  he  has  subdued  his  pro- 
pensities, or  altered  the  relative  strength  of  his  faculties,  the  organs 
will  have  time  to  adjust  themselves  accordingly  :  see  pp.  123,  to  1 40,  of 
Education  and  Self-Improvement ;  second  edition,  1844. 

"  If  I  mistake  not,  then,  I  have  clearly  shown,  that  the  doctrines  and 
principles  of  phrenology,  are  not  at  all  inconsistent  with  the  doctrine 
of  regeneration  ;  and,  also,  that  phrenology  enables  us  to  tell  what  kind 
of  Christians  particular  individuals  are." 


269  MATERIALISM.  115 

SECTION  VI. 

MATERIALISM. OBJECTION   ANSWERED. 

The  doctrine  of  the  immateriality  of  the  soul,  of  an  eternal  existence 
heyond  the  grave,  is  glorious,  is  beatific,  in  the  highest  degree,  and 
holds  out  the  blessed  hope  that  that  eternity  may  be  infinitely  happy,  as 
well  as  of  infinite  duration.     But,  it  is  alleged,  that  Phrenology  mili- 
tates seriously  against  this  soul-inspiring  doctrine,  by  demonstrating 
the  existence  of  relations  between  the  body  and  the  mind  so  intimate, 
so  perfectly  reciprocal,  in  nearly  or  quite  every  and  all  conceivable  cir- 
cumstances, as  to  leave  room  for  the  inference — as  even  to  force  the  in- 
evitable conclusion  upon  us,  that,  when  the  body  dies,  the  soul  dies 
also.     The  intimacy  of  the  relation  existing  between  the  body  and  the 
mind,  I  admit.     But  I  do  not  admit  the  therefore,  that  mind  is  mate- 
rial.    This  therefore  depends,  not  on  the  intimacy  of  the  relation  be- 
tween the  body  and  the  mind,  but  on  the  fact  of  the  existence  of  any 
relation  whatever.     Whether  this  intimacy  be  great  or  little ;  uniform, 
or  occasional ;  perfectly  reciprocal,  or  not  so  at  all ;  does  not  affect  the 
question.     Be  the  relation  ever  so  distant,  so  that  it  but  exist  at  all, 
that  existence  goes  just  as  far  in  proof  of  either  doctrine,  materiality  or 
immateriality,  as  would  the  most  intimate  relation.     But,  I  cannot  see 
that  the  existence  of  this  relation,  be  it  more  or  less  perfectly  reciprocal, 
proves  any  thing  either  way.     Even  if  matter  should  be  shiown  to  be 
the  cause,  and  mind  the  effect,  the  doctrine  of  materialism  would  not 
necessarily  follow.     If  it  could  even  be  shown,  that  organization  was 
the  cause  of  mind,  and  that  mind  was  simply  the  product  or  function 
of  organization  in  operation,  I  cannot  see  that  this  product  is  necessa- 
rily material  because  its  machine  or  manufacturer  is  material.     And 
the  more  so,  since  we  cannot  say  for  certain  that  the  physiology  is  the 
cause,  and  the  mentality  the  effect,  rather  than  mind  the  cause,  and 
physiology  the  effect.     That  laws  of  cause  and  effect  exist  between  the 
two,  or  even  govern  all  the  relations  of  either  to  the  other,  is  demon- 
strated by  Phrenology ;  but  whether  it  is  the  original  cast  and  charac- 
ter of  the  mind  which  gives  the  form  and  texture  to  the  body,  to  the 
brain,  or  the  size  and  other  conditions  of  the  latter,  that  govern  the  for- 
mer, has  not  yet  been  fully  established.     And  even  if  mind  could  be 
shown  to  be  the  product  of  organized  matter  in  action,  the  materiality 
or  immateriality  of  that  mind  remains  still  undecided,  that  depending 
on  the  nature  of  mind  itself,  and  not  on  its  material  agent. 

But  it  is  hardly  necessary  to  discuss  this  whole  subject  of  material- 


116  OBJECTIONS   ANSWERED.  270 

ism  itself,  but  simply  to  show  that  Phrenology  does  not  lead  thereto. 
The  great  truth  is  admitted,  that  we  know  nothing  of  mind  in  this 
world,  except  as  it  manifests  itself,  and  acts  by  means  of  the  corporeal 
organs.  And  particularly  the  brain  and  mind  are  perfectly  reciprocal,  is 
plain  matter  of  fact,  which  a]l  see  and  feel  every  hour,  moment,  of  their 
waking  existence.  "  The  whole  question,  then,  seems  to  resolve  it- 
self into  this: — Whether  or  not  the  connexion  of  mind  and  matter  ne- 
cessarily involves  the  doctrine  of  materialism. 

"  But,  decide  this  question  as  we  may,  this  much  is  certain,  that 
phrenology  is  no  more  liable  to  the  charge  of  materialism,  than  is 
every  system  both  of  physicks  and  metaphysicks  extant.  If  phrenology 
is  chargeable  with  materialism,  the  science  of  anatomy,  of  medicine, 
of  physiology,  of  natural  and  moral  philosophy,  and,  in  short,  of  every 
thing  which  treats  of  the  human  body  or  mind,  is  equally  chargeable 
with  supporting  the  same  doctrine ;  for  they,  one  and  all,  equally  with 
phrenology,  admit,  and  even  demonstrate,  this  same  great  principle  of 
the  intimate  connexion  and  relation  between  the  physical  organization 
and  the  manifestations  of  thought  and  feeling.  Nay,  even  the  Bible 
itself  is  chargeable  with  this  heresy  of  materialism.  But,  if  there  is 
any  more  materialism  in  the  proposition,  that  one  fortion  of  the  brain 
is  employed  to  perform  one  class  of  mental  functions,  and  another  por- 
tion, another  class,  than  there  is  in  the  proposition,  that  the  whole  brain 
is  brought  into  action  by  every  operation  of  the  mind,  then,  indeed,  is 
phrenology  guilty,  but  not  otherwise. 

^ZZ  systems  of  physiology  support  the  doctrine,  that  the  brain  is  the 
corporeal  instrument  by  means  of  which  the  mind  performs  its  various 
functions  ;  and  this  doctrine  constitutes  the  data,  and  the  only  data, 
upon  which  the  charge  of  materialism,  as  urged  against  phrenology, 
is  founded.  Hence,  so  far  as  the  objection  has  any  force,  it  virtually 
lies  against  the  existence  of  any  connection  between,  not  only  the 
brain  and  the  operations  of  the  mind,  but  between  any  fortions  of  mat- 
ter ^ohatev&r  and  the  mind.  But  it  has  already  been  shown,  that  we 
know  nothing  of  the  existence  or  operations  of  mind  in  this  life,  as  a 
separate  entity,  or  a  thing  that  exists  or  acts  apart  from  organized  or 
animate  matter  ;  but  of  its  existence  and  operation  in  connection  with 
organized  and  animate  matter,  we  do  know,  just  as  well  as  we  know 
that  matter  itself  exists. 

"  But  this  objection  is  not  urged  by  infidelity  against  the  Christian 
religion  so  much  as  it  is  by  professing  Christians  against  phrenology. 
They  argue  that  "  Materialism  is  false,  because  it  is  contrary  to  divine 
Revelation ;  but  that  phrenology  leads  to  materialism ;  and,  therefore, 


271  MATEPaALISM. OBJECTIONS   ANSWERED.  117 

phrenology  must  be  untrue."  But  let  those  who  are  zealous  for  the 
truth  of  the  Christian  religion,  beware,  lest,  by  proving  materialism 
upon  phrenology,  they  thereby  prove  it  upon  themselves,  and  thus  fall 
into  the  snare  which  they  had  set  for  phrenologists.  They  infer  that, 
if  phrenology  is  true,  it  necessarily  implies  the  truth  of  the  doctrine  of 
materialism,  and,  consequently,  overthrows  Christianity.  Now,  if, 
after  all,  phrenology  should  become  (as  it  unquestionably  will)  fully 
established,  materialists  and  infidels  will  prove  their  doctrines  by  the 
very  arguments  furnished  by  Christians  themselves. 

"  They  will  reason  thus  :  '  According  to  your  own  arguments,  if 
phrenology  is  true  it  establishes  the  truth  of  materialism,  infidelity,  fatal- 
ism, &c. :  phrenology  is  demonstrably  true ;  therefore  the  doctrines  oi 
materialism,  infidelity,  fatalism,  &.C.,  are  undeniable.'  And  thus,  even 
though  their  arguments  are  sophistical.  Christians  will  be  '  condemned 
out  of  their  own  mouth,'  or  else  driven  to  the  disagreeable  alternative 
of  admitting  that  their  arguments  are  fallacious,  and  the  offspring  of 
religious  bigotry."* 

But,  so  far  from  bearing  m  the  least  in  favor  of  materialism.  Phre- 
nology furnishes  the  strongest  argument  that  exists  in  favor  of  the 
immateriality  of  the  soul,  and  of  a  spiritual  state.  No  argument  can 
be  stronger  in  proof  of  any  thing  whatever,  than  the  existence  of  this 
organ  and  faculty  of  spirituality  is  proof  that  man  has  an  immaterial 
nature,  a  spiritual  existence.  What  proof  can  be  stronger  that  man  is 
a  seeing  being  than  the  fact  that  he  possesses  eyes,  adapting  him  to 
seeing,  and  constituting  him  a  seeing  being  ?  What,  that  he  is  a  rea- 
soning being,  than  his  possession  of  the  primary  element  or  faculty  of 
reason  ?  What  that  he  has  a  spiritual  nature  than  the  analysis  of  the 
primary  element  of  spirituality  just  shown  to  form  a  constituent  portion 
of  his  nature  ?  It  is  demonstrative  proof  It  is  the  highest  possible 
order  of  proof  It  settles  the  matter  completely.  It  leaves  no  evasion, 
no  cavillirig,  no  room  for  the  shadow  of  a  doubt.  Man  has  a  spiritual, 
immaterial  nature,  just  as  much  as  he  has  a  friendly  nature,  or  an  ob- 
serving nature,  or  a  moving  nature,  or  any  other  nature,  and  is  there- 
fore, and  thereby,  and  therein,  an  immaterial  being,  just  as  much  as  he 
is  a  thinking  being,  a  talking  being  a  parental  being,  a  remembering 
being,  or  possessed  of  any  other  constitutional  quality  whatever.  Am- 
plification will  not  strengthen  the  argument.  There  it  is,  in  the  plain- 
est terms.  Whoever  admits  the  truth  of  Phrenology,  and  denies  that  the 
soul  is  immaterial,  is  incapable  of  reasoning.  To  admit  the  truth  of 
this  science,  is  of  necessity  to  admit  the  spirituality  and  the  immaterial- 
ity of  man.  No  middle  ground,  no  other  position  exists. 
*  Fowler's  Practical  Phrenology, 


118  HOPE.  274 

CHAPTER  IV. 

HOPE,  AND  ITS  BEARINGS.— A  FUTURE  STATE. 

SECTION  I. 

ANALYSIS,    LOCATION     AND   BEAE.1NGS   OF   HOPE. 
Expectation. — Anticipatiou  of  future  good. 

"  Man  never  is,  but  always  TO  BE,  blessed." 


Man  lives  a  three-fold  life.  Through  the  agency  of  memory,  he  lives 
over,  again  and  again,  the  past,  for  the  ten  thousandth  time.  He  lives 
in  the  present  by  actual  sensation.  He  lives  in  the  future  as  often,  as 
luxuriantly  as  he  pleases,  by  mounting  to  a  glowing  imagination  upon 
the  pinions  of  hope,  and  soaring  aloft,  and  afar,  to  that  blissful  period 
in  the  future  to  which  he  expects  ere  long  to  arrive.  But  for  hope,  the 
heart  would  break,  the  hands  hang  down.  Little  would  be  attempted, 
because  little  would  be  expected.  In  trouble,  we  should  be  unwilling 
to  change  lest  it  but  increase  our  misfortunes.  In  prosperity,  we  should 
not  expect  its  continuance,  but  stand  in  perpetual  fear  of  adversity.  In- 
deed, words  can  but  feebly  portray  the  condition  of  the  human  mind, 
without  the  enlivening,  invigorating  influences  of  hope.  Thankful 
should  M^e  be  for  its  existence.  Careful,  lest  we  abuse  it.  And  assid- 
uous in  its  proper  cultivation. 

But,  what  is  its  legitimate  function  ?  What  its  true  sphere  ?  What 
its  bearings  1     What  great  practical  truths  does  it  unfold  1 

Immortality  !  A  state  of  being  beyond  the  narrow  confines  of  earth, 
and  extending  down  the  endless  vista  of  eternity,  infinitely  beyond  the 
conception  of  imagination's  remotest  stretch  !  And  an  eternity  of  hap- 
pinesSj  too,  if  we  but  fulfil  its  conditions.  And  to  an  extent,  the  height, 
the  boundaries  of  which,  Hope,  mounted  on  her  loftiest  pinions,  cannot 
environ — cannot  reach.  Oh !  the  height,  the  length,  the  depth,  the 
richness,  of  that  ocean  of  love,  of  unalloyed  bliss,  opened  up  to  the 
foretaste  of  mortals  by  this  faculty! 


275  HOPE,    AND    ITS   BEAMING  S. A   FUTURE    STATE.  119 

"  But,"  says  one,  "  is  not  this  world  the  natural  sphere,  the  legitimate 
termination  of  hope  ?  Have  we  not  earthly  desires  and  prospects,  in 
our  children,  in  property,  fame,  intellectual  attainments,  and  kindred  ob- 
jects, sufficient  to  satiate  this  faculty,  without  resorting  to  these  far- 
fetched, and  at  best  only  visionary  reveries,  of  this  organ  ?  What  is 
your  proof  that  another  state,  and  not  this,  constitutes  its  legitimate 
sphere  of  exercise  ?  We  hioio,  that  to  hope  for  this  world's  goods,  is 
its  true  and  natural  function.  Why,  then,  abandon  its  real,  known 
function,  for  one  that  is  both  uncertain  and  chimerical  ?" 

Look,  first,  at  its  location.  Location  is  a  certain  guide  to  direction 
and  cast  of  function.  Though  every  organ  is  designed  to  act  with 
every  other,  yet  all  the  organs  are  designed  to  act  most  with  those  locat- 
ed nearest  to  them.  As  the  heart  and  lungs,  designed  to  act  with 
perfect  reciprocity,  are  therefore  placed  close  to  each  other,  and  so 
of  the  eyes  and  brain,  and  of  all  the  organs  of  the  body;  so,  of  appetite 
and  acquisitiveness,  that  we  may  lay  up  eatables  ;  so,  of  the  social,  of 
the  intellectual,. of  the  moral,  of  all  the  organs  of  man.  We  will  not 
dero.onstrate  this  principle  here,  but  simply  refer  the  reader  to  that  se- 
ries of  articles  in  Vol.  VI.,  entitled,  "  The  Philosophy  of  Phrenology," 
where  it  is  fully  stated  and  so  applied  as  to  develop  many  beautiful 
and  valuable  principles.  (See  also  p.  34  of  this  work.)  But,  taking 
this  principle  of  juxta  position  as  admitted,  and  applying  it  to  hope, 
we  find  its  organ  located  among  the  moral  organs ;  and  not  among 
the  propensities.  Now,  if  in  the  great  economy  of  nature,  the  leo-i- 
timate  function  of  this  faculty  had  been  originally  intended  to  be  re- 
stricted to  this  world,  (that  is,  been  designed  to  operate  with  the  pro- 
pensities mainly,)  it  would  have  been  located  among  the  propensities. 
If  man's  hopes  have  been  originally  intended  to  fasten  on  property, 
and  to  inspire  the  hope  of  becoming  immensely  rich,  or  to  operate  with 
ambition  so  as  to  create  a  hope  for  fame  ;  or  with  appetite,  to  make  us 
anticipate  rapturously  every  coming  meal,  or  to  work  principally  with 
the  domestic  organs,  and  inspire  hopes  appertaining  to  the  family, 
&c.,  this  organ  would  have  been  located  by  the  side  of  acquisitive- 
ness, or  approbativeness,  or  appetite,  or  the  domestic  group.  But  it  is 
located  as  far  from  these  animal  organs  as  possible,  showing  that  its 
main  function  is  not  to  be  restricted  to  the  things  of  time  and  sense, 
but  it  is  located  in  the  moral  group,  showing  that  its  main  office  is  to 
hope  for  moral  pleasures,  not  animal.  And  what  is  more,  is  most,  it 
is  located  by  the  side  of  spirituality  on  the  one  hand,  so  that  it  may  fas- 
ten its  anticipations  mainly  upon  a  spiritual  state  ;  and  on  the  other, 
by  the  side  of  conscientiousness,  so  that  it  may  expect  the  rewards  of 


120  HOPE,   AND   ITS   BEARINGS.  276 

our  good  deeds.  It  is  this  juxta  position  of  hope  and  conscientious- 
ness which  makes  us  satisfied  that  when  we  have  done  right,  we  shall 
be  the  gainers  thereby. 

An  example :  —  Let  the  Author,  actuated  purely  by  conscien- 
tious scruples,  put  forth  truths  in  this  work,  or  in  his  lectures, 
which  he  knows  will  be  unpopular  for  the  time  being,  and  be  a 
means  of  retarding  its  sale,  as  well  as  of  seriously  injuring  him  for  the 
present,  yet,  the  very  fact  that  he  is  conscious  of  having  done  his 
duty  thereby,  makes  him  feel  that  he  shall  ultimately  be  the  gainer 
by  thus  telling  the  truth.  That  man  whose  .^conscience,  is  clear,  fears 
little.  A  clear  conscience  makes  a  stout  heart.  It  renders  its  posses- 
sor bold,  and  makes  him  not  only  feel  safe,  but  encourages  hope  to 
predict  ultimate  success.  Truly  *'  are  the  righteous  as  bold  as  a  lion." 
That  is,  when  conscience  is  in  its  normal,  self-approving  state  of  ac- 
tion, it  quiets  cautiousness,  and  stimulates  hope  to  expect  happiness 
therefrom. 

But,  reverse  this  principle,  and  we  see  why  it  is  that  "  the  wicked 
flee  when  no  man  pursueth."  For,  when  conscience  is  disturbed  by 
the  compunctions  of  guilt,  this  its  painful  action  throws  cautiousness 
also  into  a  painful,  fearing  state,  a  state  of  alarm  and  terror,  be- 
sides Avithdrawing  all  stimulous  from  hope.  Hence  it  is  that  when 
a  man  feels  guilty,  he  is  conscious  that  he  is  continually  exposed  to 
punishment.  Walled  in  on  all  sides,  he  could  not  feel  safe.  Protect- 
ed by  armies  of  true  body-guards,  he  would  live  in  continual  fear. 
Let  A.  steal,  or  commit  any  crime,  and  let  B.  step  up  to  him  familiarly, 
and  tap  him  on  the  shoulder :  "  I  did  not  steal  that,"  exclaims  A. 
"  No  one  supposed  you  did ;  but '  a  guilty  conscience  needs  no  accus- 
er,' I  now  think  you  did  steal  it,  else  you  would  not  be  so  anxious  to 
exonerate  yourself,"  replies  B.  The  plain  fact  is,  that  if  a  man  would 
be  happy,  he  must  keep  his  conscience  clear,  and  if  he  does  this,  he 
will  rarely  be  miserable. 

Secondly :  Man  expects  to  exist  hereafter.  No  other  faculty  can 
exercise  this  feeling.  As  shown  under  the  head  of  veneration,  (p.  49,) 
all  the  other  faculties  are  exclusively  pre-occupied,  and  wholly  en- 
grossed, each  in  performing  its  own  legitimate  function.  No  one  will 
question  the  position,  that  those  who  expect  to  exist  hereafter,  do  so  by 
exercising  the  organ  and  faculty  of  hope.  Now,  is  this  expectation 
of  immortality  the  legitimate  function  of  hope,  or  its  abnormal,  exotic, 
unnatural  function?  If  the  latter,  then  must  this  expectation  of 
eternity  be  repulsive,  and  all  up-hill  work,  contrary  to  the  nature 
of  man,  and  therefore  certain  not  to  continue  long  or  extend  far.    No 


277  A   FUTURE    STATE.  121 

stronger  proof  can  exist,  that  to  hope  for  a  future  state  of  being  is  the 
natural  function  of  this  faculty,  than  the  universality  of  this  expecta- 
tion in  all  ages,  among  all  flesh.  In  short,  the  same  argument  by 
which  the  function  of  Divine  worship  was  proved  to  be  constitu- 
ttonal,  [p.  46  to  53,]  mutatis  mutaiidis,  proves,  with  equal  clearness, 
that  to  expect  to  exist  hereafter  is  the  legitimate,  primitive  func- 
tion of  hope,  and  not  its  perverted  function.  And  that  same  branch 
of  this  argument  by  which  it  was  shown  that  worship  was  not 
taught,  but  was  innate,  also  proves  the  innateness  of  this  expecta- 
tion of  eternity.  Without  this  faculty,  and  unless  to  hope  for  eter- 
nity were  its  true  function,  man  could  form  no  more  conception  or 
idea  of  a  future  state  than  the  blind  man  could  of  colors.  In  short, 
all  the  ramifications  of  that  argument,  apply  to  this.  The  premises, 
the  data,  the  application,  the  answers  to  objections,  the  all  of  either, 
are  every  way  alike. 

But,  again:  (And  this  argument  applies  equally  to  veneration.)  If 
to  expect  to  live  hereafter,  be  the  true  function  of  hope,  that  func- 
tion, that  hope,  must  be  every  way  beneficial  to  man  ;  for  every 
organ,  faculty,  element  of  our  nature,  exercised  in  harmony  with 
its  normal,  primitive  constitution,  is  every  way  promotive  of  happi- 
ness, because  in  obedience  to  the  laws  of  its  constitution.  But  what- 
ever exercise  of  any  faculty  is  not  in  harmony  with  its  normal,  primi- 
tive constitution,  violates  the  natural  laws,  and  thus  induces  their  pen- 
alty. Now,  I  submit  to  any  reflecting  mind,  what  pain,  what  penalty 
is  there  that  grows  naturally,  necessarily,  out  of  this  hope  of  immor- 
tality ?  So  far  from  experiencing  pain  in  the  act  itself,  the  human 
mind  even  exults  in  the  pleasures  of  such  anticipation  as  much  as  in,' 
perhaps,  any  other  mental  exercise  whatever.  If  I  wished  to  give 
the  human  mind  a  literal  banquet  of  pleasure,  I  would  feast  it  on 
thoughts  of  immortality.  If  I  wished  to  make  the  strongest  possible, 
and  the  most  impressive,  appeal  to  the  mmd  or  soul  of  man,  I  would 
found  that  appeal  on  eternity !  Reader !  doee  thy  hope  of  existing 
hereafter,  give  thee  pleasure  or  give  thee  pain?  And  if  pain,  is 
that  pain  the  necessary,  or  the  accidental,  accompaniment  of  hope  ? 
That  is,  is  it  absolutely  impossible  for  hope  to  be  exercised  without 
inducing  this  pain.**  Surely  not.  Nor  do  any  painful  after  conse- 
quences grow  necessarily  out  of  this  eixercise  of  hope.  Both  the  exer- 
cise of  hope  in  this  way,  and  all  the  products  of  that  exercise,  are 
pleasurable  only,  and  pleasurable,  too,  in  the  highest  possible  degree. 
There  is  no  pain,  no  punishment  growing  out  of  this  exercise  of  hope, 
but  a  certain  reward.     Therefore,  this  exercise  is  in  obedience  to  the 


122  HOPE,   AND    ITS   BEARINGS.  278 

fixed  laws  of  our  being,  and  therefore  in  harmony  with  the  primitive 
function  of  this  facuhy.     Nor  can  this  argument  be  evaded. 

If  it  be  objected,  that  thinking  so  mnch  of  another  world,  unfits  us 
for  this,  I  say  thinking  just  enough  about  another  world  is  the  best 
possible  preparation  for  enjoying  this.  I  go  farther :  I  say  that,  mere- 
ly in  order  to  enjoy  this  life  fully,  we  require  to  hope  for  another,  and 
I  submit  this  remark  to  the  consciousness  of  every  reader.  I  put 
it  home  to  the  feelings  of  all,  whether  enjoying  another  world  in  anti- 
cipation, does  not  sweeten  every  pleasure  of  this  ;  and  whether  a  prac- 
tical belief  that  there  is  no  hereafter,  does  not  render  the  pleasures 
of  this  life  insipid  ;  besides,  weakening  a  most  powerful  motive  for 
good,  a  powerful  restraint  upon  evil.  Nor  do  1  feel  that  this  position 
can  be  shaken  or  evaded. 

If  it  be  still  further  objected,  that  many,  that  even  the  majority  of, 
professing  Christians,  spend  so  much  thought  upon  another  world, 
that  they  fail  to  study  and  obey  the  organic  laws,  and  both  shorten 
life  and  render  it  miserable ;  whereas,  if  they  did  not  hope  for  another 
life,  they  would  study  to  make  themselves  happy  in  this  ;  I  answer,  by 
admitting  the  fact,  but  denying  that  it  is  a  necessary  consequence  of 
believing  in  an  hereafter.  So  far  from  it,  the  highest  possible  prepa- 
ration for  enjoyment  in  this  life,  constitutes  the  best  possible  prepara- 
tion for  enjoying  immortality ;  and  vice  versa,  the  highest  possible 
preparation  for  eternity,  involves  the  very  state  w^hich  will  best  fit  us 
to  enjoy  time.  I  know,  indeed,  that  perhaps  the  majority  of  our  truly 
religious  people,  neglect  health,  and  often  hasten  their  death,  solely  in 
consequence  of  their  religious  zeal.  But,  is  this  the  necessary^  the 
universal,  ijuvitable  consequence  of  this  hope  of  immortality?  Is  it 
utterly  impossible  to  indulge  the  latter  without  inducing  the  former  1 
Surely  not,  and  he  is  simple  who  asserts  otherwise. 

In  short :  Viewed  in  any  light,  in  all  aspects,  the  inference  is  con- 
clusive— is  established  by  the  highest  order  of  evidence — ^that  the  le- 
gitimate, normal  function  of  hope  is  to  expect  to  exist  beyond  the 
grave. 

This  established,  and  the  inference  becomes  clear  and  even  demon- 
strative, that  there  is  a  future  state  adapted  to  this  faculty.  If  not — if 
there  be  no  hereafter,  why  was  this  faculty,  or  at  least  this  manifesta- 
tion or  exercise  of  it,  ever  planted  in  the  breast  of  man  ?  Would  a 
God  of  truth  and  mercy  thus  deceive  us  ?  Would  he  cruelly  raise  the 
cup  of  immortality  to  our  lips  only  to  tantalize  us  therewith  while  alive, 
and  then  to  deceive  us  with  the  hope  of  immortality  thereby  raised  in 
our  souls,  while  no  immortality  exists  to  await  or  fill  this  natural  de- 


279  A  FUTURE    STATE.  123 

sire  and  expectation  ?  In  case  there  were  no  hereafter,  man  would 
have  no  hope  adapted  thereto,  or  capable  of  creating  this  expectation. 
And,  surely,  the  location  of  hope  by  the  side  of  spirituality,  so  that 
the  two  may  naturally  act  together,  and  thereby  create  the  desire,  the 
feeling,  that  there  is  a  spiritual  state,  and  that  we  shall  exist  therein 
forever,  forms  the  strongest  kind  of  proof  that  there  is  an  hereafter,  a 
spiritual,  never-ending  state,  adapted  to  that  constitutional  arrangement 
of  the  nature  of  man.  Who  can  doubt  the  concentration  of  proof  that 
goes  to  establish  this  glorious  result  ?  Who  can  say  that  this  radiat- 
ing focus  of  truth  is  but  midnight  darkness,  or  only  the  glare  of  the 
delusive  ignis  fatuus  ?  Nor  have  I  ever  seen  the  man  who  could  inva- 
lidate this  blessed  conclusion.  It  is  plainly  grafted  on  the  nature  of 
man,  or,  rather,  founded  in  it.  The  admission  of  the  truth  of  Phre- 
nology, presupposes,  and  necessarily  implies,  the  conclusion  to  which 
we  have  thus  been  brought.  And  I  am  free  to  confess,  that,  faith 
aside,  and  as  a  matter  of  reason  and  argument,  I  pin  my  hopes  of  im- 
mortality (and  they  are  neither  few  nor  weak,)  on  this  argument. 
No  other  argument  that  I  have  ever  seen  at  all  compares  with  it  in 
point  of  clearness  and  force.  I  repeat  it.  A  natural,  spontaneous  ex- 
ercise of  the  faculty  of  hope,  is  an  expectation  of  existing  hereafter. 
This  is  its  natural,  legitimate,  frimitive  function  ;  therefore,  this 
faculty  is  adapted,  and  adapts  man,  to  an  hereafter.  Hence  there  is 
an  hereafter  adapted  to  this  organ. 

Many  infidels  have  been  converted  from  Atheism,  or  at  least  from 
scepticism  thereby.  Among  the  thousands  that  have  come  to  my 
knowledge,  the  following  are  given  as  samples : — 

^^  Neiv-Fairfielcl,  March,  1843. 
"  Mr.  Editor — During  the  little  leisure  I  could  get  from  the  duties 
of  a  private  school  under  my  charge  for  about  eighteen  months  past,  I 
have  been  studying  Phrenology.  From  the  first,  I  was  so  deeply 
interested  in  its  principles,  its  application  to  morals,  religion,  and  al- 
most every  other  subject  of  public  importance,  that  I  determined  to 
become  its  public  advocate  as  soon  as  I  could  command  time  and 
means  to  acquire  that  practical  proficiency  adequate  to  the  accom- 
plishment of  the  duties  involved  in  so  responsible  an  undertakinfr. 
And  I  think,  of  all  other  persons,  I  have  the  greatest  reason  to  love 
and  to  reverence  Phrenology,  inasmuch  as  it  has  been  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal instruments  in  saving  me  from  the  rock  of  infidelity,  on  which  I 
had  struck.  When  I  saw,  that  the  mind  Avas  constitutionally  adapted 
to  the  great  and  leading  principles  of  Christianity,  I  was  enabM  to 
comprehend  the  fallacy  of  the  base  and  servile  doctrines  of  the  infidel. 
Instead  of  inculcating  or  encouraging  any  thing  anti-Christian,  as 
some  in  their  ignorance  and  opposition  have  said,  Phrenology  beauti- 


124  HOPE,   AND    ITS   BEARINGS-  280 


fully  explains  and  establishes  all  the  important  principles  of  religion. 
We  find,  that  certain  organs  of  the  brain  are  necessary  for  the  exer- 
cise of  those  feelings  of  worship  and  adoration  of  the  Deity,  trust 
in  his  providences,  and  confidence  in  the  revelations  of  his  will. 
Hence,  the  infidel  must,  at  least,  be  deficient  in  the  organs  of  venera- 
tion and  marvellousness,  and,  accordingly,  this  was  the  case  with  me. 
And  now^  to  obviate  this  tendency  to  disbelief,  I  set  intellect  over 
against  it,  and  take  the  revelations  of  God  for  granted,  without  once 
trying  to  doubt  them — knowing  that  my  doubts  are  the  result  of  small 
marvellousness.  To  me,  the  fact,  that  there  is  an  organ  whose  func- 
tion is,  trust  in  Divine  providence,  and  belief  in  the  spiritual,  proves  a 
future  state,  and  an  over-ruling  hand.  If  this  be  not  the  case^  then 
the  Creator  has  given  us  a  faculty  for  perceiving,  and  having  faith  in, 
a  state  which  does  not  exist — a  thing  entirely  incompatible  with  the 
character  of  Omnipotence. 

"  Now,  the  confirmed  infidel  or  atheist  requires  some  plain,  posi- 
tive, and  tangible  evidence,  that  may  be  brought  under  the  cogniz- 
ance of  his  senses  ;  and  this  is  the  kind  of  evidence  afforded  by  Phre- 
nology, for  he  can  both  see  and  feel  it.  It  was  this  process  of  reason- 
ing that  convinced  me  of  the  truth  of  Christianity,  and  the  error  of 
infidelity,  and  I  feel  bound  by  love  to  the  science,  and  the  interest  I 
feel  for  those  who  have  unfortunately  stranded  upon  the  shoals  of  in- 
fidelity, to  make  this  public  statement.  "  B.  J.  Gray." 

Extract  of  a  letter  from  a  gentleman  in  R.  1.,  dated  May,  1844. 
"  A  little  more  than  a  year  since,  an  inquiry  arose  in  my  mind  re- 
specting the  truth  of  the  fundamentals  of  religion,  such  as  the  being 
of  a  God — the  divinity  of  the  scriptures,  &c.  But,  my  mind  becom- 
ing excited  on  these  points,  and  getting  into  a  doubting,  sceptical 
mood,  did  not  stop  here.  I  asked  after  the  foundation  and  origin  of 
governments,  the  utility  of  the  social  state,  &c.  I  would  know  what 
constituted  an  action  virtuous,  or  if  there  was  actually  any  propriety 
in  the  distinction  of  right  and  wrong.  I  ruminated  over  all  the  '  scenes 
of  man,'  to  inquire  into  the  elements  of  every  thing,  to  see  if,  in  spite 
of  pride,  in  erring  reason's  spite, '  whatever  is,  is  righf — I  feared  what- 
ever is,  is  wrong ;  or,  at  least,  I  felt  I  must  see  the  reasons  for  Pope's 
proposition.  '  Time  would  fail  me'  to  give  you  a  detailed  account  of 
the  state  of  mind  into  which  I  was  hurled.  What  I  have  said  must 
suffice.  But  I  began  to  read  extensively.  I  procured  the  best  books 
I  could  obtain  on  the  subjects  which  looked  most  momentous  to  me. 
I  began  to  meditate  also  methodically  and  rigidly,  to  determine  per- 
plexing questions  Avith  the  precision  of  a  philosopher.  But  I  found, 
what  I  had  partly  realized  before,  that  authors  differed,  and  that  I  was 
in  want  of  first  p.ri?iciples.  In  my  distress,  I  turned  my  attent^on  to 
Phrenology,  of  which  I  had  already  a  little  knowledge,  for  salvation 
from  universal  scepticism's  painful  confusion  or  derangement — which 
last  I  very  much  feared.  And,  blessed  be  God,  I  found  it  a  uni- 
versal logic,  an  endless  dictionary,  a  chart  of  the  universe,  and  the 
God  of  first  principles.  Before  the  revelations  of  Phrenology,  all 
of  my  doubts  and  perplexities  fled  like  morning  vapors  chased  away 


281  TESTIMONIALS    OF    CONVERTS    FROM   INFIDELITY.  125 

by  the  rising  sun,  and  left  my  soul  to  enjoy  a  great  amount  of  truth, 
established  in  the  certainty  of  demonstration.  And  it  was  during  the 
time  of  my  emancipation  from  the  thraldom  of  corroding,  soul-killing 
uncertainties,  that  I  became  acquainted  with  your  writings.     I  feel  to 

.  rejoice  that  you  have  ever  been  raised  up  to  labor  as  a  Phrenologist. 

^  ******  * 

I  must  say,  before  I  close,  I  am  waiting  with  intense  interest  to  see 
what  you  shall  say  upon  theology  in  the  '  Journal '  of  this  year.  Hun- 
dreds and  thousands  are  doing  the  same.  Among  these,  I  know  of 
several  distinguished  ministers  of  the  gospel.  Do  your  best.  Be 
thorough.  Your  Avork^  '  Natural  Theory  of  Phrenology,'  is  good  ; 
but  too  limited,  as  I  wrote  you  several  months  since.  Don't  leave  a 
point  not  thoroughly  treated." 

Letters  and  statements  of  this  character,  flow  in  continually  from  ail 
quarters.  Those  who  accuse  Phrenology  of  leading  to  infidelity  and 
scepticism,  either  practically  or  theoretically,  have  either  but  a  smat- 
tering of  this  sublime,  this  religious  science,  or  else  are  incapable  of 
comprehending  it.  Its  influence  on  my  own  mind  has  been  to  deepen 
my  religious  feelings,  and  enlarge  their  boundaries,  not  to  enfeeble 
them.  True,  it  has  enfeebled  my  narrow  minded  sectarian  notions. 
I  thank  God  that  it  has.  Much  that  was  bigoted,  intolorant,  contracted, 
and  erroneous,  it  has  abolished.  But  the  gold  of  Ophir,  the  wealth  of 
India,  the  treasures  of  the  whole  earth,  could  be  but  a  drop  in  the  buck- 
et compared  with  the  value  of  those  religious  doctrines  and  feelings 
it  has  added  to  my  former  religious  stock.  Nothing  would  tempt  me  to 
return  back  to  that  state  of  semi-darkness  from  which  Phrenology  has 
delivered  me.  I  consider  that  true  religious  feeling  has  been  multi- 
plied within  me  a  hundred  fold  by  this  science.  Nor,  in  all  my  ex- 
tended acqaintance,  do  I  know  the  man  whom  Phrenology  has  ren- 
dered infidel.  I  know  those  whom  it  has  liberalized.  Whose  bigotry 
it  has  slain.  But  not  whose  soul  it  has  hardened  to  religious  impres- 
sions. It  will  melt  the  hearts  of  all  who  drink  in  its  doctrines.  Fear 
not,  then,  intellectual  reader.  Fear  not,  pious  reader.  It  will  make 
you  better  Christians.  It  will  purify  your  souls.  It  will  elevate  your 
religious  nature.  It  will  make  you  more  holy-minded,  more  exalted 
in  your  views  of  the  character  and  government  of  God,  and  go  far  to- 
wards preparing  you  for  a  blessed  immortality. 


126  HOPE. raSCELLANEOUS   INFERENCES.  228 

SECTION  II. 

HOPE   CONTINDED. MISCELLANEOUS   INFERENCES. 

"  Which  hope  we  have  as  an  anchor  of  the  soul,  both  sure  and  stedfast,  and 
which  entereth  into  that  within  the  veil." 

Having  pointed  out  the  general  function  of  hope,  it  remains  to  add 
a  few  suggestions  relative  to  its  exercise. 

1.  It  is  very  large  in  the  American  head — larger  than  in  the  heads 
of  any  other  nation  which  it  has  been  my  good  fortune  to  examine  ; 
caused,  doubtless,  by  that  continual  inflation  of  it,  growing  out  of  the 
very  nature  of  our  institutions.     (See  Hereditary  Descent,  p.  47.) 

2.  It  combines  mainly  with  acquisitiveness ;  whereas  it  should  com- 
bine mainly  with  the  moral  faculties.  We  confine  our  hopes  mainly 
to  the  things  of  this  world ;  whereas  we  should  place  them  mostly  on 
heaven  and  heavenly  things.  On  this  root  of  the  violation  of  man's 
nature,  grow  the  inflations  and  depressions  of  trade  in  this  country 
which  have  overthrown  so  many,  and  set  our  whole  nation  upon  the 
full  gallop  after  riches.  Our  pecuniary  embarrassments  were  not 
caused,  cannot  be  cured,  by  either  political  party,  or  leader,  by  a  na- 
tional bank,  or  the  want  of  it,  but  simply,  solely,  by  the  over-exercise 
of  hope,  and  by  confining  it  to  this  world  ;  whereas  it  should  soar  to 
another.  And  as  long  as  men  go  on  to  violate  this  law  of  their  na- 
tures, by  this  wrong  exercise  of  this  moral  faculty,  they  must  suffer 
the  penalties  of  its  infraction.  But,  when  they  will  obey  this  law, 
not  only  will  our  pecuniary  embarrassments  cease,  and  our  worldly 
spirit  be  subdued,  but  all  the  glorious,  soul-inspiring  fruits  of  its  pro- 
per exercise,  will  be  ours  in  this  life,  along  with  a  preparation  for  that 
which  is  to  come. 

3.  This  organ  is  sometimes  too  small.  Those  professing  Chris- 
tians in  whom  it  is  small,  with  small  self-esteem,  and  large  cautious- 
ness and  conscientiousness,  suffer  much  from  gloomy  religious  feelino-s 
feel  extremely  unworthy,  and  too  guilty  to  be  saved,  and  indulo-e 
doubts  and  fears  as  to  their  future  salvation.  Let  such  remember  that 
these  gloomy  doubts  and  fears  are  not  piety,  but  are  inconsistent  with 
it — that  the  absence  of  hope  is  a  defect,  and  that,  if  this  organ  were 
larger,  and  conscientiousness  smaller,  though  their  conduct  would  be 
no  better,  and  heart  perhaps  worse,  yet  their  hopes  of  heaven  would 
be  much  stronger,  while  their  prospects  of  future  happiness  would  be 


228  THE  PROPER  CULTIVATION  OF  HOPE.  127 

less  bright.  To  such,  Phrenology  says,  that  these  gloomy  feelings 
are  caused,  not  by  any  actual  danger,  but  simply  by  their  organs.  It 
tells  them  to  cultivate  this  organ,  and  not  to  indulge  these  religious 
doubts  and  fears. 

4.  I  find,  that  most  disbelievers  in  a  future  state,  have  moderate  or 
small  hope,  and  hence  their  expectation  of  existing  hereafter  is  feeble. 
They  say  and  feel,  "  well,  I  neither  know,  nor  care  much,  whether  1 
am  to  live  hereafter  or  not,  but  I  will  take  my  chance  with  the  rest 
of  mankind."  To  such,  this  science  says,  your  doubts  as  to  a  future 
state  grow  out  of  your  imperfect  phrenological  organization,  and  not 
out  of  the  fact  that  a  future  state  is  doubtful.  Cultivate  and  properly 
direct  this  faculty,  and  your  doubts  will  vanish,  your  soul  be  cheered 
with  hopes  of  immortality. 

5.  The  proper  cultivation  and  exercise  of  hope,  becomes  a  matter 
of  great  importance.  To  show  ho^o  to  enlarge  and  direct  this  faculty, 
does  not  come  within  the  compass  of  this  work,  they  having  been 
treated  in  'Education  and  Self-Improvement."*  Suffice  it  to  say,  that 
in  order  to  enlarge  it,  it  must  be  exercised,  and  to  effect  this,  its  appro- 
priate food,  (immortality,)  must  be  kept  continually  before  it ;  it  being 
feasted  thereon,  and  ravished  thereby. 

6.  It  is  a  little  remarkable  that  the  exercise  of  this  faculty,  in  refer- 
ence to  a  future  state,  is  so  often  commended  and  enforced  in  the  Bible. 
In  this,  the  Bible  harmonizes  with  Phrenology,  and  is  right. 

7.  Some  beautiful  inferences  grow  out  of  the  combinations  of  hope 
and  marvellousness,  but  being  in  possession  of  the  requiste  data,  the 
reader  can  carry  them  out  for  himself 

*  Directions  for  cultivating  all  the  moral  faculties,  and  indeed  all  the  faculties^ 
will  be  found  in  that  work,  so  that  their  repetition  here  would  be  out  of  place. 


128  BENEVOLENCE.  283 


CHAPTER  Y. 

BENEVOLENCE.— ITS  ANALYSIS,  AND  THE  TRUTHS  TAUGHT 
THEREBY. 


SECTION  I. 

THE  FUNCTION  OF  BENEVOLENCE,  AND  THE  DUTY  AND  PLEASURE  OF 
DOING  GOOD. 

"  It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive." — Christ. 

Pain  exists,  and  man  is  the  subject  of  it.  Governed  Ly  laws,  the 
violation  of  which  induces  pain,  man  often  sins  and  suffers.  Instead  of 
placing  us  in  a  world  of  chaos,  confusion,  uncertainty,  and  chance, 
Infinite  Wisdom  has  seen  fit  to  throw  laws  around  us,  and  to  sanction 
those  laws,  by  rewarding  their  obedience  with  pleasure,  and  punish- 
ing their  infraction  with  pain.  But  for  these  laws,  man  could  have 
calculated  upon  nothing,  could  have  enjoyed,  could  have  effected  no- 
thing ;  and  without  the  rcAvard  of  pleasure  attached  to  their  obedience, 
and  a  penalty  of  suffering  affixed  to  their  infraction,  these  laws  would 
have  been  utterly  powerless,  and  therefore  perfectly  useless.  Indeed, 
self-contradictory  though  it  may  seem,  no  feature  of  the  Divine  charac- 
ter or  government  is  more  benevolent  than  in  the  institution  of  pain ; 
for,  without  it,  Ave  should  be  liable,  carelessly  or  ignorantly,  to  lean 
upon  a  red  hot  stove,  or  put  our  hands  into  prusic  acid,  and  destroy 
them,  and  indeed  to  destroy  all  parts  of  our  frame  a  hundred  times 
over,  if  possible ;  as  we  now  are,  the  instant  we  injure  ourselves,  or 
violate  any  physical  law,  we  feel  pain,  and  are  thereby  warned  of  our 
sin,  and  seek  relief  So  in  the  world  of  mind.  We  may  even  take 
it  for  granted,  that  every  pain  ever  experienced,  or  ever  to  be  experi- 
enced by  man,  is  a  consequence  of  the  violation  of  some  law  of  his 
being.  And  on  the  other  hand,  that  evary  pleasure  we  experience, 
whether  mental  or  physical,  flows  from  our  voluntary  or  involuntary 
obedience  of  some  law. 

But,  if  this  institution  of  pain  existed,  unless  man  had  some  faculty 
analogous  to  that  of  benevolence,  to  dispose  him  to  pour  the  oil  of  con- 
solation into  the  soul  of  the  sufferer,  and  assuage  his  pain,  how  deso- 
late would  our  world  have  been !  Callous  to  the  sufferings  of  our 
fellow-beings,  ahd  not  disposed  to  lift  a  finger  to  relieve  them !    Re- 


284  THE  DUTY  AND  PLEASURE  OF  DOING  GOOD.  129 

gardless  of  how  much  pain  we  inflicted,  how  much  trouble  we  caused ! 
not  one  kind  feeling  in  the  soul  of  man !  How  utterly  desolate !  How 
shorn  of  its  blesssings,  would  be  our  earth !  Or,  if  man  had  been 
created  an  isolated  being,  incapable  of  bestowing  or  receiving  favors, 
or  of  augmenting  or  effecting  the  happiness  of  his  fellow-men,  this 
faculty  would  have  been  out  of  place,  and  only  tormented  its  possessor 
with  the  sight  of  suffering  whicn  could  not  be  relieved.  But,  a  bene- 
volent God  has  instituted  pain  for  a  wise  and  beneficial  purpose.  But 
lest  suffering  unrelieved  should  blast,  or  at  least  mar,  his  works,  he  has 
offset  it  by  planting  in  the  soul  of  man  this  kindly  feeling  for  his  fellow- 
men.  And  then,  in  addition  to  this,  he  has  put  roan  into  that  relation 
with  his  fellow-men  by  which  he  can  both  assuage  their  suffering  and 
promote  their  happiness. 

Again,  the  exercise  of  every  organ  gives  its  possessor  pleasure  in 
proportion  to  its  size  and  activity.  Benevolence  is  a  large  organ,  and 
therefore  fills  the  heart  of  the  truly  benevolent  man  with  as  pure 
and  enalted  pleasure  as  he  is  capable  of  experiencing  ;  for,  "  it  is  more. 
blessed  to  give  than  to  receive."  Thus  does  it  double  the  pleasure  of 
man ;  first,  by  pouring  the  oil  of  consolation  into  the  wounded  heart ; 
and,  secondly,  by  filling  the  benevolent  soul  with  a  pure  fountain  of 
pleasure,  "  which  the  world  can  neither  give  nor  take  a-^y."  But 
for  the  existence  of  suffering,  this  faculty  would  have  had  no  sphere  of 
action,  and  must  have  been  in  the  way ;  but,  with  the  existence  of  pain, 
man  is  rendered,  as  already  seen,  much  more  happy  than  he  could 
possibly  have  been  without  either  law  or  consequent  suffering ;  and 
doubly  happy :  first,  in  bestowing  charity,  and  in  doing  acts  of  kind- 
ness ;  and  secondly,  in  becoming  the  recipient  ot  these  favors,  and 
responding  to  them  with  heart-felt  gratitude.  Oh,  God !  in  infinite 
wisdom  hast  Thou  made  us !  Thou  hast  bound  us  to  Thee  and  to  one 
another  by  a  three-fold  cord  of  love  and  wisdom :  first,  by  the  institu- 
tion of  pain  ;  secondly,  by  off-setting  this  institution  with  this  faculty, 
and,  thereby,  by  making  its  exercise  so  pleasurable  to  both  giver  and 
receiver  !  Wanting  in  either.  Thy  government  would  have  been  im- 
perfect. But  possessed  of  all  combined,  it  is  infinite  in  itself,  and  infi- 
nitely promotive  of  the  happiness  of  all  Thy  terrestrial  creatures ! 

The  existence  of  this  faculty,  makes  it  our  imperious  duty  to  exer- 
cise it  in  doing  good,  and  to  exercise  it  much,  because  it  is  a  large  or- 
gan ;  that  is,  it  occupies,  when  large,  a  greater  periphera  or  surface 
on  the  scull,  and  a  greater  amount  of  brain,  than  perhaps  any  other 
organ :  and,  as  already  observed.  Phrenology  requires  us  to  exercise 
every  organ  habitually,  and  in  proportion  to  its  relative  size  when 


130  THE   FUNCTION   OF   BENEVOLENCE.  285 

large.  Man  is  too  selfish,  even  for  his  own  interest.  If  he  were  lees 
selfish,  he  would  be  more  selfish :  that  is,  if  he  were  more  benevolent, 
he  would  be  more  happy.  This  organ  saith ;  "  Throw  open  the  doors 
of  thy  house  to  the  benighted  wanderer.  Be  more  hospitable,  for  thou 
mayest  entertain  angels  unawares.  Make  sacrifices  to  do  good,  and 
thou  wilt  thus  cast  thy  bread  upon  the  waters,  to  be  gathered  in  great- 
ly increased.  Nay,  in  the  very  act  of  doing  good,,  thou  hast  thy  re- 
ward." 

But,  not  to  dismiss  this  subject  with  the  mere  abstract  inference, 
that  it  is  our  duty  to  do  good,  let  us  look  at  some  of  its  practical  illus- 
trations ;  that  is,  to  the  advantages  to  be  derived  from  its  general  a^id 
proper  exercise.  To  draw  an  illustration  from  hospitality  :  To  enter- 
tain friends,  and  even  strangers,  is  one  of  our  greatest  pleasures.  It 
is  not  the  order  of  nature,  that  we  should  have  so  many  public  houses. 
For,  besides  their  being  the  greatest  nuisances  that  curse  any  commu- 
nity, the  recepticles  of  gambling,  drinking,  and  all  sorts  of  wicked- 
ness, which,  but  for  them,  could  not  exist,  they  deprive  us  of  that  pri- 
vilege of  exercising  the  hospitable  feeling  which  would  result  from 
throwing  open  our  doors  to  our  fellow-men,  and  loading  our  tables  to 
feed  the  hungry.  In  a  tavern,  little  social  feeling  is  exercised,  and 
but  little  benevolence.  It  is  purely  a  dollar  and  cent  affair,  and  very 
dear  does  it  cost  those  who  are  entertained ;  because  a  few  of  the 
guests  want  a  great  deal  of  waiting  upon,  which  raises  the  price,  and 
then  those  who  want  but  little,  have  to  pay  just  as  much ;  thus  wound- 
ing acquisitiveness  and  conscientiousness. 

Familiar  as  I  am  with  the  principle,  that  the  violation  of  any  of  the 
natural  laws  punishes  the  disobedient,  I  am,  notwithstanding,  often 
surprised  and  delighted  to  see  it  practically  illustrated  in  ways  innu- 
merable, which  escape  general  observation.  The  violation  of  the 
law  of  hospitality  is  a  case  in  point.  Taverns  are  the  direct,  legiti- 
mate product  of  the  violation  of  the  law  of  hospitality.  And  "  eye  hath 
not  seen,  nor  ear  heard,  neither  hath  it  entered  into  the  heart  of  man 
to  coiiceive,"  the  number  and  the  aggravation  of  the  public  and  pri- 
vate sinfulness  and  vice,  of  all  descriptions  and  degrees  of  heineous- 
ness,  that  grow  on  this  root  of  violated  natural  law.  Drinking,  and 
all  the  vices  that  accompany  it,  "  whose  name  is  legion,"  are  their  le- 
gitimate offspring,  vlf  taverns  produced  but  this  single  sin,  it  would  be 
punishment  enough  in  all  conscience,  yet  this  is  but  the  beginning. 
Balls  are  another.  Not  that  dancing  itself  is  wrong.  Indulged  in  at 
proper  seasons,  say  in  the  day  time,  or  till  nine  or  ten  o'clock  in  the 
evening,   dancing    would  be  thp  best  recreations  to  be  fr>und,  and 


286  TAVERNS. THEIR   INFLUENCE,   ETC,  131 

most  healthy,  especially  for  woman  ;  but,  carried  to  excess,  and  con- 
nected, as  it  usually  is,  with  drinking  and  many  other  objectionable 
things,  especially  the  exercise  of  amativeness,  in  various  combinations, 
I  deem  it  most  objectionable.  Besides,  dancing  being  carried  to 
such  excess,  generally  continued  all  night,  trespasses  too  much  upon 
time  that  should  be  allotted  to  sleep,  of  which  young  people  require  a 
great  amount.  They  also  cultivate  artificial  manners.  These  balls 
are  almost  always  held  in  taverns,  and  go  to  support  them. 

Another  is,  tavern  associations — tavern  stories,  (almost  always  ob- 
scene,) tavern  Hngo,  of  which  profane  swearing  furnishes  the  warp 
and  considerable  of  the  filling,*  betting,  political  discussions, 
horse-racing,  and  this  whole  class  of  evils.  I  should  rather  bury  my 
children  than  have  them  brought  up  in  a  tavern  where  liquor  is  sold. 
I  would  make  an  exception  in  favor  of  temperance  taverns,  and  I  urge 
it  upon  every  temperance  man,  upon  all  moral  men,  to  patronize  tem- 
ferance  taverns  wherever  they  can  be  found.  I  never  go  to  any  other 
when  there  is  one  in  the  place,  and  I  am  sometimes  almost  tempted  even 
to  solicit  entertainment  in  private  families,  rather  than  to  put  up  at  a 
liquor-selling  house  however  "respectable." 

My  brother  urges  that  taverns  should  be  supported  at  public  ex- 
pense, as  we  support  a  minister,  for  example,  so  that  they  may  not  be 
allowsd  to  sell  liquor.  He  argues,  that  we  properly  pay  taxes  to  sup- 
port the  poor ;  that  these  poor  are  almost  all  made  by  taverns  ;  and 
that  we  should  be  gainers  by  supporting  taverns  at  public  expense 
rather  than  the  poor  made  by  these  taverns.  That  they  are  a  great 
public  curse,  cannot  be  questioned.  That  we  can  do  without  them,  1 
fully  believe.  Quakers  make  perfectly  free  to  call  on  each  other  for 
entertainment  wherever  they  are.  I  doubt  not  they  call  it  a  great 
privilege  both  to  entertain  each  other,  though  perfect  strangers,  and 
certainly  it  is  most  grateful  to  be  thus  entertained.  Let  us  all  mani- 
fest the  quaker  spirit,  and  we  shall  rid  our  land  of  its  most  blighting 

*  Swearing  is  unquestionably  a  great  sin,  not  so  much  against  Gcd,  as  ihe 
swearer.  If,  as  is  often,  perhaps  usually,  the  case,  it  is  mainly  the  dialect  of  an- 
ger and  blackguardism,  it  simply  shows  the  disposition  of  the  one  who  swears,  and 
tends  to  increase  his  rough,  wrathful,  state  of  mind.  If  it  has  become  habitual,  it 
shows  that  these  feelings  are  habitual,  and  indicates  permanent  depravity.  It  also 
tends  to  increase  these  unhappy  feelings  in  the  minds  of  those  who  hear  it. 
Swearing  before  children  is  very  bad ;  because  all  children  will  imitate,  and  by  imi- 
tating the  language  of  swearers,  they  soon  come  to  feel  the  accompanying  feel- 
ing, and  thus  grow  up  under  the  dominion  of  the  propensities.  I  put  swearing  up- 
on the  ground  of  the  injury  it  does  to  the  swearer  and  to  the  community,  rather 
than  on  its  being  an  offence  against  God.     It  also  indicates  vulgarity. 


132  BENEVOLENCE. DOING  GOOD.  287 

sirocco — public  houses — and  both  give  and  receive  a  vast  amount  of 
pleasure.  This  doctrine  is  correct  in  theory,  and  beautiful  in  practice, 
and  I  hereby  extend  the  rites  of  hospitality  to  all  who  may  chance  to 
pass  my  door,*  and  want  victuals  or  lodging,  as  free  as  the  air  we 
breathe.  By  this  means,  vast  accessions  of  knowledge  would  be  de- 
rived by  that  interchange  of  views,  experience,  feelings,  &c.,  conse- 
quet  thereon.  Acquaintances  would  be  extended,  friends  multiplied, 
and  society  linked  together  by  the  strongest  of  bonds.  In  short,  it  is 
impossible  to  count  or  estimate  the  blessings  that  would  grow  on  this 
tree  of  the  nature  of  man. 

Another  illustration  of  the  beneficial  effects  of  exercising  benevo 
lence,  is  to  be  found  in  providing  for  the  poor.  The  way  they  are 
now  supported,  almost  entirely  precludes  the  exercise  of  this  faculty. 
This  should  not  be.  I  doubt  whether  there  need  ever  be  any 
poor.  To  do  away  with  taverns  alone  would  obviate  probably  two 
thirds  of  their  number.  And  most  of  the  balance  would  never  be- 
come poor  but  for  this  grasping  love  of  money  which  actuates  all 
classes,  and  hoards  immense  wealth  in  the  hands  of  the  few,  and 
thereby  ever  over-reaches  the  many.  Property  is  only  another  name 
for  the  necessaries  and  comforts  of  life.  Now  it  is  plain,  that  if  a  few 
have  a  great  amount  of  them,  the  many  must  be  proportionally  de- 
prived thereof.  I  believe  it  wrong  to  become  very  rich,  and  that  it 
should  be  prohibited  by  law,  just  as  w^e  prohibit  other  things  that  in- 
jure the  public. 

Especially,  if  we  give  the  poor  an  opportunity  to  help  themselves, 
nearly  all  would  embrace  it.  To  be  supported  at  public  expense,  is 
most  humiliating.  How  many  poor  widows  have  worked  themselves 
into  their  graves  to  support  a  starving  family,  rather  than  to  go  upon 
the  town !  Reader,  writer !  how  would  you  like  to  go  to  the  jpoor- 
house  ?  But,  when  poor,  and  needing  help,  if  some  more  fortunate  neigh- 
bor would  give  you  an  opportunity  to  help  yourself,  to  till  land,  or  to 
do  other  work,  how  would  your  lightened  heart  leap  for  joy  !  The 
prettiest  way  to  help  a  poor  neighbor  is  to  employ  him,  and  to  give 
him  ample,  bountiful  if  you  please,  wages. 

A  story : — A  fortunate,  but  benevolent  man,  had  a  poor  colored 
neighbor  too  infirm  to  do  much,  but  very  deserving.  The  former 
would  sell  to  the  latter,  but  postpone  the  reception  of  pay,  or  tell  him 
that  he  would  give  him  a  certain  sum  per  capot  'for  whatever  tares 

*  Three  miles  north  of  Fishkill  village,  on  the  road  to  Ponghkeepsie,  Dutchess 
county,  N.  Y.     I  call  it  "  The  Bird's  Nest." 


288  HOW  TO  EXERCISE  BENEVOLENCE.  133 

or  vermin  he  wished  exterminated ;  say,  a  round  sum  for  the  head  of 
every  crow,  or  squirrel,  or  muskrat,  (fee,  or  for  every  thistle-root,  or 
dock-root,  <fec.  In  this  way,  the  poor  man  nominally  faid  for  what 
he  had,  so  as  to  be  relieved  from  that  oppressive  feeling  of  obligation 
and  dependence  that  always  accompanies  the  reception  of  gifts,  and 
yet  was  as  much  benefited  as  though  he  had  not  paid  a  cent.  Thou 
sands  of  ways  which  every  reader  can  devise  for  himself,  may  be 
contrived  in  which  to  bestow  charity  and  yet  relieve  the  recipient  from 
all  feelings  of  obligation. 

Making  christmas,  new-year,  and  other  holiday  presents,  furnishes 
another  delightful  exercise  of  this  faculty.  Phrenology  recommends 
it  most  cordially,  and  also  the  general  interchange  of  neighborly  acts. 
Thus :  "  neighbor  A.  come  over  into  my  orchard  whenever  you  like  and 
help  yourself  to  such  apples,  pears,  plums,  cherries,  peaches,  and  the 
like  as  you  please."  •'  Thank  you,  neighbor,  I  will  avail  myself  of  your 
kind  offer.  I  have  a  fine  lot  of  currents,  more,  probably,  than  will  be 
wanted.  Come  over  or  send  any  of  your  folks,  and  pick  what  you 
like.  My  grapes  come  on  finely,  and  when  ripe,  make  free  to  pick 
what  you  want."  Or,  as  you  pick  a  fine  watermellon  for  your  din- 
ner, send  one  in  to  your  neighbor,  or  a  dish  of  fruit,  or  a  quarter  of 
veal,  or  a  few  pounds  of  butter,  or  a  large  loaf  of  cake,  or  what- 
ever you  can  conveniently  spare.  Neighbors  should  not  count  dollars 
and  cents  as  often  as  they  now  do  ;   nor  as  many  thousands. 

My  uncle  and  my  father,  living  on  adjoining  farms,  were  in  the  habit 
of"  changing  works,"  whenever  either  needed  help  and  the  other  could 
spare  it.  If  either  had  a  lot  of  hay  down  and  needed  help,  and  the 
other  was  not  driven  with  work,  they  would  both  turn  too  and  help 
each  other  ;  and  so  in  reference  to  grain,  or  hoeing,  or  ploughing — 
every  thing  that  seemed  to  require  it ;  neither  ever  thinking  of  keep- 
ing any  account,  or  putting  the  matter  on  the  ground  of  debt  or  credit, 
but  on  that  of  neighborly  accommodation.  Nor  did  I  ever  hear  a 
word  of  complaint  from  either,  that  the  other  had  not  helped  his  part, 
or  any  thing  of  this  kind.  So  that  neighbors  can  interchange  these 
acts  of  kindness  greatly  to  the  accommodation  of  each  other,  and  with- 
out any  thing  to  mar  the  good  resulting  therefrom. 

Again.  Many  more  things  should  be  regarded  as  common  prop- 
erty than  now  are.  Say,  let  every  town  own  considerable  public 
ground,  on  which  any  who  pleased  are  allowed  to  raise  potatoes,  or 
corn,  or  what  they  like  or  need.  So,  also,  let  there  be  much  more 
public  spirit  than  now  exists.  Let  every  town  have  its  pleasure  park, 
full  of  fruit  and  ornamental  trees,  the  fruit  of  which  shall  be  common 


134        .   THE  DUTY  AND  PLEASURE  OF  DOING  GOOD.  289 

property,  and  where  the  whole  town  may  congregate,  say  at  sunset  for 
recreation  and  an  interchange  of  good  feeling — where  our  youth  may 
meet  for  play,  where  our  boys  may  drive  the  ball,  our  girls  the  hoop, 
our  maidens  take  the  fresh  air,  and  give  vent  to  their  youthful,  buoy- 
ant, sportive,  merry,  happy  feelings.  There  is  no  telling  how  much 
pleasure,  profit,  might  be  derived  from  such  an  arrangement. 

Analogous  to  this  would  be  that  of  lining  our  roads  with  fruit  trees 
of  all  kinds.  Let  the  inhabitants  of  any  town,  of  all  our  towns,  save 
the  pits  and  seeds  of  all  the  fruit  eaten  in  but  a  single  year,  and  plant 
them  by  the  way-side,  and  then  graft  them  with  the  very  best  of  fruits 
when  old  enough,  and  what  vast  quantities  of  fruits  would  they  pro- 
duce in  twenty  years,  sufficient  to  supply  every  family  in  town,  and 
thousands  to  spare.  The  poor  could  pick  and  sell  to  our  cities,  and 
thus  live  comfortably,  or  at  least  be  relieved  from  pinching  want. 
What  a  vast  blessing  might  be  conferred  on  coming  ages  by  a  little 
pains  on  the  part  of  a  few.  For  one,  I  shall  line  the  road  that  passes 
across  my  little  farm  in  this  manner,  pro  bono  publico,  and  persuade 
all  I  can  to  do  the  same.  Let  all  the  believers  in  Phrenology  do  this, 
and  long  would  posterity  extol  that  science  which  prompted  so  wise, 
so  philanthropic  a  deed. 

If  it  be  objected,  that  in  this  case,  each,  eager  to  get  his  share,  or 
perhaps  all  he  can,  will  scramble  for  it  before  it  is  ripe,  I  answer, 
Have  enough  for  all.  If  it  be  further  objected,  that  the  cattle  will 
browse  off  the  trees,  I  reply.  Still,  the  trees  will  get  above  them,  gra- 
dually to  be  sure,  but  ultimately.  Or,  they  may  be  protected  till  above 
their  reach.  Or  a  town  ordinance  might  easily  exclude  them  from 
the  streets. 

An  additional  motive  for  moving  in  this  good  cause,  is  to  be  found 
in  the  fact,  that  bread  and  fruit  are  the  two  main  supporters  of  ani- 
mal life,  or  at  least,  the  best.  Bread  is  emphatically  the  staff  of  life — 
the  very  best  article  of  diet  that  our  earth  produces.  Fruit  is  most 
wholesome,  besides  being  so  very  delicious.  But  it  is  the  two  unittd 
which  constitutes  the  diet  for  man.  A  meal  made  of  good  home-made 
bread  manufactured  of  flour  not  killed  in  being  ground  and  bolted, 
eaten  with  first-rate  apples,  either  raw,  or  baked,  or  stewed,  or  made 
into  sauce,  is  the  most  palatable,  the  most  wholesome,  that  can  possi- 
bly be  eaten.  Few  are  aware  of  the  fact,  that  a  meal  of  this  kind 
gives  more  gustatory  pleasure  in  eating  than  a  meal  made  up  of  any 
other  sort  of  food.  Fruit  should  always  be  eaten  with  meals,  and  as 
a  fart  of  them.  The  juice  of  fruit,  either  boiled  down  into  a  jelly, 
and  eaten  on  bread  in  place  of  butter,  or  the  juice  of  fruit  with  bread 


290       BENEVOLENCE  SHOULD  BE  EXERCISED  PROPERLY.        135 

crumbled  into  it,  and  eaten  as  we  eat  bread  and  milk,  is  most  delicious, 
most  wholesome.  No  better  article  of  diet  can  be  had.  Butter  is  most 
injurious.  A  poor  family  need  not  starve,  if  they  can  get  nothing  else, 
especially  if  they  had  some  handy  press  for  mashing  and  pressing 
the  fruit,  say  every  day  or,  two,  as  it  is  wanted  for  use,  so  that  it 
need  not  ferment-.  The  juice  of  all  fruit  after  fermentation  has  taken 
place,  is  most  injurious.  But  apples  can  easily  be  kept  till  straw- 
berries are  ripe.  Cherries,  blackberries,  currants,  &c.,  last  till  early 
apples  and  peaches  come  again,  and  thus  nature  has  so  arranged,  it 
that  Ave  may  have  fruit  the  year  round.  Has  the  reader  never  ob- 
served how  loholesome  and  palatable  strawberries  are  to  the  sick,  es- 
pecially to  consumptive  patients  ?  And  if  I  had  a  consumptive  patient 
in  the  strawberry  season,  I  should  order  as  many  as  the  patient  pleas- 
ed to  eat.  I  should  not  only  prescribe  them  in  place  of  medicine,  but 
as  medicine.  They  will  even  effect  cures  where  medicine  will  not. 
The  diet  above  recommended,  would  prevent  most  our  of  sickness,  by 
which  so  many  are  made  poor,  and  would  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten 
restore  health. 

An  arrangement  for  raising  abundance  of  bread-stuff  might  easily 
be  made,  or  in  its  absence,  potatoes,  easily  raised  in  any  abundance, 
might  be  substituted,  and  thus  the  poor  be  relieved. 

Besides,  there  is  such  a  thing  as  saving  at  the  spigot,  but  letting  it 
run  out  at  the  bung — as  giving  to  the  poor  by  littles,  and'  yet  allow- 
ing causes  to  remain  in  action — to  even  augment — which  increase 
poverty  by  wholesale.  Giving  a  shilling  here,  a  dollar  there,  five 
dollars  yonder,  &.c.,  may  do  a  moiety  of  good  ;  but  one  well  directed 
effort  to  obviate  the  cause  of  human  suffering,  will  be  productive  of  great- 
er results  than  thousands  of  acts  of  individual  charity.  For  one,  let  my 
happy  lot  be  to  espy  and  point  out  these  causes — to  cut  away  at  the 
root  of  this  fruitful  tree  of  human  suffering,  and  "  dig  about  and  dung" 
the  tree  of  humanity. 

Bearing  on  a  kindred  point,  my  brother,  in  his  lecture  on  the  mo- 
ral bearings  of  Phrenology,  makes  some  excellent  remarks  on  the 
proper  exercise  of  this  faculty ;  in  illustration  of  which  he  tells  the 
following  story  : — A  medical  student  from  the  south,  in  going  from 
New- York  city  to  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  gave  aivay,  in  the  form  of  treats 
mainly,  seventy  dollars — all  he  had  ;  so  that  he  not  had  enough  to  pay 
his  fare  the  last  part  of  the  way.  Though  he  was  so  very  generous, 
yet  his  liberality  did  more  harm  than  good.  He  says,  and  with  pro- 
priety, that  men  have  yet  to  learn  how  to  do  good.  In  other  words  : 
there  is  much  more  benevolence  in  the  world  than  is  exercised  pro- 


136  VIOLATIONS    OF   BENEVOLENCE.  291 

perly*  To  be  effective,  it  must  always  be  governed  by  intellect,  and 
blend  with  all  the  other  moral  sentiments. 

We  cannot  be  too  careful  how  we  occasion  pain  to  our  fellow-men, 
or  even  to  brutes.  We  cannot  be  too  assiduous  to  promote  their  hap- 
piness. We  can  never  exercise  enough  of  the  kindly  spirit,  of  good 
feeling,  of  gushing  benevolence,  in  expression,  in  action.  Let  all  who 
are  at  all  affected  by  us,  be  the  worse  in  nothing,  be  the  better  in  many 
things,  on  our  account. 

The  reader  must  excuse  another  quotation  or  two  from  Education 
and  Self-Improvement.  They  are  made  because  the  ideas  there  pre- 
sented require  to  be  inserted  in  this  connexion,  and  because  they  might 
not  gain  by  recomposition. 

"  It  should  be  added  that  the  killing  of  animals,  is  directly  calcu- 
lated to  sear  and  weaken  this  faculty ;  and  should  therefore  rarely 
take  place.  Were  a  flesh  diet  productive  of  no  other  evil  consequences 
than  lowering  down  and  hardening  benevolence,  that  alone  should 
forever  annihilate  so  barbarous  a  practice.*  Destructiveness  should 
seldom  be  allowed  to  conflict  with  benevolence.  The  cruelties  prac- 
ticed upon  our  animals  that  are  slaughtered  for  the  meat  market,  are 
sickening  and  incredible.  See  the  poor  calves,  sheep,  &c.,  tumbled 
together  in  the  smallest  possible  space ;  their  limbs  tied  ;  unfed,  bel- 
lowing continually,  and  in  a  most  piteous  tone,  their  eyes  rolled  up  in 
agony,  taken  to  the  slaughter-house,  and  whipped,  or  rather  pelted 
by  the  hour  with  a  most  torturing  instrument,  and  then  strung  up  hy 
the  hind  legs,  a  vein  opened,  and  they  dying  by  inches  from  the  gra- 
dual loss  of  blood,  the  unnatural  suspension,  and  cruel  pelting — and 
all  to  make  their  meat  white  and  tender.  A  friend  of  the  author, 
who  lived  near  one  of  those  places  of  torment,  blood,  and  stench,  had 
his  Benevolence,  naturally  very  large,  wrought  up  to  its  highest  pitch 
of  action,  by  the  horrid  groans  and  piteous  exclamations  of  these 
dying  animals,  and  was  compelled  to  hear  the  blows  with  which  they 
were  beaten.  At  last  he  went  to  the  butcher  and  remonstrated.  This 
produced  no  effect.  He  went  again  and  threatened  him,  telling  him 
that  if  he  heard  another  groan  from  dying  animals,  he  would  make 
him  groan,  and  in  so  positive  a  manner  that  the  cruelties  were  aban- 
doned. To  kill  animals  outright,  is  horrible,  but  words  are  inadequate 
to  express  the  enormity  of  the  refined  cruelty  now  generally  practiced 

*  My  brother's  lecture  on  the  moral  bearings  of  Phrenology,  is  sweet,  lovely, 
beyond  almost  any  thing  else  I  ever  heard  fall  from  the  lips  of  man.  Its 
amalgamation  with  this  work  would  greatly  enhance'its  value.  As  yet,  he  has 
been  unable  to  present  it  to  the  public  in  a  printed  form. 

t  A  young  lady  of  high  moral  feelings,  and  predominant  benevolence,  seeing 
a  calf  led  to  the  slaughter,  urged  and  pleaded  with  her  father  to  purchase  it 
and  spare  its  life.  He  did  so.  She  never  allows  herself  to  eat  anything  that 
has  ever  had  life  in  it,  and  this  is  right. 


292  KILLING   OF   ANIMALS BARBAROUS   PRACTICES.  137 

upon  helpless  dumb  beasts  by  these  murderers  of  the  brute  creation. 
Look  at  the  hideous  and  indescribably  painful  expression  left  on  the 
heads  of  calves,  sheep,  hogs,  &c.,  that  we  see  in  market,  or  see  tum- 
bled into  a  cart  for  the  glue  manufacturer." 

Allow  a  short  argument  in  reference  to  flesh  eating.  It  is  a  clearly 
established  principle  of  Phrenology,  that  no  one  faculty  should  ever 
be  so  exercised  as  to  conflict  with  the  leigtimate  function  of  any 
other  ;  and  that,  wherever  the  exercise  of  two  or  more  do  thus  come 
in  contact,-  one  of  them  is  wrongly  exercised.  Is  not  this  principle 
too  self-evident  to  require  argument,  and  too  plain  even  to  require 
illustration  ?  But  if  either  is  wanted^  the  reader  is  referred  to  "  Edu- 
cation," p.  157.  Now  sympathy  for  distress  is  one  of  the  normal 
functions  of  benevolence.  So  is  that  pain  consequent  on  witnessing 
distress  which  cannot  be  relieved,  or  beholding  death,  or  the  killing 
of  animals.  In  short,  to  kill  animals  without  wounding  benevolence 
— without  cruelly  tormenting  it — is  utterly  impossible.  Nothing  but 
killing  human  beings  is  equally  painful.  And  now  I  submit  to  every 
reflecting  mind,  whether  it  is  possible  to  butcher  animals  for  food 
without  thus  calling  benevolence  into  painful  action  ?  But  this  pain- 
ful action  of  any  organ,  and  especially  of  so  high  an  organ,  is  wrong. 
Therefore  is  the  killing  of  animals  wrong.  Or  thus :  The  exercise 
of  destructiveness,  in  killing  animals  for  the  table,  necessarily  comes 
in  direct  and  powerful  conflict  with  the  normal  function  of  benevo- 
lence. This  quarrelling  of  the  faculties  gives  us  pain,  and  is  there- 
fere  wrong.  Hence,  meat  as  an  article  of  diet  conflicts  with  the  na- 
ture of  man. 

Now;  since  the  killing  of  animals  violates  the  nature  of  man,  some 
great  evil  must  grow  out  of  it ;  for  we  cannot  break  nature's  laws, 
without  experiencing  pain,  and  that  too  in  the  direct  line  of  the  trans- 
gression.* And  I  think  it  would  not  be  difficult  to  show  loherein — 
HOW — flesh  eating  punishes  the  transgressor.  But  as  diatetics  do 
not  come  within  the  sphere  of  this  work,  having  stated  the  principle, 
I  leave  it,  for  the  present  at  least. 

"Another  barbarous  practice  against  which  Phrenology  loudly 
exclaims,  is  shooting  birds.  This  is,  if  possible,  still  worse,  especially 
when  the  little  warblers  are  of  no  service  after  being  killed.  To  kill 
them  suddenly  by  a  shot,  is  not  particularly  barbarous,  because  they 
suffer  little,  and  only  lose  the  pleasure  of  living ;  but  to  kill  them 
from  the  love  of  killing,  must  harden  the  heart  and  sear  benevolence 
beyond  measure.     Its  influence  on  the  cruel  perpetrator,  is  the  main 

*  See  Education,  p.  21. 


138  THE   PRINCIPLE   OF   GIVING    TO   PROMOTE   RELIGION.  293 

motive  I  urge.  Another  motive  is,  do  not  kill  birds  of  song  ;  for  you 
thereby  deprive  your  fellow-men  of  the  great  amount  of  pleasure  de- 
rived from  listening  to  their  warblings.  And  then  again,  they  feed 
on  wonns  and  insects,  and  thereby  preserve  vegetation.  I  doubt  not 
but  much  of  that  destruction  of  wheat,  of  late  so  general  and  fatal  to 
the  wheat  crop,  would  be  prevented  by  an  abundance  and  variety  of 
birds.  In  other  Avords,  take  heed  to  the  monitions  of  benevolence, 
and  commit  no  cruelties,  but  scatter  happiness  in  all  your  path,  and 
you  will  be  the  happier,  and  greatly  augment  the  happiness  of  all 
concerned." 

The  exercise  of  benevolence  in  connection  with  veneration,  is 
•par  excellence*  a  doctrine  of  Phrenology,  as  it  also  is  of  the  Bible. 
To  do  good  is  our  duty,  our  privilege  ;  but  to  do  good  by  promoting 
the  cause  of  morality  and  virtue,  is  one  of  our  highest  moral  duties — 
one  of  our  greatest  personal  pleasures.  We  should  try  to  make  our 
fellow-men  happier  by  making  them  better, — should  seek  their  spiri- 
tual good  more,  even  than  their  temporal.  This  is  the  very  highest 
exercise  of  benevolence,  which  is  one  of  the  largest  organs  and  high- 
est faculties  of  man.  This  principle  is  plain  in  its  application,  and 
yet  multifarious. 

"  Above  all  things,  this  enlarged  kindness  is  the  duty  and  privilege 
of  Christianity.  But  do  professors  live  up  to  this  law  of  their  Lord 
and  Master,  who  "went  about  doing  good.'"  They,  of  all  others, 
should  not  go  about  with  their  gold  spectacles,  riding  in  their  splen- 
did carriages,  living  in  palaces,  furnished  after  the  manner  of  princes,' 
and  then  begging  money  to  spread  the  gospel  among  the  heatheji. 
Away  with  your  proud  Christianity  (?) — your  aristocratical  Chris- 
tianity, your  I-am-better-than-thou — because-I-am-rich — Christianity  ; 
your  money-making  and  money-hoarding  or  miserly  Christianity. 
As  well  talk  about  hot  ice,  or  cold  fire,  or  honest  rascality,  as  talk 
about  o'ich  Christians,  fashionably  dressed  Christians,  or  Christians 
who  do  not  spend  their  all,  their  time,  property,  energies,  and  life, 
in  doing  good,  and  in  the  exercise  of  the  sentiments,  f 

Remarks  on  missionary  operations  would  be  in  place  here.  The 
principle  of  giving,  to  promote  religion.  Phrenology  demonstrates — 
enforces.  But  it  sees  much  in  these  foreign  and  domestic  missionary 
societies  to  censure.  Still,  every  reader  can  judge  for  himselt  as  well 
as  others  can  for  him,  when  he  knows  as  much  about  them. 
Those  missionaries  who  have  left  the  American  Board,  have  not  done 
so  wholly  without  cause.  That  Board  dictates  quite  too  much.  Be- 
sides ;  it  was  established,  and  is  now  conducted,  to  propagate  secta- 
rianism, as  much,  perhaps,  as  any  thing  else.     If  Phrenologists  would 

*  Pre-eminently.  t  Education  and  Self-Improvement. 


294  CULTIVATE   KINDLY   FEELINGS.  139 

form  a  society,  to  send  out  missionaries  to  teach  Phrenology  simply, 
"  without  note  or  comment,"  more  good  and  less  harm  would  be  the 
result ;  for  not  even  the  heathen  could  long  know  how  to  find  the 
organs,  without  moralizing  thereon,  and  deducing  inferences  as  to 
how  we  should  live,  the  nature  of  man,  and  the  opinions  and  conduct 
that  harmonize  therewith,  and  are  therefore  right,  &c.  If  the  Ame- 
rican Board  would  introduce  fura  Christianity,  they  would  do  im- 
mense good.  But  they  propagate  a  strange  mixture  of  truth  and  error, 
along  with  those  false  tastes  and  habits  of  civilized,  artificial,  unnatu- 
ral life,  which  cannot  fail  to  do  more  harm  than  their  mongrel  Chris- 
tianity will  do  good.  In  these  views,  very  many  excellent  religious 
men  concur ;  and  more  would  do  so  if  they  knew  more,  and  were 
deceived  less. 

Much  as  might  be  said  upon  this  faculty,  we  will  dismiss  it  with 
the  remark,  that  the  kindly,  benevolent  spirit  just  commended,  would 
do  more  to  banish  crime  than  all  the  laws,  lawyers,  courts,  civil  officers, 
jails,  prisons,  penitentiaries  and  executions  on  earth.  The  punish- 
ment of  crime  will  be  treated  under  Conscienciousness.  Its  preven- 
tion is  infinitely  better,  and  can  be  effected  by  kindness  and  philan- 
thropy, a  thousand  times  more  effectually  than  by  all  the  means  now 
in  operation.  Let  criminals  discover  a  kindly  spirit  in  the  commu- 
nity as  a  whole,  and  they  could  not  have  a  heart  to  commit  offences 
against  its  laws  or  its  happiness.  Kindness  will  kill  enmity ;  will 
kill  lawlessness  ;  will  kill  the  revengeful  spirit,  and  implant  the  same 
good  feeling  in  the  souls  of  those  who  otherwise  would  be  pests  to 
society. 

Let  us  all,  then,  cultivate  the  kindly.  Let  it  shine  ibrth  in  all  we 
say,  in  all  we  do,  in  all  we  feel.  Harshness,  severity,  invective,  are 
not  Phrenology, — are  not  Christianity, — are  the  ascendancy  of  the 
propensities  over  benevolence,  which  is  forbidden  by  the  Bible, — for- 
bidden by  Phrenology.  It  intercepts  our  own  happiness  ; — it  does 
not  promote  that  of  our  fellow-men.  The  laio  of  love  is  the  law  of 
the  nature  of  man, — the  law  of  Christ.  The  mantle  of  charity  cov- 
ereth  a  multitude  of  sins.  It  will  hide  our  sins  from  others.  It  will 
hide  the  sins  of  others  from  us.  It  will  put  the  best  construction  on 
their  errors,  not  the  worst.  It  is  the  greatest  of  the  Christian  virtues. 
It  is  the  distinguishing  feature  of  all  the  works  of  God.  To  promote 
happiness  is  the  end  of  creation.  And  shall  not  xve  do  by  others  as 
.God  has  done  by  us  ?  Shall  we  not  evince  our  gratitude  for  the  con- 
tinual shower  of  blessings  he  is  pouring  out  upon  us,  by  doing  what 
we  can  to  promote  the  happiness  of  others  ?    Infinite  are  our  own 


140  CONSCIENTIOUSNESS. ITS    ANALYSIS    AND   BEARINGS.  295 

capacities  for  enjoyment,  and  God  does  continually  all  that  a  God  can 
do,  to  fill  them  to  the  full,  Let  us  imitate  our  Heavenly  Father  in 
this  labor  of  love.  Let  us  second  his  great  design  in  creation  ;  for  in 
so  doing,  we  shall  be  co-workers  with  God,  be  even  like  God.  Glo- 
rious, this  opportunity  of  doing  good.  Let  every  day,  every  hour,  find 
us  employed  in  this  great  work — the  work  of  God — ^the  work  of  man ! 


CHAPTER  YI. 

CONSCIENTIOUSNESS— ITS  ANALYSIS  AND  BEARINGS. 

SECTION  I. 

CONSCIENCE   INNATE. 

Innate  sense  of  moral  accountability ;  integrity  of  motive ;  perception  of  right 
and  wrong,  and  feeling  that  right  is  rewardable,  and  wrong  punishable; 
sense  of  moral  obligation ;  love  of  justice,  truth,  and  right,  as  such  ;  regard 
for  duty,  promises,  &c. ;  desire  for  moral  purity,  and  blamelessuess  of  con- 
duct :  that  internal  moral  monitor  which  approves  the  right,  and  condemns 
thewi-ong;  gratitude  for  favors ;  sense  of  guilt ;  penitence  for  sin ;  contrition; 
desire  to  reform ;  disposition  to  forgive  the  penitent. 

"  Thrice  armed  is  he  who  hath  his  quarrel  just." — Shak. 

So  constituted  is  the  human  mind,  that  it  regards — ^that  it  cannot 
but  regard — most  of  our  feelings,  actions,  expressions,  conduct — that 
we  do  and  say,  or  are  capable  of  doing  and  saying — as  either  right 
or  WRONG.  True,  it  regards  some  things  as  destitute  of  moral  charac- 
ter, because  done  without  motive,  or  by  accident,  or  prompted  by  de- 
rangement, &c. :  but  these  form  so  small  a  portion  of  their  aggregate 
as  to  deserve  mention  merely.  As  we  look  upon  some  things  as  re- 
putable, and  others  as  disgraceful;  upon  some  as  dangerous,  and 
others  as  safe ;  upon  some  as  beautiful,  and  others  as  deformed ;  some 
as  past,  others  as  present ;  some  as  ludicrous,  others  as  serious ;  some 
as  causes,  others  as  effects,  &c. ;  so  we  consider — cannot  help  consi- 
dering— most  that  we  do,  say,  feel,  as  right  or  wrong ;  and  that  per  se 
— on  its  own  account,  and  in  its  very  nature  and  constitution.  Desti- 
tute of  this  faculty,  the  soul  of  man  would  be  wanting  in  its  brightest 
jewel,  its  crowning  excellence.  Let  a  human  being  be  endowed  with 
the  talents  of  a  Webster,  a  Franklin,  a  Bacon,  but  be  destitute  of  mo- 


296  CONSCIENCE   INNATE.  141 

ral  principle,  he  deserves  but  contempt ;  for  he  employs  them  to  fur- 
ther what  is  wrong  as  soon  as  what  is  right ;  to  serve  his  propensities, 
to  injure  mankind,  to  augment  his  own  sinfulness  and  misery.  'How 
changed  !  when  those  talents  are  governed  by  high-toned  moral  prin- 
ciple— are  employed  to  subserve  the  cause  of  justice ;  to  oppose  Avhat- 
ever  is  wrong,  and  urge  on  what  is  right !  Hoav  infinitely  more  ex- 
alted the  character,  more  beneficial  the  conduct ! 

Not  only  do  these  perceptions  and  feelings  of  right  and  wrong  ex- 
ist, but  they  are  innate.  Not  creatures  of  education.  Not  fitful,  but 
permanent.  In-wrought  into  the  verj^  nature  and  constitution  of  the 
human  soul,  and  forming  a  prominent  department  thereof  Pervad- 
ing, and  almost  governing,  the  whole  human  family,  in  all  condi- 
tions and  countries,  in  all  past  ages,  in  all  coming  time.  Man  feels 
it,  and  knows  it,  that  there  is  a  right  and  a  wrong  in  the  very  nature 
and  constitution  of  things. 

And  not  only  are  these  feelings  constitutional,  but  man  intuitively 
feels  that  the  right  must  govern,  and  the  wrong  be  discarded.  Nor  is 
this  feeling  of  moral  obligation  a  tame,  passive  element,  that  simply 
whispers  this  moral  sentiment  gently  in  the  ears.  But  it  is  clothed  with 
authority,  and  felt  to  be  imperious.  Strong,  doubly  armed,  is  he 
whose  conscience  sanctions  all  he  does.;  but  faint  and  feeble  is  he  who 
feels  that  he  is  wrong.  Barely  able  to  hold  up  his  head,  and  power- 
less in  all  he  says  and  does.  Conscience  is  designed  to  govern.  It 
is  the  primier  of  the  human  soul,  while  all  the  other  faculties  are  but 
representatives  or  subjects.  Its  edicts  constitute  the  supreme  law  of 
the  man.     Its  prohibitions  are  imperative,  inexorable. 

The  existence  of  this  moral  sense  has  always  and  every  where 
"been  admitted,  but  its  innateness  has  long  been  a  subject  of  universal 
discussion.  Its  advocates  urge  its  innateness  from  its  universality, 
and  appeal  to  every  one  whether  he  is  not  conscious  of  its  existence  ; 
whether  his  own  soul  does  not  feel  its  internal  monitions  daily  and 
continually,  while  its  opposers  aver  that  it  is  wholly  the  creature  of 
education,  as  is  evinced  by  the  diversified  and  even  conflicting  opin- 
ions of  men  as  to  what  is  right,  arguing  that  men  think  and  practice 
in  this  matter  as  they  are  taught.  Phrenology,  however,  demons- 
trates that  man  has,  by  nature,  an  innate  faculty,  which  forms  a  part 
and  parcel  of  his  original  nature,  the  specific  function  of  which  is 
to  create  the  sentiments  of  right  and  wrong  ;  and  to  approve  the  right, 
and  condemn  the  wrong,  and  accounts  for  this  diversity  of  opinion  as 
to  right  and  wrong,  by  showing  that  men's  opinions  and  practices  as 
to  right  and  wrong  vary  as  their  phrenological  developments  difller. 


142  CONSCIENTIOUSNESS. ACCOUNTABILITY   OF   MAN.  297 

While,  therefore,  this  fact  completely  overthrows  the  doctrine  that  con- 
science is  the  creature  of  education,  it  fully  establishes  the  fact  that 
conscience  is  innate — that  every  man  has,  by  nature,  an  internal 
monitor  to  accuse  him  when  he  does  wrong,  to  approve  him  when 
he  does  right,  to  warn  him  against  committing  sin,  and  to  entice  him 
into  the  paths  of  virtue  and  happiness. 

Phrenology  even  goes  farther.  By  pointing  out  the  existence  of 
this  primary  sentiment  of  right  and  justice  in  the  soul  of  man, 
it  proves,  beyond  all  cavil  and  controversy,  the  existence  of  certain 
PRIMARY,  ABSTRACT  PRINCIPLES  of  right  and  moral  fitness,  lying  back 
in  the  very  nature  and  constitution  of  things,  and  forming  a  consti- 
tuent part  of  that  nature,  to  which  this  faculty  in  man  is  adapted. 
Under  the  head  of  veneration,  (p.  46,)  it  was  shown  that  the  existence 
of  one  thing  and  its  being  adapted  to  another,  proved  the  existence  of 
the  other.  That  same  argument,  "  mutatis  mutandis,"  or  changing 
it  from  veneration  to  conscientiousness,  shows  that  the  latter,  by  being 
adapted  to  right,  proves  the  existence  of  certain  great  and  first  prin- 
ciples of  eternal  right  and  justice,  founded  in,  and  forming  a  part  of, 
the  original  nature  and  constitution  of  things.  It  proves  that  some 
things  are  right  and  others  wrong,  in  themselves, — in  their  very  na- 
ture and  essence.  This  adaptation  of  conscientiousness  to  these  first 
principles  of  right,  is  indisputable,  and  even  demonstrative :  therefore, 
these  primary  principles  of  right  exist,  adapted  to  this  organ  in  man. 

More  and  better.  Besides  establishing  the  innateness  of  conscience 
and  the  consequent  existence  of  right  and  wrong  in  themselves, 
Phrenology  also  demonstrates  the  moral  accountability  of  man,  and, 
therefore,  that  he  is  a  fit  subject  of  rewards  and  punishments.  As 
the  existence  in  man  of  eyes,  both  constitutes  him  a  seeing  being,  and 
also  proves  him  to  be  such  : — as  the  fact  of  his  having  lungs,  both 
renders  him  a  breathing  being  and  proves  him  to  be  such  ;  the  exis- 
tence of  a  stomach,  both  makes  him  a  digesting  being,  and  proves 
conclusively  that  he  is  such ;  the  existence  of  bones  and  muscles,  a 
moving  being  ;  of  teeth,  a  masticating  being  ;  of  the  social  faculties, 
a  social  being  ;  of  the  intellectual  elements,  an  intellectual  being ;  of 
the  reasoning  faculties,  a  reasoning  being,  and  so  of  all  his  other 
primary  powers — so  the  fact  that  he  possesses  the  organ  and  faculty 
of  conscientiousness  both  constitutes  and  renders  him  a  moral  and  an 
accountable  being,  and  deserving  of  rewards  and  punishments,  at  the 
same  time  that  it  conclusively  proves  him  to  be  such.  No  proof  is 
stronger.  It  is  demonstration,  and  in  the  fullest,  strongest  sense  of 
the  term.     Proof  that  appeals  to  the  senses  is  not  stronger.     The  fact 


298  THE   PUINCirLE   OF   K.IGHT   AND   WRONG.  143 

that  mankind  exist,  is  not  more  fully,  certainly  established  by  our 
seeing  them,  than  the  truth  of  Phrenology  being  admitted,  is  the  fact 
that  man  is  a  moral,  accountable,  rewardable,  punishable  being,  ren- 
dered incontestable,  demonstration^  CEPi,TAiN.  If  required  to  prove 
that  man  was  constitutionally  a  seeing  being,  and  not  so  by  education, 
I  should  be  unwise  to  mgue  the  point,  but  simply  appeal  to  the  fact  that 
he  is  created  w'ith  eyes — a  kind  of  ad  hominem  home  proof,  which 
it  is  impossible  to  gainsay  or  resist.  The  highest  order  of  proof  that 
reason  is  innate  rather  than  taught,  is  the  fact  that  rnan  possesses  ori- 
ginal elements  of  reason.  The  human  mind  is  so  constituted  that  it 
cannot  possibly  resist  or  evade  this  kind  of  proof,  any  more  than  it 
can  resist  the  evidence  of  the  senses.  It  is,  in  fact,  proof  drawn  from 
the  senses,  and  founded  on  them ;  for  we  see  that  he  has  originally 
a  primary  organ  and  faculty  of  conscience.  We  also  see  its  workings. 
We  see  that  he  possesses  the  primary  power  of  conscience,  just  as  we 
see  that  he  possesses  the  primary  elements  of  walking  ;  and  we  also 
see  and  feel  the  v^rorkings  of  this  faculty,  just  as  we  see  and  know 
that  he  walks  and  talks.  If  his  having  feet  proves  him  to  be  a 
walking  being  ;  his  possession  of  lungs,  a  breathing  being  ;  of  a  sto- 
mach, a  nutritive  being ;  of  eyes,  a  seeing  being ;  of  causality,  a 
reasoning  being  ;  of  sexes,  a  sexual  being ;  of  benevolence,  a  humane 
being  ;  of  veneration,  a  devotional  being  ;  of  language,  a  communi- 
cative being,  then  does  the  existence  in  him  of  conscientiousness  prove 
him  to  be  a  moral,  accountable,  rewardable,  punishable  being.  Ma- 
thematical demonstration  is  not  clearer,  stronger,  more  demonstrative, 
ad  hominem,  infallible,  than  is  this  species  of  reasoning.  Indeed, 
whoever  rejects  its  conclusions,  is  incapable  of  reasoning — incapable 
of  arriving  at  any  conclusions,  or  knowing  any  thing  whatever  ;  and. 
as  such,  he  is  unworthy  of  notice. 

How  unjust,  then,  the  accusation  that  Phrenology  establishes  fatal- 
ism, when  it  overthroivs  that  doctrine,  and  establishes  the  moral  ac- 
countability of  man !  And  if  any  thing  were  wanting  to  complete 
this  argument,  the  fact  that  there  is  an  organ  of  will,  (the  lower  por- 
tion of  self-esteem,)  goes,  if  possible,  still  farther  ;  and  the  two  toge- 
ther establish  the  additional  doctrine,  not  only  that  he  is  a  moral  and 
accountable  being,  but  also  free  to  choose,  will,  decide,  and  act  for 
himself ;  which  completes  his  punishability  as  well  as  accountability. 
Those,  therefore,  who  accuse  Phrenology  of  favoring  fatalism,  are 
either  ignorant  or  bigoted.  So  far  from  it,  it  even  furnishes  this  mora! 
accountability  of  man,  to  the  Christian  already  proved — as  clearly 
demonstrated  as  any  proposition  in  geometry.     Receive  it,  then.     At 


i44  M03.AL    ACCOUNTABILITY   OF   MAN.  299 

least  stop  tnese  clamorous  imputations.  Let  it  also  be  remembered, 
that  under  the  head  of  veneration,  by  proving  the  existence  of  a  God, 
Atheism  was  proved  to  be  false  ;  of  marvellousness,  the  immateriality 
or  the  spirituahty  of  the  soul  was  proved  ;  and  of  hope,  a  future  state 
of  being  was  also  proved  to  exist.  No  refutation  of  these  objections 
can  be  more  complete,  and  even  demonstrative. 

To  every  reflecting  reader,  I  have  now  two  points  to  submit.  First, 
whether  the  innateness  of  conscience,  and  the  moral  accountability  of 
man,  has  not  been  set  completely  at  rest  by  being  demonstrated,  as  we 
would  demonstrate  that  two  and  two  make  four.  Secondly,  whether 
the  accusation  that  Phrenology  leads  to  fatalism,  is  not  most  unjust 
and  even  reprehensible ;  for  if  those  who  bring  it,  do  not  know  enough 
about  it  to  know  better,  they  know  nothing  about  it,  and  should  say 
nothing ;  but  if  they  do  icnow  better,  they  are  actually  culpable.  So 
that  whoever  brings  it,  is  censurable^  and  should  be  esteemed  the  less 
therefore.     Nor  will  it  be  long  before  this  will  be  the  case. 


SECTION  II. 

THE    NATURE   AND   RATIONALE    OF   RIGHT   AND   WRONG;    OR   THE   FOUN- 
DATION  OF    MORAL    OBLIGATION. 

Having  established  the  moral  accountability  of  man,  and  the  exis- 
tence of  FIRST  PRINCIPLES  of  right  and  wrong,  two  questions  naturally 
present  themselves  to  the  reflecting  mind.  Since  the  quality  of  right 
and  wrong  necessarily  appertain  to  our  opinions,  conduct,  expressions, 
feelings,  &c. 

First :  What  things  are  right,  and  what  wrong,  that  we  may  choose 
the  former,  but  refuse  the  latter. 

Secondly :  Why  is  that  right  which  is  right,  and  wherefore  is  that 
wrong  which  is  wrong  ?  In  what  does  this  quality  consist  ?  In  what 
fundamental  principles  is  it  based  %  What  are  the  constitutional  ele- 
onents  of  right  and  wrong ;  of  sin  and  holiness ;  of  virtue  and  vice  ? 

Though  the  first  question  naturally  comes  first,  yet  its  answer  de- 
pends upon  that  given  to  the  latter  question.  Hence,  the  last  shall  be 
discussed  first. 

In  July,  1843,  the  author  listened  to  an  able  discourse,  preached  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Culver,  of  the  Tremont  Temple,  Boston,  from  the  text ; 


300  THE   NATURE   OF   RIGHT   AND   WRONG.  145 

"  Tiiou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all 
thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  mind,*"  in  which  he  urged  that  the  com- 
mand OF  God  constituted  the  ground-work  of  right,  and  his  prohibi- 
tion, that  of  wrong  ; — ^that  the  Jews  were  commanded  on  certain  occa- 
sions, to  sacrifice  a  white  heifer,  not  because  a  white  heifer  was 
better  than  one  of  any  other  color,  not  because  there  was  any  fitness 
in  a  white  heifer  moie  than  in  others ;  but  simply,  solely  because  God 
commanded  a  white  heifer  to  be  sacrificed  ;-^-that  baptism  by  immer- 
sion was  right — not  because  there  was  any  inherent  virtue,  either  in  it 
itself,  or  in  it  more  than  in  sprinkling ;  but  simply,  wholly,  because 
Christ  commanded  it — that  we  should  love  God  supremely,  and  our 
neighbors  as  ourselves,  for  no  other  reason  whatever  than  because 
God  commanded  it; — that  a  '■'■Thus  saiih  the  Lord,"  was  what  consti- 
tuted that  right,  which  was  right, — that  wrong,  which  it  prohibited,  and 
not  the  nature  of  the  thing  commanded.  And  my  impression  is,  that 
this  is  the  doctrine  maintained  by  the  great  majority  of  ministers  and 
laymen. 

But,  from  this  doctrine  Phrenology  dissents  in  toto.  It  shows  that 
the  rightness  of  right,  and  the  wrong  of  wrong,  are  constitutional, 
being  based  in  the  very  nature  and  fitness  of  things,  without  any 
reference  to  either  command  or  prohibition  of  God  on  the  one  hand, 
or  to  the  want  of  them  on  the  other.  Suppose  it  possible  for  God  to 
command  that  which  was  wrong  in  itself; — suppose  it  wrong  in  the 
very  nature  of  things  for  a  man  to  seize  a  virgin  by  force,  carry  her 
off  by  main  strength,  and  compel  her  to  live  with  him  in  opposition 
to  her  wishes,  such  a  course  being  repugnant  to  her,  besides  sundering 
those  social  ties  that  bound  parents  to  her  and  her  to  the  home  of  her 
youth,  would  that  command  render  it  right — render  any  thing  right 
that  is  wrong  in  itself- — necessarily  constitutionally  wrong  1  I  trow 
not.  Phrenology  shows,  as  fully,  conclusively  as  it  shows  any  thing 
— and  we  have  seen  that  this  is  perfectly  dem,onstrative,  and  from 
precisely  the  same  data,  that  the  right  is  right,  and  the  wrong  is  wrong ; 
not  at  all  because  commanded  or  forbidden  by  God,  but  solely,  loholly, 
because  so  by  constitution, — ^by  nature,  in  and  of  itself,  and  without 
any  reference  whatever  to  the  commands  or  prohibitions  of  God.  If 
things  are  rendered  right  or  wrong  by  the  word  of  God  merely,  then 
are  there  many  things  which  are  right  constitutionally,  but  wrong 
in  fact ;  and  others  wrong  by  nature,  but  right  by  command  ;  while 
the  great  majority  of  our  every  day  feelings  and  doings  are  destitute 
of  all  moral  character,  because  neither  commanded  or  forbidden,  at 

*  Matt,  jcxii,  39. 


146      RIGHT   AND   MTIONG   ARE   KENDEE.ED    SO   BY    THEIR   EFFECTS.      301 

least  explicitly.  How  can  a  fiat  of  the  Bible  render  any  thing"  right 
or  wrong,  good  or  bad,  not  right  or  wrong,  good  or  bad,  in  and  of 
itself?  Is  it  possible  for  a  command  of  the  Bible  to  alter,  add  to,  ab- 
rogate, one  iota  of  the  original  constitutionality  of  right  aud  wrong  ? 
This  would  be  to  array  the  Bible  against  nature— against  even  the 
fundamentals  of  that  nature.  It  would  make  the  Bible  say,  "  Obser- 
ving this  ordinance,  is  right,  as  a  moral  duty  obligatory  upon  every 
member  of  the  human  family,  from  the  moment  of  its  institution ;  its 
neglect  wrong,  sinful,  punishable  ;"  while  the  voice  of  nature  responds  : 
"  No  such  thing.  There  is  no  right  or  wTong  about  it  either  way." 
I  caution  believers  in  the  Bible  not  to  array  it  against  nature,  for  the 
latter  will  not  yield  one  hair's  breadth  to  the  former,  and  what  is  more, 
what  is  most,  nothing  will  equally  lower  the  estimation  of  the  Bible 
in  intelligent  minds,  or  more  effectually  advance  infidelity. 

It  requires  considerable  patience  even  to  argue  a  point  so  pal- 
pably fallacious  in  itself,  and  so  directly  in  the  teeth  of  the  nature 
of  man.  The  fact  of  the  existence  of  the  faculty  of  conscientiousness 
as  an  innate,  primary  element  of  the  human  mind,  proves  both  the 
existence  of  right  and  wrong,  and  also  their  constitutionality — ^that 
they  are  so  of  necessity  and  in  their  own  inherent  nature^  not  by  the 
requirements  of  the  Scriptures.  Though  the  Deity  commands  us  to 
do  what  is  right,  and  forbids  us  to  do  what  is  wrong  ;  yet,  things  are 
right  and  wrong  in  and  of  themselves  and  prior  to  all  command, 
independently  of  all  prohibition.  Phrenology  demonstrates  this  point 
in  and  with  its  demonstration  of  the  existence  of  conscience.  The 
two  necessarily  go  together.  They  can  never  be  separated  without 
doing  violence. 

To  argue  the  point,  that  things  are  often  rendered  right  or  wrong 
by  legislation^  by  Zaw,  &c.,  such  as  that  hanging  is  right  when  it  is 
legal^  and  because  of  its  legality, — ^because  we  are  commanded  to 
obey  our  rulers,  &c.,  is  folly ;  for  he  whose  conscience  is  so  weak  as 
to  imbibe  such  a  doctrine  has  not  sufficient  conscience  to  yield  assent 
to  the  right  when  he  knows  it.  And  yet,  there  are  those,  and  those 
too  who  have  considerable  influence,  weak  enough,  intellectually  as 
well  as  morally,  to  advocate  a  doctrine  that  strips  right  of  all  its  high 
and  holy  sanctions,  and  makes  it  a  mere  thing — a  mere  play-thing, 
even — with  which  mortals  may  tamper  and  even  sport — a  perfect 
weather-vane,  shifting  continually  with  every  shift  of  legislation,  how- 
ever corrupt. 

But,  to  the  point :  Why  is  the  right,  right  ?  Wherefore  is  the  ;wrong, 
wrong?     I  answer:  They  are  rendered  so  by  their  consequences — ^by 


302  HAPPINESS  IS  THE  OBJECT  OP   MAN's  CREATION.  147 

their  effects  on  the  happiness  and  the  misery  of  ourselves  and  others. 
This  is  rendered  evident,  by  that  fundamental  principle  on  which 
every  department  of  the  nature  of  man  proceeds.  That  principle  is 
happiness.  I  will  not  here  illustrate  this  doctrine  in  detail.  The 
reader  will  find  it  run  out  in  part  in  the  few  first  pages  of  "  Education 
and  Self-Improvement."  It  is  there  shown,  that  the  fundamental  basis 
of  the  nature  of  man — the  only  end,  object,  function,  and  entire  con- 
stitution of  every  organ  of  the  body,  every  faculty  of  the  mind,  every 
element  of  our  nature,  is  happiness^  all  happiness,  and  nothing  but 
happiness.  As  this  is  an  important  point,  the  reader  must  pardon  an- 
other quotation  from  "Education  and  Self-Improvement,"  p.  13,  in 
which  this  fundamental  principle  is,  perhaps,  expressed  better  than  it 
could  be  if  re- written. 

''  That  Happiness  is  the  sole  object  of  Man's  creation,  is  rendered 
evident  by  its  being  the  only  legitimate  product  of  every  organ  of  his 
body,  of  every  faculty  of  his  mind,  of  every  element  of  his  nature. 
What  but  happiness  is  the  end  sought  and  obtained  in  the  creation  of 
every  bone,  of  every  joint,  of  every  muscle? — happiness  in  their  exer- 
cise, happiness  in  locomotion,  labor,  &c.,  and  happiness  in  the  results 
obtained  by  this  motion.  What  but  pleasure  is  the  legitimate  func- 
tion of  the  eye  ? — ^the  most  exquisite  pleasure  in  the  exercise  of  sight 
itself,  and  an  inexhaustible  fund  of  happiness  in  the  ends  attained  by 
seeing — in  its  enabling  us  to  find  our  way,  and  in  pouring  into  the 
mind  a  vast  fund  of  information,  and  also  furnishing  an  inexhaustible 
range  of  materials  for  thought  and  mental  action.  What  but  enjoy- 
ment is  the  end  sought  and  secured  by  the  creation  of  lungs  ? — enjoy- 
ment in  breathing  freely  the  fresh  air  of  heaven,  and  enjoyment  in 
the  expenditure  of  that  vitality  furnished  thereby  ;  few  realizing  the 
amount  of  pleasure  capable  of  being  taken  in  quaffing  luxuriantly 
and  abundantly  the  health-inspiring  breeze !  What  other  object  than 
pleasure  dictated  the  creation  of  the  stomach? — pleasure  in  the  act  of 
digestion,  and  pleasure  in  the  expenditure  of  those  vital  energies  pro- 
duced thereby.  And  Avhat  is  the  object  sought  and  obtained  in  the 
creation  of  the  brain  and  nervous  system — what  but  happiness  is  the 
only  legitimate  product  of  their  primitive  function? — happiness  in 
their  exercise  itseF,  and  inexhaustible  happiness  in  that  boundless 
range  of  mental  and  moral  ends  secured  by  their  creation. 

Narrowing  down  our  observations  to  the  mental  faculties,  we  find 
the  same  sole  end  sought  and  obtained  by  the  creation  of  each  one 
sepa^'ately,  and  all  collectively.  Benevolence  was  created  both  to  pour 
i]\&  oil  of  consolation  into  the  wounded  heart,  to  avoid  occasions  of 
pain,  and  to  beautify  and  bless  mankind  ;  and  also  to  pour  still  greater 
blessings  into  the  soul  of  the  giver ;  for,  it  is  even  "  more  blessed  to 
give  than  to  receive."  Parental  love,  while  it  renders  the  parent  hap- 
py in  providing  for  darling  infancy  and  lovely  childhood,  also  renders 
the  child  most  happy  in  receiving  the-  blessings  showered  down  upon 


148  MAN  WAS  MADE  TO  BE  PERFECTLY  HAPPY.  303 

it  by  this  happifying  faculty.  The  legitimate  function  of  ideality  is 
pleasure ;  both  in  contemplating  the  beautiful  and  the  exquisite  in  na- 
ture and  in  art,  and  also  in  refining  and  purifying  all  the  grosser  ele- 
ments of  our  nature,  and  softening  and  gracing  all  our  conduct.  Ac- 
quisitiveness was  created  to  afford  pleasure,  both  in  the  mere  acquisi. 
tion  of  property,  edibles,  and  the  comforts  and  conveniences  of  life ; 
and  also  to  furnish  all  the  other  faculties  with  the  means  of  gratifica- 
tion :  appetite,  with  food ;  benevolence,  with  the  means  of  bestowing 
charity ;  cautiousness,  with  instruments  of  defence ;  the  social  feel- 
ings, with  comforts  for  the  family ;  inhabitiveness,  with  a  home ;  con- 
structiveness,  with  tools,  farming  utensils,  &c.  ;  intellect,  Avith  books, 
philosophical  apparatus,  and  the  means  of  prosecuting  the  study  of 
nature  and  her  laws^  &c.  Appetite,  while  it  gives  us  gustatory  plea- 
sure in  partaking  of  food,  also  furnishes  the  stomach  with  the  mate- 
rials required  for  manufacturing  that  nourishment  and  strength  with- 
out which  every  enjoyment  would  be  cut  off,  and  life  itself  soon  cease. 
Causality  was  created,  not  only  to  produce  the  richest  harvest  of  plea- 
sure in  studying  the  laws  and  operations  of  nature,  but  also,  that  we 
might  adapt  ways  and  means  to  ends,  and  secure  our  own  highest 
good,  by  applying  the'laws  of  causation  to  the  production  of  whatever 
results  we  might  desire.  The  legitimate  function  of  language  is  to 
furnish  a  world  of  pleasure,  merely  in  the  act  of  talking,  and  then  to 
add  to  it  that  inexhaustible  fountain  of  happiness  which  flows  from 
imparting  and  receiving  knowledge,  ideas,  motives  for  action,  &c., 
and  in  reading,  in  hearing  lectures,  sermons,  &c.,  &c.  Memory  en- 
ables us  to  recollect  what  gave  us  pleasure,  and  what  pain,  that  we 
might  repeat  the  former  and  avoid  the  latter ;  that  we  might  remember 
faces,  places,  numbers,  &c.,  and  recall  our  knowledge  at  pleasure,  so 
as  to  apply  it  to  beneficial  purposes.  Veneration  naturally  gives  us 
pleasure,  both  in  worsliipping  God,  and  in  those  holy,  purifying 
influences  which  prayer  sheds  abroad  in  the  soul.  The  same  princi- 
ple applies  to  Friendship,  to  Connubial  Love,  to  Ambition,  to  Perse- 
verance, to  Sense  of  Justice,  to  Hope,  to  Imitation,  and  to  every  other 
element  of  the  human  mind.  I  lepeat :  The  legitimate  function 
every  physical  organ,  of  every  menta\  faculty,  of  every  element  of 
of  man,  is  happiness,  all  happiness,  pv.re,  unalloyed,  unmitigated 
happiness,  and  nothing  else.  Man  was  n^ade  solely  to  be  happy,  to 
be  PERFECTLY  happy,  and  for  that  alone. — Nor  does  the  needle  point 
to  its  pole  more  uniformly  and  certainly,  than  do&s  every  part  of  man 
point  to  this  one  result.  No  truth  can  be  more  plain,  more  universal, 
more  self-evident." 

I  call  upon  all  who  doubt  this  great  truth,  to  specify  a  single  organ, 
faculty,  function,  any  thing,  of  the  nature  of  man,  of  which  this  is  not 
the  palpable,  self-evident  fact.  No  truth  is  more  apparent.  It  runs 
throughout  all  nature.  It  is  the  substratum  of  every  thing  belonging 
to  the  nature  of  man. 


304  WHATEVER  IS  RIGHT   IS  PROMOTIVE   OF  HAPPINESS,  149 

Right,  of  course,  then,  harmonizes  with  this  great  arrangement  of 
nature,  is  founded  in  it,  is  designed  to  carry  it  out.  Wrong  conflicts 
therewith,  and  violates  it.  And  whatever  does  conflict  therewith,  (that 
is,  whatever  occasions  pain,)  is  wrong,  and  wrong  because  of  this  con- 
flict— ^because  it  causes  pain.  So,  also,  whatever  harmonizes  with  it, 
(that  is,  whatever  causes  happiness,)  is  right,  and  right  because  it  pro- 
duces pleasure — ^because  it  fulfils  not  merely  a  law,  but  the  law — all 
THE  laws  in  one — of  the  primitive  nature  and  constitution  of  man. 

How  this  principle  can  be  controverted,  I  see  not.  So  constituted 
is  the  human  mind  as  to  see,  and  feel,  that  the  normal  action  of  every 
department  of  its  nature  is  pleasure,  and  pleasure  only ;  and  that  all 
pain  proceeds  from — is  caused  by — a  violation  of  that  nature.  It  is 
also  so  constituted  as  to  see  that  right  consists  in  obeying  the  laws  of 
our  being,  and  wrong  in  their  violation,  as  well  as  that  their  observ- 
ance is  right — their  infraction  wrong.  Put  these  two  points  together, 
and  the  result  is  clear,  satisfactory,  that  the  fundamental  basis  of  right, 
— its  rationale,  the  reason  why  right  is  right,  is — the  happiness  that 
flows  therefrom — the  furtherance  of  the  end  of  our  being  occasioned 
thereby ;  it  amounting  to  the  same  thing  as  an  augmentation,  or  in- 
crease, of  ourselves,  namely,  happiness.  And,  per  contra,  the  reason 
why  wrong  is  wrong,  is,  that  it  violates^  or  counteracts,  that  nature — 
mars  the  work  of  God,  by  inducing  sufiering. 

One  phase  more  of  this  argument :  That  whatever  is  right,  is  pro- 
motive of  happiness,  no  one  will  for  a  moment  deny,  and,  vice  versa, 
that  whatever  is  promotive  of  happiness,  is  right,  as  well  as  that  the 
opposite  is  true  as  to  wrong.  Otherwise,  the  nature  of  man  is  at  war 
with  happiness ;  and  nature,  with  nature.  And  what  is  more,  happi- 
ness and  right,  on  the  one  hand,  and  suffering  and  sinfulness  on  the 
other,  stand  related  to  each  other  in  the  light  of  cause  and  effect.  That 
either  obedience  to  law,  that  is,  virtue,  causes  happiness,  or  else  that 
virtue  is  caused  by,  or  else  consists  in,  obedience  to  law,  and,  per  con- 
tra, that  the  violation  of  law,  (that  is,  sinfulness,)  causes  pain,  or  else 
that  sinfulness  is  caused  by  suffering,  is  self-evident,  from  the  fact,  that 
the  one  is  the  cause,  and  the  other  the  effect  The  first  impression  is, 
that  obedience  to  law  is  the  cause,  and  happiness  the  effect.  But  why 
is  obedience  the  cause?  To  secure  the  effect,  (happiness,)  of  course. 
Hence,  it  is  self-evident,  that  it  is  this  effect,  (namely,  happiness,)  that 
governs.  Right  would  not  be  right  if  it  did  not  secure  this  effect. 
Hence,  as  happiness  governs  virtue,  it  of  course  is  the  cause  of  virtue. 
The  contrary  is  true  of  pain  and  sinfulness.  In  sinning,  or  disobey- 
ing law,  we  suffer  in  order  to  make,  us  obey.     To  avoid  suffering,  is 


150  MAN   HAS   A   NATURAL    APTITUDE   FOn   PLEASURE.  305 

the  governing-  motive,  and  not  merely  or  mainly  to  avoid  doing  wrong, 
per  se.  Wrong  in  itself,  and  aside  from  the  suffering  it  causes,  is  a 
matter  of  little  account.  It  is  to  escape  suffering  that  constitutes  the 
governing  motive,  so  that  it  is  this  suffering  which  governs,  and, 
therefore,  becomes  the  cause  and  the  essence  of  the  sinfulness  of  sin. 

Finally,  and  mainly :  Man  has  a  natural  aptitude  for  pleasure,  and 
a  natural  shrinking  from  pain.  This  arrangement  of  his  nature,  is 
the  whole  of  him — all  there  is  in  him,  and  of  him,  and  about  him. 
This  is  the  git  and  quintessence  of  his  entire  constitution,  and  of  every 
adaptation,  and  organ,  and  function,  of  which  he  is  composed.  This 
is  the  neucleus.  Every  thing  else  in  him,  and  of  him,  is  attached  to 
— is  gathered  on  this.  Along  with  that  of  all  his  other  elements,  it 
forms  the  centre  of  right  and  wrong.  Right  and  wrong,  like  every 
thing  else,  arg  dovetailed  into — framed  upon — this  standard,  this  foun- 
dation timber,  of  the  man.  Hence,  right  becomes  right  when,  and 
because,  it  squares  and  plums  with  this  standard  :  and  wrong  becomes 
wrong  solely  in  consequence  of  its  deviating  therefrom.  In  short, 
the  pith  and  summary  of  the  whole  argument,  is  simply  this  :  Happi- 
ness, along  with  suffering  as  its  natural  antagonist,  forms  the  govern- 
ing principle  or  element  of  the  nature  of  man.  This  governing  prin- 
ciple of  his  nature,  of  course  governs  reason,  friendship,  appetite,  praise, 
censure,  kindness,  connubial  and  parental  love,  truth,  refinement,  vul- 
garity, hope,  fear,  virtue,  sinfulness,  right,  wrong,  sin,  holiness,  good- 
ness, badness — the  \\'hole  of  man,  and,  by  consequence,  becomes  the 
cause,  and  the  rationale,  of  them  all,  right  and  wrong,  goodness  and 
badness,  of  course  included. 

To  take  a  few  examples : — It  is  right  that  we  exercise  benevolence. 
But,  why  right  ?  Simply,  because  that,  by  so  doing,  we  further  the 
end  of  our  creation — enjoyment — ^both  our  own,  and  that  of  the  fellow- 
being  whom  we  help.  Nor  is  there  any  other  reason  why  it  is  rio-ht 
to  exercise  it.  There  is  but  one  other  possible  reason  why  it  is  right ; 
and  that  is,  the  command  or  will  of  God,  to  Avhich  we  shall  come  pre- 
sently. The  opposite  holds  true  of  causing  pain.  To  cause  suffering 
for  the  sake  of  causing  it,  is  wrong.  This,  all  admit.  But,  why  wrong  ? 
Because  it  retards  the  end  of  creation  by  producing  its  opposite.  Nor 
is  there  aiiy  other  reason  why  it  is  wrong  to  inflict  pain  as  such. 

It  is  right  to  eat,  It  is  our  bounden  duty.  It  is  Avrong  to  starve. 
But,  why  I  Solely  because  not  eating  causes  pain  to  ourselves  and 
others,  which  does  violence  to  this  fundamental  law  of  our  nature — the 
law  of  happiness.  Our  eating  does  not  effect  the  Deity.  We  cannot 
offend  Him  by  not  eating.    Nor  by  eating  too  much.    He  is  infinitely 


306         HOW   MAN?S   CONDUCT    STANDS   IN   RELATION   TO   HIS    GOD.  I5i 

above  all  influences  which  it  is  possible  for  mortals  to  exert.  To  sup- 
pose it  possible  for  our  sinfulness  to  affect  the  Almighty,  is  to  degrade 
him  by  putting  him  upon  a  par  with  man !  I  am  ioath  to  argue  a 
point  so  self-evident.  I  can  hardly  believe  that  any  intelligent  mind 
really  entertains  such  an  idea,  except  by  tradition,  or  from  supersti- 
tion. Certainly  not  from  intellect.  Its  absurdity  could  be  easily  de- 
monstrated, but  to  state  it  is  refutation  sufficient.  It  is  at  war  with 
every  principle  of  common  sense — at  war  with  the  Bible,  which  saith : 
— "  Can  a  man  be  profitable  unto  God,  as  he  that  is  wise  may  be  profit- 
able unto  himself?  Is  it  any  pleasure  to  the  Almighty,  that  thou  art 
righteous  ?  Or,  is  it  gain  to  him,  that  thou  makest  thy  ways  perfect?" 
— Job  xxii.  2,  3.  "If  thou  sinnest,  what  doest  thou  against  him?  or, 
if  thy  transgressions  be  multiplied,  what  doest  thou  unto  him  ?  If 
thou  be  righteous,  what  givest  thou  to  him?  or,  what  receiveth  he  of 
thine  hand  ?  Thy  wickness  may  hurt  a  man  as  thou  art ;  and  thy 
righteousness  may  profit  the  son  of  man." — Job  xxxv.  6,  7,  8.  "  What 
is  man,  that  thou  art  mindful  of  him,"  &.c.  &c. 

If  by  sinning  against  God  be  meant  simply  a  breach  of  his  laws, 
— the  laAvs  of  nature,  then  may  man  be  truly  said  to  sin  against  God, 
but  not  in  the  sense  of  offending  him  literally.  Man  can  indeed 
break  the  law  of  God ;  because  all  the  laws  of  our  being  may  be 
considered  as  laws  of  Gocl ;  and  man  being  capable  of  obeying  and 
breaking  these  laws,  he  is,  of  course,  capable  of  obeying  or  of  dis- 
obeying God.  In  this  sense,  but  in  no  other,  does  the  conduct  of 
mortals  stand  related  to  their  God. " 

But,  to  proceed  with  our  illustrations :  It  is  right  to  worship  God 
in  spirit  and  in  truth,  not  at  all  because  our  righteousness  affects  the 
Almighty,  or  our  impiety  injures  him,  but  simpljr  because  in  so  doing 
we  secure  to  our  own  souls  the  beneficial  effects  of  our  prayer. 
Prayer  softens  down  the  propensities,  subdues  the  soul,  elevates  the 
higher  faculties,  and  makes  us  happy.  Therefore  it  is  right,  but  not 
because  it  in  the  least  affects  the  Deity.  It  is  wrong  to  take  the  name 
of  God  in  vain,  not  because  profanity  iiijures  the  Almighty,  but  be- 
cause it  renders  the  swearer  unhappy,  by  debasing  his  feelings, 
cultivating  the  propensities,  searing  the  moral  sentiments,  and  thus 
rendering  him  and  those  affected  thereby  miserable.  It  is  right  to 
keep  our  word ;  because  a  liar  is  not  to  be  believed  though  he  speak 
the  truth,  and  therefore  loses  all  the  advantages  of  confidence ;  but 
he  who  keeps  his  word  inviolate,  his  character  spotless,  his  credit 
good,  reaps  all  the  benefits  of  thus  fulfilling  this  law  of  his  being, 
(and  they  are  many  and   great,)  besides  rendering  his  fellow-men 


152      ILLUSTRATIONS    OF   THE   PRINCIPLES    OF   RIGHT    AND  WRONG.       307; 

happy  in  so  doing  ;  whereas  he  Avho  does  not  regard  his  promises 
occasions  pain  to  his  fellow-men.  It  is  the  pain  consequent  on  disho-, 
nesty,  a  breach  of  truth,  promises,  &c.,  which  constitutes  them  wrong. 
And  the  more  pain  they  occasion,  the  more  wicked  they  are.  So 
murder  is  a  most  kei?ious  crime,  because  it  occasions  so  much  misery 
so  much  to  the  one  deprived  of  life  and  all  its  blessings,  to  his  family 
or  friends,  to  community,  besides  it  so  effectually  hardens  the  heart 
of  its  wicked  perpetrator.  So  of  stealing.  So  of  every  crime  that 
can  be  named. 

We  might  thus  take  up  one  after  another,  any  and  all  of  the  laws 
of  our  being,  physical  or  moral,  and  show  that  the  heinousness  of 
their  violation  consisted  in  the  pain  consequent  on  such  enfraction ; 
that  the  virtue  of  their  obedience  consisted  in  the  happiness  caused 
thereby.  But  this  is  unnecessary  ;  for  if  this  is  the  case  of  one,  it  is 
so  of  all.  To  the  principle  alone  reference  is  had  ;  and  if  that  prin- 
ciple applies  to  the  above  illustrations,  it  applies  to  all  illustrations — 
to  all  possible  shades  and  phases  of  both  sin  and  holiness. 

If  to  this  it  be  objected,  that  it  is  motive  alone  which  constitutes  the 
virtue  or  the  sinfulness  of  acts,  I  answer  :  This  has  nothing  whatever 
to  do  with  the  nature  of  right  and  wrong.  We  are  now  discussing 
the  constituent  elements  of  fight  and  wrong.  Motive  may  make  an 
action,  which  is  right  in  itself,  wrong  in  the  doer,  or  one  Avrong  in 
itself,  right  in  the  doer.  Thus,  in  attempting  to  deceive  or  wrong  my 
neighbor,  I  might  do  him  an  actual  favor.  My  wrong  intention  might 
make  it  wrong  in  me,  and  yet  the  act  done  did  not  eventuate  in  wrong 
to  him,  but  the  reverse.  Or,  if  in  attempting  to  shoot  a  furious  bull 
which  was  tearing  my  friend  in  pieces,  I  should  shoot  my  friend,  I 
should  do  wrong,  while  I  meant  right.  This  killing  my  neighbor  is 
vnong  in  itself,  but  not  wrong  to  me,  because  done  by  accident.  Still, 
this  is  foreign  from  the  real  point  under  discussion ;  namely,  the  con- 
stituent elements  of  right  and  wrong,  in  and  of  themselves.  The 
question  of  motive  will  be  discussed  hereafter. 

This  principle,  that  the  nature  of  right  and  wrong  is  founded  in 
the  pleasure  or  pain  consequent  thereon,  does  not  tally  with  the  prin- 
ciple of  deism,  which  maintains  that  there  is  no  such  thing  as  right 
and  wrong  in  the  abstract ;  for  it  demonstrates  that  there  is  a  right, 
a  wrong,  in  itself- — m  the  abstract — in  its  men  nature,  and  in  the 
nature  of  things.  This  difference  is  fundamental — as  toto  ccelo  as 
the  admission  of  the  principle  of  a  conscience  is  from  its  total  denial — 
as  the  admission  of  the  existence  of  right  and  wrong  per  se  is  different 
from  its  denial.     This  doctrine  enforces  the  moral  accountrbility  of 


308  THERE   IS   CONSTITUTIONALLY   A   RIGHT   AND   A  WRONG,  15S 

man.  That  denies  it.  In  short ;  light  does  not  differ  from  darkness, 
or  heat  from  cold,  more  than  this  deistical  doctrine  of  no  right,  no 
Avrong,  does  from  the  phrenological  doctrine  of  the  existence  of  both, 
fer  se.  Touching  the  morality^  the  accountability^  and  the  punish- 
ability of  men,  it  makes  all  the  difference  of  a  positive  and  a  negative. 

To  Christianity,  this  principle,  that  conscience  is  innate,  as  well  as 
the  one  that  right  is  right  in  its  very  nature  and  constit7ition,  is  very 
important.  Not  only  does  it  harmonize  with  a  similar  doctrine  taught 
in  the  Bible,  "  Deal  justly,^'  "  Owe  no  man  any  thing,"  "  Whatsoever 
ye  would  that  others  should  do  unto  you,  do  ye  even  so  unto  them," 
"  Lie  not,  but  obey  the  truth,"  "  Righteousness  exalteth  a  nation," 
&c.  &c.,  in  texts  without  number ;  but  what  is  still  more,  it  greatly 
enhances  the  moral  virtue  of  doing  right,  as  well  as  the  heinousness 
of  doin^  wrong.  It  gives  to  the  right  a  distinctive  character,  a  spe- 
cific nature  of  its  own,  thereby  imparting  to  it  a  moral  beauty,  power, 
and  grandeur  which,  if  it  did  not  possess,  it  would  be  tame  and  pow- 
erless, as  well  as  destitute  of  all  inherent,  specific  character,  while  it 
reveals  in  bold  relief  the  naked  deformity  and  inherent  moral  turpi- 
tude and  heinousness  of  sin.  This  principle  renders  right  and  wrong 
positive  in  their  characters.  In  maintaining  the  doctrines  of  Christ- 
ianity, this  inherentness  of  right  and  wrong,  of  virtue  and  sin,  is  all- 
important,  and  even  fundamental.  It  is,  indeed,  a  corner  stone  of  the 
whole  superstructure  of  Christianity.  OverthroAv  this  original 
constitutionality  of  right  and  wrong,  and  you  take  away  the  corner 
stone  of  Christianity,  and  overthrow  its  whole  superstructure ;  but 
establish  it,  and  at  one  fell  swoop,  infidelity  is  overthrown.  On  this 
radical  point  the  victory  turns,  and  Phrenology  gives  it  to  Christ- 
ianity. Christian !  dost  thou  fully  appreciate  this  scientific  confirma- 
tion of  thy  foundation  stone  1  And  ye  religionists  who  oppose 
Phrenology,  "  know  not  what  ye  do,"  and  are  crucifying  your  best 
friend.  Let  me  warn  Christianity  that  she  is  fast  losing  intellectual 
ground,  and  that  nothing  but  a  scientific  proof  of  her  fundamental 
doctrines  will  arrest  this  onward  march  and  these  rapid  strides  of 
infidelity  and  scepticism.  But  Phrenology,  if  promulgated,  will  stop 
it.  Its  proof  of  this  fundamental  doctrine,  infidelity  cannot  reach, 
nor  scepticism  resist.  They  are  ad  hominem — they  go  home  to  the 
understanding,  and  innate  consciousness  of  one  and  all.  Christianity ! 
wilt  thou  embrace  this  thy  twin  sister  and  handmaid,  or  wilt  thou, 
unwise,  ungrateful,  bigoted,  turn  her  coldly  or  contemptuously  away  ? 

There  is,  then,  constitutionally,  a  right,  a  wrong.  And  that  right- 
is  enforced,  is  invited,  by  all  the  happiness  it  is  possible  for  man  to  ex- 


154  WHAT  IS  right;  and  what  wrong.  309 

perience  in  doing  right ;  that  wrong  is  prohibited  by  all  the  punish- 
ment it  is  possible  for  man  to  suffer  in  breaking  the  laws  of  his  being. 
Nor  is  it  immaterial  whether  we  do  right  or  wrong.  Nor  are  the 
motives  for  doing  right  far  removed  from  us ;  nor  the  penalties  oif  do- 
ing wrong.  They  are  not  in  heaven,  not  in  hell,  exclusively,  nor 
even  mainly.  They  are  in  us — in  the  happiness,  in  the  suffering,  we 
are  capable  of  experiencing.  They  go  right  home  to  the  inmost  soul 
of  every  member  of  the  human  family.  To  do  right,  is  our  own 
highest  possible  interest.  To  do  wrong,  is  directly,  necessarily,  in  the 
very  teeth  of  that  interest. 

Let  us  all,  then,  strive  to  be  right,  that  we  may  be  happy,  Let  us 
all  eschew  evil,  that  we  may  escape  pain.  Let  us  avoid  sin  for  pre- 
cisely the  same  reason  that  we  would  not  put  our  hands  into  the 
fire,  namely,  because  in  doing  wrong,  we  suffer  its  consequent  penal- 
ty. Wonderful ! — the  workmanship  of  a  God  ! — is  this  contrivance, 
this  arrangement,  of  right  and  wrong.  Calculated,  in  the  highest 
possible  degree,  to  induce  men  to  do  right,  and  to  prevent  their  doing 
wrong. 


SECTION  m. 

what  is  right,  and  what  wrong? 
"  There's  but  one  way  to  do  a  thing,  and  that  is  the  right  way." — Proverbs. 

Having  thus  shown  that  great  first  principles  of  right  exist,  and  are 
founded  in  the  very  nature  and  constitution  of  things  ;  and,  also,  what 
is  the  nature  of  right  and  wrong  ;  we  pass,  naturally,  to  the  applica- 
tion of  this  principle  to  what  is  right  and  wrong.  On  this  subject, 
much  diversity  of  opinion  exists,  and  its  proper  decision  will  do  more 
for  mankind  than  the  knowledge  of  any  other  thing  whatever.  In 
deciding  it,  Phrenology  says :  "  That  is  right  which  harmonizes  with 
the  primary  nature  and  original  constitution  of  all  our  faculties, 
and  whatever  violates  this  primary  nature  of  any  faculty,  is  therefore 
wrong."  It  moreover  affirms,  that  all  those  actions,  feelings,  and 
opinions  which  harmonize  with  the  primary  nature  and  legitimate 
function  of  any  or  all  the  organs,  and  violate  none,  is  right ;  but  that 
whatever  violates  any  faculty  is  wrong— that  the  natural,  legitimate, 
exercise  of  any  faculty  is  right,  and  its  perverted  action  wrong,     It 


310  THE   PKINCIPLES   OF   RIGHT   AND   WRONG   H^LUSTRATED.  155 

also  shows  what  is  the  natural,  and  Avhat  the  perverted  function  of  any 
faculty ;  and  thereby  furnishes  us  with  an  unerring  test  of  every 
opinion,  feeling-,  and  action  of  our  whole  lives.  For  example :  You 
wish  to  decide  whether  a  given  business  or  bargain  be  right  or  wrong. 
Conscientiousness  summons  a  moral  court  martial,  and  subpcenas  the 
other  faculties  as  witnesses.  It  says  ;  'Well,  benevolence,  what  say- 
est  thou  to  this  bargain,  or  business,  or  act,  or  practice,  or  whatever 
is  to  be  judged  ?"  If  this  faculty  respond :  "  I  say  it  will  distress  yon- 
der innocent  man,  or  make  that  widow  or  orphan  more  v/retched, 
or  will  grind  the  face  of  the  poor,  or  is  oppressive  and  cruel,  or  even 
is  in  the  way  of  human  enjoyment ;"  conscientiousness  then  says,  "  It 
is  wrong.  Do  not  this  wicked  thing."  "  And,  causality,  what  sayest 
thou  .?"  "  I  say  its  effect  will  be  unfavorable,"  or,  "  such  and  such  an 
effect  will  be  unfavorable,"  or,  "  such  and  such  a  law  will  be  violated 
thereby."  Conscientiousness  again  puts  its  ban  upon  it.  "  And, 
ideality,  what  sayest  thou?"  "  I  say  it  is  coarse,  vulgar,  disgusting, 
repulsive,  and  offensive  to  taste,  as  well  as  degrading  and  debasing." 
"  No,"  responds  conscientiousness,  "  this  thing  is  wicked,  and  must 
not  be  done."  If  veneration  sees  that  the  thing  proposed  will  conflict 
with  the  worship  of  the  true  God ;  or  friendship  complains  that  its 
legitimate  exercise  will  be  circumscribed  or  wounded,  ot  parental  love 
mourns  over  its  injury  to  offspring  and  the  young,  or  self-interest 
complains  that  it  will  eonflict  with  enlightened  selfishness,  by  injur- 
ing the  health  or  circumscribing  legitimate  enjoyments  ;  or  time  says, 
"  I  have  more  important  matters  on  hand ;"  or  the  organ  of  mus- 
cular motion  says,  "  It  Avill  not  allow  me  sufficient  exercise ;"  or 
vitativeness  says,  "  It  will  shorten  my  days" — if  any  of  the  organs 
rise  up  and  testify  against  the  thing  to  be  judged,  conscientiousness 
vetoes  it,  and  then  firmness  and  all  the  other  faculties  combine  to  re- 
sist it.  But  if  enlightened  benevolence  says,  "  It  will  do  thee  good,  and 
him  also;"  if  friendship  says,  "  It  will  deepen  my  roots  and  strength- 
en my  cords  ;"  if  ideality  be  charmed  with  its  beauty,  causality  com- 
mend its  effects,  time  can  make  room  for  it,  veneration  be  gratified, 
life  prolonged,  self-enjoyment  secured,  and  all  the  other  faculties 
sanction,  none  condemning,  conscientiousness,  as  judge,  says,  "  Nei- 
ther do  I  condemn  thee  ;  all  is  right ;"  and  the  other  faculties  aid  in 
its  execution.  This  is  predicated  on  the  supposition  that  all  the  facul- 
ties act  in  harmony  with  their  primary  natures  and  legitimate  func- 
tions. When  any  act,  opinion,  or  feeling  has  thus  been  once  decided 
upon,  eventuality  recollects  it,  and  firmness  abides  by  it, 
10 


156  FUNDAMENTAL   PRmCITLES   OF   RIGHT   AND  WRONG.  311 

In  Still  another  way — by  another  of  its  principles,  already  explained 
— does  Phrenology  tell  us  what  is  right,  and  what  not ;  as  well  as  ex- 
plain the  cause  of  that  diversity  of  opinions  and  practice  as  to  the 
right  and  wrong  in  opinion,  feeling,  and  conduct.  It  says  that  the  even, 
equable^  or  proportionate  action  of  all  the  organs,  is  right,  and  the  ex- 
cessive action  of  any,  wrong.  Thus,  if  acquisitiveness  be  too  large, 
and  benevolenee  too  small,  Phrenology  saith :  "  Wake  up,  benevo- 
lence, thou  art  too  sluggish ;  hold  up,  acquisitiveness,  thou  art  too 
grasping,  and  dost  over-reach."  If  cautiousness  predominate,  and 
combativeness  be  weak,  it  saith :  "  Thy  fear  prevents  thy  enjoyment, 
and  retards  thy  success:  do  not  thus  procrastinate;"  but,  if  Phreno- 
logy finds  cautiousness  small,  she  saith :  "  Take  care,  take  care  there, 
Mr.  Reckless,  thou  art  continually  injuring  thyself  and  others,  for 
want  of  prudence."  If  she  find  benevolence  predominate,  she  saith . 
"  Do  not  thus  give  away  thy  all,  but  reserve  for  thyself  the  means 
of  sustaining  life,  and  capital  enough  to  acquire  more  property,  with 
which  to  do  still  more  good,"  If  she  find  ideality  small,  she  chides 
her  for  allowing  improprieties  of  feeling  and  expression,  and  for  not 
enjoying  those  rich  and  ever-varying  beauties  with  which  nature 
every  where  shines  so  resplendent.  If  veneration  be  small,  or  mar- 
vellousness,  (faith,)  be  feeble,  she  saith  to  the  former :  "  Lengthen 
thy  prayers,  and  pour  out  thy  soul  oftener  in  worship  and  praise  to  the 
God  who  made  thee  ;"  and  to  the  latter  she  saith  :  "  Away  with  thy 
scepticism,  and  let  thy  faith  grow  till  from  a  mustard  seed  it  becometh 
a  great  tree."  And  so  of  all  the  other  faculties.  It  saith  to  the  feeble 
ones  :  "  Q,uicken  your  actions  ;"  and,  to  the  predominant  one :  "  Re- 
strain your  excesses."  It  would  fain  keep  them  all  along  together, 
pari  passu^  and  combine  all  into  one  harmonious  whole. 

By  another  of  its  fundamental  principles,  and  one  already  given, 
does  Phrenology  proclaim  the  right,  and  point  out  the  wrong  ;  name- 
ly, by  that  of  the  supremacy  of  the  moral  sentiments  and  intellect  over 
the  propensities  ;  or,  at  least,  as  the  constitutional  guides  a7id  govern- 
ors of  the  latter  ;  but,  having  already  explained  the  principle  fully,  its 
application,  in  this  connexion,  is  left  for  every  reader  to  make.  Let  him 
who  would  know  whether  a  given  thing  be  right  or  wrong,  stop  and 
ask,  whether  the  thing-  to  be  adjudged  be  in  harmony  with  the  dictates 
of  enlightened  intellect,  and  the  normal  constitution,  or  the  primitive 
funtions  of  the  moral  sentiments,  and  the  answer  will  soon  tell  hin 
what  is  right,  and  what  wrong. 

I  have  said  that  Phrenology  shows  why  men  differ  in  matters  of 
right  and  duty.     Men's  opinions  and  practices  as  to  right,  duty,  &c., 


312  WHY   MEN   DIFFER   IN    MATTEKS   OF    PaGHT   AND    DUTY.  157 

will  accord  with  their  phenological  developments.  That  is,  different 
phrenological  developments  cause  men  to  think  and  feel  differently  on 
these  subjects.  To  illustrate :  Suppose  conscientiousness  be  alike  in 
two  persons,  A.  and  B.,  and  full  in  both,  or  five  in  a  scale  from  1  to  ''. 
A.  has  large  benevolence,  and  small  acquisitiveness  and  veneration ; 
while  B.  has  small  benevolence,  and  large  acquisitiveness  and  vene- 
ration. A.'s  conscientiousness  combines  with  his  large  benevolence, 
and  makes  him  feel  that  he  is  in  duty  bound  to  do  all  the  good  he  can, 
and  that  it  is  wrong  to  take  a  large  price  from  a  poor  man  because  he 
can  get  it ;  while  his  small  acquisitiveness  induees  him  to  give  the 
poor  man  more  for  an  article  than  it  is  really  worth ;  yet,  as  his  A^ene- 
ration  is  small,  his  conscience  does  not  require  him  to  go  to  church. 
But  the  large  acquisitiveness  and  small  benevolence  of  B.  warpe  his 
lesser  organ  of  conscientionsness,  and  allow  him  to  take  from  the 
same  poor  man  more  money  for  a  thing  than  it  is  really  worth,  be- 
cause the  poor  man  can  do  no  better.  His  large  acquisitiveness  throws 
dust  into  the  eyes  of  smaller  conscientiousness  and  benevolence,  and 
hushes  up  their  feebler  remonstrances,  while  he  grinds  the  face  of  the 
poor,  takes  advantage  of  their  distress,  and  extorts  money  from  them, 
because  they  are  in  his  power,  though  he  is  wringing  out  their  very 
heart's  blood.  Still,  this  same  conscience,  though  it  allows  acquisi- 
tiveness to  cheat  and  extort,  also  combines  with  veneration,  and  com- 
pels him  to  go  to  meeting  the  next  Sabbath,  to  read  his  Bible,  say  his 
prayers,  and  go  to  the  communion  table — to  "  sand  the  rice,  water 
the  gin,  and  then  come  in  to  prayers."  The  conscientiousness  of  A. 
would  torment  him  for  extorting  the  money  extorted  by  B.,  just  as 
much  as  that  of  B.  would  torment  him  for  not  praying  and  going  to 
church ;  while  the  conseientiousness  of  B.  would  acquit  him  for  ex- 
torting this  money  from  the  poor  man,  or  taking  the  advantage  of 
him  in  a  bargain,  as  much  as  that  of  A.  acquits  him  for  not  praying 
and  attending  church.  The  opinions  of  these  two  men  as  to  what  is 
right  and  wrong,  are  directly  opposite ;  each  condemning  what  the 
other  approves,  and  each  approving  what  the  other  condemns,  and  both 
reading  each  other  out  of  heaven,  the  one  for  the  other's  extortion, 
and  the  other  for  the  other's  impiety.  Now,  Phrenology  condemns 
them  both,  and  yet  approves  both.  It  saith  unto  A.,  "  Thou  art  right 
in  thy  humanity,  (provided  thou  dost  not  injure  thyself  and  those  de- 
pendent on  thee,  by  giving  too  much,)  but  wrong  in  thy  impiety, 
Give  to  the  poor,  but  worship  also  thy  God."  Phrenology  then  turns 
to  B.  and  saith,  "  Thy  devotion  is  right,  but  thy  extortion  is  wrong. 
Reduce  thy  acquisitiveness ;  increase  thy  benevolence ;  for  it  is  wrong 


158  WHY   MEN   DIPEER   AS   TO   RIGHT   AND   WRONG,  313 

for  thee  thus  to  oppress  and  distress  these  poor  sufferers."  But  D. 
has  all  these  organs  large  and  active.  He  makes  money,  but  always 
makes  it  honestly^  and  never  distresses  others.  He  also  gives  to  the 
poor,  but  not  to  his  own  injury,  or  that  of  those  dependent  on  him ; 
and  worships  his  God,  both  socially  and  in  secret.  His  conduct 
Phrenology  fully  approves,  and  his  conscience  makes  him  happy. 

Thus,  large  conscientiousness,  combining  with  large  domestic  or- 
gans, and  weaker  intellectual  and  moral  faculties,  tells  its  posseesor 
that  his  main  duty  consists  in  taking  care  of  his  family ;  and  adds, 
"  He  that  provideth  not  for  his  family  is  worse  than  an  infidel ;"  but 
this  organ,  when  it  combines  with  small  domestic  organs  and  large  be- 
nevolence, tells  its  possessor  that  his  duty  consists  mainly  in  doing 
good  to  the  heathen  or  to  mankind  in  general,  though,  in  so  doing  his 
family  suffer,  and  quotes  the  Scripture,  "  He  that  giveth  to  the  poor 
lendeth  to  the  Lord."  He  who  has  large  conscientiousness  and  ideal- 
ity thinks  it  his  duty  to  keep  his  person  neat  and  nice — to  shave  and 
change  his  linnen  often,  though  he  make  some  poor  slave  work 
half  the  time  in  order  to  keep  himself  clean  and  nice.  A  fashiona- 
ble lady,  (and  all  fashionable  women  are  ladies,  of  course,  however  ill 
bred,  for  fashion  "  hideth"  (and  maketh)  "  a  multitude  of  sins,")  with 
more  vanity  than  sense,  but  having  large  veneration,  full  conscien- 
tiousness, large  ideality,  very  large  Approbativeness,  a  silly  mother, 
and  a  soft-soap  preacher,  feels  it  to  be  her  imperious  duty  to  go  to 
church,  always  provided  that  she  can  go  dressed  in  the  very  top  of 
the  fashion,  show  a  wasplike  waste,  and  wear  a  half  bushel  bag  of 
bran  or  a  small  bale  of  cotton ;  but  if  she  can  not  go  thus  fashiona- 
bly, foolishly,  and  wickedly  attired,  she  does  not  feel  it  her  duty  to  go 
at  all,  because  her  dress  is  not  decent ;  for  it  would  be  very  wrong  wi- 
deed  for  her  to  go  to  church  without  being  decently  (fashionably) 
dressed,  lest  her  dress  should  attract  attention ;  though  if  her  extreme 
'  fashions  should  attract  the  gaze  of  all  present,  that  would  be  all  right ; 
(how  very  tender  some  people's  consciences  are,  though,  about  certain 
matters !)  but  the  conscientiousness  of  another  lady,  who  has  large  in- 
tellectual and  moral  organs,  feels  it  to  be  her  duty  not  to  dress,  and 
frowns  upon  our  scrupulous  fashionables.  Conscientiousness  with 
acquisitiveness  makes  one  feel  it  to  be  his  duty  to  make  and  hoard  mo- 
ney ;  but  with  acquisitiveness  small,  that  it  is  wrong  to  devote  all  his 
energies  to  amassing  paltry  wealth ;  with  self-esteem  large,  that  it  is 
his  first  duty  to  take  care  of  self — but  with  this  organ  small  and  be- 
nevolence large,  that  it  is  his  duty  to  serve  others  first,  to  the  neglect 
and  even  injury  of  self     And  the  greater  the  number  of  faculties 


314  THE   PRINCIPLE   OF   RIGHT   AND   WRONG,  159 

brought  into  simultaneous  or  combined  action,  the  greater  the  diversi- 
ty of  opinion  and  conduct  as  to  what  is  right  and  wrong. 

The  reader  will  thus  perceive  that  the  same  principle  which  was 
pointed  out  in  regard  to  veneration,  showing  that  the  organs  give  us 
our  views  of  the  character  of  God,  while  veneration  falls  down  and  wor- 
ships, applies  also  to  conscientiousness ;  the  other  faculties  biasing  our 
moral  opinion  and  conduct,  and  then  conscientiousness  impelling  us 
to  do  what  these  other  organs  tell  us  is  right.  And  as  this  principle, 
when  applied  to  veneration,  tells  us  the  true  character  and  attributes 
of  God,  when  all  are  equally  developed  and  not  perverted  ;  so  when 
it  is  applied  to  conscientiousness,  it  tells  us  what  is  right  and  wrong 
in  itself ;  for  he  who  has  all  the  organs  equally  developed  and  un- 
perverted,  will  take  correct  views  of  right,  and  do  accordingly — will 
think  it  right  to  take  care  of  his  family,  to  make  money,  to  defend  the 
truth,  and  the  poor,  to  be  guarded  and  careful  to  dress  respectably,  to 
worship  his  God,  to  observe  and  admire  the  beautiful ;  to  do  good  at 
home  and  abroad,  to  take  care  of  self,  but  not  to  be  too  selfish,  and  so 
of  all  other  faculties.  He,  therefore,  whose  organs  are  most  uniform 
and  not  perverted  by  education,  will  form  the  most  correct  opinions  as 
to  right,  and  live  the  best  life  ;  but  he  whose  head  is  uneven,  some  of  his 
organs  large  and  others  small,  will  be  lame,  and  warped,  and  bruised, 
and  zig-zag  in  his  moral  conduct  and  opinions.  Hence,  also,  by  ex- 
amining his  own  head,  every  individual  can  see  wherein  his  own 
standard  of  right  and  wrong  in  conduct  and  belief,  departs  from  this 
the  only  true  standard  ;  and  wherein  it  accords  with  jt ;  so  that,  by 
putting  his  intellect  over  against  his  excesses  and  defects,  he  can  see 
and  remedy  defects.  This  moral  formula  is  the  test  and  touch-stone, 
by  which  to  try  every  opinion,  and  judge  every  act  of  his  whole  life. 
If  any  organ  be  deficient.  Phrenology  will  analyze  that  organ,  and 
tell  how  much  more  of  that  ingredient  he  requires  in  his  composition, 
and  also  help  him  to  supply  it  in  theory  if  not  in  fact,  and  also  tell  him 
what  organs  are  too  large,  and  therefore  what  kind  of  feelings  and  ac- 
tions to  suppress  in  order  to  be  virtuous  and  happy.  This  single  prin- 
ciple, this  moral  formula,  is  worth  more  than  all  the  works  on  ethics 
and  speculative  theology  ever  written.  It  shows  every  man  what 
colored  glasses  he  has  on,  and  what  ingredients  are  requisite  to  restore 
to  them  the  color  of  truth  and  the  practice  of  right.  Guided  by  this 
principle,  men  will  no  longer  regard  themselves  as  infallible,  any 
more  than  when  they  know  that  they  have  on  green  glasses,  or  pink 
glasses,  or  dark  glasses,  will  they  contend  that  every  thing  at  which 
they  look  is  green,  or  pink,  or  dark,  just  because  it  looks  so  to  them  ; 


160      ILLUSTRATIONS    OF    THE    PE-INCIPLES    OF   RIGHT   AND   WRONG.       315 

but  they  will  say,  "  I  know  that  my  glasses  are  green,  and  you  know 
that  your  glasses  are  pink,  and  you  know  that  yours  are  dark,  so  that 
the  same  objects  look  green  to  me,  but  fink  to  you  and  dark  to  you. 
Though  it  really  seems  to  me  that  these  objects  are  green,  to  you,  that 
they  are  all  pink,  and  to  you  that  they  are  all  dark,  still  we  can  none 
of  us  tell  what  the  real  color  is,  till  we  get  off  our  colored  glasses — 
till  our  organs  are  equally  active^  or  else  till  intellect  can  make  all 
necessary  allowances.  Then  all  objects  will  appear  alike.  Till  then, 
we  will  not  each  read  the  others  out  of  heaven,  just  because  we  wear 
different  colored  glasses.  No,  we  will  be  charitable — will  each  re- 
collect our  own  liabilities  to  error,  and  not  condemn  those  who  differ 
from  US.  Will  not  this  principle,  if  applied,  heal  over  and  effectually 
cure  those  sectarian  isms — those  "  wounds,  and  bruises,  and  putrify- 
ing  sores,"  which  now  cover  poor,  sickly,  feeble  Christianity  "  from 
the  crown  of  the  head  to  the  sole  of  her  foot?"  Each  will  not  then 
say  to  his  neighbor,  "  know  ye  the  Lord"  as  I  know  him,  or  I'll  not 
have  you  in  my  heaven,  "  but  all  shall  know  him"  right  and   alike. 

"  Fly  swifter  round,  ye  wheels  of  time, 
And  bring  this  welcome  day." 
Shine  brighter  yet  thou  star  of  Gall : 
Teach  us  thy  better  way. 

This  principle  also  shows  how  it  is,  that  some  men  can  be  very 
wicked,  and  yet  very  religious,  and  even  pious.  A  few  anecdotes,  by 
way  of  illustration :  A  certain  deacon,  that  lived  less  than  fifty  miles 
above  Troy,  N.  Y.,  the  leader  of  his  society,  earnest,  gifted,  sincere 
in  prayer,  eloquent  in  exhortation,  the  right-hand  man  of  the  minister, 
and  forward  and  zealous  in  all  matters  appertaining  to  religion,  but 
somewhat  slippery  in  money  matters  ;  set  up  a  store,  and,  in  buying 
his  goods  in  Troy,  gave  his  minister,  Mr.  L.,  who  was  well  known  in 
that  city,  as  his  reference.  Shortly  afterwards  this  minister  being 
down  to  Troy,  was  beset  by  the  pious  deacon's  creditors,  to  know 
what  for  a  man  he  was,  and  whether  he  could  be  safely  trusted,  &c. 
The  reverend  gentleman  hesitated  and  evaded,  but,  finally,  answered: 
"  To  tell  you  the  truth — God-ward,  he  is  honest ;  but,  towards  man, 
rather  twistical." 

Mr.  S.,  being  hired  by  a  neighbor  to  help  move  a  family  to  the  west, 
stole  several  things,  axes  and  other  things,  as  he  could  lay  hands  on 
them  along  the  road ;  and  some  things  from  his  employer ;  and  yet, 
all  the  way  along,  he  talked  religion  to  -those  he  met,  both  in  the  bar- 
rooms, and  stopping  them  by  the  way-side. 


316  DEPRAVITY.  '161 

Other  similar  cases  have  been  reported  in  the  Journal.  [See  that 
of  the  girl  who  would  steal,  and  also  that  of  Mr.  N.,  of  U.,  who  pray- 
ed so  fervently  sabbath  days,  and  was  converted  by  every  revival  that 
came  along,  and  yet  sought  and  took  every  opportunity  to  cheat  his 
neighbors — both  of  which  are  given  in  Vol.  IV.]  Henry  A.  Wise 
is  both  a  zealous  Christian,  and  yet  a  great  duellist.  Cases  analogous 
to  these  occur  in  every  community,  and  in  nearly  every  church. 
Nor  are  these  pious  sinners  hypocrites.  They  are  sincere  in  both 
their  sinfulness  and  their  religion.  And  the  reason  why  some  men 
are  both  great  sinners,  and  yet  great  religionists,  is  two  fold :  first, 
some  of  their  animal  propensities  are  powerfully  developed,  along 
with  some  strong  religious  organs,  which  act  by  turns,  and  thus  ren- 
der them  very  zealous  in  religion  at  one  time,  and  yet  very  immoral  at 
other  times. 

Much  has  been  said  of  late  in  denunciation  of  those  ministers  who 
have  been  guilty  of  immoral  conduct,  as  if  they  had  all  along  been 
guilty  of  the  most  consummate  hypocricy  from  the  commencement  of 
their  career  until  the  disclosure  of  their  crimes.  This  is  by  no  means 
necessarily  the  case.  They  may  have  been  truly  religious,  sincerely 
godly,  at  the  very  time  in  which  they  were  indulging  unbridled  lust ; 
for  it  is  possible,  it  is  not  uncommon,  for  the  propensities  to  act  at  the 
same  time  that  the  moral  faculties  are  in  exercise,  and  even  in  combi- 
nation therewith,  thereby  producing  animal  religion.  Secondly, 
their  organs  may  differ,  are  likely  to  differ,  from  your  own — causing 
them  to  regard  that  as  allowable  which  your  organs  condemn.  Be 
charitable,  therefore.  Put  the  best  construction  possible  on  the  faults, 
foibles,  errors,  selfishness,  sinfulness  of  your  fellow-men.  But,  more 
of  this  hereafter. 


SECTION  IV. 

DEPRAVITY. ITS   ORIGIN ITS   EXTENT — ITS    CONDITIONS ITS    CAUSES 

ITS    REMEDY. 

Having  proved  the  existence  of  sin,  as  well  as  shown  its  rationale, 
we  pass  naturally  to  consider  its  origin ;  its  extent,  whether  total  or 
partial ;  its  conditions ;  its  causes ;  and  how  to  obviate  them,  and  thus 
diminish  it — questions  on  which  the  religious  world  have  been  divid- 
ed, and   yet  questions  which  the  happiness  of  man  requires  to  be 


162  DEPE.AV1TV. ITS   ORIGIN.  3  If 

settled.     What,  then,  saith  the  nature  of  man,  touching  these  points  ? 

First,  its  totality ;  or  what  is  called  total  depravity ;  original  sin, 
&c.  I  will  not  attempt  to  state,  refute,  or  establish  any  of  the  num- 
berless views  of  this  doctrine  entertained  by  the  different  religious 
sects ;  but  shall  proceed  to  show  the  phrenological  doctrine  touching 
this  point.  It  knows  nothing  about  any  other  original  sin  than  that 
contained  in  the  doctrines  of  hereditary  descent,  presented  in  the  last  and 
present  volumes  of  the  Phrenological  Journal.  That  the  iniquities  of 
parents — the  violations  of  both  the  natural  and  the  moral  laws — are 
transmitted  from  parents  to  children,  it  fully  establishes.  If  a  parent, 
or  a  succession  of  parents,  violate  the  laws  of  physiology  so  as  to 
induce  a  consumptive  tendency,  the  children  are  born  with  that  dis- 
ease actually  fastened  upon  them.  So  of  cancerous,  apoplectic,  bilious, 
nervous,  and  other  affections,  and  indeed,  of  all  physical  diseases,  and 
of  all  predispositions.  A  similar  principle  applies  to  the  transmis- 
sion of  moral  maladies,  be  it  insanity,  or  inordinate  love  of  money,  or 
love  of  liquor,  or  revenge,  or  irritability,  or  lust,  or  deception,  and 
with  all  forms  and  degrees  of  sinful  predispositions.  And  so  also  of 
length  of  life,  health,  strength,  buoyancy  of  spirits,  and  also  kindness, 
amiableness,  integrity,  devotion,  talents  of  all  kinds.  So,  indeed,  of 
of  all  the  qualities  and  tendencies  of  our  nature.  The  conditions, 
goodness,  badness,  sinfulness,  virtue,  of  the  parents,  and  indeed  of  the 
ancestors  for  generations  back,  effect  the  nature,  goodness,  badness, 
of  the  children,  to  give  them  originally  a  good  or  a  bad  tone  or  direc- 
tion.* Like  parents,  like  children,  is  its  motto,  as  it  certainly  is  the 
motto  of  truth.  But,  about  any  other  kind  or  degree  of  original  sin, 
or  total,  innate  depravity,  it  knows  nothing.  It  says,  that  the  sin  of 
the  first  parents  of  our  race,  is  capable  of  tainting  all  their  posterity 
— "  the  sins  of  the  parents  are  visited  upon  their  children  unto  the 
third  and  fourth  generations  of  the  disobedient,"  (when  the  race  runs 
out,)  but,  otherwise,  unto  thousands  of  the  disobedient.  Aside  from 
this  original  sin,  it  linows  no  other.f  Still,  it  does  not  positively  say 
there  is  no  other.  But  if  there  be,  it  is  a  revelation  of  the  Bible,  not 
of  Phrenology. 

*  For  a  full  exposition  of  the  doctrine  of  the  hereditary  influences,  the  reader 
is  referred  to  the  Author's  work  entitled,  "  Hereditary  Descent."  its  laws  and 
facts. 

t  In  conversing  recently  with  a  Dutch  Reformed,  though  formerly  Congrega- 
tional, clergyman,  oh  hereditary  descent,  he  stated  it  as  his  full  belief  that  origi- 
nal sin,  or  innate  depravity,  consisted  in  this  doctrine  of  hereditary  descent,  and 
■^788  explained  by  it.  No  one  v^ho  knows  him,  will  for  a  moment  doubt  his 
"  total"  Orthodoxy  as  to  Calvinism.     I  also  heard  it  from  a  staunch  orthodox 


318  ITS   EXTENT   AND   CONDITIONS.  163 

Another  principle  of  Phrenology  deserves  at  least  mention  here, 
though  it  may  not  bear  much  upon  the  original  sin  advocated  by 
orthodoxy.  It  is  this.  Every  primary  faculty  of  man,  is  good,  and  its 
normal,  constitutional  function,  is  virtuous.  Man's  original  nature  is 
right. 

The  depravity  of  man,  however,  Phrenology  certainly  recognizes, 
in  the  fact  that  the  natural  exercise  and  function  of  all  his  faculties  are 
more  or  less  perverted  and  distorted  in  nearly  or  quite  all  mankind. 
Few,  if  any,  live  up  to  their  original  natures,  or  are  any  thing  near  as 
good  in  character  as  they  are  in  their  developments.  The  perverted 
and  excessive  action  of  the  faculties  in  children  is  much  less  than  in 
adults,  and  their  heads  are  better.  No  one  can  look  upon  a  healthy 
child  born  of  really  good  parents,  without  seeing  much  to  admire- 
very  much  that  is  sweet,  lovely,  angelic.  A  man's  business  and  cir- 
cumstances tend  greatly  to  increase  his  virtue  or  vice,  as  do  also  his 
physical  habits,  what  he  eats  and  drinks,  temperance  and  intemperance, 
associates,  &c.  &.c.  The  artificial  state  of  society  in  which  we  live, 
the  inducements  and  temptations  to  sin  which  every  where  beset  us, 
the  universal  scrambling  after  money,  and  rush  for  places  of  profit  and 
power,  corrupting  examples,  wrong  education,  and  thousands  of  simi- 
lar causes  that  are  continuous  and  powerful  in  their  action,  greatly 
enhance  this  depravity,  if  they  do  not  cause  much  of  it,  by  distorting 
and  perverting  the  nature  and  conduct  of  man.  But,  as  to  either  the 
imiate  or  the  total  depravity  of  man.  Phrenology  is  clear  and  demon- 
strative. It  says  that  every  primary  faculty  of  man,  as  originally  con- 
stituted, is  good  and  right,  and  that  the  legitimate  exercise  of  any  and 
every  faculty,  upon  its  own  appropriate  object,  and  in  a  proper  degree, 
is  virtuous — that  no  faculty  is  constitutio7ially  bad  ;  that  all  are  good 
in  themselves,  and  in  their  primitive  action  and  function,  and  that  de- 
pravity forms  no  constituent  or  neeessarily  accompanying  part  of  the 
nature  of  man,  but  is  a  perversion  and  violation  of  that  nature.  Far- 
ther than  the  hereditary  descent  of  qualities  from  parents  to  their  de- 
scendants, already  alluded  to.  Phrenology  knows  nothing  of  man's 
depravity,  either  total  or  innate.  If  this  fully  established  doctrine  of 
Phrenology  is  found  to  embrace  or  explain  the  doctrines  of  "  original 

pulpit,  and  an  Andover  educated  clergyman  in  June  1844,  and  also  in  a  recent 
conversation,  found  it  to  coincide  with  the  views  of  another  leading  Congrega- 
tional clergyman  in  New  England.  Yet,  whether  this  sentiment  be  orthodoxy 
or  not,  is  left  for  others  to  say.  I  give  it  merely  as  his  opinion,  and  leave  it  to 
otiiera  for  consideration. 


164  CAUSE   OF   DEPRAVITY.  319 

sin"  or  "total  depravity,"  by  showing  that  children  inherit  from  their 
parents  particular  predispositions,  propensities,  tastes,  aptitudes,  pas- 
sions, tendencies,  and  mental  and  physical  qualities,  then  Phrenology 
may  possibly  be  said  to  recognize  these  doctrines. 

At  all  events,  children  do  inherit  depraved  propensities  from  their 
parents,  and  also  virtuous  predispositions.  Still,  these  hereditary  ten- 
dencies may  be  counteracted.  Though  insanity,  which  consists  in  the 
over  or  exalted  action  of  one  or  more  faculties,  and  liability  to  be 
wrought  up  to  this  exalted  pitch  of  derangement,  be  hereditary ;  yet, 
by  avoiding  those  causes  of  excitement  which  are  calculated  to  devel- 
ope  and  increase  this  naturally  excessive  susceptibility,  as  well  as  by 
applying  causes  calculated  to  allay  constitutional  excitability,  and  to 
soothe  and  relax ;  no  one,  however  crazy  his  ancestors  may  have  been, 
need  become  deranged.  Indeed,  this  very  susceptibility,  instead  of 
degenerating  into  insanity,  if  properly  managed,  is  calculated  to  aug- 
ment his  talents  and  happiness  ;  for  derangement  is  only  the  excess  of 
that  very  action  which,  when  healthy,  gives  talent  and  enjoyment. 

If  this  be  construed  so  as  to  militate  against  the  doctrine  of  innate 
depravity  and  original  sin,  still  it  is  clearly  a  doctrine  of  Phrenology, 
and  as  such  I  state  it  and  leave  it.  Whatever  other  doctrines  con- 
flict with  it  are  erroneous.  It  is  not  necessary  for  Phrenology  to  con- 
tain this  doctrine  of  original  sin,  only  that  it  should  not  conflict  with 
it :  for,  as  already  observed,  it  is  not  founded  in  the  original  nature  of 
man,  and  therefore  is  not  a  doctrine  of  either  Phrenology  or  Natural 
Theology.  Its  advocates  claim  it  to  be  a  doctrine  of  Revelation,  and 
regard  it  as  one  of  the  doctrines  of  salvation  by  Christ.  To  this  claim, 
Phrenology  willingly  accedes. 

One  origin,  one  great  procuring  cause  of  human  depravity,  is  to  be 
found  in  a  disordered  physiology.  In  my  work  on  Education,  p.  94, 
I  have  shown,  fully  and  conclusively,  that  there  existed  the  most  inti- 
mate relations  between  the  body  and  the  base  of  the  brain,  or  the  or- 
gans of  the  propensities — that  whatever  stimulates  the  former,  natu- 
rally, necessarily  excites  the  latter.  This  law  is  unquestionably  a 
fundamental  principle  of  the  nature  of  man.  I  have  also  shown  in 
this  work,  p.  — ,  that  the  ascendency  of  the  moral  sentiments  and  in- 
tellect, is  one  of  the  leading  conditions  of  virtue,  while  the  action  of  the 
propensities  without  the  direction  and  government  of  intellect  and  the 
moral  sentiments,  is  sinful.  Now  put  that  and  that  together,  that 
physical  inflammation  and  disease  often  excite  the  propensities  till  they 
predominate,  and  thus  induce  sinfulness,  and  we  see  that  physical 
health  is  indispensable  to  moral  purity ;  while  one  prolific  cause  of 


320  ITS   REMEDY,  165 

that  widely  extended  depravity  of  our  race  is  to  be  looked  for  in  the 
diet  and  physical  habits  of  mankind — in  the  enormous  quantities  or 
ardent  spirits,  ale,  beer,  flesh,  cucumbers,  hot  bread  and  butter,  &c. 
&c.,  consumed.  That  alcoholic  drinks  vastly  enhance  the  sinfulness 
and  suffering  of  the  drinker,  is  a  matter  of  fact  which  stares  us  all 
fully  in  the  face.  That  it  does  so  by  disordering  the  physiology,  is 
self-evident.  In  no  other  way  is  it  possible  for  matter  to  effect  mind. 
Then  why  should  not  all  physical  disorder  produce  moral  disorder  1 
Indeed,  I  regard  sin  as  not  unfrequently  the  product  of  a  disordered 
brain,  while  the  normal  function  of  a  healthy  brain,  is  always  virtuous. 
I  regard  flesh  as  highly  corrupting  to  the  blood,  as  highly  inflammatory, 
and  thereby,  as  directly  calculated  to  inflame  the  base  of  the  brain ; 
thereby  producing  moral  implirity.  Man  is  a  physical^  as  well  as  a 
moral  being.  He  is  under  the  dominion  of  physical  laws,  as  well  as 
of  those  that  are  moral.  Why,  then,  should  not  the  violation  of  the 
physical  laws  be  as  sinful  as  that  of  the  moral,  and  vice  versa  of  their 
obedience  ?  Indeed,  the  moral  cannot  possibly  be  obeyed  unless  the 
physical  are  first  obeyed.  Virtue  and  vice,  sin  and  holiness,  happi- 
ness and  misery,  depend  for  man  on  the  conditions  of  the  body — on 
health  and  sickness,  what,  and  how  much  we  eat  and  drink,  how 
much,  and  where  we  sleep,  whether  we  exercise  or  not,  &.c.  &c.,  than 
is  generally  supposed.  A  child  is  more  cross  and  fretful,  and  there- 
fore more  depraved,  when  a  little  unwell,  than  when  not  so.  Eating 
green  fruit,  therefore,  or  doing  anything  else  to  impair  its  health,  in- 
duces this  fretfulness,  and  therefore  augments  depravity.  Similar 
illustrations  innumerable,  apply  to  adults — to  the  whole  human  family. 
And  the  way  to  reform  men  morally,  is  to  reform  them  physically. 
But  the  principle  is  probably  clear,  and  the  inference  most  important. 

Let  me  not  be  understood,  however,  to  ascribe  all  sin  to  physical 
diseases.  Volition  also  enters  into  the  composition  of  sin.  An  act 
cannot  be  called  culpable  unless  it  was  done  voluntarily.  This  is  a 
matter  of  consciousness.  The  motive,  as  well  as  the  act  committed, 
goes  far  towards  rendering  the  doer  criminal  or  innocent.  We  can- 
not feel  really  guilty  for  any  act,  however  wrong  in  itself,  when  our 
intentions  were  right.  Nor  can  we  help  feeling  condemned  for  an  act 
good  in  itself,  but  committed  with  wrong  intentions.  When  we  have 
injured  others  unintentionally,  Ave  may  feel  sorry,  but  we  cannot  feel 
condemned.  Conscientiousness  can  act  only  in  conjunction  with 
the  power  of  will. 

Intellect,  is  also  a  necessary  ingredient  in  accountability.  An  idiot 
cannot  be  morally  accountable,  for,  by  supposition,  he  has  no  intellect 
to  guide  his  choice. 


166  PUNISHSIENT.  321 

So  derangement  diminishes  accountability :  and  so  does  all  those 
physical  disorders  already  spoken  of,  as  inducing  sinful  actions.  As 
far  as  they  affect  us  they  are  upon  a  par  with  derangement. 

In  short,  the  great  Phrenological  law  is  this.  As  the  even,  uniform 
action  of  all  the  faculties,  constitutes  virtue,  and  also  gives  us  correct 
ideas  of  what  is  right,  so  our  accountability  is  greater  or  less,  accord- 
ing as  all  our  physical  and  moral  faculties  are  more  or  less  perfectly 
developed.  The  parable  of  the  talents  is  a  happy  illustration  of  the 
same  doctrine.  Our  moral  accountability  increases  as  does  our  moral 
and  intellectual  capacity.  In  Phrenological  language :  the  more  fully 
and  evenly  developed  our  faculties,  the  more  material  has  conscience 
with  which  to  operate,  and  therefore  the  more  accountable  the  subject, 
and  vice  versa.  This  is  the  phrenological  principle.  Every  reader 
can  run  it  out  in  its  ramified  applications  for  himself 


SECTION  V. 

PUNISHMENT,    HERK    AND   HEREAFTER. 


Having  already  demonstrated  the  existence  of  right  and  wrong,  only 
other  names  for  virtue  and  sinfulness,  it  remains  to  discuss  the  rewards 
of  virtue  and  the  punishment  of  sin.     It  has  all  along  been  implied,  it 
has  been  even  demonstrated,  that  goodness  is  rewardable,  and  sin  pun- 
ishable.     That  is,  obeying  any  and  every  law  of  our  being,  always 
induces  a  given  kind  and  amount  of  pleasure  as  a  reward,  while  vio- 
lating them  inevitably  brings  down  upon  the  transgressor,  and  upon  all 
affected  thereby,  a  given  kind  and  degree  of  pain,  as  a  penalty  conse- 
quent upon  such  violations.     In  the  very  act  of  such  obedience  and  in 
all  its  consequences,  to  ourselves,  to  all  concerned,  we  enjoy,  whilst  in 
and  by  the  transgression,  and  in  all  its  consequences,  we  suffer.     This 
is  a  certain,  uniform,  universal  fact.     The  penalty  goes  along  with  the 
transgression.     The  reward,  Avith  the  obedience.     Each  are  linked 
together  as  causes  and  effects,  and  are  therefore  certain.      They  are 
inseparable  each  from  the  other.     It  is  not  possible  to  sin  without  suf- 
fering, or  to  suffer  without  somebody  having  sinned  to  cause  it.     Nor 
is  it  possible  to  do  right  without  receiving  pleasure  therein  ourselves, 
and  also  making  happy  as  far  as  the  act  in  question  at  all  affucts  others. 
Farthermore.     Different  kinds  and  degrees  of  rewards  and  punish- 
ment accompany  the  obedience  and  violation   of  the  several  laws. 
And  these  are  proportionate  to  the  value  or  importance  of  the  law 


322  PUNISHMENT,   HERE   AND    HEREAFTER.  167 

obeyed  or  broken.  As,  the  greater  any  blessing,  the  greater  the  curse 
of  its  perversion,  so  the  obedience  or  violation  of  the  several  laws,  for 
both  amount  in  fact  to  the  same  thing. 

Not  only  does  this  doctrine  of  proportio7i  exist  between  the  impor- 
tance of  the  several  laws  and  the  penalty  of  their  infraction,  and  vice 
versa  of  their  obedience,  but  there  is  something  in  the  very  charac- 
ter of  the  pain  or  pleasure,  analogous  to  the  nature  of  the  law  broken 
or  obeyed.  Thus  the  obedience  or  violation  of  the  natural  laws,  bring 
physical  happiness  or  suffering,  while  the  violation  or  obedience  of  the 
mental  or  moral  lavsrs,  brings  mental  or  moral  suffering  or  pleasure. 
The  violation  of  the  law  of  reason,  induces  error.,  and  this  error  pun- 
ishes us  in  a  variety  of  ways,  according  to  the  nature  of  the  error  im- 
bibed; and  vice  versa  of  correct  reasoning.  Obeying  the  law  of 
friendship,  induces  pleasure  in  that  department  of  our  nature,  and  in 
all  its  dependencies,  and  vice  versa  of  its  infraction. 

But  this  whole  range  of  thought  is  condensed  in  this — the  self-acting 
of  the  various  laws.  Every  obedience  to  law  reioards  itself.  Every 
violation  of  law  punishes  itself  In  the  very  act  of  obedience  consists 
the  pleasure.  In  and  hy  the  transgression  occurs  the  pain.  Hence, 
the  analogy  between  the  two  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  pleasures  of 
obedience,  or  the  pains  of  its  disobedience  on  the  other.  Hence,  also, 
the  universality.,  of  the  rewards  and  punishments. 

This  doctrine  of  the  self-acting  of  all  the  laws  of  our  being,  shows 
how  it  is  that  we  shall  be  punished,  both  here  and  hereafter.  It  repu- 
diates the  doctrine  of  a  literal  hell  of  fire  and  brimstone,  we  shall  be 
as  it  were,  chained  to  ourselves — chained  to  the  characters  we  form 
here,  and  to  their  consequences.  This  will  coustitute  all  the  hell  we 
shall  ever  experience.  Heaven  consists  in  doing  right.,  and  hell  in 
doing  wrong.  Both  are  conditions,  rather  than  places.  They  are  in 
us,  and  form  a  part  of  us  ;  so  that  Ave  need  not  wait  for  them  hereafter. 
Not  that  Phrenology  repudiates  the  doctrine  of  a  heaven  and  a  hell 
hereafter,  but  it  shows  what  constitutes  heaven,  namely,  obedie7ice  to 
the  laws  of  our  being,  and  what  makes  a  hell,  namely,  the  violation 
of  these  laws,  both  here  and  also  hereafter. 

Again :  virtue  and  vice  are  self -perpetuating  and  self-progressive. 
The  Phrenological  doctrine  of  the  increase  of  organs  by  exercise,  and 
of  their  diminution  by  inaction,  establishes  this  point  beyond  a  doubt. 
As  already  shown.  Phrenology  establishes  the  doctrine  of  a  future 
state  of  being,  and  that  to  us,  as  us — ^to  us  in  our  own  appropriate  per- 
sonality ;  and  as  the  same  beings  then  that  we  are  noio  ;  for  the  argu- 
ment already  shown  to  prove  a  future  state  of  existence,  when  applied 


168  PUNISHMENT,    HERE   AND   HEREAFTER.  323 

to  our  own  personal  existence,  also  proves  that  personal  existence — 
proves  that  loe  ourselves  here,  shall  be  ourselves  hereafter — shall  be  the 
same  beings  here  as  there,  except  important  changes ;  yet  these  chan- 
ges will  not  affect  our  identity,  or  our  personality,  or  our  existence  as 
ourselves.  That  is,  we  shall  be  the  same  beings  there  that  we  are 
here,  except  changes  analogous  to  those  that  occur  between  infancy 
and  old  age. 

Since,  then,  we  shall  exist  hereafter  in  our  own  appropriate  per- 
sons, and  be  the  same  beings  there  as  here,  we  must  of  course  be  mo- 
rally accountable  there  as  well  as  here,  and  also,  as  such,  punishable. 
Otherwise,  one  fundamental  condition  of  our  present  existence  will  be 
wanting,  which  will  destroy  our  identity  and  personality.  Now,  add 
to  this  the  Phrenological  doctrine  of  progression  in  virtue  and  vice — 
the  doctrine  that  the  natural  tendency  of  goodness  is  to  grow  better, 
and  of  depravity  to  become  worse,  and  we  have  all  the  principal  mate- 
rials of  all  the  heaven  and  hell  that  await  us  hereafter.  What  influ- 
ences may  be  thrown  around  us  to  induce  (not  compel)  us  to  choose 
the  good  and  eschew  the  wrong.  Phrenology  saith  not.  These  influ- 
ences may  beveiy  powerful,  and  be  calculated  to  make  the  good  bet- 
ter and  the  bad  worse,  or  to  make  all  better,  and  of  course  the  more 
happy ;  but  I  am  aware  of  but  one  Phrenological  principle  that  bears 
on  this  point.  That  principle  is,  that  as  sin  consists  in  the  predomi- 
nance of  the  propensities,  and  as  death  is  likely  to  weaken  thern^  per- 
haps destroy  many  of  them,  and  also  relieve  us  of  all  those  causes  of 
depravity  which  come  through  a  disordered  physiology,  the  propen- 
sities will  not  then  predominate.  Therefore  we  shall  cease  to  sin ; 
cease  to  suffer.  Still,  there  is  too  much  of  theory  about  both  these 
opposing  inferences  to  render  either  demonstrative.  But  I  cannot 
resist  the  conviction,  to  which  Phrenology  brings  us  by  several  roads, 
that  as  long  as  we  exist,  that  is  forever,  we  shall  reap  the  rewards  of 
our  conduct  in  this  life.  In  the  chapter  on  hope,  when  showing  the 
juxta  position  of  hope  and  conscientiousness,  I  think  I  demonstrated 
a  principle  that  bears  on  this  point.  Still  the  principle  being  before  the 
reader,  he  will  draw  his  own  deductions.  Let  it  be  borne  in  mind  that 
this  work  purports  to  give,  not  the  theology  of  its  author,  but  of  Phre- 
nology ;  supposing  this  science  to  be  true.  Individual  opinions  should 
have  no  place  in  the  work.  The  author  has  sedulously  endeavored  to 
deduce  every  doctrine  presented  in  these  pages  legitimately  from  some 
fuUy  established  principle  of  Phrenology. 

Let  it  also  be  distinctly  remembered,  however,  as  all  along  implied, 
that  Phrenology  teaches  natural  theology  only — the  moral  nature 


324  PENITENCE    AND    PARDON.  169 

and  CONSTITUTION  of  man  alone — and  not  the  doctrine  or  means  of  sal- 
ration  by  Christ.  Though  it  teaches  the  doctrine  of  penitence  and 
pardon,  on  which  salvation  by  Christ  is  founded,  yet  it  neither  reveals 
a  Savior,  nor  shows  what  we  must  do  to  be  saved.  The  one  specific 
object  of  Revelation,  appears  to  me  to  be,  to  reveal  a  Savior  and  dis- 
close the  means  of  salvation,  not  to  furnish  a  code  of  morals  for  the 
guidance  of  man's  conduct.  The  fall  of  Adam  and  salvation  by  Christ, 
occurred  after  the  nature  of  man  was  completed,  and  are  extraneous 
to  that  nature  ;  so  that  Phrenology,  which  unfolds  the  constitution  and 
laws  of  man's  nature,  could  not  have  any  specific  bearing  on  these 
points.  The  code  of  Phrenology  was  sealed  before  a  Savior  was 
needed,  so  that  those  doctrines  connected  with  salvation,  such  as  the 
doctrines  of  the  trinity,  atonement,  total  depravity,  special  divine  influ- 
ences, and  kindred  doctrines,  are  all  left  to  be  developed  by  revelation. 
For  Phrenology  to  claim  their  revelation,  would  be  plagiarism,  and 
derogatory  to  the  Bible,  to  reveal  which  is  its  main  design.  Whether 
Phrenology  developes  principles  relative  to  the  atonement  of  offences 
by  a  third  person  or  not,  I  know  not,  but  I  believe  that  this  also  is  left 
to  be  revealed  by  the  Bible. 


SECTION  VI. 

PENITENCE   AND   PARDON. 


"  Then  came  Peter  to  him  and  said,  Lord  how  often  shall  my  brother  sin  against 
me  and  I  forgive  him  ?  Till  seven  times  ?  Jesus  saith  unto  him,  I  say  not  unto 
thee,  until  seven  times,  but,  until  seventy  times  seven." 

In  morals,  the  doctrine  of  penitence  and  pardon,  is  one  of  great  im- 
portance— is  even  fundamental.  It  is  also  undecided.  Christianity 
maintains,  or  rather  is  based  in  the  doctrine  of  the  forgiveness  of  sin, 
or  of  atonement  and  salvation  by  Christ.  Infidelity  scouts  this  doc- 
trine on  the  ground  that  it  directly  contravenes  every  law  of  nature,  and 
argues  that  the  violation  of  every  law  of  nature  induces  its  own  penalty, 
while  its  observance  brings  with  it  its  own  reward — that  this  doctrine 
of  penitence  and  forgiveness  shields  the  guilty  from  deserved  punish- 
ment, allowing  them  to  violate  the  inexorable  laws  of  their  being,  and 
yet  escape  their  penalties — and  there  is  nothing  in  sorrow  for  sin  at  all ; 
calculated  to  ward  off  its  fearful  penalties — that  if  a  man  take  arsenic 


170  PENITENCE   AND    PARDON.  326 

or  laudanum,  and  the  moment  afterwards  is  deeply  penitent  thereof,  yet 
that  this  penitence  does  not  in  the  least  stay  the  effects  of  the  deadly 
poison — that  even  when  we  sin  ignorantly,  the  effect  is  the  same  and 
the  penalty  sure ;  and  that  therefore  this  doctrine  of  forgiveness  of  sin 
is  utterly  unphilosophical,  and  right  in  the  very  teeth  of  all  that  we 
Icnow  to  be  true  in  nature  touching  this  point. 

And  now,  Christian,  where  is  thy  answer  ?  A  "  thus  saith  the  Lord" 
will  not  do,  for  the  infidel  does  not  admit  the  truth  of  revelation,  but 
requires  an  answer  drawn  from  nature^  and  founded  in  the  constitu- 
tion of  man,  or  in  some  fully  established  moral  principle.  It  may 
safely  be  said  that  nature  no  where  furnishes  any  evidence  of  this  lead, 
ing  Christian  doctrine ;  but  so  far  from  it,  is  directly  opposed  to  it,  be- 
cause her  natural  and  physiological,  as  well  as  moral  laws,  are  inexo- 
rable, and  the  punishment  attached  to  their  violation  certain.  The 
Christian  is  nonplussed.  Nothing  in  nature  affords  him  any  aid.  but 
everything  is  against  him.  Phrenology  now  kindly  steps  forward  to 
his  aid,  and  says  to  Infidelity,  "  Cease  thy  triumphant  boasting,  for  this 
Christian  doctrine  has  its  counterpart  in  the  nature  of  man."  One  of 
the  functions  of  conscientiousness  is  to  be  sorry  when  we  are  convinced 
of  having  done  wrong,  and  another  is  forgiveness  of  the  penitent.  I 
have  examined  tens  of  thousands  of  heads,  and  am  plain  to  say,  that 
large  conscientiousness  not  only  experiences  deep  remorse  and  contri- 
tion when  sensible  of  having  sinned,  but  also  freely  and  fully  forgives 
the  penitent ;  but,  with  combativeness  and  destructiveness  also  large,  it 
never  xviU  forgive  the  sinner  till  he  shows  penitence.  Till  he  breaks 
down  with  sorrow  for  sin,  it  pursues  him  with  unrelenting  moral  in- 
dignation, and  the  more  so  the  larger  this  organ  ;  but,  the  moment  it 
discovers  penitence,  it  says,  "  I  forgive,"  "  go  thy  way,  sin  no  more." 
It  is  not  in  the  heart  of  a  conscientious  and  benevolent  man  to  punish 
an  erring  but  penitent  sinner,  who  is  humbly  supplicating  pardon  for 
sins  committed.  Until  it  does  discover  this  penitence,  however,  it  says, 
"  Let  law  have  its  course.  He  has  sinned,  and  his  punishment  is  de- 
served. Let  it  be  inflicted  without  mercy."  But  the  very  instant  it 
discovers  sorrow  for  sin,  its  sword  of  justice  is  sheathed.  Its  primi- 
tive feelings  are  subdued.  Its  moral  indignation  is  disarmed  and 
smothered,  and  succeeded  by  full  forgiveness.  But  I  never  yet  have 
found  the  man  with  small  conscientiousness,  and  large  combativeness 
and  destructiveness,  who  showed  signs  either  of  penitence  for  his  own 
sins,  or  of  forgiveness  of  others.  A  story  of  one  will  serve  for  all.  At 
Cambridge,  in  1838, 1  examined  the  head  of  an  old  college  mate  having 
this  organization.     The  night  following,  he  conceived  himself  insulted 


326     IT  IS  OUR  DUTY — OUR  PRIVILEGE TO  FORGIVE  THE  PENITENT.     371 

by  a  friend,  vsrhom  he  accordingly  challenged.  His  friend  apologized. 
"  But  what  does  your  apology  have  lo  do  with  my  wounded  honor  % 
Does  your  sorrow  atone  for  your  insult?  No!  Apology  or  no 
apology,  I  will  have  satisfaction.''^  If  benevolence  be  large,  it  may 
stay  the  uplifted  hand  of  vengeance,  but  the  old  grudge  will  still  rankle 
in  the  bosom.  A  cordial  reconciliation  is  impossible,  however  hum- 
ble and  penitent  the  transgressor.  But  large  conscientiousness  fully 
and  freely  forgives,  freely  restores  the  guilty  to  confidence  and  affec- 
tion, and  even  bestows  increased  favors  upon  him. 

The  doctrine  of  penitence  and  pardon  then,  so  essential  to  the  main- 
tenance of  Christianity,  is  proved  by  Phrenology  to  form  a  part  and 
parcel  of  the  nature  of  man,  and  to  be  consistent  with  that  nature. 
True,  Phrenology  says  nothing  about  forgiveness  and  salvation  by 
Christ.  It  proves  that  the  great  elemeiit  or  principle  of  forgiveness  is 
not  only  not  inconsistent  with  the  nature  of  man,  but  is  actually  en- 
grafted on  that  nature.  It  proves  the  basis  or  ground  work  of  this 
Christian  doctrine,  and  leaves  it  for  the  Bible  to  say  hoio  and  by  whom 
we  are  to  be  forgiven.  Overthrow  this  doctrine  of  forgiveness,  and 
Christianity  is  overthrown,  and  even  razed  from  its  very  foundations ; 
but  establish  it,  and  you  thereby  establish  the  fundamental  basis  of  for- 
giveness by  Christ.  Phrenology,  as  already  seen,  proves  this  doc- 
trine of  forgiveness  to  be  a  function  of  conscientiousness,  and  to  be 
engrafted  in  the  nature  of  man,  and  then  leaves  it  for  the  Bible  to  tell 
us  how  we  are  to  be  saved  from  the  consequences  of  sin.  Tell  me, 
Christian,  art  thou  sufficiently  thankful  for  this  timely  aid  ?  Wilt  thou 
not  embrace  and  kiss  thy  twin  sister  and  thy  handmaid  ?  How  un- 
grateful is  this  nineteenth  century  Christianity  (falsely  so  called,)  in 
thus  turning  its  twin  sister  out  of  doors  ! 

Let  me  not  be  understood  to  say  that  we  can  sin  and  not  be  punished 
at  all.  But  not  to  the  full  extent.  In  and  by  the  very  act  of  trans- 
gression, we  suffer.  But  that  suffering  often  continues  throughout  this 
life.  And,  what  is  more,  the  natural  tendency  of  sin  is  to  augment 
itself.  But  penitence  induces  reform — always,  necessarily,  and  thus 
both  arrests  the  increase  of  the  transgression,  and  consequently  stays 
the  penalty  that  avouM  otherwise  have  occurred,  as  well  as  tends 
towards  healing  the  wound  already  made. 

This  principle  shows  that  it  is  our  duty,  our  privilege,  to  forgive  the 
penitent.  Our  fellow  men  wrong  us  ;  wrong  others.  At  first,  we  feel 
disposed  to  pursue  them  with  the  uplifted  hand  of  punishment.  But 
this  principle  stays  that  hand.  It  teaches  us  that  to  "  err  is  human  :  to 
forgive,  divine."     "  Let  him  that  is  without  sin,  cast  the  first  stone." 


172  WE   SHOULD    FORGIVE   THE    PENITENT.  327 

Sinful  man  should  not  be  censorious.  Why  is  he  so  much  so  %  Do 
they  who  condemn  others,  think  they  are  perfect  1  Should  not  they 
forgive  who  pray  to  be  forgiven  ?  How  many,  themselves  no  incon- 
siderable sinners,  essay  to  pray  "  Forgive  us  our  sins  as  we  forgive 
those  who  trespass  against  us,"  and  yet  are  unsparing  not  in  their  cen- 
sure merely,  but  in  their  ceaseless  condemnation  of  those  who  are  even 
no  worse  than  they  are.  This  is  not  Phrenology.  It  is  not  Bible. 
It  is  not  Christianity.  Forgiveness  was  one  of  the  greatest  lessons 
taught  by  the  great  Teacher  and  Exemplar  of  mankind.  "  If  thine 
enemy  hunger,  feed  him."  "  He  that  smiteth  thee  on  the  one  cheek, 
turn  to  him  the  other  also."  This  is  Christianity.  This  is  Phreno- 
logy. And  he  is  the  best  Christian  who  is  the  most  forgiving.  One 
of  the  very  best  of  men  it  was  my  happy  lot  ever  to  know,  was  one  of 
the  most  forgiving.  He  will  take  an  erring  brother  by  the  hand  and 
tell  him,  "  sin  no  more,"  but  not  cast  him  off  because  he  had  fallen. 
Above  all  things,  because  a  man  has  one  "  easily  besetting  sin,"  should 
he  not  be  condemned  as  a  bad  man  in  all  things.  And  yet  the  general 
say  is,  "  He  that  will  lie,  will  steal."  As  though  a  man  could  not  be 
guilty  of  one  sin  without  being  black-hearted  throughout,  and  given  to 
all  manner  of  wickedness.  One  propensity  may  be  strong,  yet  others 
not  so,  and  the  moral  organs  generally  large.  That  propensity  may 
overcome  him,  and  yet  he  be  at  heart  good,  and  correct  in  all  other 
respects.  Or,  under  some  powerful  temptation,  he  may  give  way  for  a 
single  moment,  only  to  repent  and  abhor  himself  in  sackcloth  and  ashes 
therefor,  and  yet  be  cast  out  of  society,  and  by  those,  too,  who  call 
themselves  Christians  ;  though  a  rose  by  any  other  name  would  smell 
as  sweetly.  Especially  should  this  forgiving  spirit  be  manifested  to- 
wards the  young.  They  often  sin  from  impulse  merely.  Forgive 
and  restore  them,  and  they  will  reform,  whereas,  if  not  forgiven,  but 
blamed  and  cast  off,  they  would  plunge  again  into  the  vortex  of  sin 
and  misery,  from  which  they  might  otherwise  have  been  saved. 

Look  again  at  the  practical  utility  of  the  application  of  this  principle 
of  forgiveness.  As  long  as  the  drunkard  was  cast  out  of  society  for 
being  a  drunkard,  and  treated  with  contempt  therefor,  he  continued 
to  drink.  But  when  he  was  taken  by  the  hand  of  brotherly  feeling  by 
Washingtonianism,*  and  restored  to  his  lost  standing  in  society,  and 

*  By  many  good  men,  and  even  Temperance  advocates,  Wasliiugtonianism  is 
held  in  light  esteem.  They  say,  "  Oh  yes,  it  has  done  good  to  be  sure,  but,  but, 
but."  Allow  me  to  say,  that  nearly  every  distinctive  feature  of  Washingtonian- 
ism is  founded  in  a  principle  of  the  nature  of  man.  Its  forgiving  spirit  pre-emi- 
nently.     Its  whole-souled  benevolence.      Its  brotherly  feeling.      Its  practical 


328  THIS   CHRISTIAN    VIRTUE   SHOULD   BE   CULTIVATED.  173 

made  again  to  feel  that  he  was  a  man,  he  reformed.  But  twit  a  Wash- 
ingtonian  of  having  been  a  drunkard,  and  you  take  the  most  effectual 
method  possible  to  re-plunge  him  into  that  abyss  of  ruin  from  which 
he  would  otherwise  have  escaped.  As  great  a  reform  is  yet  destined 
to  be  effected  among  the  daughters  of  sin,  as  is  now  in  progress  among 
the  inebriates.  It  cannot  be  that  this  whole  class  of  unfortunates  must 
perish.  Benevolence  will  not  permit  it.  Humanity,  flushed  with  the 
triumphs  she  is  now  achieving  for  the  intemperate,  as  well  as  in  other 
departments  of  philanthropy,  will  not  allow  so  numerous,  so  miserable 
a  class  of  human  beings,  to  perish  in  their  sins.  And  in  this  greatest 
of  works  she  will  not  be  buffeted.  Success  will  even  increase  upon 
her.  But,  how — by  what  weapons — is  she  to  achieve  her  conquests  ? 
'Qj  forgiveness.  By  love.  Now,  when  a  woman  sins,  be  she  ever  so 
penitent,  be  it  that  her  seducer  is  almost  wholly  in  fault,  as  is  almost 
always  the  case,  be  it  even  that  she  sinned  under  the  most  solemn  pro- 
mises of  marriage,  or  by  mock  marriage,  still,  she  is  cast  out  of  "  gen- 
teel" society.  All  the  respectables  point  at  her  the  finger  of  scorn. 
Even  so-called  Christians  are  loudest  in  her  condemnation.  Every 
friend  forsakes  her.  All  employment  forsakes  her.  Though  vdlling 
to  earn  her  living  by  any  occupation  however  laborious,  however  me- 
nial, yet  even  that  is  taken  from  her.  She  must  starve.,  or  else  live  com- 
pletely abandoned,  however  repulsive  such  a  life.  Nobly,  immortal 
Mrs.  Childs  !  hast  thou  done  by  Amelia  Norman.  Beyond  all  praise, 
thy  conduct !  Worthy  of  all  imitation,  thy  example  !  And  it  will  be 
followed.  It  will  rescue  from  "  hell"  thousands  who  must  otherwise 
perish  in  untold  misery !  A  worthy  sister  of  the  great  apostle  and 
martyr  of  moral  reform !  Go  on.  Persevere,  ye  sisters  of  moral  re- 
form. Teach  men  practical  forgiveness.  Rather  re-teach  them ; 
for,  by  precept  upon  precept,  by  parable  after  parable,*  by  example 
after  example,  did  Christ  Jesus  inculcate,  enforce,  command,  his  disci- 
ples to  exercise  this  pre-eminently  Christian  virtue.  I  long  to  see  the 
Washingtonian  movement  extended  to  the  moral  reform  cause.  Won- 
ders, will  this  forgiving  principle  work.  Let  its  virtues  be  tried.  Let 
this  rarest  of  Christian  virtues  be  cultivated.  And  immeasurably  will 
the  fruits  thereof  gladden  mankind,  as  well  as  fill  the  forgiving  soul  to 

efiFects  and  practical  workings.  Its  narration.  Hardly  any  thing  interests  the 
human  mind  more  :  convinces,  argues,  persuades,  instructs,  or  calls  out  all  the 
faculties  of  the  human  mind,  more  than  narrative,  facts  ,experiences,  stories,  &c. 
And  it  is  destined  to  teach  even  the  learned  many  a  lesson  of  human  natizre  which 
metaphysics  does  not  reveal. 
•  See  Matthew  xxi. 


174  CONCLUSION,  329 

its  utmost  capacity  with  a  joy  which  it  hath  not  entered  into  the  heart 
of  man  to  conceive.* 

CONCLUSION  OF  RELIGION 

Intellectual  Reader  !  Thou  now  hast  an  outline  merely  of  natu- 
ral religion.  To  take  up,  point  by  point,  the  ground  thus  gone  over, 
and  compare  each  with  the  doctrines  of  the  Bible,  would  be  an  easy 
task — so  easy  that  each  reader  can  do  it  for  himself,  especially  aided 
by  that  partial  comparison  of-them  instituted  as  we  have  passed  along. 
Future  editions  may  take  up  this  matter  at  this  point,  and  prosecute 
it  farther. 

Meanwhile,  adieu.  Excuse  imperfections.  Draw  the  mantle  of 
charity  over  especially  the  censorious  spirit  occasionally  manifested  ; 
for  the  man  would  sometimes  rise  above  both  the  Phrenologist  and 
the  Christian.  But,  take  its  subject  matter,  and  draw  therefrom  what- 
ever will  make  thee  happy,  will  make  thee  better. 

*  I  design  soon  to  present  this  subject  of  the  moral  reform  in  the  pages  of  the 
Journal. 


0.  S.  FOWLER  ON 
TEMPEEANCE, 


FOUNDED    ON" 


PHRENOLOGY  AND  PHYSIOLOGY 


THE  LAWS  OF  LIFE, 

AND   THE 

PRINCIPLES  OF  THE  HUMAN  CONSTITUTION, 

AS    DEVELOPED    BY   THE 

SCIENCES   OF  PHRENOLOGY   AND   PHYSIOLOGY, 

APPLIED    TO 

TOTAL  ABSTINENCE 

FKOM  ALL  ALCOHOLIC  AND  INTOXICATING  DRINKS 

BY  0.  S.  FOWLER, 

PRACTICAL     PHRENOLOGIST, 

Sditor  of  the  American  Phrenological  Journal ;  and  Author  of  "  Phrenology 

Proved,  Elusirated,  and  Applied;"  "Fowler's  Practical  Phrenology ;" 

and  several  other  Phrenological  Works. 

FOURTH  rpi;Tzo^,  suiMAnaiSB  ^ns  improved. 

WITH  SIX  ENGRAVINGS.— By  J.  W.  Prentiss. 


"1  beseech  you,  theielore,  brethren,  by  the  mercies  of  God,  that  ye  present  your 

BODIES  a  living  sacrifice,  holy,  acceptable  to  God." — St.  Paul. 

"  Sana  mens  in  corpore  sano." — Cic. 


NEW-YORK : 

PUBLISHED  AND  FOR  SALE  BY  0.  S.  &  L.  N.  FOWLER,  IN  CLINTON 
HALL,  135  Nassau  st. :  BOSTON,  Saxon  &  Pierce,  and  Jordan  &.  Co. :  PHI- 
LADELPHIA, J.  R.  Colon,  203  1-2  Chesnut  st. :  R.  L.  Adams,  Rochester, 
N.  Y. :  Graham,  Dean,  &  Co.,  Rome,  N.  Y. :  0.  Hutchinson,  Utica,  N.  Y. : 
Dr.  Kimball,  Sackett's  Harbor,  N.  Y. :  J.  C.  Derbey  &  Co..  Auburn,  N.  Y. : 
J.  A.  Hopkins,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. ;  Wise  &  Rice,  Lowell,  Mass. :  0.  Wilmarth, 
Providence;  J.  G.  Forman:  D.  G.  Derby;  Phrenol.  H.  Fowler,  Hanover,  Mich. 

Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  Year  1842,  by  O.  S.  Fowler  Sf  J. 
TV.  Prentiss,  in  Clerk's  Office  of  the  United  States'  District  Court  of  the  Southern 
District  of  New  York. 

1844. 


PREFACE   TO   THE   SECOND  EDITIOIS". 

Having  long  been  an  active  advocate  of  the  temperance  reform,  and  also  a  ^turer 
upon  Phrenology,  the  author  was  naturally  led  to  observe  and  compare  the  bearings  and 
relations  of  each  to  the  other.     This  little  essay  embodies  the  results. 

To  the  sneering  question  often  put,  "  What  possible  application  can  your  so  called 
science  of  bumps  and  sculls  have  upon  temperance,"  I  reply,  that  this  ridiculed  sci- 
lence,  founded  as  it  is  in  the  nature  of  man,  and  unfolding  the  laws  and  phenomena 
of  his  being,  has  a  great  and  most  happy  application  to  all  his  duties  and  relations  to 
himself,  his  fellow  men,  and  his  God.  It  applies  to  his  domestic  relations,  gi^^ng  bet- 
ter directions  for  choosing  and  living  with  companions  for  Ufe,  and  also  for  educating 
children  physically,  intellectually  and  morally,  than  can  be  dra^^m  from  any  other  quar- 
ter. To  his  moral  relations  it  applies  with  equal  beauty  and  force,  unfolding  a  perfect 
and  most  striking  harmony  between  the  great  principles  and  leading  truths  of  Reve- 
lation, and  the  moral  doctrines  and  precepts  of  Phrenology.  Thus  by  pointing  out 
the  organ  of  veneration,  it  not  only  proves  the  spiritual  existence  of  the  great  Author 
of  all  things  to  which  this  faculty  is  adapted,  but  also  enjoins  on  man  the  imperious 
duty  of  exercising  this  faculty  in  his  worship.  This  doctrine,  revelation  also  assumes 
and  enforces.  The  existence  of  the  organ  of  Benevolence,  requires  man  to  "  do  good" 
as  he  has  opportunity,  and  that  of  Conscientiousness,  to  "deal  justly"  and  "walk 
uprightly,"  and  so  of  the  other  moral  faculties. 

That  such  a  science  should  also  apply  with  unequaled  force  and  beauty  to  temper- 
ance, is  not  at  all  surprising ;  and  the  great  number  of  moderate  drinkers  whom  it  hag 
induced  to  "  swear  off"  from  all  forms  and  degrees  of  intoxicating  drinks,  the  univer- 
sal approbation  with  which  it  has  been  received,  as  well  as  the  rapid  sale  of  the  first 
edition,  bear  strong  testimony  as  to  the  power  and  value  of  its  application.  But 
one  opuiion  has  been  expressed  with  regard  to  its  subject  matter,  and  the  motives  to 
temperance  which  it  presents,  namely,  that  they  surpass  any  and  all  others  ever  before 
presented,  especially  in  regard  to  moderate  di-inking.  These  remarks,  however,  apply 
solely  to  the  principles  of  the  essay  as  drawn  from  Phrer-oiogt,  and  not  to  its  author- 
ship, style,  arrangement,  &c.,  which  are  less  labored  and  perfect  than  the  author  could 
desire.  Still  as  he  prepared  and  designed  it  for  the  mass  and  not  for  the  critical,  he 
has  sacrificed  its  beauty  of  diction  upon  the  altar  of  its  force  and  practical  appli- 
cation. 

The  Health  Jom-nal  of  March  10,  says  of  it :  "  This  is  not  only  one  of  the  most  pow- 
erful temperance  documents  we  have  ever  seen,  but  its  principles  vnW  apply  with  equal 
force  to  '  every  thing  heating  and  stimulating  in  its  nature.'  The  lecture  cannot  fail 
to  be  interesting  to  every  one,  and  there  are  few  who  will  not  reap  much  benefit  firom 
its  perusal."  "  Before  this  lecture  came  into  our  hands,  we  had  not  for  a  long  time 
met  with  a  temperance  document  possessed  of  merit  sufficient  to  inspire  a  careful 
perusal ;  but  this  has  interested  us  most  deeply,  and  we  wish  it  might  have  an  exten- 
ded circulation.  The  extract  which  we  copy  will  be  found  exceedingly  instructive." 
Dr.  Alcott  says,  "  We  like  the  pamphlet  before  us  much,  and  take  this  opportunity  to 
recommend  it."  The  P.oston  Medical  and  Surgical  .Journal  says:  "We  view  the 
undertaking  as  an  ingenious  contribution  to  the  cause  of  temperance,  logically,  phre- 
nologically,  and  medically  considered.  It  may  touch  a  string  that  no  other  argu 
ment  has  reached,  and  its  circulation  should,  therefore,  be  encouraged  by  the  tern 
perance  reformers.  If  phrenology  supplies  cogent  reasons  for  living  tenperate  Iive% 
it  is  turning  the  science  to  a  practical  account  at  a  momentous  period."- 


PREFACE  TO  THE  FIRST  EDITION.  iii 

In  giving  publicity  to  this  Lecture,  the  Author  is  but  yielding  to 
the  one  general  desire  and  request  of  the  thousands  who  heard  it. 
Said  Dr.  Green,  of  Watertown,  N.  Y.,  "  It  is  worth  all  the  temper- 
ance addresses  I  ever  before  heard."  The  Rev.  Mr.  Harrison,  of 
Jackson,  Mich,  said  :  "  We  must  have  this  in  print.  It  is  a  foun- 
tain of  the  very  best  of  temperance  materials."  The  Rev.  N.  W. 
Fisher,  in  a  letter,  says  of  it :  "  The  motive  of  Total  Abstinence  as 
drawn  from  it  are  powerful  and  highly  practical,  and  its  applica- 
tion to  the  cause  of  Temperance  most  happy  and  useful." 

The  mere  Phrenology  and  Physiology  it  contains,  cannot  but  be 
interesting  and  useful  to  the  general  reader,  and  secure  it  a  perusal, 
whilst  its  temperance  inferences,  instead  of  being  drawn  from  those 
highly  colored  and  sometimes  ridiculous  descriptions  of  the  drunk- 
ard, which  not  even  the  veriest  sot  will  take  to  himself,  are  founded 
•upon  the  immutable  principles  of  the  human  constitution,  as  beauti- 
fully and  clearly  unfolded  by  Physiology  and  Phrenology. 

EXPLANATION  OF  THE  DRAWINGS. 

No.  1,  Or  the  Temperate  Man,  represents  a  genteelly  dressed 
and  respectable  young  man,  with  a  cheerful,  happy  expression  of 
countenance,  and  the  aspect  of  contentment  and  enjoyment.  In- 
stead of  having  a  bloated  or  inflamed  appearance,  his  face,  lungs, 
stomach,  and  all  the  internal  organs,  indicate  health  and  physical 
happiness.  The  stomach  especially,  performs  its  legitimate  func- 
tion of  digestion  and  nutrition  with  energy  and  without  pain,  the 
whole  of  it  being  brought  into  vigorous  action. 

His  whole  expression  denotes  goodness  and  intelligence,  or 
the  ascendency  of  the  moral  and  intellectual  faculties,  with  that 
quiet,  harmonious  action  of  all  his  powers  which  is  indispensable  to 
enjoyment,  both  physical  and  mental. 

No.  2,  Or  the  Occasional  Drinker,  evinces  much  sensuality  ;  a 
love  of  merely  animal  gratification,  without  forethought  or  intelli- 
gence, and  with  the  boisterous,  bacchanalian  expression  of  the  roudy. 
He  is  dancing,  carousing,  laughing  immoderately,  carrying  on  at  a 
great  rate,  making  a  great  noise,  cutting  a  great  svv^ell,  and  playing 
off  the  genteel  loafer  in  clothes  not  yet  paid  for.  (See  pp.  18  to  21.) 
His  eyes  indicate  sensuality,  and  his  stomach  and  lungs  bear  evi- 
dent marks  of  deep-seated  and  habitual  mjlammation,  brought  on 
by  intoxication  and  debauchery.  True,  he  has  a  certain  species  of 
enjoyment,  but  it  is  of  a  merely  animal,  grovelling  character,  in- 
stead of  that  quiet  flow  of  happiness  which  characterizes  temper- 
ance. The  stomach  especially  is  becoming  hardened  and  rigid,  so 
that  it  will  not  create  a  healthy  appetite,  or  digest  its  allowance 
of  food  without  being  goaded  up  to  action  by  potent  draughts  of 
wine  or  spirituous  liquors.  His  lungs  also  bear  evident  traces  of 
the  ravages  of  alcohol,  and  all  his  internal  organs  are  groaning  be- 
neath an  oppressive  load  which  is  carrying  him  into  a  premature 
grave.  The  wheels  of  life  have  been  urged  on  with-such  tremend- 
ous velocity  that  they  must  soon  suddenly  give  way,  or  else  move 


IV  EXPLANATION   OF   THE   DRAWINGS. 

on  with  utter  irregularity  and  confusion,  till  themis  erable  tippler  lie- 
comes  a  besotted  drunkard. 

No.  3,  Or  the  Besotted  Drunkard,  whose  vital  organs  are  almost 
worn  out,  and  thoroughly  diseased  and  deranged  by  strong  drink. 
(See  pp.  21  and  22.)  He  looks  as  if  he  were  old,  weak,  feeble, 
and  most  miserable.  (See  Proposition  IX,  p.  24,  "  Alcoholic  drinks 
shorten  human  life.")  He  has  violated  both  the  physical  and  the 
mental  laws  of  his  being,  (see  p.  7,)  and  is  now  paying  the  dread- 
ful forfeit.  (See  bottom  of  p.  12.)  He  has  become  unable  to  hold 
up  his  head,  and  too  indolent  to  attempt  any  kind  of  labor,  and  is 
utterly  inefficient.  His  lungs  have  become  thoroughly  diseased, 
and  even  ulcerated,  and  his  stomach  is  so  chirrous  or  hardened  that 
most  of  it  has  ceased  to  digest  food,  so  that  only  that  light,  open 
space  through  its  centre,  is  left  capable  of  performing  digestion. 
Hence  he  eats  but  little,  (see  pp.  25  and  26,)  and  that  little  is  but 
imperfectly  digested,  so  that  with  the  prodigious  exhaustion  of  his 
animal  energies,  caused  by  alcoholic  drinks,  (see  p.  24,  Prop.  IX.,) 
and  the  cutting  off  of  his  re-supply  of  nutrition,  he  is  too  weak  to 
labor,  or  even  to  hold  up  his  head,  and  is  obliged  to  support  himself 
by  leaning  against  a  post.  This  is  still  farther  evinced  by  his  be- 
dimmed  and  half  closed  eyes,  his  tattered  garments,  and  the  general 
languor  and  shiftlessness  of  his  appearance.  His  days  are  num- 
bered and  almost  finished.  That  inflammation  of  the  internal  or- 
gans and  brain  which  characterizes  the  tippler,  (No.  2,)  has  in  part 
ceased,  leaving  him  depressed  in  spirit,  languid  and  thoroughly  dis- 
eased throughout  the  whole  body,  the  brain  not  excepted. 

No.  4,  Illustrates  Delirium  Tremens — the  last  and  most  awful 
state  of  drunkenness.  So  often  and  so  powerfully  have  the  brain 
and  nervous  system  been  wrought  up  by  strong  drink  to  a  pitch  of 
action  bordering  on  insanity,  that  they  have  finally  given  way  to 
wild  delirium,  and  the  most  frightful  ravings  of  bewildered  fancy 
have  taken  the  place  of  the  calm  self-possession  indicated  in  No.  1. 
This  preternatural  excitement  of  the  brain  and  nervous  system, 
without  a  re-supply  of  vital  energy,  by  means  of  healthy  lungs  and 
a  vigorous  digestion,  has  wasted  away  his  flesh  till  he  has  become 
a  mere  skeleton — a  perfect  wreck  of  a  man,  while  his  diseased  brain 
is  cungering  up  images  the  most  horrid,  and  demonds  the  most 
frightful  imaginable,  exceeding  in  horror  any  thing  which  the 
healthy  brain  can  ever  conceive  or  experience.  In  this  most  awful 
condition,  he  dies — to  appear  before  his  God  !  His  lungs,  stomach, 
heart,  brain,  and  whole  system  have  been  burnt  out  and  eaten  up 
by  stimulants,  and  are  either  so  hardened  and  rigid  (chirrous)  as  to 
be  utterly  insensible,  or  they  are  eaten  up  by  ulcers,  gangrene,  &c. 
No.  5,  is  a  drawing  of  a  healthy  brain,  the  relation  of  which  to  the 
stomach  and  internal  organs,  is  most  intimate,  so  that  it  is  affected 
similarly  with  them — its  base  in  particular.  No.  6,  represents  a 
state  of  highly  wrought  inflammation,  and  this  inflammation  is  im- 
parted to  the  brain,  and  especially  to  its  base,  producing  that  wild- 
ness  and  sensuality  represented  in  No.  2,  and  p.  13. 


FHRENOLOGY  versus  INTEMPERANCE. 


In  presenting  this  subject,  I  shall  first  briefly  explain  some  of  those 
laws  which  govern  the  influences  of  the  body  upon  the  mind,  and  of  the 
mind  upon  the  body,  showing  what  conditions  of  either  induce  and  cause 
those  of  the  other;  secondly,  point  out  the  consequences  or  penalties  at- 
tached to  the  violation  of  these  laws ;  and,  thirdly,  show  the  effects  of 
intoxicating  drinks,  of  every  kind  and  degree,  upon  the  physical  and 
thereby  upon  the  mental  economy,  violating  these  laws  and  thus  indu- 
cing their  penalties,  firstby  powerfully  stimulating  the  body,  and  thereby 
the  merely  animal  nature  of  man,  and  also  weakening  his  moral  and 
intellectual  powers;  and,  secondly,  by  shortening  human  life. 

Independently  of  its  application  to  temperance,  its  physiological  and 
phrenological  facts  and  principles  wiU  be  found  eminently  interesting 
and  valuable  to  all  classes. 

PROPOSITION  I. — There  exist  reciprocal  relations  between  the 
conditions  of  the  body  and  the  states  of  the  mind,  each  influencing  and 
being  influenced  by  that  of  the  other.  For  aught  we  know,  man  might 
have  been  created  a  purely  spiritual  entity,  without  a  body,  but  the 
great  ends  of  our  existence  are  evidently  better  secured  by  our  natures 
being  compounded.  Hence  we  are  composed  of  mind  and  body  so 
closely  imited  by  the  reciprocal  action  of  certain  physiological  and  phre- 
nological laws,  that  the  conditions  of  each  have  a  perfectly  reciprocal 
and  powerful  influence  upon  the  states  of  the  other,  each  throwing  the 
other  into  its  corresponding  state.  Hence  a  clear,  cold  morning,  a  heavy, 
muggy  atmosphere,  oppressive  heat,  &c.,  very  differently  affect  the 
mind  by  throwing  the  body  into  different  states.  A  high  fever  increases 
the  mental  m.anifestations  and  augments  the  feelings,  whilst  hunger, 
fatigue,  and  every  enfeebled  state  of  the  body  proportionably  weak- 
en them.  Dyspepsia  induces  irritability,  peevishness,  gloom,  and  a 
a  most  wretched  state  of  mind  and  feeling,  totally  reversing  their  char- 
acter, and  changing  the  friend  into  the  misanthrope,  the  blessings  of 
hope  into  the  bitterness  of  despair,  and  the  happy  man  into  a  most  misec  • 
able  being.  Physiccd  inaction  induces  mental  sluggishness,  whilst  a 
due  degree  of  exercise  or  labor  clears  the  mental  horizon  of  those  clouds 
with  which  confinement  or  slothfulness  envelopes  it,  producing  a  delight- 
ful flow  of  thought  and  feeling.  Food  and  sleep,  or  the  want  of  them, 
powerfully  and  very  differently  affect  the  states  of  the  intellect  and  feel- 
ings, whilst  a  sufficient  dose  of  arsenic  or  laudanum  extinguishes  both 
for  this  world.  Sickness  enfeebles  and  health  strengthens  the  mind; 
and  most  of  our  constantly  occurring  changes  of  feeling  and  mental 
action  are  attributable  to  the  causes  involved  in  this  proposition.  Some 
of  our  ablest  speakers  and  writers  of  all  classes  have  learned  by  expe- 
rience to  practice  abstinence  preparatory  to  their  most  powerful  efforte. 
Certain  kinds  of  food  excite  some  of  the  animal  passions,  whilst  others 


6  RECIPROCAL  INFLUENCES  OF  BODY  AND  MIND  UNIFORM. 

increase  our  desire  and  ability  to  think  and  study.*  The  inspired  Paul 
embodies  this  doctrine  in  the  text,  "I  beseech  you,  therefore,  brethren, 
by  the  mercies  of  God,  that  ye  present  ycur  bodies  a  hving  sacriticc, 
holy,  acceptable  unto  God,"  implying  that  the  proper  condition  of  the 
body  induces  a  holy  state  of  the  mind,  whilst  an  inflamed  or  impure 
body  kindles  the  animal  passions.  As  soon  may  we  expect  the  sun  to 
stand  still,  or  the  water  to  run  upwards,  as  that  the  pious  christian  will 
"be  clothed  with  the  spirit"  or  be  borne  upwards  upon  the  wings  of 
devotion,  or  the  profound  thinker  or  the  learned  student  of  nature  be  able 
to  bring  all  his  mental  energies  into  full  and  efficient  action,  when  he  has 
overloaded  his  digestive  apparatus,  or  induced  a  severe  cold  or  fever,  or 
in  any  other  way  clogged  or  disordered  his  bodily  functions.  "A  sound 
mind  in  a  sound  body"  not  only  beautifully  and  forcibly  expresses  the 
sentiment  of  this  proposition,  but  also  embodies  the  experience  of  past 
ages  and  ail  nations.  Both  religion  and  talent  depend  more  upon  the 
conditions  of  the  body,  and  especially  of  the  digestive  apparatus,  upon 
what  we  eat  and  drink,  upon  our  physical  habits,  than  most  good  peo- 
ple are  aware  of.  Hence,  fasting  promotes  piety,  -v/hilst  '■'•fullness  of 
brecuV  kindles  sinful  desires.  Insanity,  which  consists  in  the  derange- 
ment of  the  mind,  is  caused  solely  by  an  inflamation  of  the  brain. 

In  like  manner  also  given  states  of  mind  throw  the  body  into  their  cor- 
responding states.  Thus  bad  news  diminishes  the  appetite  and  impairs 
digestion,  whilst  good  news  promotes  both.  Encouraging  the  sick  gen- 
erally improves  their  health,  v/hilst  the  loss  of  property,  of  friends,  or 
of  children,  often  induces  or  aggravates  disease.  The  derangement  of 
the  mind  often  doubles  and  quadruples  the  physical  strength.  In  short,  as 
well  may  one  question  the  evidence  of  his  senses  as  to  controvert  this 
proposition,  that  both  mind  and  body  each "  powerfully  and  reciprocally 
affect  the  other.  Every  member  of  the  human  family  daily  and  con- 
stantly yee/s  this  truth. 

PROPOSITION  IL — These  relations  between  body  and  mind  are 
governed  by  certain  invariable  laws  of  cause  and  effect,  given  condi- 
tions of  the  one  inducing  and  causing  the  corresponding  states  of  the 
other.  The  principle  that  whenever  a  part  of  a  given  class  of  phenom- 
ena are  governed  by  laws  of  cause  and  effect,  every  phenomenon  of  that 
class  is  governed  by  these  same  laws,  is  a  universal  principle  of  nature, 
and  may  be  relied  upon  in  every  conceivable  application.  Are  a  part  of 
the  phenomena  of  vision  governed  b)'-  the  laws  of  optics,  every  phe- 
nomenon of  vision,  performed  by  man  or  brute  since  the  creation  of 
Adam,  has  been  governed  by  the  same  laws.  Are  a  few  bodily  motions 
caused  by  muscular  contraction,  all  are  caused  by  the  same  contraction. 
Should  millions  of  daggers  be  driven  into  the  hearts  of  as  many  human 
beings,  they  would  in  every  instance  separate  mind  and  body.  Lf:tany 
or  every  member  of  the  human  family  take  opium  or  its  compounds, 

♦Should  this  lecture  be  well  received,  the  author  intends  to  follow  it  with  an  essay 
on  the  different  effects  of  the  various  kinds  of  food  and  drinks  upon  the  mind  and 
feelings,  as  applicable  both  to  intellectual  men  and  also  equally  to  the  religious,  but 
as  such  a  work  to  be  at  all  valuable,  must  be  founded  ??o/  on  speculative  reasoning, 
but  solely  on  the  compilation  of  a  great  number  and  variety  of  fads  and  the  expe- 
rience of  mankind,  the  author  solicits  individuals  to  observe  and  communicate  to  him 
the  results  of  such  experiments. 


LAW  OBEYED  BPaNGS  PLEASURE,  ITS  VIOLATION  CAUSES  PAIN  7 

and  one  and  all  v/iU  experience  its  effects.  These  illustrations  will 
apply  equally  to  every  law  of  nature.  That  some  of  these  relations 
existing  between  mind  and  body  are  governed  by  laws  of  cause  and 
effect,  is  self-evident.  Therefore  all  are  equally  so,  and  eue;'?/ condition. 
of  either  throws  the  other  into  its  corresponding  state.  If  in  any  one 
instance  a  given  condition  of  either  body  or  mind  causes  or  is  caused  by 
that  of  the  other,  then  every  state  of  either  causes  or  is  caused  by  the 
corresponding  conditions  of  the  other.  Either  there  exist  no  relations 
of  cause  and  effect  between  the  two,  or  else  it  is  all  cause  and  effect— 
all  antecedent  and  consequent,  for  nature  always  makes  thorough  work 
or  does  nothing. 

Hence,  we  can  at  any  time  throw  either  mind  or  body  into  any  desired 
state  by  putting  the  other  into  its  corresponding  one,  and  we  can  no 
more  put  either  into  any  given  state  without  thereby  throwing  the  other 
into  its  corresponding  one,  than  we  can  arrest  the  operation  of  any  other 
law  of  nature.  And  since  the  brain  is  the  instrument  of  thought  and 
feeling,  its  conditions  influence  the  mind  more  powerfully  than  those  of 
all  the  other  portions  of  the  body  united.  Hence  to  excite  either  fac- 
ulty or  organ  is  to  excite  the  other ;  and  as  the  stomach  and  brain  are  inti-  ■ 
mately  related,  its  state  also  powerfully  influences  that  of  the  mind. 

PROPOSITION  III. — Every  law  of  nature  has  a  sure  reivard 
attached  to  its  observance,  and  a  fearful  penalty  affixed  to  its  violation. 
Had  there  been  no  fixed  laws  of  cause  and  effect,  things  would  have 
occurred  without  any  regularity  or  certainty.  Stones  would  then  have 
been  liable  to  have  produced  grain ;  wheat,  animals  ;  the  sun,  darkness ; 
and  fire  sometimes  one  thing  and  then  another.  ]Man  could  have  relied 
upon  nothing — could  have  accomplished  nothing.  But  this  institution 
of  law  has  reduced  chaos  to  a  most  beautiful  system  of  uniformity  and 
certainty.  Yet  without  a  penalty  attached  to  violated  laws,  and  pleas- 
ure to  their  obedience,  they  would  have  been  useless,  because  powerless. 
Hence  a  benevolent  God  has  inseparably  affixed  happiness  to  their  obe- 
dience, and  also  misery  to  their  violation.  Still  farther.  He  has  pro- 
portioned the  penalties  of  disobedience  and  the  pleasures  of  obedience 
to  the  importance  of  the  several  laws.  As  life  is  the  greatest  of  all  bles- 
sings, and  as  the  violation  of  the  civil  law  which  protects  it  is  visited 
with  the  heaviest  of  all  penalties,  and  as  the  laws  which  protect  property 
or  character  are  less  important,  and  their  violation  punished  with  less 
severity,  so  those  laws  which  obtain  between  mind  and  body,  being  of 
the  very  highest  order  of  laws,  their  observance  is  productive  of  the  pur- 
est, most  exalted,  and  most  condensed  of  all  enjoyments,  whilst  their 
violation  plunges  the  disobedient  into  the  deepest  misery,  because  the 
mind  is  the  one  main  fountain  from  which  springs  most  of  our  pains 
and  pleasures.  And  what  is  still  more,  the  enj  oyment  or  violation  follows 
in  the  direct  line  of  the  obedience  or  transgression,  Each  law  has  its 
own  penalty  and  enjoyment  attached  to  itself,  being  its  own  executioner. 
To  obey  a  law  is  to  enjoy  the  blessings  secured  by  that  law;  to  trans- 
gress it  is  to  suffer  its  penalties.  There  can  be  no  escape,  no  evasion 
of  either  throughout  God's  vast  domains.  These  results  are  inevitable 
and  invariable.  Infinite  Benevolence  has  put  obedience  with  its  bles- 
sings into  our  right  hand,  and  disobedience  with  its  curses  into  our  left, 
and  endowed  us  with  power  to  choose  or  refuse  either.     AU  our  pleas- 


8         BALANCE  OF  POWER  CONSTITUTES  PERFECTION  AND  HAPPINESS. 

ures  flow  from  law  obeyed,  all  our  pains  from  law  violated.  And  as  the 
observance  or  violation  of  these  lav\'s  depends  mostly  upon  each  individ- 
ual for  himself,  his  happiness  or  misery  is  mostly  in  his  own  keeping— 
the  reward  or  penalty  of  his  own  actions. 

Inference. — A  knowledge  of  those  lav/s  which  govern  the  influen- 
ces of  body  upon  mind  and  mind  upon  body,  is  as  much  more  impor- 
tant than  is  a  knowledge  of  the  laws  of  mechanics  or  natural  philosophy, 
of  chemistry  or  navigation,  of  astronomy,  or  any  other  thing  appertain- 
ing to  matter,  as  mind  is  superior  to  matter.  And  yet  man's  utter  igno- 
rance in  relation  to  this  subject,  is  as  deplorable  as  it  is  almost  total. 
Every  thing  else  is  studied  and  this  neglected,  yet  this  should  be  fully 
understood,  even  at  the  sacrifice  of  all  other  knowledge. 

These  three  propositions  constitute  our  base  lines,  our  starting  points, 
our  corner  stones.  Who  will  "gainsay  or  resist  them?"  They  stand 
unshaken  and  unmoved,  being  based  upon  the  immutable,  invariable  laws 
of  nature. 

PROPOSITION  lY  .—'Balance  of  power  constitutes  perfection,  and 
with  it  that  obedience  to  laiu  which  secures  enjoyment;  whilst  both 
the  excessive  and  deficient  action  of  any  part  constitutes  imperfection, 
or  that  violation  of  lata  which  induces  pain.' — First,  in  reference  to 
the  several  parts  of  the  body.  As  an  organized  being,  man  is  composed 
of  three  principal  classes  of  organs.  1 .  The  vital  temperament  or  nutri- 
tive apparatus,  namely,  the  heart,  lungs,  blood,  digestive  apparatus,  &c, 
embracing  the  entire  system  of  inside  organs,  which  manufacture  vital- 
ity, furnish  animal  vigor,  and  re-supply  the  brain,  nerves  and  muscles 
with  that  vital  energy  which  their  every  action  compels  them  to  expend. 

2.  The  motive  apparatus,  embracing  the  bones,  muscles,  sinews,  ten- 
dons, &c.,  which  constitute  the  frame  work  of  the  system,  give  it  its 
size  and  shape,  and  produce  bodily  motion,  physical  strength,  &c.,  and 

3.  The  brain  and  nervous  system,  the  exercise  of  which  produces  thought, 
feeling,  sensation,  talents,  memory,  &c.*  Nearly  every  form  of  physi- 
cal pain  and  disease  is  caused  mainly  by  the  deficient  or  excessive  action 
of  one  or  more  of  these  temperaments.  If  carried  far,  they  hasten  death, 
but  when  they  are  all  well  developed  and  equally  balanced,  there  will  be 
an  abundant  supply  of  vital  energy  to  keep  the  animal  economy  in  mo- 
lion,  a  proportionate  supply  of  physical  strength,  love  of  exercise,  and 
ability  to  labor,  together  with  lively  sensibilities,  intensity  of  feeling,  and 
power  of  thought,  the  result  of  which  will  be  good  health,  long  life, 
physical  and  mental  enjoyment  in  the  highest  degree  of  which  our  nature 
is  susceptible,  and  a  high  order  of  natural  talent.  But  on  the  principle 
that  an  overloaded  stomach  withdraws  the  strength  from  the  brain  and 
muscles,  the  predominance  or  deficiency  of  either  part  tends  to  increase 
the  excess  or  defect,  which  augments  the  evil,  being  the  reverse  of  what 
should  take  place.  This  exhausts  the  weaker  temperaments  which  go 
by  the  board,  carrying  health,  happiness,  and  life  along  with  them. 

The  best  condition  of  body,  the  one  most  favorable  to  true  greatness 
and  a  general  genius,  to  balance  and  consistency  of  character,  and  to 
perfection  in  every  thing,  is  that  in  which  each  temperament  is  strongly 

*For  a  full  description  of  these  temperaments  with  their  accompanying  mentai 
qualities,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  chapter  on  "Physiology,  or  the  Doctrine  of  tiie 
Temperaments,"  in  "Fowler's  Practical  Phrenology,"  pp.  10  te  28 


BALANCE  OF  TEMPERAMENTS  CONSTITUTES  HEALTH.  9 

marked,  and  all  about  equally  balanced.  Is  there  too  much  of  the  motive, 
there  is  power,  yet  but  little  action,  so  that  the  talents  lie  dormant.  Does 
the  vital-motive  greatly  predominate  over  the  mental,  though  there  may 
be  physical ^ower  and  enjoyment,  there  will  be  too  little  mental,  too  much 
grossness,  coarseness  and  obtuseness  of  feeling,  with  too  little  of  the 
intellectual  and  too  much  of  the  animal.  But  where  the  mental  greatly 
preponderates,  there  will  be  too  much  mind  for  the  body,  too  great  sensi- 
tiveness, too  much  intensity  of  feeling,  and  that  too  exquisite,  too  much 
sentimentalism  and  refinement,  with  a  tendency  to  precocity,  which  indu- 
ces an  early  death. 

These  temperaments  and  their  predominance  may  be  aptly  compared 
to  the  several  parts  of  a  steamboat.  The  vital  is  the  wood,  water,  five, 
steam  and  engine,  which  produce  the  propelling  power ;  the  motive  is 
the  hulk  ;  the  mental,  the  freight  and  passengers.  AVhen  the  vital  pre- 
dominates, it  manufactures  more  steam,  more  vital  energy,  more  impulse, 
more  animality  than  the  brain,  nerves,  and  muscle  can  work  off,  which 
produces  an  overflowing  of  feeling  and  passion,  a  restlessness,  a  high 
pressure,  and  a  liability*to  explode.  The  lion  has  a  prodigious  chest, 
and  an  amount  of  animal  power  almost  beyond  conception,  with  but  a 
small  brain.  Hence  with  scarcely  a  hundredth  part  of  his  strength,  but 
with  well  developed  brain  and  nerves,  man  can  accomplish  a  thousand 
fold  more.  Does  the  osseous  and  muscular  system  greatly  predominate, 
there  is  too  much  hulk  ;  the  person  will  move  slowly  and  feel  but  little, 
enjoy  and  suffer  only  proportionally  little,  and  if  the  mental  is  also  weak, 
be  obtuse  in  intellect,  a  stranger  to  refinement  and  intellectual  enjoyment, 
and  having  but  few  passengers,  the  boat  of  life  will  be  too  light  freight- 
ed to  be  worth  running,  or  to  secure  the  great  ends  of  existence,  namely, 
intellectual  and  moral  enjoyment.  But  where  the  mental  greatly  pre 
dominates,  the  vessel  is  overladen,  the  energies  of  the  system  are  drawn 
from  the  digestive  apparatus  and  muscles,  and  concentrated  in  the  brain, 
which  thus  consumes  the  vital  powers  faster  than  the  vital  organs  can  man- 
ufacture the  re-supply.  This  over-draught,  whilst  it  greatly  augments  the 
talents,  also  causes  premature  death.  This  principle,  whilst  it  explains  the 
cause  of  the  premature  death  of  precocious  children,  cautions  excessive 
parental  fondness  not  to  press  them  forward  in  study,  lest  by  increasing 
the  predominence  of  the  brain  they  thus  hurry  them  into  an  early  grave. 
It  is  also  illustrated  by  the  ill  health,  the  dyspepsia,  the  nervousness, 
head-ache,  ennui,  &c.  of  our  literary  and  sedentary  classes,  and  by  the 
intellectual  obtuseness  of  those  who  neglect  mental  culture.  Consump- 
tive families  are  usually  sliifi-built  and  narrow  chested,  which  indicate  weak 
vital  organs  and  very  active  brains.  This  disproportion  of  parts  hastens 
their  death.  Apoplexy,  gout,  &c.  are  caused  by  the  opposite  extreme,  and 
if  physicians  would  but  restore  the  lost  balance  between  the  tempera- 
ments, they  would  save  many  patients  whom  they  now  lose.  If  man- 
kind in  general  would  only  keep  these  temperaments  equally  balanced, 
if,  when  they  are  becoming  nervous,  they  would  labor  more  and  think 
and  feel  less,  when  worn  down  with  labor,  they  would  rest  and  read, 
when  they  have  taken  more  food  than  exercise  they  would  restore  the 
balance  between  the  two,  if,  like  Bonaparte,  they  would  take  the  extreme 
opposite  that  which  caused  their  disorder — which  is  only  applying  the  prin- 

A 


10  BALANCE  BETWEEN  THE  FACULTIES  CONSTITUTES  VIRTUE. 

ciple  we  are  presenting — a  large  portion  of  those  who  now  die  young 
would  live  to  be  old. 

The  inference  is  plain  and  powerful  that  whatever  unduly  excites  or 
developes  either  oi"  these  classes  of  organs,  proportionably  induces 
disease  and  hastens  death. 

Secondly.  This  same  principle  of  balance,  when  applied  to  the  phre- 
nological faculties,  constitutes  virtue,  and  their  disproportionate  action 
predisposes  to  vice.  The  phrenological  definition  of  virtue  is  this,  the 
proper  and  harmonious  exercise  of  all  the  faculties  upon  their  legitimate 
objects,  under  the  control  of  the  moral  sentiments.  On  the  other  hand, 
vice  consists  in  the  excessive  or  perverted  action  of  any  of  the  faculties, 
and  especially  of  the  animal  propensities  vM  thus  directed.  If  the  ani- 
mal propensities  predominate  in  action,  they  demoralize  and  debase  the 
higher,  nobler  gifts  of  God,  and  whilst  in  one  sense  they  assimilate  the 
"lord  of  creation"  to  the  "beasts  that  perish,"  in  another,  they  render 
him  far  worse  and  more  miserable,  because  of  his  greater  susceptibility 
of  enjoyment  and  sufiering.  Are  they  deficient,  their  weakness  is  also 
unfavorable  to  virtue.  If  Amativeness  predominates  or  acts  either  with- 
out the  purifying  influence  of  the  higher  faculties,  or  in  opposition  to 
their  dictates,  it  leads  to  licentiousness,  but  under  their  control,  it  becomes 
connubial  love,  than  which  no  emotion  of  our  nature  is  more  pure  or  vir- 
tuous, Combativeness,  acting  alone,  is  mere  physical  prowess,  or  the 
real  "  knock-do wn-and-drag-out"  disposition,  which  is  highly  vicious^ 
thereby  incurring  the  penalty  attached  to  the  violation  of  this  mental  law, 
while  this  faculty,  acting  in  obedience  to  Conscientiousness  and  Benevo- 
lence, becomes  moral  courage,  defence  of  rights,  and  of  the  oppressed^ 
&c.,  a  highly  virtuous  emotion.  The  due  exercise  of  Alimentiveness, 
by  strengthening  the  body  and  thereby  the  moral  and  intellectual  quali' 
ties,  is  virtuous,  bringing  with  it  its  own  reward,  whilst  its  excessive 
indulgence,  by  overloading  the  stomach,  and  thus  clouding  the  intellect 
and  blunting  the  moral  sensibilities,  becomes  vice.  Average  Secretive- 
ness,  governed  by  Conscientiousness,  employs  policy  in  a  good  cause, 
whilst  its  excessive  action,  unchecked  by  the  higher  faculties,  leads  to 
lying  and  duplicity.  Acquisitiveness,  or  love  of  property,  duly  exer- 
cised, promotes  industry  and  sobriety,  gathers  around  us  the  comforts  of 
life,  and,  aided  by  Conscientiousness,  produces  even-handed  justice, 
whilst  its  predominance  leads  to  cheating,  extortion,  &c.  Excessive 
Cautiousness  produces  irresolution,  procrastination  and  timidity,  and  is 
unfavorable  both  to  virtue  and  efficiency,  but  duly  balanced,  it  gives  that 
discretion  which  is  the  better  part  of  valor.  Coes  Self-Esteem  predom- 
inate, unchecked  by  Conscientiousness  or  intellect,  it  inflates  one  almost 
to  bursting  with  pride,  self-sufficiency,  haughtiness  and  egotism,  whereas 
its  due  developement,  controlled  by  the  moral  and  intellectual  faculties, 
imparts  dignity,  and  that  self-respect  v/hieh  elevates  one  above  meanness 
and  trifling,  and  also  leads  him  fully  to  appreciate  and  fulfil  the  great 
ends  of  his  being.  Is  Firmness  very  large  and  unconti'oUed,  it  renders 
one  doggedly  obstinate,  imper^aous  to  conviction,  and  blindly  tenacious 
of  his  opinions  and  purposes,  whether  right  or  wrong,  merely  because 
he  wills  it  to  be  so ;  is  this  organ  small,  he  is  too  fickle  to  accomplish  any 
thing,  "being  blown  about  by  every  wind  of  doctrine,"  every  new  no- 
tion ;  but  fairly  developed  and  balanced,  no  element  of  character  is  more 


THE    STIMULATING    EFFECTS    OF   ALCOHOL.  H 

valuable.  Predominant  Ideality  renders  one  fastidious,  and  too  delicate 
and  refined,  whilst  its  deficiency  leads  to  coarseness  and  vulgarity ;  but 
its  fair  developement  blends  the  serviceable  with  the  perfect,  combining 
utility  with  beauty. 

Do  one's  perceptive  powers,  which  give  the  various  kinds  of  memory 
and  the  ability  to  collect  and  retain  knowledge,  greatly  predominate  over 
his  reflectives,  though  he  may  be  very  apt  as  a  scholar  and  talker,  he  will 
be  superficial,  lack  thought,  judgment  and  contrivance,  and  be  incapable 
of  ascending  from  facts  to  first  principles,  and  on  the  other  hand,  are  the 
perceptives  small  but  reflectives  pi-edominant,  lie  will  have  a  wretched 
memory,  be  unable  to  command  his  knowledge,  or  bring  his  talents  to 
bear  upon  practical  matters,  be  given  to  merely  speculative,  scholastic, 
abstract,  therefore-and-wherefore,  metaphysical  theorizing,  which  is 
valueless,  and  though  he  may  know  how  to  reason,  his  knowledge  of  facts 
wiU  be  too  limited  to  furnish  data  sufficient  to  form  correct  inductions. 
But  where  both  are  equally  balanced,  the  former  collect  abundant  mate- 
rials which  the  latter  work  up  into  correct  arguments  and  sound  conclu- 
sions. Both  equally  developed  give  a  general  talent,  constitute  a  well 
balanced  and  truly  philosophical  mind,  give  the  true  Baconian,  inductive 
iTjethod  of  studying  nature  by  ascending  from  facts  up  to  first  principles, 
the  only  possible  means  of  arriving  at  the  truth.  This  developement 
not  only  is  perfectly  adapted  to  the  laws  of  nature  and  harmonizes  with 
the  constitution  of  the  human  mind,  but  also  gives  what  is  called  sound 
common  sense,  correct  judgment,  and  enlarged  views  of  subjects,  whilst 
its  absence  causes  the  intellectual  lameness,  the  warped  views,  and  the 
fallacious  and  diversified  opinions  existing  among  mankind.  This  prin- 
ciple applies  generally  to  all  the  faculties. 

Again :  the  want  of  action  in  any  of  the  organs  is  unfavorable  to  vir- 
tue. Thus,  is  Amativeness  wanting,  connubial  love  is  absent,  and  this 
incentive  to  virtue  dead.  Is  Combativeness  small,  the  husband  cannot 
defend  his  family,  nor  the  truth,  nor  any  good  cause,  but  quails  before 
the  approach  of  every  obstacle.  Is  Alimentiveness  deficient,  our  higher 
mental  powers  would  become  enfeebled,  and  if  Acquisitiveness  is  small, 
as  is  often  the  case  with  the  sons  of  rich  parents,  prodigality  ensues, 
thus  opening  the  door  to  many  vices  which  larger  Acquisitiveness  would 
shut  out.  Inactive  Conscientiousness,  or  Benevolence,  or  Veneration, 
or  reasoning  power,  each  leaves  a  great  mental  hiatus,  their  exercise  being 
indispensable  to  virtue. 

We  are  thus  prepared  for  the  important  inference  that  whatever  tends 
to  weaken  or  unduly  excite  either  of  these  classes  of  faculties,  espe* 
cially  the  animal  propensities,  is  thereby  calculated  to  unhinge  and  derange 
the  mind,  thus  causing  vice  and  misery. 

PROPOSITION  V, — Alcohol  powerfully  stimulates  and  irritates 
the  brain  and  nervous  system. — Apply  it  to  an  open  wound,  or  bring  it 
in  contact  with  an  exposed  nerve,  and  it  burns  like  fire.  Let  it  be  applied 
ten  million  times  to  as  many  fresh  wounds  or  exposed  nerves,  and  every 
application  will  hx'mg  painfid  evidence  of  the  truth  of  this  proposition. 
Let  those  who  doubt  it,  try  the  experiment.  It  bums  the  mouth,  and 
hence  the  practice  of  taking  water  with  gi'og  and  water  after  grog,  to 
quench  the  fire  it  always  kindles.  There  is  something  in  the  very  natures 
of  alcohol  and  the  nerves,  by  which  the  former  invariably  irritates  the 


13  ALCOHOL  STIMULATES  THE  BRAIN  AND  MIND. 

latter.  No  law  of  nature  >3  more  clear  or  universal  than  that  by  which 
alcohol  excites  the  brain  and  nerves.  As  soon  may  one  deny  the  effects 
of  gravity,  or  question  the  phenomena  of  optics  or  chemistry,  as  attempt 
to  controvert  this  proposition.  As  soon  can  he  "  carry  coals  of  fire  in  his 
bosom  and  not  be  burned,"  as  bring  alcohol  in  contact  with  the  brain  or 
nerves  without  powerfully  exciting  them.  Indeed,  it  is  taken  mostly  on 
account  of  its  stimulating  qualities. 

PROPOSITION  VI. — The  exciting  properties  of  alcohol  are  re- 
tained after  it  is  taken  into  the  system.—!.  This  is  abundantly  evinced 
by  the  stimulus  or  increased  action  which  it  imparts  to  the  muscles,  and 
indeed  to  the  whole  animal  economy.  2.  It  passes  unchanged  into  the 
blood,  having  the  same  irritating  effect  hi  the  system  that  it  has  Avhen 
applied  externally.  It  has  been  extracted  from  the  blood  by  chemical 
analysis,  and  found  in  the  watery  secretions  of  the  brain  of  drunkards 
after  death,  and  that  in  such  abundance  as  to  send  forth  the  alcoholic 
flame  and  smell.  E.  C.  Delavan  put  the  question,  "Is  alcohol  digesti- 
ble?" to  forty  of  our  most  eminent  physicians,  and  every  reply  con- 
tained a  full,  unequivocal  negative.  Cases  of  spontaneous  combustion, 
in  which  the  bodies  of  topers,  in  spite  of  their  incombustibility,  actu- 
ally ignite  and  burn  to  death,  incontestibly  establish  this  point. 

Again:  this  blood,  thus  surcharged  with  this  powerful  stimulant,  this 
deadly  poison,  is  broi;ght  into  direct  contact  with  every  part  and  particle 
of  the  entire  system,  Avith  every  shred  of  every  nerve,  and  with  every 
fibre  of  every  muscle,  the  ramifications  of  its  vessels  being  inconceiva- 
bly minute  and  numerous.  "The  blood  thereof  is"  indeed  "the  life 
thereof."  As  is  the  state  of  the  blood,  so  is  that  of  the  system  in  gen- 
eral, and  of  the  brain  and  mind  in  particular.  The  same  is  substantially 
true  of  the  stomach.  Its  condition  powerfully  affects  that  of  the  great 
sympathetic  nerve,  Avhich  in  its  turn  influences  the  entire  system,  espe- 
cially the  base  of  the  brain. 

PROPOSITION  VII. — About  one  seventh  part  of  the  blood  is  sent 
to  the  head,  ivhich  is  several  hundred  per  cent,  more  in  proportion  to 
its  size,  than  is  carried  to  any  other  piortion  of  the  system.- — This  is 
the  universal  testimony  of  all  physiologists.  The  reason  is  obvious. 
By  a  law  of  our  nature,  every  action  of  every  nerve  and  nmscle,  every 
exercise  of  brain  and  mind,  causes  a  proportionate  expenditure  of  vital 
energy.  The  blood  being  the  great  medium  for  re-supplying  this  exhaust- 
ed vital  energy,  is  most  abundant  where  the  greatest  re-supply  is  deman- 
ded. Hence,  since  the  brain  is  the  organ  of  the  mind,  since  the  irritating 
effect  of  alcohol  is  most  powerful,  almost  as  much  so  as  fire  or  arsenic, 
since  its  exciting  property  is  retained  after  it  is  taken  into  the  blood,  anU 
since  so  much  gi'eater  a  proportion  of  blood  is  sent  to  the  head  than  to 
any  other  part  of  the  system,  the  effects  of  alcohol  upon  the  mind  of 
man  must  be  most  powerful  and  tremendous,  either  for  good  or  for  evU. 

Still  farther :  however  extraordinary  man  is  as  a  merely  physical  being, 
it  is  his  intellectiml  and  moral  qualities  which  constitute  the  chief  ends 
of  his  existence.  He  was  never  made  merely  to  eat  and  sleep,  to  breathe 
and  labor  and  die.  He  was  created  mainly  to  think  and  feel,  to  adore 
God  and  to  study  his  works.  It  is  not  his  coat,  nor  yet  his  body,  but 
it  is  his  intellecfucd  and  m.oral  nature  which  constitutes  the  manhood  of 
man.     All  else  is  not  worth  counting.     This  is  the  man.     Thisconsti- 


ALCOHOL  STIMULATES  THE  ANIMAL  PROPENSITIES  IIAINLY. 


13 


tutes  his  identity  and  personality.  Could  you  cut  from  him  limb  after 
limb,  and  one  portion  of  his  body  after  another,  until  the  ivhole  were  cut 
away,  he  vv^ould  be  the  same  man  still,  provided  his  mind  v/ere  left  the 
same;  but  let  insanity  derange  that  winrf,  or  let  death  separate  it  from 
the  hoAj,  and  he  is  not  the  same  person.  We  feel  that  his  lifeless  body 
is  not  himself.  It  is  our  minds,  our  moral  capabilties,  our  powers  of 
thought  and  feeling,  which  constitute  our  very  essence  and  subskincs, 
our  personality  and  identity,  flesh  and  blood  being  our  dwelling  only. 
Hence  the  exercise  of  mind  is  more  fatiguing,  more  painful,  more  pleas- 
urable than  that  of  the  body.  "  Voluptas  Animi  major  est  qiiam  cor" 
poris." 

If,  therefore,  the  effect  of  alcohol  is  good  at  all,  it,  must  be  t'enygood, 
if  bad,  bad  in  the  very  highest  possible  degree,  and  bad  upon  the  very 
essence  and  soul,  and  centre  of  the  man,  because  it  storms  the  very  dti- 
del  of  our  nature. 

In  tv/o  ways,  therefore,  first  by  the  gi'eat  amount  of  blood  sent  to  the 
head,  and  secondly  by  its  effects  upon  the  nervous  system  in  general, 
and  the  brain  in  particular,  and  especially  upon  the  internal  nervous  tract, 
do  alcoholic  liquors  irritate  and  stimulate  the  brain,  and  thereby  the  men- 
tal faculties,  for,  as  already  shown,  to  excite  either  is  to  excite  the  other. 
PROPOSITION  VIII. — This  extraordinary  condensatioyi  of  stim- 
ulus is  CONCENTRATED  upon  the  BASE  of  the  brain,  powerfully  stimu- 
lating the  merely  khimki,  propensities,  whilst  it  weakens  the  moral  and 
intellectual  faculties. — According  to  Phrenology,  the  organs  of  the  ani- 
mal propensities  are  located  in  the  base  of  the  brain,  close  to  the  body 
which  they  serve,  and  whose  wants  they  supply,  so  that  the  intercom- 
munication between  the  two  is  greatly  facilitated  by  their  juxtapostion, 
the  conditions  of  each  exerting  a  reciprocal  influence  upon  the  states  of 
the  other.     But  the  moral  organs,  the  higher,  religious  and  God-like 

sentiments,  have  their  location  in  the  M/)/;er 
portion  of  the  head,  as  far  removed  as  pos- 
sible from  those  influences  vv^hich  disturb 
the  body,  (a  vv^ise  provision  this,)  whilst 
intellect  is  located  in  the  forehead. 

Again:  the  organs  of  the  perceptive 
faculties,  which  acquire  and  retain  knowl- 
edge, give  the  various  kinds  of  memory, 
and  bring  man  in  contact  with  matter  and 
its  physical  properties,  are  located  around 
the  eye,  close  to  the  body  again,  whilst 
the  organs  of  reason,  the  noblest  gift  of 
God  to  man,  occupy  the  highest  portion 
of  the  forehead,  being  also  far  removed  from  the  "body. 

Mark  well  the  inference.  Not  only,  as  already  shown,  is  there  sev- 
eral hundred  per  cent,  more  of  the  exhileration  produced  by  alcohol  car- 
ried to  the  head  than  to  any  other  portion  of  the  system,  but  this  stimu- 
lus is  concentrated  upon  the  base  of  the  brain,  or  upon  the  organs  of  the 
animal  propensities,  thereby  goading  to  the  highest  degree  of  inflamed 
and  morbid  action,  the  merely  animal  nature  of  man,  but  leaving  his 
moral  and  reasoning  powers  far  in  the  rear. 


14  IT  V/EAKEXS  THE  MORAL  AND  INTELLECTUAL  FACULTIES. 

Not  only,  therefore,  is  tliis  effect  produced  by  the  juxtaposition  of  ths 
animal  organs  and  body,  but  so  intimate  are  the  nature  and  relations  of 
each  to  the  other,  that  to  excite  either  is  to  excite  the  otlier — to  inflame 
or  stimulate  the  body  is  to  stimulate  those  mental  faculties  which  serve 
that  body,  namely,  the  animal  joassions. 

Again,  by  a  law  of  our  nature,  to  over-tax  any  organ  draws  the  strength 
from  the  other  portions ,  and  concentrates  it  upon  the  laboring  part.  Thus 
an  overloaded  stomach  draws  the  strength  from  the  muscles,  from  the 
brain,  from  every  other  part,  to  remove  the  load,  rendering  us  drowsy, 
dull  and  averse  to  both  mental  and  physical  action.  Close  mental  appli- 
cation, powerful  thinking  and  intense  emotion  impair  the  appetite,  retard 
digestion,  and  induce  dyspepsia,  because  they  draw  off  the  energies  of 
the  system  to  the  head.  Now  if  this  well  estabhshed  physiologicd  prin- 
ciple applies  to  the  several  portions  of  the  brain,  this  prodigious  excite- 
ment of  the  animal  passions  actually  iveakens  the  intellectual  and  moral 
organs,  and  that  at  the  very  time  when,  in  order  to  keep  pace  with  the 
over-stimulated  animal  propensities,  thus  lashed  up  to  the  highest  pitch 
of  action,  they  require  to  be  clothed  with  almost  unearthly  vigor. 

In  case  alcoholic  liquors  excited  each  of  the  faculties  alilce,  why  do 
they  not  render  the  pious  man  a  hundred  fold  more  pious,  and  the  literary 
man  ten  times  more  literaiy  ?  Why  not  deepen  and  widen  the  channels 
of  thought?  Why  not  render  ordinary  men  Websters  and  Franklins, 
Broughams  and  Herschels,  and  these  intellectual  giants  actual  Gabriels  in 
intellect  ?  Or  why  should  they  not  excite  the  moral  faculties  instead  of 
the  animal  feelings  ?  Why  not  make  an  infidel  an  Enoch ;  a  deist,  a 
Westley ;  or  a  sceptic  a  Payson  ?  Why  are  not  all  spirit  drinkers  pat- 
terns of  piety  and  good  morals,  and  also  stars  in  the  firmament  of  intel- 
kctual  greatness  ?  Let  this  proposition  answer.  Not  only  does  it  not 
augment  the  talents  of  talented  men,  nor  the  literature  of  the  literary, 
nor  make  the  profane  pious,  but  it  actually  reverses  this  state  of  things. 
It  prostrates  talent,  beclouds  the  intellect,  darkens  council,  renders  the 
ideas  muddy,  and  before  its  approach,  literary  attainments,  intellectual 
greatness,  and  moral  purity,  one  and  all,  vanish  like  the  dew  before  the 
rising  sun.  It  sometimes,  though  very  rarely,  increases  a  certain  kind 
of  eloquence,  as  we  shall  see  hereafter,  whilst  it  is  universally  a  sAVOrn 
enemy  to  good  morals,  and  to  all  literary  and  intellectual  attainments. 

Again :  the  fact  is  no  less  lamentable  than  true  that  nineteen  twenti- 
etiis,  if  not  ninety-nine  hundreths,  of  the  time,  desires  and  pleasures, 
the  pursuits,  anxieties,  &c.,  of  mankind,  are  consumed  upon  the  gratifi- 
<:ation  of  his  animal  nature,  in  scrambling  after  property,  in  seeking  what 
he  shall  eat,  and  drink,  and  wear,  and  live  in,  and  show  off  with,  in  grat- 
ifying his  love  of  power  or  his  grasping  ambition,  in  politics,  in  friend- 
ship and  family  cares,  in  combating  and  contending,  in  backbiting  and 
licentiousness.  A  small  portion  is  expended  upon  religion,  but  even  his 
religion  is  warped  by  his  animal  feelings.  This  assertion  is  sweeping, 
but  too  ti-ue,  innumerable  illustrations  of  which  might  be  given. 
According  to  Phrenology,  by  far  the  largest  part  of  the  brain  is  occupied 
by  the  animal  and  selfish  organs.  Does  not  every  reader  find  the  subju- 
gation of  his  animal  passions  extremely  difiicult?  Now  if  this  is  the 
fact  without  the  use  of  alcohol,  how  much  more  is  its  use  calculated  to 


BTJT  WEAIiEKS  INTELLECT  AND  MORALITY.  15 

inflame  this  already  predominant  portion  of  his  nature,  and  also  to  retard 
his  advancement  in  virtue,  intelligence  and  religion? 

Thus  far,  there  is  but  a  single  vulnerable  point,  but  one  lame  proposi- 
tion, but  one  possible  evasion  of  these  inferences,  namely,  "  We  do  not 
believe  in  your  Phrenology."  I  shall  not  here  enter  upon  even  a  brief 
defence  of  its  truth,  nor  exhibit  of  its  facts,  but  refer  the  reader  to  works 
on  the  science.  Still  this  last  proposition,  v/hich  forms  the  key-stone 
of  this  essay,  its  one  leading  thought,  namely,  that  the  state  of  the  body 
is  as  the  state  of  the  animal  organs,  that,  therefore,  whatever  irritates  or 
stimulates  the  former,  thereby  proportionably  inflames  the  latter,  is  a 
general  fact,  a  constitutional  law  of  our  nature  so  palpable  and  so  uni- 
versal that  "  the  way-faring  man  though  a  fool,"  cannot  but  see  and  admit 
its  truth.  The  following  classes  of  well  known  facts  are  only  a  few  of 
the  tens  of  thousands  which  might  be  adduced  to  prove  and  illustrate  it. 

A  cold  or  a  slight  fever  does  not  increase  Benevolence  or  Conscien- 
tiousness, but  actually  weakens  them,  whilst  it  greatly  augments  the 
combative  and  desti-uctive  and  selfish  feelings.  Let  your  child  be  a 
little  unwell,  that  is,  let  his  body  be  in  a  feverish  and  irritated  state,  and 
he  will  be  peevish,  cross  and  petulent,  and  fret  at  every  little  thing,  and 
that  without  cause.  Causality  and  Conscientiousness  being  inactive. 
Nothing  pleases  but  every  thing  irritates  him.  The  same  is  true  of  dys- 
pepsia or  indigestion,  and  of  persons  generally  in  poor  health.  They 
find  fault  Avith  every  thing,  are  ungrateful,  and  unreasonable  in  their  anger, 
because  of  the  irritated  state  of  their  animal,  and  the  weakened  state  of 
the  moral  and  intellectual,  organs.  Why  do  not  diseases  increase  our 
kindness,  our  devotion,  our  conscience,  our  reasoning  powers,  &c.  ? 
Because  bodily  disease  is  first  imparted  to  the  animal  organs  in  the  base 
of  the  brain.  But  let  the  child  or  adult  become  so  very  sick  that  his 
physical  powers  are  prostrated,  and  it  is  these  animal  passions  and  desires 
that  are  prostrated  first  and  most,  whilst  the  moral  and  reasoning  powers 
are  less  impaired.  And  the  first  sign  of  his  returning  health  is  his 
increased  hunger,  (Alimentiveness,)  his  irritability  and  fault-finding  dis- 
position, &c. 

The  phenomena  of  death  accord  Avith  this  principle.  The  extremi- 
ties are  prostrated  first,  sensation  and  nervous  action  rapidly  decrease,  the 
animcd  passions  follow  next,  connubial  and  parental  love,  appetite,  anger, 
hard  feelings,  and  love  of  the  Avorld,  all  yield  before  the  moral  or  intel- 
lectual faculties  feel  its  deadening  influence.  Vitativeness,  also  an  ani- 
mal organ,  situated  in  the  lowest  part  of  the  base  of  the  brain,  lets  go  its 
hold  on  life,  leaving  the  dying  man  Avilling  to  depart.  Dying  persons 
often  attempt  to  speak  but  cannot,  their  organs  of  language  and  memory, 
situated  in  the  loAver  portions  of  the  forehead  near  the  body,  being  too 
far  gone  to  give  utterance  to  the  still  operating  organs  of  reason,  located 
higher  up.  The  pious  Christian,  "Dei  gratia,"  dies  in  the  triumphs 
of  faith,  that  is,  in  the  vigorous  exercise  of  the  moral  faculties  after  the 
death  of  his  animal  nature,  whilst  others  often  die  in  the  reversed  or  pain- 
ful action  of  these  organs. 

The  proverb  "  old  men  for  counsel,  young  men  for  action,,''''  embod- 
ies this  same  principle.  "Action"  and  force  of  character  are  given  by 
the  vigorous  exercise  of  the  animal  propensities,  which  are  stronger  in 
yoimg  persons  than  in  old,  only  because  their  bodies  are  more  vigorous. 


16  INFLTJENCES  OF  THE  BODY  ON  THE  BASE  OF  THE  BRAIN. 

But  "  counsel"  depends  upon  the  7^easo72ing  organs,  which,  heing 
located  in  the  upper  portion  of  the  forehead,  retain  all  their  pristine  vigor 
long  after  both  the  physical  energies,  and  with  them  the  animal  passions, 
are  weakened  by  age.  This  principle  explains  the  fact  that  the  passions, 
the  appetite,  the  Amativeness,  the  ebulitions  of  anger  in  young  men,  are 
often  ungovernable,  v/hile  in  after  life,  these  very  men  become  ornaments 
of  society  and  eminent  for  talents ;  that  the  wildest  boys  generally  make 
the  smartest  men ;  that  solitary  confinement  and  hard  labor,  by  reducmg 
the  tone  of  the  body,  subdues  the  pride,  obstinacy,  maliciousness,  and 
other  vicious  inclinations  of  convicts,  and  that  the  talents  often  increase 
after  the  body  begins  to  fail,  after  ambition  wanes,  and  long  cherished 
animosities  begin  to  weaken. 

So  also  the  memories  of  children  and  youth  are  astonishingly  reten- 
tive and  vigorous,  whilst  those  of  aged  persons  are  enfeebled,  but  the 
judgment  of  the  latter  is  strong,  whilst  that  of  the  former  is  weak, 
because  the  organs  of  memory,  being  in  the  base  of  the  forehead,  are 
vigorous  A^hen  the  body  is  vigorous,  and  become  enfeebled  by  age,  but 
those  of  judgment  are  in  the  upper  portion  of  the  forehead,  and  there- 
fore partake  less  of  the  weakened  state  of  the  body.  A  severe  fit  of 
sickness,  when  it  leaves  the  body  in  an  enfeebled  state,  is  sure  to  weaken 
most  kinds  of  memory,  whilst  it  seldom  iriipairs  the  judgment.  Prob- 
ably half  of  my  readers  h.ave  experienced  the  truth  of  this  remark,  and 
scores  of  cases  could  be  narrated  in  which  improved  health  has  strength- 
ened the  memory. 

Again :  hunger  is  highly  promotive  of  anger,  whilst  fullness  of  bread 
promotes  kindness.  I'hus  when  aman  comes  home  hungry,  he  is  highly 
irritable,  cross,  and  displeased  with  every  thing ;  but  if  you  wish  to  break 
unpleasant  news  to  any  one,  or  to  obtain  a  special  favor,  take  him  after 
dinner.  When  well  fed,  the  ferocious  animals  are  tame  and  harmless, 
but  when  hungry,  their  ferocity  is  ungovernable,  and  their  destructive- 
ness  lashed  up  to  the  highest  pitch  of  fury.  So  the  ferocious  Indian, 
when  he  wishes  to  kindle  his  thirst  for  Avar  and  blood  to  the  very  climax 
of  rage  and  revenge,  fasts  a  week.  Now  tvhy  should  the  irritated  state 
of  the  stomach,  and  thereby  of  the  body  in  general,  excite  to  morbid 
action  the  animal  propensities  merely  ?  Why  should  not  hunger  increase 
the  flow  of  kind,  of  conscientious,  and  of  devotional  feeling,  instead  of 
anger,  revenge  and  ferocity?     This  principle  contains  the  answer. 

After  delivering  this  lecture  in  Smithville,  N.  Y.,  an  elderly  deacon 
stated  that  he  had  experienced  the  truth  of  the  above  principle.  He  said 
that  he  had  been  once  so  very  sick  that  he  and  all  his  friends  expected 
every  breath  to  be  his  last,  that  he  had  no  desire  to  live,  no  regard  for 
his  wife  and  children,  although  both  before  and  since  it  was  particularly 
strong,  not  the  least  ill  will  against  any  one,  though  before  he  had  felt 
hard  towards  several,  no  regard  at  all  for  property,  and  not  a  worldly  feel- 
ing left,  although  in  the  entire  possession  of  his  intellectual  and  moral 
faculties,  and  perfectly  conscious  of  every  thing  that  occurred.  He  was 
also  able  to  reason  and  think,  though  unable  to  speak.  On  the  return  of 
health,  his  animal  feelings  returned. 

Dr.  Vanderburgh,  of  New  York,  relates  the  following  fact.  A  patient 
of  his  by  mistake  took  a  preparation  of  potash,  which  gradually  and  in 
about  eighteen  months,  terminated  his  life.     It  first  neutraUzed  his  love 


THESE  RESULTS  EQUAL  THE  STLMULANT  TAKEN.  17 

of  wife  and  child,  before  very  strong ;  next  his  anger,  before  tingoverna 
ble,  fell  a  pray  to  its  ravages,  and  his  ambition  next,  whilst  his  still  sound 
intellect,  saw  this  gradual  destruction  of  his  animal  nature.  He  retained 
his  reason  to  the  last.  Volumes  of  analagous  facts  might  be  adduced 
incontrovertibly  establishing,  as  a  law  of  our  nature,  the  proposition  under 
discussion,  namely,  that  whatever  stimulates  the  body,  thereby  propor- 
tionally excites  the  merely  anhnal  nature  of  man,  and  that  in  a  vicious 
direction,  whilst  whatever  weakens  the  body,  thereby  weakens  the  meih- 
ory  in  general,  and  also  the  animal  feelings.  Beyond  all  dispute  and 
controversy,  this  is  a  law  of  our  nature,  and  a  law,  too,  from  which  there 
is  no  appeal,  and  in  the  action  of  which,  no  variation.  Whoever  vio- 
lates it,  must  abide  the  consequences. 

The  inference  then  becomes  obvious  and  powerful  and  inevitable, 
that  alcoholic  admixtures  of  every  kind  and  degree,  by  stimulating  the 
hodyi  thereby  powerfully  excite  merely  the  animal  nature  of  man,  and 
weaken  his  moral  and  intellectual  powers,  the  very  conditions  which 
constitute  a  brute.  And  the  fact  that  his  animal  organs  are  several  times 
larger  and  more  active  than  those  of  the  brute  creation,  renders  him  when 
stimulated,  so  much  the  more  of  a  brute  than  they  are.  No  more  can 
any  human  being  take  alcoholic  liquors  in  any  form  or  degree,  without 
proportionally  inducing  this  result,  without  thereby  biaitalizing  his  nature, 
without  degrading  his  manhood  below  his  beasthood,  and  subjugating 
the  former  to  the  latter,  thus  reversing  the  order  of  his  nature,  than  he 
can  "  carry  coals  of  fire  in  his  bosom  and  not  be  burned."  As  soon  will 
any  other  law  of  our  nature  fail  to  do  ample  justice  as  this.  As  soon 
will  the  deadly  poisons  become  harmless,  or  the  water  slide  up  the 
inclined  plane  of  itself,  as  alcoholic  stimulants  fail  to  produce  animality, 
and  to  weaken  the  moral  feelings.  Nor  is  there  any  middle,  any  mod- 
erate ground.  Every  identical  drop  of  alcohol  has  its  legitimate,  its 
stimulating  effect  upon  the  nerves,  and  through  them  upon  the  organs 
of  the  animal  propensities.  As  far  as  it  goes  at  all,  just  so  far  it  goes 
towards  making  a  man  a  brute,  aye,  and  even  worse  than  a  brute ;  for 
as  it  requires  a  fallen  angel  to  become  a  demon — a  tall,  «rcA-angel  to 
become  the  prince  of  devils — so  the  higher  man  ranges  in  the  scale  of 
being,  the  lower  alcohol  sinks  him.  As  the  greater  any  gift  or  blessing  is, 
the  worse  it  become  when  perverted ;  as  connubial  love  and  faithfulness 
are  among  the  highest  of  virtues,  and  productive  of  the  purest  enjoy- 
ment, and  as  licentiousness  is  the  vice  of  vices,  and  attended  with  con- 
sequences the  most  painful ;  as  reason,  God's  crowning  gift  to  man,  when 
perverted,  becomes  a  proportional  instrument  of  evil  and  misery,  so  man, 
brutalized,  becomes  vastly  lower,  vastly  worse  than  a  brute,  and  propor- 
tionably  more  miserable« 

Let  it  here  be  distinctly  understood  and  remembered,  that  whatever 
contains  alcohol,  be  it  the  alcoholic  drinks  as  such,  namely,  rum,  gin, 
brandy,  cider  brandy,  whiskey,  &c.,  &c.,  or  be  it  any  of  the  wines, 
foreign  or  domestic,  be  it  malt  liquors,  strong  beer,  porter,  ale,  hard 
cider,*  vinegar,  one  and  all,  every  thing  containing  alcohol  in  any  form 

*  The  use  of  this  term  is  not  designed  to  give  a  thrust  at  the  whig  poHtical  party, 
for  aspirants  of  both  parties  often  pursue  the  detestable  pohcy  of  treatingto  gain 
votes.  A  vote  should  always  be  the  expression  of  intellect  and  moral  sentiment. 
But  by  selling  this  birthright  of  freedom  for  grog,  which  dethrones  both,  the  voter 

B 


18  ALCOHOL  INDUCES  LUST,  CRIME,  AND  MURDER. 

or  degree,  is  productive  of  this  result  in  just  that  proportion  in  which 
it  contains  this  powerful  stimulant,  this  deadly  poison.  It  is  the  stimu- 
lating property  that  does  the  mischief.*  By  taking  pure  alcohol  as  our 
basis,  and  applying  the  rule  of  three  to  the  amount  contained  in  the  sev- 
eral kinds  of  strong  drinks,  we  can  decypher  the  amount  of  bestiality 
produced  by  each.  A  single  glass  will  stimulate  a  little,  two  glasses 
will  double  this  result,  and  so  on  to  beastly  drankenness.  If  ten  glasses 
of  rum  or  brandy  per  day  will  make  a  man  a  brute,  then  will  one  glass 
a  day  make  him  one-tenth  of  a  brute.  And  if  wine,  or  beer,  or  malt 
liquor,  or  hard  cider  contain  one-fourth,  or  one-sixth,  or  one-tenth  as 
much  alcohol,  in  that  proportion  will  they  severally  induce  this  same 
result,  and  four,  or  six,  or  ten  times  as  much  of  these  liquors  produce  this 
result  in  the  same  degree,  because,  mark  well  the  ground  of  this  infer- 
ence, every  glass,  every  identical  drop,  stimulates,  and  every  minute 
degree  of  stimulant  proportionably  kindles  the  animal  passions.f 

W  HOETEH,  THEnEFOIlE,  TAKES  ALCOHOLIC  STIMULANTS  IST  AKT  OF  THESE  FORMS, 
OR  IX  ANT  OTHER  FORM  OR  DEGREE,  THEREBY  AROUSES  HIS  ANIMAL  PASSIONS,  AND 
■WHAKENS  HIS  MORAL  AND  lis TELLECTUAL  POWERS,  JUST  IN  PROPORTION  TO  THE 
AMOUNT  TAKEN. 

This  principle  harmonizes  with  and  fully  explains  the  phenomena  of 
drunkenness.  Beyond  all  question,  and  in  all  instances,  drunkenness 
certainly  destroys  the  moral  feelings,  and  weakens  the  intellect,  whilst 
moderate  drinking  lowers  them  in  proportion  to  the  stimulus  taken,  as 
surely  as  cold  sinks  the  thermometer. 

That  alcoholic  drinks  powerfully  excite  Amativeness,  which  is  located 
in  the  very  base  of  the  brain,  is  a  universal  fact.  The  vulgarity,  and 
obscenity,  and  licentiousness  occasioned  by  them,  are  proA^erbial.  Who 
ever  saw  a  drinking  party  tliat  were  not  indecent  in  their  allusions,  given 
to  the  relation  of  obscene  anecdotes,  and  to  the  singing  of  lewd  songs, 
if  not  to  the  company  of  harlots?  Hence,  in  England,  when  the  wine 
is  introduced  after  dinner,  modest  woman  ahvays  retires,  because  she 
knows  that  by  remaining,  her  delicacy  will  be  shocked.  Wine  or  ardent 
spirits  of  some  kind  is  indispensable  to  any  and  every  debauch.  Why 
are  harlots  universally  drunkards  ?  Let  this  principle  answer.  These 
drinks  drown  the  voice  of  conscience,  blunt  modesty,  stifle  the  claims 
of  morality,  of  intellect,  and  of  virtue,  Avhilst  they  whirl  its  guilty  vic- 
tim on  in  her  sensual  career  of  merely  aniinal  indulgence.  A  man  oi 
woman,  be  they  ever  so  moral  or  virtuous,  v/hen  under  the  influence  of 
intoxicating  drinks,  is  of  easy  virtue.  Before  the  first  advantage  can 
be  taken  of  a  virtuous  woman,  she  must  be  partly  intoxicated,  and  the 
advantage  can  be  taken  of  almost  any  woman  when  thus  stimulated. 

i-enders  himself  a  mere  brute,  as  seen  in  the  text.  His  vote,  therefore,  contains  no 
intellect,  and  is  on  a  par  with  the  vote  of  a  horse,  a  wolf,  or  ahj'cna.  To  purchase  a 
venal  vote  with  money  is  bad  enough,  but  to  gain  one  by  grog  is  a  thousand  fold  worse, 
because  it  renders  the  office-seeker  a  drunkard  by  drinking  with  so  many,  and  also  the 
voter,  by  furnishing  occasions  for  drinking.     This  practice  is  yearly  ruining  thousands 

*  It  has  been  fully  shown  that  many  of  our  so  called  wines  are  manufactured  in  our 
large  cities,  and  contain  several  other  highly  injurious  ingredients.  This  only 
strengthens  the  argument  against  their  use.  They  are  a  two-edged  sword,  cutting^ 
both  ways,  whilst  ardent  spirits  cuts  but  one  way. 

■fThis  principle  is  cquallj'  applicable,  except  in  a  lower  degree,  to  every  other  class 
of  stimulants — to  opium,  tea,  coiTec,  tobacco,  snuffj  condiments,  mustard,  spices,  flesh, 
and  every  thing  heating  and  stimulating. 


ALCOHOL  EXCITES  FOOLISH  CONVERSATION,  BUT  WEAKENS  REASON.     IS 

And  if  this  is  the  fact  of  virtuous,  modest  looman,  what  is  the  fact  of 
less  virtuous  man?-'' 

The  drinker's  (not  drunkard's)  combative  or  contending  propensity, 
is  also  unduly  excited.  So  combustible  is  his  anger,  that  he  takes  fire 
at  every  little  thing,  and  more  hard  feelings,  broils,  tights  and  duels  are 
engendered  by  ardent  spirit,  than  by  all  other  causes  united.  Who  ever 
saw  men  fight  unless  they  were  excited  by  liquor  ?  or  v^'ho  ever  saw  men 
in  liquor,  v/ho  were  not  easily  angered,  and  ' '  all  fit  for  a  fight  ?"  Byron 
say^s  that  stimulants  always  rendered  him  "savage  and  suspicious," 

Alcoholic  drinks  also  stimulate  Destructiveness,  or  the  bitter,  hating, 
revengful  feeling ;  and  hence  drinkers  will  caress  their  wives  and  chil- 
dren one  minute,  and  beat  them  the  next.  More  murders  are  caused  by 
the  stimulating  influences  of  ardent  spirit,  than  by  all  other  causes  com- 
bined. Let  the  calenders  of  crime  testify  on  this  point.  Hence,  also, 
intoxicated  men  not  only  rail,  curse,  break,  destroy,  vociferate,  and 
threaten  vengeance  more  than  when  they  are  not  intoxicated,  but  it  is 
then  that  any  old  grudge,  otherwise  long  since  buried,  is  raked  up,  and 
dire  vengeance  sought  and  obtained ;  and  generally  a  human  being  can 
screw  up  his  Deslructiveness  to  the  sticking  point  of  murder,  and  screw 
down  his  Benevolence  and  Conscientiousness  below  the  remonstrating 
point,  only,  or  at  least  most  effectually,  by  ardent  spirit. 

It  is  the  excessive  exercise  of  the  animal  propensities  which  subjects 
criminals  to  the  penalties  of  violated  civil  law.  It  is  mainly  by  drinkers 
that  our  courts  are  supported.  Let  our  intelligent  lawyers,  let  our  judges, 
sheriffs,  justices,  &c.  &c.  answer  the  question,  "Does  not  most,  if  not 
nearly  all  of  your  criminal  business  have  its  origin  in  drinking?"  But 
in  case  alcoholic  drinks  did  not  excite  the  merely  animal  passions,  or  in 
case  they  equally  stimulated  the  moral  faculties,  or  especially  if  they 
stimulated  the  moral  sentiments  only,  this  state  of  things  would  be 
reversed,  and  djinking  would  render  mankind  more  virtuous  instead  of 
most  vicious. 

This  principle  explains  the  fact  that  alcohol  often  renders  a  good  man 
a  real  demon  incarnate.  So  long  as  the  moral  and  intellectual  organs 
predominate,  no  matter  if  the  animal  propensities  are  vigorous.  If  duly 
governed,  the  more  the  better,  for  they  impart  force.  When  the  two 
are  about  equal,  v/ith  the  moral  in  ascendancy,  and  the  animal  not  stim 
ulated,  all  goes  right;  but  a  little  stimulant  will  turn  the  scales,  and  thus 
render  a  really  good  man  a  ferybad  one.  But  mark  well  the  converse ; 
it  7iever  renders  a  had  man  a  good  citizen,  nor  an  immoral  man  virtuous, 
because  it  never  stimulates  the  moral  and  intellectual  faculties  more  than 
the  animal  feelings. 

This  general  principle  explains  the  reason  of  the  custom  of  drinking 
grog  with  a  friend,  instead  of  drinking,  or  doing,  any  thing  else.     As 

*  How  is  it  possible  for  a  woman  of  delicate  feelings  to  tend  bar,  go  to  balls  or  par- 
ties wliere  wine  or  spirits  are  fteely  draiik,  or  consent  to  be  for  a  moment  in  the  com- 
pany of  men  who  stimulate  1  Surely  no  modest  or  refined  woman  who  understands 
this  principle,  could  on  any  occasion  allow  herself  to  drink  to  excess,  wine,  porter,  or 
any  other  kind  of  spiritous  liquors,  with  or  in  the  presence  of  those  who  do  under- 
stand it,  because  she  thereby  renders  herself  liable  to  saj  and  do  what  it  would  make 
her  blush  to  reflect  upon.  My  only  motive  for  introducing  this  fact  here,  is  to  make 
woman  aakamed  to  drink,  aad  thereby  render  this  most  pernicious  habit  unpopular 
among  men. 


20  ALCOHOL  DEADENS  THESE  ORGANS. 

Adhesiveness,  or  the  organ  of  friendship,  is  located  in  the  base  of  the 
'brain,  ardent  spirit  warms  it  up  to  vigorous  action,  thus  augmenting  the 
flow  and  intensity  of  friendly  feehng,  and  hence  you  will  often  see  those 
who  are  half-slued,  hugging  and  caressing  each  other.  In  case  it  exci- 
ted friendship  alone,  it  would  do  litde  injury,  perhaps  good,  but  as  it 
inflames  the  other  animal  passions  also,  drinkers  will  be  the  warmest  of 
friends  one  minute  and  the  bitterest  of  enemies  the  next,  producing  that 
irregularity  whicli  we  have  already  shown  to  constitute  vice. 

Philoprogenitiveness,  or  parental  attachment,  is  also  located  in  the 
lower  portion  of  the  hind  head,  and  hence  the  half-intoxicated  father 
will  foolishly  fondle  his  boy,  talking  to  him  all  sorts  of  nonsense,  to  be 
followed  up  by  a  cruel  beating,  thus  destroying  even-handed  govern- 
ment, and  spoiling  the  lad.  liiquor  excites  conversation,  because  Lan- 
guage is  in  the  lowest  part  of  the  forehead;  but  as  the  reasoning  organs, 
which  manufacture  ideas,  are  in  the  upper  portion  of  the  forehead,  and 
therefore  not  only  not  stimulated  but  actually  weakened  by  it,  the  drinker 
talks,  talks,  talks,  all  the  time,  but  says  nothing.  He  talks  words  only, 
not  ideas.  How  foolish,  how  destitute  of  sense  and  reason,  of  thought 
and  refinement,  is  the  conversation  not  only  of  drunkards,  but  of  those 
who  stimulate  only  moderately !  Witness  bar-room  conversation.  A 
Byron,  half  intoxicated,  may  indeed  write  his  Don  Juan,  and  like  pro- 
ductions, may  compose  poetry  mostly  addressed  to  the  passions  of  men; 
but  no  one  in  this  state  ever  wrote  a  Paradise  Lost,  a  Thomson's  Sea- 
sons, a  Lo'cke  on  the  Human  Understanding,  Brown's  Mental  Philoso- 
phy, or  Edwards  on  the  Will.  A  Pitt,  a  Fox,  a  Sheridan,  not  to  name 
cases  in  our  ov/n  country,  may  be  eloquent  when  partially  intoxicated,  yet 
their  eloquence  v^ill  be  characterized  by  sarcasm,  severe  invective,  denun- 
ciation, declamation,  hyperbole,  narration,  and  a  remarkable  flow  of 
words,  &c.,  rather  than  by  argument,  or  profundity,  or  clear  deductions 
from  first  principles,  nor  will  it  be  freighted  with  rich  ideas.  But  before 
alcohol  can  produce  eloquence,  a  quality  far  inferior  to  reasoning  power, 
the  individual  requires  a  peculiarity  of  temperament  and  phrenological 
developements  not  found  in  one  man  in  millions ;  while  it  will  destroy 
that  of  all  the  balance. 

Again :  over-excitement  produces  that  confusion  which  prevents  the 
advantageous  exercise  of  one's  powers ;  and  alcoholic  drinks  by  sw- 
charging  both  the  muscles  and  brain  with  excitement,  prevent  the  even, 
equable,  harmonious  and  advantageous  expenditure  of  that  strength, 
both  mental  and  physical,  which  is  thus  unnaturally  called  forth. 

In  passing,  we  vill  add  that  the  fall  of  our  first  parents  was  caused  by 
their  eating  what  they  should  not.  This  indulgence  of  Aliraeniveuess 
led  the  way  for  tlie  ingress  of  every  other  vice.  Virtue,  vice  and  intel- 
lect depend  more  upon  what  we  eat  and  drink,  than  upon  almost  any 
other  cause.  A  depraved  appetite  inflames  and  diseases  the  stomach ; 
this  corrupts  and  inflames  the  l^lood,  which,  by  fevering  and  exciting  the 
body,  thereby  stimulates  the  animal  propensities  and  weakens  the  moral 
and  reasoning  powers.     This  is  particularly  true  of  alcoholic  drinks. 

These  drinks  are  sometimes  taken  to  drown  trouble,  but  we  see  that 
they  are  particularly  calculated  to  augment  it,  except  that  of  a  guilty  coji- 
science,  which  they  do  indeed  drown. 


ALCOHOL  DEADENS  THESE  ORGANS.  21 

Having  clearly  shown  that  alcoholic  drinks  produce  vice  by  stimula- 
ting our  merely  animal,  and  weakening  our  higher,  nobler  powers,  we 
reverse  the  principle,  cmd  observe  that  they  cause  vice  and  misery,  sec- 
ondly, by  paralizing  these  organs.  These  drinks  produce  vice,  first,  by 
inflaming  Amativeness  and  producing  licentiousness,  and  secondly,  by 
deadening  connubial  and  parental  love,  thus  unfitting  him  for  discharging 
his  obligations  to  his  family,  and  leaving  them  a  prey  to  the  ungoverned 
fury  of  his  Combativeness  end  Destructiveness,  besides  destroying  all 
the  enjoyments  growing  out  of  the  healthful  exercise  of  the  domestic 
feelings.  Accordingly,  the  moderate  drinker  forsakes  the  virtuous  and 
delightful  fire-side  for  the  bar-room,  while  the  drunkard  inhumanly  beats 
or  murders  his  wife  and  children. 

The  moderate  drinker's  Combativeness  and  Destructiveness  arc  stim- 
ulated to  fighting  and  revenge,  while  those  of  the  drunkard  are  so  dead- 
ened that  he  will  not  and  cannot  take  the  part  of  his  family,  nor  even 
of  himself,  so  that  a  litde  boy  may  impose  on  him  with  impunity.  He 
has  no  moral  courage,  and  is  so  irresolute  that  he  can  overcome  no  obsta- 
cle, and  eff'ect  no  difficult  object.  The  moderate  drinker's  Acquisitive- 
ness is  over-stimulated,  and  he  is  for  driving  a  bargain,  yet  his  intellec- 
tual organs  being  weakened,  he  gets  cheated,  or  else  a  few  glasses  make 
him  as  rich  as  Croesus,  whilst  the  drunkard' s  love  of  property  is  gone. 
Hence  he  has  no  industry,  no  economy,  no  forethought  to  lay  up  for 
to-mon'ow's  wants,  and  thus  squanders  his  all  for  liquor,  even  to  the 
bread  out  of  his  children's  mouths,  and  the  clothes  from  his  wife's  back. 
This  principle  explains  how  it  is  that  alcoholic  drinks  always  scatter  their 
devotees'  property  to  the  winds. 

Whilst  they  inflame  the  moderate  drinker's  self-esteem  and  love  of 
approbation,  producing  boasting,  bragging,  haughtiness,  swaggering,  a 
self-conceited  egotism,  &c.,  the)''  eventually  annul  aU  sense  of  character, 
all  self-respect,  and  all  regard  for  his  reputation,  which  constitute  the 
strongest  incentives  to  virtuous  and  praiseworthy  actions,  as  Avell  as 
restraints  upon  vice  and  self-degradation.  At  first,  he  is  mortified  beyond 
description  if  seen  intoxicated,  afterwards  he  cares  not  a  farthing  for  his 
credit  nor  his  word,  for  his  honor  nor  anythiiig  said  for  or  against  him 
or  his  family,  is  dead  to  shame,  destitute  of  dignity  and  manly  feeling, 
and  associates  with  those  to  whom  he  would  before  have  scorned  even  to 
speak. 

Again:  these  organs  of  ambition  always  combine  with  the  other 
organs  that  are  most  active.  Combined  with  Conscientiousness,  they 
give  the  highest  regard  for  moral  character,  and  for  con-ect  motives ; 
with  intellect,  a  desire  for  reputation,  for  learning  and  talents ;  with 
Ideality,  for  good  taste,  good  manners,  (fee. ;  but  combined  with  Com- 
bativeness, for  being  the  best  wrestler,  the  best  fighter,  &c. ;  with  the 
other  animal  propensities,  for  being  first  in  their  indulgence.  Hence,  as 
already  seen,  since  alcohol  weakens  the  higher  organs  but  stimulates  the 
animal  propensities,  and  also  the  ambition,  the  two  combining  render 
him  emulous  of  being  the  most  licentious,  the  greatest  fighter,  or  wrest- 
ler, or  drinker,  or  swearer,  the  most  vulgar,  &c. ;  but  never  of  being 
good  or  great. 

In  Easton,  Md.,  in  Jan.  1840,  the  author  saw  two  young  men  vie  with 
each  other,  as  to  who  could  drink  the  most  grog,  no  very  uncommon 


22  THE  REV.  MR.  MURRAY. 

thing  among  drinkers.  The  next  day  one  of  them  was  a  lifeless  corpse 
Now  why  does  the  ambition  of  the  drinker  (not  of  the  drunkard,  for 
he  has  none,)  descend  to  the  animal  passions,  instead  of  ascending  to 
the  moral  and  intellectual?  This  principle  contains  tlie  answer.  Thus 
alcohol  first  over-excites  the  moderate  drinker's  ambition,  only  to  direct 
it  to  animal  objects,  and  then  deadens  it,  rendering  him  dciibly  wicked 
both  ways,  and  of  course  proportionably  miserable,  as  seen  in  proposi- 
tion in. 

It  equally  destroys  his  firmness  and  powers  of  will.  He  knows  the 
right,  intellect  being  less  deadened,  and  yet  pursues  the  wrong,  having 
lost  all  self-government.  Conscientiousness  may  remonstrate,  but  to  no 
efTect,  because  located  too  far  from  the  body  to  be  proportionably  stimu- 
Irted.  Religious  feeling  may  liu  up  hex  warning  and  persuasive  voice, 
ajid  firmness  say  no,  but  v/ithout  effect,  because  they  are  in  the  same 
predicament.  Alcoholic  drinks  destroy  the  balance  of  power,  first  by 
stimulating  them  to  excess,  and  then  by  deadening  them,  thus  being  a 
two  edged  sv/ord,  cutting  the  cords  of  virtue  and  happiness  both  vjciys. 

It  may  be  objected  that  if  alcohol  stimulates  the  amimal  propensities 
when  they  are  Aveak,  it  is  good.  I  answer,  better  have  tliem  too  Aveak 
than  too  strong.  When  too  weak,  it  is  because  the  body  is  feeble  and 
must  be  strengthened,  not  by  merely  stimulating  the  body,  but  by  invig- 
orating the  health. 

'  It  may  also  be  added,  it  is  the  character  of  the  stimulant  that  does  the 
main  mischief.  Thus  fresh  air  and  exercise  are  stimulants,  and  although 
they  brace  the  body,  and  thereby  give  tone  and  vigor  to  the  animal  organs, 
they  excite  them  in  a  healthy  manner,  and  not  in  a  morbid  direction  ; 
whereas  there  is  something  in  the  kind  of  stimulus  wliich  impels  these 
faculties  onward  in  a  morbid,  illegitimate,  unnatural  and  vicious  direc- 
tion. In  regard  to  the  different  kiiids  of  stimulants,  one  broad  line  of 
demarkation  should  be  drawn  between  natural  and  artificial  excite- 
ment. 

The  reader  has  now  before  him  one  of  the  main  thoughts  of  this  lec- 
ture. Would  to  heaven  I  had  the  combined  eloquence  of  a  Clay,  a 
Webster,  and  a  Brougham,  together  Avith  a  thousand  tongTies  to  enforce 
and  adorn  it,  and  carry  it  to  the  ears  of  every  moderate  drinker  in  Chris- 
tendom, but  as  it  is,  the  mere  dry  statement  of  this  laAv  of  our  nature 
must  suflice.  Let  temperance  lecturers  Avho  possess  eloquence,  engraft 
it  upon  this  beautiful  and  prolific  principle,  Avhich  Avill  be  found  to 
fsforce  the  tee-total  abstinence  doctrine  more  eftectually  than  all  the 
descriptions  of  the  drunkard,  and  all  the  other  motives  noAv  usually 
employed  put  together.  Founded  as  they  are  upon  the  immutable  laAvs 
of  our  nature,  tliese  inferences  admit  of  no  evasion,  no  cavclling.  We 
boldly  defy  both  moderate  and  immoderate  drinkers,  both  physicians  and 
clergymen,  both  physiologists  and  practical  obseiwers  of  men  and  things, 
to  overthroAV  or  even  invalidate  a  single  position  thus  far  taken,  or  dodge 
one  single  inference  draAvn.  Those  only  whose  animal  passions  are 
unduly  excited,  and  Avhose  intellectual  poAvers  are  weakened  by  alcohol, 
can  Avithstand  their  force. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Murray,  of  Oakville,  U.  C,,  has  published  quite  a 
treatise  asfainst  total  abstinence  and  in  fiivor  of  moderate  drinking,  plau- 
sibly arguing  that  it  is  really  indispensable  to  social  and  general  enjoy- 


THE  EFFECTS  OF  ALCOHOL  QUALIFIED.  23 

ment.  That  tlie  action  of  every  organ  produces  its  kind  of  pleasiu'e,  is 
a  phrenological  principle.  Mankind  always  prefer  the  kind  of  enjoy- 
ment which  harmonizes  with  their  organs.  Heice,  as  Mr.  M.  prefers 
the  enjoyment  furnished  by  alcohol,  which  we  have  shown  to  be  merely 
animal,  we  infer  that  his  animal  nature  vastly  prevails  over  his  intellec- 
tual or  moral  qualities,  because  he  so  gladly  sacrifices  tlie  latter  upon  the 
alter  of  tlie  former,  and  in  common  with  all  other  advocates  of  strong 
drink,  is  therefore  totally  unfit  for  that  sacred  office.  I  therefore  venture 
the  phrenological  remark,  that  his  physical  or  vital  temperament  pre- 
dominates over  his  mental;  that  he  has  a  vigorous  constitution,  an  amply 
developed  chest,  a  head  nearly  round,  wide  between  the  ears,  and  rather 
low  and  conical,  which  indicates  powerful  animal  organs  and  weaker 
moral  faculties.*  The  principle  stated  above  is  an  abundant  answer  to 
his  whole  work,  as  it  is  also  to  "«Z  omiie  genus^  From  such  preach- 
ers "good  Lord  deliver  us." 

Will  that  church-going  people  the  Scotch,  please  observe  in  the  light 
of  this  subject,  the  inconsistency  of  their  almost  universal  cus'Lom  of 
going  from  the  church  to  the  grog-shop.  A  glass  of  strong  drink  wiil 
counteract  a  good  sermon  as  effectually  as  an  alka-li  will  an  acid. 

These  drinks  sometimes  induce  a  preaching  and  praying  disposition. 
This  never  occurs  in  the  earlier  stages  of  drink — never  till  they  have  so 
deadened  the  animal  organs  that  large  and  more  vigorous  (because  less 
stimulated,)  moral  organs  may  in  one  case  in  thousands,  take  on  more 
stimulant  than,the  partially  deadened  propensities  are  able  to  receive,  but 
such  piety,  such  religion,  such  intellect  will  never  either  fit  a  man  for  his 
duties  in  this  world  nor  his  destinies  in  the  next.  I  grant  that  these 
drinks  sometimes  stimulate  the  brain  as  a  whole,  yet  this  very  rare  excep- 
tion does  not  invalidate  the  general  law  under  consideration,  especially 
since  it  occurs  only  where  the  moral  and  intellectaal  organs  decidedly 
predominate. 

Having  shown  that  alcohol  stimulates  the  moral  and  reasoning  organs 
less  than  it  does  the  animal,  the  inference  is  plain,  that  the  former,  in 
the  confirmed  sot,  retain  their  vigor  long  after  the  latter  have  been  stupi- 
fied ;  his  reasoning  organs  clearly  perceiving  the  wreck  and  devastation 
thus  made  of  the  entire  man,  whilst  his  still  vigorous  moral  faculties 
reproach  him  for  his  impiety,  his  suicide,  his  abuse  of  his  family,  and 
all  his  other  sins  of  both  omission  and  commission ;  thus  leaving  his 
mental  condition  the  most  miserable  and  painful  imaginable. 

This  principle  may  perhaps  be  contested.  It  v/ill  be  objected  that 
this  proposition  is  too  sweeping,  and  this  inference  subject  to  many  and 
important  qualifications,  growing  out  of  difi^erences  in  climate,  tempera- 
ment, phrenological  developements,  and  a  great  variety  of  both  counter- 
acting and  concurring  causes.  It  is  freely  admitted  that  a  great  number 
and  variety  of  causes  and  conditions  combine  to  modify  and  qualify  every 
great  physiological  principle,  that  in  some  states  of  the  nervous  system 
these  drinks  "will  produce  a  far  greater  effect  than  in  some  other  states, 
that  tea  and  coffee  will  stimulate  some  and  injure  some  constitutions  more 
than  strong  drink  will  others,  that  these  drinks  will  injure  some  but  ben- 

*  In  giving  this  phrenological  description  of  Mr.  M.'s  person  in  Gait,  U.  C,  six 
miles  from  Oakville,  a  gentleman  rose  and  said :  "  I  know  Mr.  Murray  well,  and  have 
often  heard  liim  preach.     His  head  and  person  are  exactly  as  you  describe  them." 


24  <  ALCOHOL  SIIGRTKNS  IIU3IAX  LIFE. 

efit  Others,  <fec.,  &c. ;  but  still  tlie  point  at  issue  is  tliis,  tliis  07'ily — is  or 
is  not  tliis  proposition  a  general  law  of  our  nature,  and  are  not  these 
exceptions  traceable  to  tire  action  ol'  other  causes  instead  of  being  nullt- 
fiers  of  this  law?  Our  object  should  be,  not  to  see  who  can  argue  the 
most  plausibly,  or  cavil  the  most  ingeniously,  but  wliat  are  the  facts  in 
the  case?  What  is  the  voice  of  na'aire,  that  we  may  leain  and  follow 
her  dictates,  and  thus  secure  our  own  happiness?  It  is  due  to  truth  that 
we  sliould  here  make  the  folloAving  qualification  of  this  principle,  that 
where  tlie  talents  are  of  a  high  order,  and  the  intellectual  faculties  have 
been  mucii  exercised,  these  drinks  will  often  excite  these  faculties  to 
greatly  increased  action,  because,  of  their  greater  susceptibility  to  the 
influence  of  stimulus.  There  may  be  other  exceptions,  but  our  busi- 
ness is  to  state  this  general  law,  not  to  fortify  it  against  all  the  quibbles 
of  those  who  "love  the  good  creature."  lor  there  is  no  reasoning  against 
a  man's  appetite. 

PROPOSITION  iX.— Alcoholic  drinks  sliorfen  Imman  life.— Every' 
action  of  either  brain  or  nerve,  every  exercise  of  thought,  or  feeling,  or 
sensation,  every  motion  of  the  body,  every  contraction  of  every  muscle, 
in  short,  eacli  and  every  function  and  exercise  of  the  animal  or  mental 
economy,  causes  a  proportionate  expenditure  of  that  animal  power,  that 
vital  energy,  which  we  showed  in  Proposition  IV.  to  be  manufactured 
by  the  vital  temperament,  or  the  internal  organs.  In  children  and  youth, 
this  class  of  organs  greatly  predominates,  laying  in  that  fountain  that 
reservoir  of  animal  power,  or  that  constitutional  vigor  on  which  the  brain 
and  muscles  can  draw,  in  after  life.  Other  things  being  equal,  the  larger 
this  reservoir,  the  longer  an  individual  will  live;  but  when  this  fund  of 
vitality  is  exhausted,  he  must  die  inevitably.  Food  and  sleep  are  the 
feeders  or  inlets  of  this  reservoir,  Avhilst  every  mental  and  physical  effort 
draws  upon  it.  Whenever  the  expenditure  by  the  latter  exceeds  the 
supply  by  the  former,  a  draught  takes  place  on  the  original  stock  of 
vitality,  that  is,  on  the  constitution,  the  inevitable  eflect  of  which  is  to 
hasten  death. 

Alcoholic  drinks  therefore  shorten  human  life  by  destroying  that  bal- 
ance of  the  temperaments  Avhicli  we  have  already  shown  to  be  indispeiii 
sable  to  the  preservation  of  life  and  health. 

This  law  of  the  animal  economy  might  be  aptly  compared  to  a  mer- 
chant or  business  man,  Avho  has  his  thousand  pounds  in  bank,  reserved 
to  be  used  only  in  cases  of  absolute  necessity.  Aside  from  this,  he  is 
making  his  daily  deposites  and  drawing  his  checks,  so  as  to  keep  about 
square  with  himself.  At  length  his  expenditures  exceed  his  receipts, 
and  he  is  compelled  to  draw  on  his  thousand  pounds.  Instead  of  repla- 
cing the  amount  drawn,  he  draws  again,  and  again,  and  again,  small 
draughts,  perhaps,  but  numerous.  By  thus  constantly  reducing  and 
finally  exhausting  his  original  fund,  he  inevitably  induces  bankruptcy. 
Now  the  original  stock  of  vital  power  laid  up  by  Nature  in  the  child 
and  youth,  is  to  him  the  thousand  in  bank;  whilst  his  daily  receipts  by 
food  and  sleep,  and  his  expenditures  by  labor  and  mental  action,  are  his 
checks  on  bank.  These,  in  the  ordinary  and  healthy  action  of  the  man, 
will  just  about  keep  pace  v/ith  each  other,  till  old  age,  drawing  by  small 
but  certain  draughts,  finally  uses  up  this  fund  of  life,  causing  death  to 
come  and  close  the  scene.     Thus  the  order  of  our  nature  is  to  soi'"'  f**'* 


IT  STIMULATES  WITHOUT  NOURISHING.  25 

our  dsjs  to  a  good  old  age  of  intelligence  and  enjoyment;  while  alco- 
holic drinks,  by  powerfully  stimulating  the  brain,  nerves  and  muscles, 
cause  a  prodigious  exhaustion  of  the  powers  of  life,  yet  make  no  depos' 
lies  and  furnish  no  supplies,  because,  besides  being  indigestible,  and 
containing  no  nutriment,  they  at  first  over-stimulate  the  stomach,  only 
to  permanently  weaken  and  eventually  destroy  it;  for  it  is  a  notorious 
fact,  that  hard  drinkers  eat  less  than  others.  Hence,  by  impairing  both 
appetite  and  digestion,  and  that  at  the  very  time  when  the  greatest  re-sup- 
ply of  vitality  is  demanded,  every  glass  of  alcoholic  drinks  proportionately 
exhausts  the  reservoir  of  life,  and  thereby  brings  death  nearer.  This 
coincides  with  the  fact  that  the  energies  of  the  system,  including  the 
health,  spirits,  &c.,  sink  as  far  below  zero  as  ardent  spirit  raises  them 
above.  To  take  alcoholic  stimulants,  is  to  commit  suicides  in  proportion 
to  the  amount  taken.  Let  hard  drinkers,  and  also  moderate  and  occa- 
sional drinkers,  one  and  all,  remember  this  clear  principle  of  our  nature, 
and  drink  accordingly.  Do  you  wish  to  shorten  your  span  of  life,  and 
hasten  your  dissolution  one  knot  or  ten  knots  per  year,  drink  your  one 
glass  or  your  ten  glasses  per  day;  and  just  as  surely  as  there  is  a  God 
in  heaven,  just  as  surely  as  you  are  a  human  being  and  governed  by  the 
invariable  laws  of  life,  just  so  surely  will  your  end  be  attained;  but 
whoever  wishes  to  prolong  his  earthly  existence,  must  abjure  stimU' 
lants,  in  every  form,  in  every  degree. 

To  evade  by  saying  that  although  they  may  have  this  effect  upon 
some  they  will  not  upon  you,  is  utter  folly.  If  you  are  not  a  human 
being,  if  you  are  incapable  of  being  stimulated  by  it,  if  you  can  wash 
your  open  wounds  in  it  without  their  smarting,  if  you  have  no  nerves, 
no  feeling,  no  brain,  no  mind  ;  then  indeed,  but  not  till  then,  may  you 
drink  to  your  heart's  content,  without  incurring  these  terrible  penalties. 
But  as  surely  as  you  have  a  nerve  in  your  body,  or  are  capable  of  expe- 
riencing the  least  particle  of  sensation,  as  surely  as  you  have  as  much 
mind  or  sensation  as  a  lizard  or  a  snail,  just  so  surely  will  alcohol  ferret 
out  and  stimulate  that  mind  and  that  sensation ;  and  as  surely  as  it  stim- 
ulates, just  so  surely  will  it  draw  proportionally  on  the  powers  of  life, 
and  thereby  hasten  the  period  of  its  termination.  No  more  are  the 
motions  of  earth  and  sun,  or  the  descent  of  bodies  to  the  earth,  or  the 
growth  and  decay  of  the  vegetable  kingdom,  or  the  phenomena  of  optics, 
of  mechanics,  of  chemistry,  &c.,  governed  each  by  their  respective 
laws,  which  are  all  certain  and  fixed  and  uniform,  than  are  you  governed 
by  this  ijivariablelaw  of  life;  and  hence,  as  soon,  of  their  own  accord, 
and  in  opposition  to  their  respective  laws,  will  the  stone  mount  upAvards, 
the  water  ascend  the  inclined  plane,  the  sun  stand  still  or  move  back- 
wards, the  seasons  fail  to  return  in  due  order,  men  see  without  eyes,  or 
chemical  afiinities  cease,  as  you  can  drink  alcohol  in  any  form  or  degree 
without  shortening  your  life,  and  inflaming  your  animal,  and  weakening 
your  moral  nature. 

You  reply,  "But  'facts  are  stubborn  things.'  Messrs.  A.  B.  andC. 
have  drank  daily  these  forty  years,  and  are  alive  and  active  yet."  I 
reply,  they  will  be  found  to  be  wide-chested  and  broad-shouldered,  indi- 
cating so  great  a  predominance  of  their  vital  powers  over  their  brains 
and  nerves,  that  their  small  daily  potations  do  not  stimulate  them  enough 
to  draw  much  on  the  powers  of  life.     The  less  brain  and  mind  a  man 


26  DISTILLERIES  CONSUME  TIME,  AND  THE  MEANS  OF  LIFE. 

has,  the  less  injury  will  these  drinks  do  him.  A  round-shouldered, 
broad-faced,  blunt-nosed,  lazy,  easy,  dull,  listless,  slow,  thick-headed, 
neither-something-nor-nothing  sort  of  a  nobody,  may  indeed  drink  a 
quart  of  grog  without  scarcely  waking  up  his  sluggish  animalship,  (and 
so  can  an  old  lazy  ox,)  but  in  exact  proportion  to  one's  power  of  mind  and 
keenness  of  feeling,  will  alcoholic  liquors  stimulate  that  mind  and  those 
feelings,  and  thus  shorten  life.  A  fact  in  proof  of  this  position  is,  that 
when  men  of  great  talents  take  to  drinking,  it  kills  them  sooner  than  it 
does  ordinary  men.  Hence,  since  it  is  the  mind,  not  the  coat  nor  the 
body,  but  the  mind  that  makes  the  man,  if  these  drinks  will  not  hurt 
you,  it  is  because  you  have  so  little  to  be  hurt,  so  little  mind  to  be  afiec- 
ted. 

A  small  fly  once  lighting  upon  the  horn  of  an  ox,  said  to  him,  "I  beg 
your  pardon,  M-X.  Ox,  but  if  I  burden  you  I  will  remove."  "  O  no,  not  at 
all,  I  did  not  know  you  were  there,"  was  the  reply.  When  your  mind 
compared  with  your  body  is  as  significant  as  this  fly  was,  then,  but  not 
till  then,  may  you  stimulate  without  shortening  life,  or  rendering  yourself 
an  animal ;  and  the  more  of  a  man  you  are,  the  more  of  a  beast  will  it 
render  you.  These  drinks  will  not  stimulate  the  snail  or  the  toad,  the 
swine  or  the  rhinoceros,  in  proportion  as  they  do  mankind,  nor  will  the 
whip,  and  for  the  same  reason.  Your  boast  therefore  becomes  your 
shame.  But  even  if  you  have  but  a  little  mind,  is  that  any  reason  why 
you  should  render  it  still  weaker  ? 

Again :  the  high  pressure  principle  of  the  present  day  calls  all  our 
mental  faculties  into  powerful  action.  Men  now  live  quite  too  fast  with- 
out being  stimulated.  Hence  alcoholic  drinks  stimul-ate  and  thus  injure 
them  double  and  triple  as  much  as  they  did  forty  years  ago.  They  also 
injure  the  inhabitants  of  our  cities  and  villages  more  than  those  of  the 
country,  yet  neither  are  safe. 

Still  further :  the  constitutions  of  our  young  men  are  not  to  be  com- 
pared with  those  of  our  old  -men;  hence,  alcohol  will  kill  them  off 
sooner  than  it  did  the  A.,  B.  and  C.  mentioned  above,  who  did  not  prob- 
ably contract  this  habit  till  they  were  about  forty  years  old.  Alcohol  will 
not  injure  men  in  the  decline  of  life  as  much  as  it  will  young  and  middle 
aged  men,  because,  first,  their  bodies  are  less  susceptible  of  being  stim- 
ulated by  it;  and,  secondly,  at  this  period,  their  strength  has  ascended 
to  the  top  of  their  heads,  farther  from  its  influence.  * 

It  might  be  added  here  that  persons  of  a  highly  active  mind  and  lively 
feelings,  besides  being  the  more  injured  by  these  drinks,  are  more  in 
danger  of  being  ruined,  and  that  soon,  for  being  highly  excitable,  they 
love  the  excitementi  of  drink,  especially  if  their  friendship  be  strong, 
and  once  in  the  current,  they  will  surely  be  carried  over  the  falls.  With 
such  the  work  is  short  but  fearful. 

2.  Having  incontestibly  shown  that  stimulants  shorten  life  by  cutting 
off  the  other  end  of  existence,  I  add  that  they  also  cut  off  this  end  of 
life  on  which  we  are  living.  The  one  great  end  of  man's  existence  is 
enjoyment,  as  is  evinced  by  every  contrivance  of  his  body,  every  faculty 
of  his  mind.  These  stimulants  abridge  his  enjoyment  by  disturbing  the 
equable,  harmonious  exercise  of  both  his  physical  and  his  intellectual 
r)0wers,  and  by  violating  every  condition  of  happiness' — animal,  mental 
and  moral.     Nay  more  ;  it  is  one  of  the  most  proUfic  sources  of  posi- 


DISTILLERIES  CONSUME  TIME  AND  THE  3IEAKS  OF  LIFE.  27 

tive  misery  that  exist ;  of  misery  to  drinkers,  of  misery  to  their  families, 
and  to  all  in  any  way  connected  with  them.  Thus  alcohol  lights  the 
taper  of  life  at  both  ends. 

3.  The  principle  is  universally  conceded  and  enforced  in  all  our  med- 
ical works,  that  the  violent  exercise  of  the  passions  is  not  only  a  sworn 
enemy  to  health  and  physical  and  mental  enjoyment,  but  also  shortens 
the  days  of  the  passionate  man.  Having  incontestibly  shown  that  intox- 
icating drinks  stimulate  the  animal  passions  to  an  ungovernable  extent, 
and  weaken  the  powers  that  control  them,  the  inference  is  plain  and  for- 
cible that  they  thereby  consume  the  life  of  man. 

4.  li  also  consumes  it  in  the  middle  by  worse  than  wasting  the  means 
of  sustaining  life.  A  bushel  of  grain  is  capable  of  sustaining  a  delight- 
ful exercise  of  thought  and  virtuous  emotion  nearly  a  month  long.  By 
consuming  fifty  to  a  hundred  bushels  of  gi"ain  per  day,  the  distillery  or 
brewery  consumes  fifty  to  one  hundred  months  of  thought  and  study,  of 
friendship  and  parental  love,  of  intellectucd  and  moral  enjoyment. 

If  you  reply,  that  but  for  the  distilleries  there  would  be  more  grain 
than  mouths,  I  answer,  by  reducing  your  distilleries  you  augment  the 
number  of  human  beings ;  first,  by  prolonging  the  lives  of  the  drinkers, 
and  thus  also  increasing  their  families;  and  secondly,  increasing  the 
means  of  subsistence  would  tend  to  multiply  marriages,  and  render  them 
more  fniitful,  not  only  in  our  own,  but  especially  in  other  countries,  to 
which  our  grain  would  then  go. 

If  you  again  answer,  that  the  slops  of  distelleries  and  breweries  are 
converted  into  milk,  flesh,  &c.,  I  answer,  that  a  statement  recently 
signed  and  published  by  a  large  number  of  the  New  York  and  Philadel- 
phia physicians,  attributes  no  small  share  of  the  astonishing  mortality  of 
the  children  of  our  large  cities  (above  one-half  of  all  that  are  born)  to 
the  use  of  the  milk  of  cows  fed  on  still-slops.  Those  who  have  seen 
and  tasted  the  pork  thus  fattened,  know  how  unsuitable  it  is  for  food,  to 
say  nothing  of  its  greater  liability  to  be  diseased.  Indeed,  its  price  in 
market  is  low,  and  none  but  the  poorest  classes  will  knowingly  use  it  at 
all. 

Again:  a  large  proportion,  say  from  half  to  three-fourths,  of  the  nutri- 
tion of  the  grain  is  consumed  by  the  process  of  distillation,  and  nine- 
tenths  more  by  its  being  fed  first  to  the  animal  and  then  to  the  man ;  and 
even  then,  whilst  flesh  contains  only  55-100  of  nutrition,  wheat  contains 
80-100,  that  is,  |  more'*  so  that  not  one  one-hundreth  part  of  the  origi- 
nal nourishment  contained  in  the  grain  distilled,  finally  i^eaches  man. 
But  what  is  still  mora,  the  proposition  is  abundantly  susceptible  of  proof 
that  whilst  animal  food  is  heating  and  stimulating  in  its  nature,  and  thereby 
excites  the  animal  organs,  bread  stuffs  are  cooling,  and  adapted  to  the 
exercise  of  the  moral  and  intellectual  organs. 

Finally  as  "time  is  money,"  money  is  time.  For  example,  a  capital- 
ist builds  and  furnishes  a  house  which  costs  him  ten  thousand  dollars, 
which  at  two  dollars  per  day's  work,  makes  5,000  days,  or  some  fourteen 
years  of  time  put  into  that  house.  Now  the  estimated  cost  of  alcoholic 
drinks  is  one  hundred  million  dollars  annually,  which  at  two  dollars  per 
day,  amounts  to  ffty  million  days,  or  some  four  thousand  lives  of 

*  See  an  article  in  the  Genesee  Farmer,  from  wMch  this  statement  is  copied.  This 
was  the  result  of  a  chemical  analysis. 


28  MAKING,  VENDING,  OR  DRINKING,  HOMICIDE. 

man's  precious  time,  of  his  probation,  of  hi?  earthly  existence,  his  all, 
consumed  annually  in  merely  paying  for  this  deadly  drug,  not  to  men- 
tion the  time  of  tlie  laborers  employed  in  its  manufacture  and  sale,  nor 
the  time  expended  in  drinking  it,  nor  the  30,000  drunkards  kiUed  annu- 
ally by  its  use,  nor  the  lives  of  hundreds  of  thousands  rendered  worse 
tlian  valueless  long  before  they  die. 

Even  in  this  imperfect  view  of  the  subject,  how  vast  is  the  consump- 
tion of  man's  precious  existence,  by  the  use  of  this  destroyer  of  the  life 
of  man,  this  worse  than  murderer  of  millions,  this  foe  to  morality,  intel- 
ligence and  happiness,  this  hot-house  of  animal  passion,  this  enthroner 
of  all  that  is  vicious  and  miserable,  and  dethroner  of  aU  that  is  good  and 
great  in  our  nature. 

Inference. — Since  alcohol  shortens  human  life,  no  crime  is  greater 
than  that  of  making,  vending,  or  drinking  it.  IMan's  existence  is  his 
all. 

Whatever  shortens  man's  earthly  existence,  cuts  him  off  from  all  the 
blessings  and  enjoyments  of  life.  Upon  the  value  of  life  I  wiU  not  here 
descant.  Ask  the  dying  man  what  he  will  give  for  a  day  or  an  hour 
longer,  "ik^  all,  and  a  z6*o?'M  of  thanks  besides!"  What  punish- 
ment is  too  great  for  the  murderer?  None  ;  not  all  combined.  Yet  he 
only  abridges  the  period  of  man's  earthly  existence.  Whoever  furthers 
this  result,  be  it  by  fire  or  sword,  by  the  knife  or  the  gun,  by  arsenic  or 
laudanum,  or  by  intoxicating  stimulants,  is  equally  guilty  and  equally 
deserving  of  punishment,  because,  mark  well  the  ground  of  the  infer- 
ence, they  one  and  all  do  precisely  the  same  thing — they  shorten  human 

LIFE. 

Still  farther.  "  The  partaker  is  as  bad  as  the  thief."  All  those  who 
aid  or  abet,  directly  or  indirectly,  any  criminal  result,  are  gudty  and  pun- 
ishable. If  one  thief  should  engage  you  in  conversation  and  thereby 
enable  his  partner  to  pick  your  pocket,  would  the  punishment  of  the 
actual  thief  satisfy  you  ?  Should  one  robber  stop  the  horse  of  his 
victim,  a  second  drag  him  from  it,  a  third  hold  his  hands,  a  fourth  plunge 
the  fatal  dagger  to  his  heart,  a  fifth  rob,  and  a  sixth  bury  him,  would  the 
law  be  satisfied  with  the  condign  punishment  of  the  fourth  one,  or  the 
actual  murderer?  Does  not  eyery  principle  of  law,  every  element  of 
right  and  justice,  every  principle  of  reason,  require  the  punishment  of 
tkem  all?  I  appeal  whether  this  principle  of  common  law  is  not  also  a 
principle  of  common  sense  and  of  even-handed  justice?  I  leave  the 
decision  of  this  question  with  you  distiller,  you  wholesaler  or  retailer, 
you  drinker,  moderate  or  excessive.  To  decide  it  in  the  affirmative,  as 
every  reasoning  mind  must  decide  it,  is  to  return  a  verdict  of  guilty 
against  every  one  at  all  concerned  in  the  manufacture,  sale,  or  drinking 
of  alcoholic  liquors,  in  any  and  every  form  and  degree.  The  inference 
is  too  startling  but  yet  inevitable.  Put  the  ninth  proposition  and  this 
inference  together,  and  say  what  they  deserve  by  what  they  do  in  short- 
ening human  life. 

And  all  for  money.  Suppose  you  alcohol  makers  and  venders  should 
set  up  a  dollar  as  a  shooting  mark,  but  directly  within  the  range  and 
reach  of  your  balls,  there  are  multitudes  of  drinkers.  You  one  and  all 
keep  firing  at  the  dollar,  but  shooting  down  the  drinkers,  each  shot  tell- 
ing upon  their  very  life's  blood.     You  see  them  fall,  but  keep  on  firing 


GUILT  OF  MAKING  AND  VENDIXG  ALCOHOL.  29 

Ate  you  innocent?  If  not,  what  is  yovir  crime?  xisk  tlie  bereaved 
wives  and  children  of  your  victims.  Ask  your  own  consciences 
what  you  are  by  what  you  do,  or  at  least  help  do?  Now  God  has 
established  a  universal,  an  invariable,  and  an  inevitable  comiectic-n 
between  the  manufacturing  and  drinldng  of  alcoholic  stimulants  on  the 
one  hand,  and  the  kindling  of  the  animr-.  passions  and  the  shortening  of 
human  life  on  the  other,  precisely  the  same  connection  which  we  have 
supposed  between  your  firing  at  the  dollar  and  shootiiig  down  the  men. 
Now  put  this  and  that  together  and  draw  your  own  conclusions.  True, 
you  fire  at  the  dollar.,  but  your  every  shot  penetrates  the  very  vitals  of 
drinkers.  This  is  indeed  thrusting  the  cold  steel  into  the  very  vitals  of 
the  manufacturers  and  venders,  but  it  is  the  naked  steel  of  truth,  sharp- 
ened by  the  laws  of  nature,  and  thrust  home  by  the  strong  arm  o^  fact 
and  reason. 

No  wonder  you  begin  to  flutter,  and  to  parry  these  terrible  results. 
But  this  is  not  the  place  for  evasion.  Go  back  with  me  and  scrutinize 
as  closely  as  you  please,  every  proposition  and  inference  made,  every 
principle  adduced;  and  if  you  can  overthrow  any  of  them,  then,  but  not 
otherwise,  may  you  escape  these  murderous  inferences.  1.  Is  there 
not  a  fixed  connexion  between  the  states  of  mind  and  body  ?  Unques- 
tionably. Do  not  the  states  of  the  body  reciprocally  aflect  those  of  the 
mind?  2.  Are  not  these  relations  governed  by  invariable  laws  of  cause 
and  effect?  fodisputably  so.  3.  Does  not  all  our  happiness  flow  from 
law  obeyed,  and  is  not  all  our  suftering  merely  the  penalty  of  violated 
law?  4.  Does  not  virtue,  and  with  it,  happiness,  consist  in  the  harmo- 
nious exercise  of  all  our  faculties,  with  the  moral  predominant ;  and 
also  vice,  and  with  it  misery,  in  the  inordinate  exercise  of  the  animal 
passions,  in  opposition  to  the  dictates  of  morality  and  intellect  ?  No  sane 
mind  will  qviestion  it.  5.  Does  not  alcohol  powerfully  stimulate  the 
nerves  ?  Apply  it  internally  to  the  exposed  nerves,  and  see.  6.  Does 
it  not  retain  its  stimulating  properties  after  it  is  taken  into  the  blood  ?  As 
well  may  you  say  that  fire  does  not  burn.  7.  Is  there  not  several  hundred 
per  cent,  more  of  blood,  and  thus  of  this  powerful  stimulus,  carried  to 
the  brain,  thus  exciting  the  mind,  than  is  carried  to  any  other  equally 
large  portion  of  the  system  ?  Ask  physiologists,  or  observe  v/hether 
alcoholic  drinks  do  not  excite  the  7nind  and  feelings  vastly  more  than 
they  do  the  muscles.  8.  Does  not  alcohol  first  stimulate  and  then 
benumb  the  ani77ial  propensities,  and  weaken  the  moral  and  intellectual 
powers;  thus  reversing  the  natural  order  of  things,  and  producing  vice, 
and  with  it,  misery  of  the  worst  kind,  by  violating  the  highest  laws  of 
our  being?  Let  either  the  science  of  phrenology,  or  the  phenomena  of 
drunkenness,  or  other  analagous  facts,  answer.  9.  Does  not  alcohol 
shorten  life  by  exhausting  the  vital  energies  without  re-supplying  them  ? 
This  proposition  is  invulnerable.  Then  is  not  every  individual  who  fur- 
thers this  result,  guilty  of  shortening  human  life,  just  to  make  money  ? 
Ask  either  common  law,  or  your  own  consciences.  Ask  reason,  or  facts, 
or  a  sense  of  right.  Every  proposition  is  invulnerable,  and  this  terrible 
mference  therefore  unavoidable.  Think  of  these  things  ;  and  since  you 
cannot  escape  the  penalty  of  violated  law,  penitently  acknov/ledge  tha4 
you  are  perpetrating  suicide,  gradually  or  rapidly,  but  surely,  according 


30  OBJECTIONS  ANSWERED. 

to  the  amount  you  drink ;  or  committing  homicide,  wholesale  or  retail, 
according  to  the  extent  of  your  custom. 

Objections. — 1.  If  you  object  by  saying:  Then  the  maker  of  the 
gun  is  responsible  for  the  murders  that  may  be  caused  by  it,  I  reply, 
that  between  the  making  of  the  gun  and  the  death  caused  by  it,  there  is 
no  necessary  or  invariable  connexion;  Avhereas,  between  the  making, 
and  vending,  and  drinking  of  alcoholic  liquors,  and  the  consequent  short- 
ening of  human  life,  and  the  production  of  misery,  there  exist  fixed  and  ' 
certain  relations  of  cause  and  effect ;  the  former  caiismg  the  latter,  espe- 
cially as  ninety-nine-hundreths  of  all  the  liquors  made  and  sold,  are  to 
drink,  and  known  to  be  so  by  maker  and  vender. 

2.  If  you  farther  object,  that  "alcohol  is  a  good  creature  of  God;" 
that  had  it  not  been  beneficial,  he  never  would  have  made  it,  I  reply : 
He  no  more  makes  alcohol  than  he  makes  a  steam-boat,  or  a  minced  pie. 
True,  the  original  elements  which,  separated  from  some  particles  and 
combined  witli  others,  constitute  alcohol,  are  contained  in  the  grain;  but 
there  is  not  a  particle  of  alcohol  in  a  million  bushels  of  grain,  any  more 
than  there  is  a  steam-boat  in  a  forest,  or  the  expansive  gas  of  gun-pow- 
der in  salt-petre,  charcoal  and  sulphur,  each  a  thousand  miles  from  the 
other.  If  iron  ore  in  a  forest  is  a  steamboat,  or  men  in  the  woods  a  city, 
or  wood  potash,  then  is  tliere  alcohol  in  grain.  Had  it  been  necessary 
for  man,  or  even  promotive  of  his  good,  God  would  have  created  alcohol 
in  its  pure  state.  The  fact  is  a  little  remarkable,  that  alcohol  can  be  pro- 
duced from  grain,  only  after  it  begins  to  decay. 

3.  "  But  Christ  turned  Avater  into  wine."  Gentle  reader,  all  the  wine 
made  out  of  loater,  you  are  at  perfect  liberty  to  drink.  Nor  wiU  ^'■new 
wine,"  or  imfermented  beer,  or  siveet  cider  injure  you ;  for  it  is  the  fer- 
mentation that  engenders  the  alcohol.  Keep  within  the  letter  and  spirit 
of  the  Erble,  and  wine  will  not  harm  you. 

4.  "If  I  do  not  make  and  sell  ardent  spirits  someone  else  will; 
and  I  may  as  well  have  the  profit,  as  they."  So  you  may,  and  the  curses 
with  it.  We  have  already  shov/n,  that  to  make,  or  sell,  or  drink  it,  is 
wrong ;  and  that  to  do  wrong,  that  is,  to  violate  law,  incurs  its  penalties ; 
and  you  may  as  well  suffer  the  penalties  as  any  one. 

5.  "  But  alcohol  is  necessary  as  a  medicine."  Then  use  it  as  such. 
I  grant  that  cases  of  nervous  prostration  may  sometimes  occur,  which 
require  some  potent  stimulant  to  rouse  them ;  but  in  such  cases,  let  the 
physician  deal  it  out,  a  tea-spoon  full  at  a  time,  which,  in  the  days  of 
Queen  Elizabeth,  was  deemed  a  potent  dose  for  a  robust  man. 

6.  "  But  I  never  sell  to  a  man  when  he  is  drunk,  but  only  to  moderate 
drinkers."  That  is,  you  will  not  actually  kill  ofi'  a  drunkard,  yet  you 
Avill  make  a  sober  man  a  drunkard.  You  will  not  push  the  head  of  the 
drowing  man  under  water,  but  you  will  push  the  man  who  is  safe  on 
shore  into  the  stream ;  you  will  not  perpetrate  the  last  act  in  the  drama 
of  death,  v/hilst  you  hesitate  not  to  keep  bringing  men  into  that  state 
which  will  inevitably  shorten  their  days. 

7.  "  But  I  can  measure  my  depth  and  stop  when  I  please."  Observe 
what  Ave  have  shown,  that  alcoholic  stimulants  deaden  the  organs  of  self- 
government,  leaving  you  a  prey  to  your  inclinations.     Stop  7iow,  is 

EVER. 


LOVE  OF  LIQUOR  PROPAGATED.  31 

PROPOSITION  X. — Such  are  the  physical  relations  existing 
between  parents  and  their  offsprings  that  the  drinking  propensity  o/* 
the  former  is  liable,  if  not  almost  certain,  to  be  transinitted  to  the 
latter. — But  for  the  existence  of  some  laws  of  relation  in  accordance 
with  which  the  qualities  of  the  parents  are  transmitted  to  their  children, 
the  latter  would  be  as  liable  to  resemble  any  of  the  brutes,  or  a  tree,  or 
stone,  as  their  parents.  But  in  accordance  with  these  laws,  "like  begets 
like,"  "each  after  its  kind."  There  are  family  faces  and  family  forms 
of  the  body,  family  talents  and  family  tastes  and  dispositions,  and  last, 
not  least,  family  forms  of  the  head  and  also  appetites. 

Both  phrenology  and  physiology  fully  establish  the  assertion,  that  not 
only  different  forms  of  the  body,  but  also  certain  forms  of  the  head  or 
certain  phrenological  developements,  and  of  course  the  accompanying 
qualities  of  mind,  are  transmitted  from  generation  to  generation.  Thus, 
whole  families,  from  the  great  grandsire  of  all,  down  through  all  the 
branches  of  his  descendants,  will  be  over-fond  of  money,  or  proud,  oi 
eminently  talented,  or  ambitious,  or  mathematical,  or  mechanical,  or 
tinieful,  as  the  case  maybe.  Hence  the  proverb,  "Me  mother,  like 
daughter." 

Fully  to  establish  this  proposition  and  its  several  applications,  which 
involve  the  most  powerful  of  all  motives  for  total  abstinence,  would 
require  more  time  and  space  than  we  can  here  spare.  This  principle  is 
understood,  and  successfully  applied  to  perfecting  the  shape,  qualities 
and  dispositions  of  animals.  It  applies  equally  to  man,  only  in  a  still 
greater  degree,  because  of  his  greater  number  of  qualities  to  be  compoun- 
ded, and  the  far  greater  value  of  the  improvement  effected.  This  motive 
bears  with  prodigious  force  upon  this  subject  in  four  ways  : 

Firstly.  By  the  direct  descent  of  the  drinking  propensity.  1.  Noi 
only  do  the  phrenological  developements  of  parents  descend  to  theii 
children,  and  with  them  the  accompanying  mental  qualities,  but  alsc 
thoix  particidar  forms  of  manifestation.  Hence,  if  the  appetite  of  tht 
father  fastens  upon  or  rejects  oysters,  or  ardent  spirit,  butter,  &c.,  that 
of  the  son  will  fasten  upon  or  reject  the  same  articles,  and  induce  the 
consequences.  The  father  of  Dr.  Kimball,  of  Sackett's  Harbor,  N.  Y., 
could  never  endure  the  taste  or  smell  of  butter ;  and  his  son,  though  a 
merchant,  will  never  keep  butter  in  his  store,  solely  (A\  occount  of  the 
disgust  he  instinctively  feels  towards  it,  preferring  ta  forego  the  loss  of 
both  profits  and  customers,  rather  than  to  have  it  abrut  him;  nor  can  he 
sit  at  table  on  which  it  is,  unless  it  is  of  the  purest,  sweetest  kind. 

If  the  Acquisitiveness  of  the  parent  fasten  upon  landed  property,  that 
of  his  descendants  will  fasten  upon  the  same.  The  town  records  of 
Newbury,  Mass.,  near  two  centuries  ago,  required  the  selectmen  "to 

see  that  Mr.  L- gets  no  more  land  than  what  belongs  to  him."     The 

disposition  to  acquire  land,  Avhich  this  caution  implies,  is  exhibited  in 
his  descendants  down  to  the  present  time.  Not  only  is  the  land  Avhich 
he  selected  in  1640,  in  Newbury,  still  owned  by  his  descendants  of  the 
same  name,  but  their  Acquisitiveness  has  fastened  upon  land,  land  espe- 
cially, in  distinction  from  other  kinds  of  property,  and  there  are  few,  if 
any,  families  in  this  country,  who  now  ov/n  so  large  tracts  of  land  as  this. 
2.  The  general  states  of  the  body  and  mind  of  the  parents,  are  imparted 
to  tlieir  children.     Now  alcohol  stimulates  the  animal  passions  of  the 


32  FACTS  PROVING  THIS  PROPOSITION. 

parent,  and  weakens  his  moral  and  intellectual  natiire,  and  begets  the 
same  characteristics  in  their  children.  Hence  the  children  of  drinkers  are 
never  as  intellectual  or  moral  as  those  of  others,  are  usually  dull  scholars, 
quarrelsome  and  vicious,  and  the  pests  of  society.  Nor  is  it  necessary 
that  the  father  should  be  a  drunkard,  only  that  he  should  love  and  long 
after  "the  good  creature."  Volumes  of  this  class  of  facts  might  be 
adduced,  but  our  space  allows  us  only  to  state  the  principle.  Again : 
the  irritated  state  of  the  parents'  mind  will  so  shape  his  conduct  to  the 
child,  as  to  excite  and  thus  re-increase  the  same  animal  organs,  not  to 
mention  the  strong  disposition  of  the  child  to  imitate  him. 

Secondly.  Whilst  the  talents  are  mostly  imparted  by  the  mother , 
the  propensities  and  desires  usually  descend  in  the  line  of  the  father 
Hence  this  love  of  stimulants  is  more  liable  to  be  transmitted  by  the 
fathei  than  are  his  talents,  thus  visiting  the  iniquities  of  the  father  upon 
the  children  unto  the  third  and  fourth  generations. 

Thirdly.  Sometimes  these  qualities  pass  the  first  generation  only  to 
appear  in  the  next,  so  that  even  though  your  children  may  possibly 
escape  destruction,  this  liquor-loving  stream  which  springs  from  you  is 
almost  sure  to  flow  on  to  generations  yet  unborn,  widening  and  deepen- 
ing as  it  progresses,  either  breakjrng  out  here  and  there  and  yonder,  or 
else  sweeping  your  name  and  race  from  the  face  of  the  earth.  True,  the 
superior  virtue  of  the  mother  may  arrest  its  flow  at  its  fountain  head ; 
yet  what  rational  parent  Avill  run  the  venture  ?  Is  not  this  a  most  power- 
ful motive  to  young  ladies  promptly  to  refuse  the  addresses  of  those 
young  men  who  drink  a  drop  of  any  kind  of  stimulants  ?  Every  woman 
who  marries  even  an  occasional  stimulater,  is  in  imminent  danger,  aye, 
almost  sure,  of  losing  the  affections  of  her  first,  her  only  love,  past  all 
recovery,  and  to  follow  him  to  an  early  and  most  bitter  grave ;  and  also 
of  seeing  her  sons,  otherwise  her  comfort  and  support,  becoiiie  her  bro- 
ken reed,  her  deepest  disgrace,  redoubling  the  indescribable  miseries  of  a 
drinking  husband  in  the  still  deeper,  bitterer  miseries  of  drinking,  besot 
ted  "  children  and  children's  children." 

Fourthly.  Children  are  very  likely  to  have  this  liquor-loving  taste  kindled  by  their 
nurses  giving  them  milk-pvmch,  todd}^,  &c.,  and  still  more  by  their  mothers  drinking 
these  drinks,  or  wine,  ale,  porter,  strong  beer,  &c.,  a  practice  quite  too  common,  but 
most  pernicious.  Though,  by  unduly  stimulating  the  stomach,  it  may  temporarily 
augment  the  quantity  of  milk,  it  eventually  (as  seen  on  pp.  25)  only  diminishes 
weakens  and  poisons  it,  injuring  both  mother  and  child,  besides  planting  a  love  of 
liquor  in  the  mfantile  bosom. 

Those  Phrenologisis  wlro  stimulate  thereby  evince  either  their  utter  ignorance  ol 
the  bearings  of  this  science,  or  a  criminality  far  greater  than  those  who  do  not  under- 
stand it ;  for  no  individual  of  ordinary  intellect  could  become  thoroughl}^  imbued  with 
the  spirit  of  Phrenology,  without  becoming  a  thorough-going  temperance  man,  both 
by  example  and  precept. 

I  adjure  you,  therefore,  by  your  love  of  that  pure,  perennial  fountain  of  pleasure, 
that  ocean  of  mental  and  moral  enjoyment  of  which  our  natvire  is  susceptible,  flowing 
from  obedience  to  the  laws  of  our  constitution,  and  also  by  that  literal  hell  of  misery 
upon  earth  which  inevitably  overtali:es  and  ovei-whclms  every  violator  of  these  laws ; 
I  adjure  you  by  your  love  of  life  and  your  fear  of  death,  and  of  such  a  death,  but  espe- 
cially, by  the  love  you  bear  to  your  family,  j^our  name,  your  ofispring,  and  your  pos- 
terity ;  by  all  that  is  beautiful,  all  that  is  sacred  in  your  nature,  I  adjure  you,  abstain 
tee-totaUy,  now  and  forever,  from  Evicnr  foiim,  eveht  admixtuke,  every  degbee, 
of  alcoholic,  intoxicating  and  stimulating  drinlcs. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1844,  by  O.  S.  Fowler,  in  the 
Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Massachusetts. 


TIGHT-LACING, 

OR   THE    EVILS    OP 

COMPRESSING  THE  ORGANS  OF  ANIMAL  LIFE. 

IILUSTRATED    BY   CUTS. 
BY   O.   S.   FOWLER, 

PRACTICAL     PHRENOLOGIST. 

Editor  of  the  American  Phrenological  Journal ;  and  Author  of  Phrenology  Proved,  Illustrated 
and  Applied,  Fowler's  Works,  &c.  &c. 


« Natural   "IVaists   or  no   "Wives. 


O.  S.  &  L.  N.  FOWLER,  131  NASSAU  STREET,  NEW  YORK. 


The  self-induced  evils  under  which  mankind  groan,  are  many  and 
distressing.  Of  these,  some  are  imposed  by  intemperance,  and  others 
by  poverty,  sickness,  and  the  artificial  state  of  society  in  which  we  live ; 
but  all  are  brought  upon  man  hy  himself.  But  the  great  proportion 
of  them  are  inflicted  by  the  tyrant  goddess  fashion  ;  of  which  tight 
LACING  is  one  of  the  most  painful  and  injurious.  For  the  last  ten  years, 
the  author  has  taken  a  bold  and  public  stand  against  these  evils,  espe- 
cially the  latter.  In  his  work  on  Matrimony,  he  censured  this  wicked 
practice  in  terms  of  unqualified  disapprobation,  even  though  fully  aware 
that  its  sale  would  be  materially  injured  thereby.  He  has  since  had  the 
unspeakable  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  these  brief  but  pungent  re- 
marks, have  led  to  the  formation  of  Anti-Lacing  Societies,  and  been  a 
rallying  point  for  the  friends  of  "  natural  waists  or  no  wives."  With  the 
view  of  extending  his  usefulness  in  this  department,  and  doing  what  he 
can  to  render  a  practice  which  is  as  great  an  evil  as  intemperance  ever 
was,  and  greater  than  that  vice  now  is,  as  disgraceful  as  it  is  fashionable 
and  pernicious,  he  has  determined  to  devote  the  following  pages  exclu- 
sively to  a  practical  exposition  of  the  evils  of  this  fashion,  and  thereby 
do  what  he  can  to  induce  young  men  not  to  require  this  self-immolation 
at  the  hands  of  woman,  and  induce  the  latter  to  abandon  a  practice  so 
destructive  of  their  own  happiness  and  so  detrimental  to  posterity. 

To  render  the  evils  of  tight-lacing  still  more  plain  and  forcible,  cuts 
have  been  introduced,  representing  both  the  natural  position  and  full 
development  of  the  vital  organs,  and  also  their  cramped  state  and  dis» 
located  position. 

1 


a  EVILS    OF    TIGHT    LACING. 

In  order  fully  to  present  this  whole  subject,  it  will  be  necessary  to 
point  out  somewhat  fully  the  functions  and  uses  of  the  principal  organs 
of  the  body,  but  the  science  therein  involved  will  be  dwelt  upon  no  far- 
ther than  is  indispensable  to  show  how  this  foolish  but  pernicious  prac- 
tice destroys  personal  happiness,  mars  beauty,  undermines  the  constitu- 
tion, depresses  the  spirits,  shortens  life,  and  injures  posterity.  Do  not, 
fair  reader,  discard  these  pages  with  a  sneer,  but  peruse  attentively,  and 
then  act  as  intellect  and  moral  principle  may  dictate. 

The  human  body,  then,  is  composed  of  three  great  classes  of  organs, 
all  distinct  in  their  nature  and  ends,  but  each  indispensable  to  happiness, 
and  even  to  life.  These  classes  of  organs  and  their  functions  are  some- 
times called  Temperaments,  and  the  predominance  or  deficiency  of  either, 
is  called  the  predominance  or  deficiency  of  the  corresponding  Tempera- 
ment.    These  classes  of  organs  or  temperaments  are, 

1.  The  Vital  or  Nourishing  Temperament;  which  embraces  the 
heart,  lungs,  digestive  apparatus,  blood,  viscera,  and  all  the  internal 
organs,  analogous  to  those  removed  from  animals  in  fitting  them  for  the 
table,  and  contained  within  the  thorax  and  abdomen.  Its  predominance 
gives  a  thick-set,  stocky  form  of  body,  together  with  depth,  breadth,  and 
often  roundness  of  shoulders,  and  thus  a  full,  capacious  chest ;  throws 
the  arms  far  apart  and  sets  them  well  back ;  gives  a  well-developed  abdo- 
men, large  and  strong  lungs  ;  great  power  of  voice;  a  full,  strong  pulse: 
sound,  and  well  set  teeth  ;  plumpness  of  person  :  a  large  waist ;  full  bust, 
and  good  figure.  This  organization  gives  great  strength  of  constitution 
and  vigor  of  body  ;  a  gtrong  hold  on  life ;  a  capacity  for  enduring  fatigue, 
privation,  and  exposure ;  an  abundant  supply  of  animal  life  and  vital 
energy,  to  be  expended  either  by  the  muscles  in  physical  exertion,  or  by 
the  brain  and  nerves,  in  thought  or  feeling ;  warmth  and  elasticity  of 
feeling,  and  a  hearty  relish  for  food,  sleep,  and  all  the  enjoyments  of  ani- 
mal life.  They  furnish  vitality.  They  impart  that  animal  life,  that 
physical  vigor,  required  by  every  muscle,  by  every  nerve,  by  the  brain, 
by  all  portions  of  the  body  to  sustain  them  in  action.  Without  this  vitality 
they  die  instantur.  With  it  but  sparingly  supplied,  the  brain,  the  mus- 
cles droop,  become  inert,  and  die.  Lascitude,  general  weakness,  fatigue, 
a  permanent  faintness  or  sinking  of  spirit,  together  with  this  whole  class 
of  feelings,  grow  out  of  the  feebleness  of  these  organs.  Many  readers 
know  by  experience  what  a  weakening  influence  indigestion,  or  extreme 
fatigue,  or  bad  breath,  say  the  feeling  of  suffocation  produced  by  being 
in  a  crowded  room,  or  a  muggy  atmosphere,  &c.,  have  on  both  the  mind 
and  the  body.  Being  put  to  it  for  breath,  or  afflicted  with  the  asthma, 
or  troubled  with  palpitation  of  the  heart,  or  diarrhea,  or  spitting  of  blood, 
or  a  sinking  down  into  consumption,  are  all  but  disorders  of  this  range  of 
organs,  and  the  languid  faintness  and  feebleness  occasioned  thereby,  will 
serve  to  illustrate  both'  their  function  and  the  effect  of  their  feebleness  or 
disease. 

This  portion  of  the  body  not  only  originates  vitality,  but  supports  and 
sustains  the  whole  animal  economy ;  and  constitutes  the  fountain-head 
and  main  source  of  animal  power  and  vital  energy  ;  manufactures  animal 
heat;  resists  cold  and  heat,  disease  and  death;  and  re-supplies  the  brain, 
nerves  and  muscles  with  that  vital  energy  which  their  every  action  com- 
pels them  to  expend.  It  is  the  first  portion  of  the  animal  economy 
formed,  and  the  means  employed  in  manufacturing  and  depositing  matter 
for  the  formation,  growth,  and  nutrition  of  all  the  parts  requiring  either ; 


FUNCTIONS    OF   THE   VITAL   APPARATtTS.  O 

and  hence,  is  most  active  in  childhood  and  youth,  when  these  functions 
are  the  most  vigorous.  Life  is  also  extinguished  sooner  by  a  blow  on 
the  pit  of  the  stomach  than  on  any  other  part,  the  head  not  excepted,  and 
the  blood,  instead  of  coagulating,  remains  liquid,  all  showing  that  these 
internal  organs  are  the  fountain  and  centre  of  animal  life.  All  aged,  all 
eminently  talented  persons  will  be  found  to  possess  amply  developed 
chests ;  and  all  consumptive  and  short-lived  families,  to  have  narrow 
chests.  All  grand-mothers  will  be  found  to  have  large  waists ;  for, 
without  that  ample  stock  of  vitality  furnished  thereby,  they  cannot  live 
to  become  grand-mothers.  The  chests  of  long-lived  persons,  and  of  hale, 
hearty  families,  will  always  be  found  to  be  deep,  ample,  and  expansive ; 
their  shoulders  broad,  waists  large,  and  persons  stocky  ;  but  those  who 
die  young,  unless  of  accident  or  some  acute,  inflammatory  disease,  as 
well  as  sickly,  delicate,  feeble  children  and  invalids,  will  be  found  to  be 
slim-built,  narrow  and  shallow  chested,  small  around  the  waist,  and 
poorly  developed  in  the  abdomen  ;  as  are  most  who  are  afflicted  with 
dyspepsia,  liver-complaint,  scrofula,  weakness,  palpitation  of  the  heart, 
consumption,  and  this  whole  class  of  diseases.  The  cause  of  these  dis- 
eases is  feeble  vital  organs,  and  their  indications  are  a  narrow  chest  and 
small  waist.  Other  things  being  the  same,  in  proportion  to  the  develop- 
ment of  these  vital  organs,  that  is,  to  the  fulness  of  the  waist  and  expan- 
sion of  the  chest,  will  be  the  health  and  strength  of  constitution.  Shovir 
me  a  narrow  chest  and  small  waist,  and  I  will  show  you  a  delicate,  sickly 
invalid  ;  but  let  the  heart,  lungs,  digestive  apparatus,  and  circulation  be 
vigorous,  and  the  whole  system  is  vigorous ;  the  feelings  buoyant  and 
elastic ;  the  health  excellent ;  diseases  resisted ;  and  life  prolonged. 
Were  I  to  take  the  most  effectual  method  I  know  of  for  undermining  the 
health  of  an  enemy,  and  making  him  perfectly  wretched,  I  would  cramp 
his  vital  organs — in  other  words,  I  would  lace  him. 

Another  illustration.  Deprive  the  stomach  of  its  required  supply  of 
food.  You  become  weaker  and  fainter  in  mind,  in  body,  till  you  die 
of  pure  inanition.  And  this  will  show  both  the  nature  and  function  of 
digestion,  and  the  importance  of  a  healthy  stomach,  as  well  as  of  furnish- 
ing the  right  kind  and  quantity/  of  food.  Another.  Go  without  breath,  or 
breathe  impure  air,  or  air  saturated  with  poisonous  gases,  or  breathe 
only  half  enough,  or  compress  the  chest,  and  the  office  of  the  lungs,  as 
well  as  the  importance  of  abundance  of  wholesome  air  for  respiration, 
will  become  sensibly  apparent.  Or  let  the  heart  become  enfeebled — its 
pulsations  labored  and  inefficient,  the  blood  unequally  distributed,  the 
hands  and  feet  cold,  but  the  head  burning  up  with  heat,  the  skin  cold 
and  clammy,  the  body  chilly,  the  blood  diseased — any  disorder  affecting 
the  circulation,  and  you  will  have  a  practical  illustration  of  the  impor- 
tance of  a  vigorous  circulation.  Let  the  liver,  let  the  kidneys,  let  any 
of  the  internal  organs  be  disordered,  and  we  ih^nfeel  the  value  of  vitality 
by  its  scarcity. 

Turn  the  tables.  Let  the  muscles  be  powerful,  so  that  you  can  turn 
off  any  quantity  of  work,  and  for  year  after  year  ;  or  walk  a  great  dis- 
tance without  fatigue  ;  or  move,  labor,  and  do  every  thing  with  perfect 
ease  and  even  pleasure.  Let  the  lungs  be  large  and  active,  so  that  you 
can  drink  in  full  and  constant  supplies  of  fresh  air  to  invigorate  the 
whole  system  and  charge  it  with  that  vital  electricity  derived  from  breath. 
Let  the  heart  send  the  blood,  thus  thoroughly  vitalized,  bounding  and 
rushing  through  all  parts  of  the  system,  even  to  the  ends  of  the  fingers 


IMPORTANCE  OF  A  HEALTHY  INTERNAL  APPARATUS. 


No.  1. 


and  toes,  imparting  health,  energy,  power,  spontaneous  action,  to  every 
muscle,  nerve,  the  brain  included.  Let  the  digestion  be  perfect.  Let 
food  never  trouble  you.  Let  it  fill  up  your  person,  make  perfect  chyle, 
perfect  blood.  Let,  in  short,  all  the  vital  organs  be  fully  developed,  be 
healthy,  be  vigorous,  so  that  your  supply  of  vitality  is  abundant,  and  a 
flow  of  healthy,  happy  feeling  thrills  throughout  your  whole  frame.  Dis- 
ease keeps  aloof.  Distress  is  a  total  stranger.  You  know  no  pain.  All 
you  see,  all  you  feel,  all  you  do,  but  makes  you  happy, — happy  ^beyond 
what  words  can  express.  Experience  alone  can  disclose  the  heighth, 
the  depth,  the  extent,  the  sweetness  of  that  happiness  which  flows  from  a 
healthy  vital  apparatus. 

But  to  show  the  rationale  of 
this  whole  subject  still  more  spe- 
cifically. Cut  No.  1  shows  the 
location  of  those  organs  indi- 
vidually, which,  taken  collec- 
tively, constitute  this  vital  appa- 
ratus. The  upper  portion  rep- 
resents the  throat,  including  the 
passage  way  of  the  food.  Those 
lobes  marked  r  l  and  l  l  [right 
lung  and  left  lung]  represent  the 
lungs,  which  almost  encircle  the 
heart  (n,)  which  two  fill  up  the 
upper  portion  of  the  chest  as  far 
down  as  the  diaphragm,  {that 
rainbow-like  curve,  marked  d.) 
below  which  is  the  stomach, 
(marked  Stm.)  at  the  upper  por- 
tion of  which  the  food  enters 
it;  and,  after  passing  roxmd  and 
round  till  converted  into  chyle, 
it  escapes  at  the  upper  part  of 
the  left  hand  end,  through  an 
opening  called  the  pyloric  ori- 
fice, into  the  duodenum,  where 
it  receives  two  secretions,  the 
one  fi'oui  the  gall-bladder  (mark- 
ed G.,  which  is  secreted  by  the  liver,  ui.irked  Liv.)  and  the  other  coming 
from  the  pancreas  or  sweet  bread — the  two  converting  it  into  a  milky 
substance  which  contains  all  the  properties  of  blood,  except  the  oxygen 
received  from  the  air.  Exposed  to  air  it  turns  red.  As  the  food  passes 
along  the  intestines,  (those  crooked  folds  marked  i  i  i,)  it  is  assorted, 
the  refuse  part  continuing  along  the  intestinal  canal  till  it  is  rejected  in 
the  form  of  foeces,  and  the  nourishing  properties  being  taken  up  by  the 
lacteals,  vessels  that  have  little  mouths  like,  opening  into  them,  which, 
uniting  together,  carry  the  nutrition  along  up  near  the  back  bone  till  it 
empties  it  into  the  heart,  where,  mixing  with,  it  is  converted  into  blood ; 
and  is  sent  by  the  heart,  first  to  the  lungs,  to  be  oxygenated  or  charged 
with  vitality,  and  then  to  be  received  back  into  the  heart  and  sent  round 
the  whole  system  on  its  life-imparting  mission.  If  the  digestion  be  bad, 
this  blood  is  of  course  imperfect,  or  perhaps  loaded  with  disease ;  for 


EFFECTS    OF    LACING    ON    THE    STOMACH.  5 

when  food  lays  long  in  the  stomach  without  being  digested,  it  ferments, 
that  is,  decays  or  rots,  and  thus  engenders  vast  quantities  of  corruption, 
which,  entering  the  blood,  carry  disease  to  all  portions  of  the  system, 
escaping  by  slow  degrees  through  the  lungs,  and  by  insensible  perspira- 
tion. Hence  the  importance  of  having  good  food,  and  that  perfectly 
digested  ;  and,  when  digestion  is  imperfect,  of  restoring  it  again  to  pow- 
erful and  healthy  action. 

The  heart,  by  every  pulsation,  propels  the  blood  along  the  arteries, 
which  continue  to  divide  and  subdivide,  till  they  become  too  small  to  be 
seen  by  the  naked  eye.  They  can  be  traced  into  subdivisions  still  more 
minute  by  the  aid  of  the  microscope,  but  the  most  powerful  optical  in- 
struments cannot  trace  them  to  their  termination,  so  infinitely  small  and 
numerous  are  their  ramifications.  Indeed,  the  finest  point  that  can  be 
made  cannot  be  inserted  in  the  flesh  without  penetrating  them.  It  is  in 
these  inconceivably  small  capillary  vessels  that  the  blood  expends  its 
life-giving  energies.  It  then  passes  into  the  veins.  But,  by  this  time,  it 
becomes  charged  with  carbon,  of  which  charcoal  is  mainly  composed, 
which  evolves  so  poisonous  a  gas  when  burned.  This  carbon  it  is  which 
gives  it  its  dark  blue,  leaden  aspect.  To  carry  off  this  carbon  by  respi- 
ration, is  one  of  the  offices  of  the  lungs.  When,  however,  respiration  is 
imperfect,  the  air  close,  the  breathing  obstructed  by  asthma,  or  whale- 
bone, or  steel  bars,  this  deadly  poison,  unable  to  escape,  is  compelled 
to  return  with  the  blood,  to  irritate  the  system,  to  enfeeble  vitality,  to 
destroy  life. 

Stop  the  action  of  the  stomach  by  withholding  nutrition,  and  how 
soon  human  beings  die.  Suspend  the  functions  of  the  lungs,  by  with- 
holding air,  and  how  soon  they  suffocate  !  and  just  in  that  proportion  in 
which  either  of  these  great  functions  is  retarded,  in  just  that  proportion 
is  life  extinguished  and  death  hastened.  Tight-lacing  cramps  the  action 
of  both  the  lungs  and  stomach,  and  thereby  retards  both  digestion  and 
respiration,  and  in  just  that  proportion  deprives  those  who  lace,  of  life. 
This  point  will  be  seen  in  its  true  light,  by  contrasting  the  engravinas 
1,  3  and  5,  which  show  the  natural  size  and  position  of  these  organs, 
with  engravings  numbered  2  and  4,  which  show  the  effects  produced  by 
compressing  these  points.  The  latter  are  copied  from  life,  or  rather, 
from  a  lady  who  killed  herself  by  tight-lacing.  They  are  not  exagge- 
rated;  but,  are  so  far  from  it,  that  they  only  represent  the  ribs  (r.  r.)  as 
meeting,  whereas  they  often  lap  over,  as  will  be  seen  on  examining  the 
chests  of  many  a  lady  promenading  our  streets.  Probably  few  females 
will  read  this  who  do  not  Icnoio  of  some  female  acquaintance  whose  ribs 
have  been  made  to  lap  over  by  tight-lacing.  The  distance  from  the 
lower  end  of  this  lady's  breast-bone  to  her  spine,  was  only  one  inch  and 
three-fourths,  not  a  THIRD  its  usual  distance. 

The  amount  of  air  supposed  to  be  breathed  at  each  ordinary,  natural 
inspiration  is  found  to  average  about  six  pints ;  while  the  amount  usually 
inspired  by  a  tight-laced  lady,  is  only  about  three  pints,  or  a  diminution 
of  about  one  half !  Of  course,  tight-lacers  have  only  /laZ/"  of  their  natural 
powers  of  life,  and  are  therefore  only  about  half  alive,  the  other  half 
being  dead — dead  while  they  live,  besides  the  shortening  of  their  lives  by 
hastening  death. 

Again.  Notice  the  process  of  breathing  in  yourself;  and  when  unre- 
strained, you  will  see  a  full,  free  expansion  and  contraction  of  the  ribs. 


6 


LACING    INTERRUPTS    THE    PROCESS    OF    BREATHING. 


Their  expansion  is  seen  in  Cut  No.  2, 
which  represents  the  ribs  full  and  nat- 
ural. Lacing  prevents  that  expansion 
of  the  chest  which  is  natural  in  breath- 
ling,  and  by  means  of  which  alone  air 
can  be  admitted  into  the  lungs.  This 
shows  how  it  is  that  tight-lacing  pre- 
vents breathing,  and  thus  literally  svf- 
focates  its  fashionable  victim.  And  I 
now  appeal  to  every  corseted  woman, 
whether  she  does  not  experience  a 
sinking  faintness,  a  choking  for  want 
of  breath,  a  suffocating  sensation,  as 
though  she  should  die ;  a  panting  for 
breath,  which,  carried  much  farther, 
would  destroy  life  on  the  spot.  It  is 
this  which  occasions  so  many  laced 
women  to  faint  at  church,  or  on  occa- 
sions where  the  house  is  full,  and  the 
air  therefore  less  pure.  They  obtain 
but  little  breath  at  all  events,  and  that 
little  being  impure,  they  faint  from  mere  want  of  it,  including  also  that 
want  of  circulation,  caused  by  cramping  the  heart  and  arteries.  And 
how  quick  a  woman  comes  to,  when  her  girt-strings  are  cut ! 

Tight  lacing  violates  another  important  physiological  principle.  Di- 
gestion is  greatly  facilitated  by  motion  in  the  stomach.  Indeed,  without 
this  motion,  its  functions  soon  become  enfeebled,  its  conditions  diseased, 
its  product  corrupt,  and  life  itself  consequently  enfeebled,  by  the  disease 
thereby  engendered  in  the  whole  system.  To  render  this  motion  con- 
stant, and  thus  perpetually  to  assist  digestion,  it  is  so  arranged  that  every 
breath  we  draw  presses  downward  upon  all  the  organs  below  the  lungs, 
and  thus  imparts  this  much  needed  motion  to  the  digestive  apparatus. 
But  tight-lacing  girts  in  the  lower  portion  of  the  lungs,  and  cuts  off  all 
that  downward  movement  naturally  imparted  by  breathing  to  the  organs 
of  digestion  ;  and  confines  all  the  motion  occasioned  by  breathing  to  the 
upper  portion  of  the  lungs.  By  noticing  the  motion  made  in  breathing, 
it  is  easy  to  see  who  is  laced,  for  those  who  are  laced,  will  heave  the 
upper  part  of  their  chests  greatly,  but  the  entire  region  of  the  abdomen 
will  be  motionless  :  the  consequence  of  which  is  a  most  fatal  torpor  of 
the  whole  digestive  apparatus,  that  gradually  but  effectually  stops  the 
manufactory  and  flow  of  vitality  at  its  fountain  head,  weakening  the 
powers  of  life  while  we  live,  and  bringing  them  the  sooner  to  a  fatal 
cessation. 

One  appeal  more,  and,  if  possible,  still  more  cogent.  It  is  directed 
to  the  very  organ  that  makes  our  women  lace — to  their  vanity.  Prop- 
erly are  you  called  fair.  You  are  called  fair,  beautiful,  lovely,  hand- 
some, pretty,  graceful,  charming,  &c.  God  has  made  you  so.  Beauty 
is  indeed  a  valuable  addition  to  the  character  of  woman.  Man  is  con- 
stituted to  love  female  beauty.  And  whatever  adds  to  your  beauty, 
should  be  sedulously  cultivated.  Whatever  detracts  therefrom,  should 
be  entirely  eschewed. 

Now  what  effect  has  tight-lacing  on  beauty  ?  Most  pernicious — 
ahvays,  necessarily .     You  think  it  makes  you   handsome  !    But,  think 


TIGHT-IiACING   DESTROYS    BEAUTY. 


No.  3. 


No.  4. 


you  that  the  wasp-like  waist  is  in  itself  more  beautiful  than  the  waist 
given  by  nature  ?  Think  you  that  girting  the  waist  can  improve  the 
beauty  of  the  works  of  God  1    How  would  Venus  de  Medicis  look  with 

a  little  pent  up 
waist  ?  As  well 
pinch  up  or  de- 
stroy any  other 
portion  of  the  sys- 
tem, and  then  call 
it  handsome  !  Na- 
ture is  always 
beautiful ;  nature 
distorted,  always 
homely.    Look  at 


the  same  woman, 
or  upon  two  wo- 
men, alike  except 
ithat  the  waist  of 
\the  one  shall  be 
distorted  and  her 
motions  cramped 
by    corsets,     and 

the  other  free,  her  motions  natural,  easy  and  graceful,  and  then  tell  me 
if  a  naturally  full  waist  rendered  small  artificially,  is  not  a  deformity? 

But,  this  is  but  a  small  part  of  the  reason  why  lacing  renders  a  woman 
homely.  Can  a  poor,  scrawny,  pale-faced,  spare  featured,  gliastly -look- 
ing woman,  possibly  be  handsome  ?  Beauty  is  always  accompanied  by  a 
plump  person,  and  a  ruddy  cheek.  But  sickness  always  impairs  the 
beauty ;  and  death,  by  rendering  the  cheeks  sunken  and  the  looks  hag- 
gard, destroys  true  beauty.  And  for  this  reason.  A  full  cheek  and  a 
plump  person  indicate  health ;  and  this,  a  full  supply  of  that  animal  vigor 
on  which  life  and  happiness  depend.  Now,  lacing  impairs  the  health, 
and  diminishes  the  action  of  the  lungs  and  stomach.  This  enfeebles 
vitality  and  invites  death,  and  thus  effaces  beauty.  Beauty  cannot  exist 
without  health  and  a  fresh  countenance,  and  they  cannot  exist  with  tight- 
lacing.  Lacing  diminishes  both  the  size*  and  the  vigor  of  the  whole 
vital  apparatus,  and  this  causes  the  cheeks  to  fall  in.  (See  the  principle 
on  which  this  depends  explained  in  the  Phrenological  Almanac  for  1845, 
Art.  L)  But,  vigor  of  lungs  and  stomach  both  fill  out  and  also  redden 
the  cheeks,  and  hence  promote  beauty.  But  tight-lacing  has  been 
shown  to  destroy  both.  One  reason  why  marriage  impairs  the  beauty,  is 
because  it  impairs  the  health.  But  not  to  dwell.  I  take  the  broad 
ground — a  ground  supported  by  both  observa<*ion  and  science — that  no 
woman  having  an  artificial  icaist  can  he  handsome.  Tight-lacing  would 
make  Venus  herself  homely — will  make  any  woman  homely,  tame  and 
uninteresting,  by  making  her  thin,  spare,  scrawny,  and  haggard  in 
appearance.  I  wish  this  point  were  fully  understood.  It  alone  would 
break  up  lacing. 

But  this  is  not  all,  nor  even  the  worst.  Tight-lacing  diseases  the 
lungs,  as  well  as  retards  their  action.  By  a  glance  at  their  position,  as 
seen  in  Cut  No.  1,  the  corsets  so  compress  their  entire  lower  section,  as 
almost  completely  to  prevent  action.  Now  who  does  not  know  that  this 
inaction  is  a  most  powerful  promoter  of  disease.     Action   is   known  to 


8  CORSETS    INDUCE    CONStTHPTION. 

work  off  most  kinds  of  disease.  Let  a  healthy  man  Icecp  stitl  for  a  few 
weeks,  and  disease  gathers  and  deepens  on  him,  till  he  is  compelled 
either  to  go  to  work  again,  or  else  to  die.  The  virtue  of  Rammagi's 
tube  consists  in  its  giving  exercise  to  the  lungs.  Let  those  who  are 
predisposed  to  consumption  but  injiate  their  lungs  daily  and  hourly, 
by  full  and  frequent  inspirations,  dilating  them  to  their  largest  capa- 
city, and  besides  remaining  healthy,  they  will  continually  increase 
in  size  and  strength.  But,  let  the  opposite  course  be  pursued,  and  op- 
posite results  will  follow.  Let  the  lungs  be  cramped,  and  they  will 
become  diseased.  The  mere  pressure  of  the  corset  can  hardly  fail  to 
induce  inflammation ;  and  this,  carried  far,  must  end  in  ulceration.  But, 
however  detrimental  pressure  is  to  any  part  of  the  body,  and  to  the 
lungs  in  particular,  it  is  ih&ix  tvant  of  action  which  is  most  fatal  to  their 
healthy  condition.  The  law  that  governs  them  is,  constant  action,  or 
else  disease.  Nothing  is  more  fatal  to  the  lungs,  than  that  inaction 
which  tight-lacing  always  and  necessarily  induces.  This,  and  the  pressing 
together  of  their  pores,  which  free  inspirations  would  keep  apart,  causes 
adhesions,  and  these,  inflammation,  and  this,  ulcerations.  Scarcely  any 
one  cause  of  consumption  is  more  prolific.  And  yet,  its  victims  are  said 
to  die  of  consumption,  when  in  fact  they  die  of  lacing.  It  is  just  as  bad 
as  though  they  committed  suicide  by  strangling  themselves.  They  do 
commit  suicide  by  strangulation,  and  thus  break  the  hearts  of  friends  and 
family,  and  yet  the  real  cause  of  their  death  is  overlooked,  or  else  kept 
studiously  out  of  view. 

The  alarming  prevalence  of  consumption  within  the  last  few  years, 
should  cause  every  true  lover  of  his  country  to  weep.  It  has  broken  the 
hearts  of  thousands  of  disconsolate  parents,  removing  one  by  one,  their 
fond  hopes  and  blooming  daughters,  till  all  were  carried  to  their  long 
home,  and  they  hastened  into  their  graves  mourning.  And  all  because 
their  vain  but  ignorant  daughters  laced.  Tight-lacing  answers  the  ques- 
tion, "Why  do  so  many  more /emaZes  die  of  consumption  than  males?" 

But  its  effects  on  the  stomach  (marked  Stm.)  are  still  more  cramped 
in  proportion,  and  the  nourishing  of  the  system  is  reduced  in  even 
a  greater  ratio.  So  that  tight-lacers  are  not  even  a  quarter  alive,  and 
are  more  than  three  quarters  dead  while  alive.  How  can  the  liver, 
(marked  1.  see  engravings  3  and  4,)  act  when  drawn  down  and  bandaged 
with  a  strong  girth  around  it  ?  Not  only  is  its  action  proportionably 
enfeebled,  but  the  product  of  that  action  becomes  corrupt,  because  the 
organ  itself  becomes  diseased,  and  the  stomach  thereby  corrupted,  and 
the  blood  rendered  impure.  This  carries  disease  to  every  portion  of 
the  system ;  especially  to  the  brain,  because  that  organ  receives  so 
large  a  supply  of  blood  from  tight-lacing.  This  unfolds  another  cause 
of  the  diseased  feelings  of  lacers.  Lacing  corrupts  the  blood,  and  this 
diseases  the  brain,  which  makes  the  feelings  produced  by  the  action  of 
that  brain  diseased.  This  diseased  action  of  the  brain  is  usually  called 
craziness,  or  insanity.  How  beautiful,  how  philosophical  an  exposition 
of  the  almost  universal  fact  that  those  who  have  laced  so  tight  as  to 
disease  the  blood,  are  crazy.  That  they  are  crazy,  is  rendered  evident 
by  the  state  of  mind  described  on  p.  9,  and  will  be  rendered  still  more 
evident  hereafter. 

The  state  of  mind  there  described  is  only  the  effect  of  partial 
insanity.  That  tight-lacing  produces  this  state,  first,  by  sending  too 
much  blood  to  the  head ;  and  secondly,  by  corrupting  the  blood,  and 


TIGHT-LACING    OBSTRUCTS    THE    CIRCULATION.  9 

thereby  diseasing  the  brain,  is  self-evident ;  and  this  principle  fully 
establishes  and  clearly  explains  the  fact  that  tight-lacing  produces  mental 
derangement. 

Tight-lacing  not  only  diseases  the  blood,  but  also  retards  its  circu- 
lation. How  can  a  bandaged,  laboring  heart  give  full,  strong,  healthy 
])idsations  when  thus  cramped  up  and  bandaged  ?  how  send  the  blood  to 
the  extremities,  and  force  it  through  all  the  almost  infinitely  minute  and 
ramified  veins  of  the  body  1  It  cannot :  and  even  if  it  could,  the  blood 
would  be  stopped  in  its  course,  especially  to  and  from  the  lower  limbs, 
so  that  the  feet  must  necessarily  be  cold,  (universally  regarded  as  one  of 
the  vaosi  prolific  causes  of  disease,)  and  the  muscles  used  in  walking,  be 
enfeebled.  Who  ever  knew  tight-laced  women  capable  of  walking  much? 
How  soon  do  they  get  out  of  breath,  (because  the  lungs  will  not  admit 
air  enough  to  vitalize  the  blood,)  and  become  fatigued  ?  (because  these 
muscles  used  in  walking,  become  exhausted  from  the  absence  of  well 
arterialized  blood.)  No  !  laced  ladies  are  good  enough  to  ride,  and  that 
on  the  softest  cushioned  and  most  easy-riding  carriages.  Take  care, 
driver  !  be  careful,  or  you'll  jolt  them  in  two :  for,  suchjfrazY  ware  breaks 
in  two  very  easily,  in  the  middle. 

To  be  productive  of  health,  or  physical  or  mental  happiness,  the  cir- 
culation must  be  uniform;  and  every  thing  which  tends  either  to  retard 
the  circulation  as  a  whole,  or  to  increase  the  circulation  of  some  portions 
and  diminish  that  of  other  portions,  will  be  proportionally  ruinous. 
Medical  men  have  not  appreciated  the  importance  of  equality,  or  pro- 
portion oi  cixciAdLiiow  in  the  different  parts.  The  absence  of  this  uni- 
formity in  the  circulation,  is  one  of  the  main  causes  of  disease ;  and 
restoring  it,  will  cure  most  diseases.  A  moment's  reflection  and  a  little 
observation,  will  convince  every  one  of  the  importance  of  this  principle, 
and  also  show  how  ivofully  it  is  violated  by  tight-lacing. 

A  Philadelphia  physician,  in  a  letter  to  a  lady  on  the  effect  of  wearing 
corsets,  has  the  following  remarks :  "  I  anticipated  the  happy  period 
when  the  fairest  portion  of  the  fair  creation  will  step  forth  unencumbered 
with  slabs  of  walnut  and  tiers  of  whalebone.  The  constitution  of  our 
females  must  be  excellent,  to  withstand  in  any  tolerable  degree,  the 
inflictions  of  the  corset,  eight  hours  every  day.  No  other  animal  could 
survive  it.  Take  the  honest  ox,  and  enclose  his  sides  with  hoop-poles, 
put  an  oaken  plank  beneath  him,  and  gird  the  whole  with  a  bed  cord, 
and  demand  of  him  labor.  He  would  labor  indeed,  but  it  would  be  for 
breath." 

The  second  great  function  of  life  affected  by  tight-lacing,  is  the  Ner- 
vous System  and  Brain — that  portion  of  the  body  called  into  action 
in  the  manufacture  and  exercise  of  feeling,  thought,  sensation — that 
portion  of  us  for  which  all  others  were  made,  and  which  lives  and  is,  and 
which  constitutes  the  most  exalted  function  of  our  nature,  as  well  as  the 
end  and  object  of  our  existence.  All  our  pleasures  are  experienced  by 
its  instrumentality,  and  are  connected  with  its  normal,  healthy  action: 
v^hile  every  pain  we  experience  or  are  capable  of  experiencing  in  this 
world,  is  the  legitimate  product  of  its  abnormal,  unhealthy  action.  Nor 
IS  it  possible  for  these  organs  to  be  unhealthy,  or  morbidly  active,  or 
inflamed,  or  in  any  way  to  depart  from  their  healthy  action,  without 
causing  pain,  and  in  just  that  proportion  in  which  they  depart  therefrom. 
Those  in  whom  this  department  of  their  organization  either  greatly  pre- 
dominates, or  becomes  diseased  or  inflamed,  will   generally  have  cold 


10  I/ACIN6   DISORDERS    THE    MIND    AND    FEELINGS. 

hands  and  feet,  but  much  beat  and  pain  in  the  head,  if  not  a  severe  and 
continual  head-ache,  because  too  much  blood  flows  to  the  head,  and  too 
little  to  the  extremities.  This  causes  them  to  feel  nervous  and  irritable, 
and  to  become  excited  inordinately,  even  by  trifles.  Their  heated  im- 
agination magnifies  a  mole-hill  till  it  becomes  a  mountain.  They  are 
kept  in  a  continual  fever  of  excitement ;  tossed  back  and  forward  by 
currents  and  counter-currents  of  feelings  which  they  find  it  impossible 
to  control.  Sometimes  they  are  elated  beyond  measure,  and  filled  with 
ecstasy  ;  and  anon  they  are  plunged  into  the  very  depths  of  despair  by 
some  trifle,  too  insignificant  to  affect  a  healthy  brain  ;  for  their  sensi- 
bilities are  morbidly  alive  to  every  thing.  They  retire  to  their  couch, 
but  not  to  sleep.  The  boiling  blood  courses  through  their  brain,  and 
their  laboring  pulsations  shake  their  very  frame.  They  think  and  feel 
intensely  upon  every  thing,  only  to  increase  the  disease,  and  aggravate 
their  mental  sufferings.  If  Cautiousness  be  large,  they  are  afraid  of 
their  own  shadow,  and  see  all  their  paths  filled  with  lions  and  tigers. 
If  Approbativeness  be  large,  they  thirst  for  praise,  but  see  the  desired 
cup  dashed  from  their  lips  by  merely  imaginary  neglects,  which  are  so 
construed  that  they  cause  the  deepest  chagrin  and  mortification.  They 
seek  sleep  but  find  it  not.  Hour  after  hour,  they  turn  from  side  to  side 
upon  their  couches,  exhausted  even  to  prostration  by  mental  action,  yet 
unable  to  compose  their  excited,  erratic  feelings.  Bright  thoughts  flit 
like  meteors  across  their  mental  horizon  only  to  vanish  in  midnight 
darkness.  And  if  tardy  sleep  at  last  folds  them  in  his  unwilling  arms, 
frightful  dreams  disturb  their  shallow  slumbers,  till  they  awake  enshroud- 
ed in  deep  melancholy  and  impenetrable  gloom.  They  feel  most  keenly 
only  to  feel  most  wretchedly.  At  short  intervals,  a  sigh,  or  groan,  or 
"Oh  dear  me  !"  escapes  them,  and  they  internally  feel,  "Oh  wretched 
man  that  I  am !"  not  because  they  feel  guilty,  but  because  they  are  ner- 
vous. They  feel  burdened  with,  they  know  not  what,  but  this  only  ag- 
gravates their  oppression.  Things,  otherwise  their  joy,  become  their 
tormentors,  and  every  sweet  is  rendered  bitter.  Their  nervous  energies 
are  wrought  up  to  the  highest  pitch  of  inflamed  action,  and  yet  they  have 
no  strength  to  stand  this  preternatural  excitement.  Days  and  weeks 
roll  on  only  to  augment  their  miseries.  The  excited  mind  seeks  relief 
in  books,  especially  novels,  which  only  increase  their  sufferings.  The 
cause  of  these  sufferings  is  a  disordered  mental  temperament,  and  tight- 
lacing  has  a  direct  and  necessary  tendency  to  cause  this  predominance, 
first  by  retarding  the  action  of  the  vital  organs  and  hindering  digestion, 
nutrition  and  circulation :  and  secondly,  by  inflaming  the  nervous  sys- 
tem, and  giving  the  blood  a  tendency  to  flow  to  the  head,  by  preventing 
its  flowing  to  the  extremities  of  the  skin.  On  inquiry  into  the  private 
feelings  of  tight-lacers,  into  the  secret  recesses  of  their  hearts,  they  will 
be  found  to  feel'  as  above  described.  If  they  have  no  real  cause  of 
trouble,  they  have  some  imaginary  one,  yet  never  once  dreamed  that  this 
girting  of  their  waists  sends  the  blood  up  to  their  heads,  and  thus  mor- 
bidly excites  the  brain^  and  at  the  same  time  cuts  off"  those  vital  energies 
which  alone  can  sustain  it ;  thereby  producing  that  disorder  of  the  men- 
tal temperament  which  causes  tund  perpetuates  .this  awful  state  of  feeling. 
And  it  is  right ;  for  tight-lacing  is  a  great  sin,  and  should  be  followed 
by  severe  punishment. 

My  conscience  constrains  me  reluctantly  to  allude  here  to  one  other 
evil  connected  with  tight-lacing.     If  I  could  omit  it  in  justice  to  myself, 


TIGHT-LACING   KINDLES    IMPUJRE    DESIRES,  IJ. 

in  justice  to  my  work,  in  justice  to  tight-lacers,  and  in  justice  to  those 
who  may  marry  small  waists,  I  would  gladly  do  it.  One  thing  is  certain, 
I  do  not  do  it  to  gain  popularity,  for  I  know  it  will  injure  (at  least  for  a 
few  years)  the  popularity  and  sale  of  this  work.  I  introduce  it  because 
it  ought  to  go  in — it  ought  to  be  known  that  it  may  be  guarded  against. 
Who  does  not  know  that  the  compression  of  any  part  produces  inflam- 
mation? Who  does  not  know  that,  therefore,  iighi-\^.c\ng  around  the 
waist  keeps  the  hloodi  from  returning  freely  to  the  heart,  and  retains  it  in 
the  bowels  and  neighboring  organs,  and  thereby  inflames  all  the  organs 
of  the  abdomen,  which  thereby  excites  amative  desires  ?  Away  goes 
this  book  into  the  fire  !  "  Shame  !  shame  on  the  man  who  writes  this  !" 
exclaims  Miss  Fastidious  Small-Waist.  "  The  man  who  v/rote  that, 
ought  to  be  tarred  and  feathered."  Granted ;  and  then  what  shall  be 
done  to  the  woman  who  laces  tight  ?  If  it  be  improper  for  a  man  to 
allude  to  this  effect  of  lacing,  what  is  it  for  a  woman  to  cause  and  expe- 
rience it  ?  Let  me  tell  you.  Miss  Fastidious,  that  the  less  you  say 
about  this,  the  better  ;  because  I  have  truth  on  my  side,  and  because 
it  is  high  time  that  men  who  wish  virtuous  wives  knew  it,  so  that  they 
may  avoid  those  who  have  inflamed  and  exhausted  this  element  of  their 
nature.  It  is  also  high  time  that  virtuous  woman  should  blush  for  very 
shame  to  be  seen  laced  tight,  just  as  she  should  blush  to  be  caught  in- 
dulging impure  desires. 

I  know,  indeed,  that  I  have  nov/  appealed  to  the  most  powerful  motive 
possible — to  that  of  woman's  modesty ;  and  therefore  I  make  this  appeal 
because  it  is  thus  powerful.  I  wish  to  make  woman  ashamed  to  lace 
tight,  and  this  will  do  it.  No  woman  who  reads  this  will  dare  be  seen 
laced  tight,  because  she  Jcnmvs  it  to  be  true,  both  from  experience  and 
from  physiology.  My  object  in  this  allusion  is,  to  break  up  this  most 
pernicious  fashion,  and  I  think  this  one  suggestion  alone,  if  generally 
known,  would  do  it.  Many  physiologists  know  this  fact,  but  dare  not 
mention  it.  The  Lord  forgive  those  extra  modest  authors  who  dare  not 
speak  the  truth  for  fear  of  offending  fastidious  ears,  and  losing  reputa- 
tion. Let  it  be  remembered  that  a  marked  change  is  now  coming  over 
American  ladies.  They  are  known  throughout  Christendom  for  their 
false  modesty  ;  but  the  better  classes  are  beginning  to  lay  down  their 
squeamishness.  A  few  lessons  in  Physiology  will  break  it  down  in  all 
whose  opinions  are  valuable — the  rest  will  do  well  to  remember  that 
"  Evil  IS  to  him  toho  evil  thinks," — but  that  "  To  the  pure,  all  things 
are  pure."  A  few  years  will  see  whatever  odium  may  be  attached  to 
this  allusion,  converted  into  commendation.  At  all  events,  I  dare  tell 
the  truth,  and  am  independent  of  consequences. 

I  will  add,  that  this  explains  the  fact  that  tight-lacers  so  easily  get  in 
love.  The  fact  is  indisputable,  and  the  reason  obvious.  Tight-lacing 
disorders  the  nervous  system,  and  this  inflames  the  base  of  the  brain, 
which  necessarily  excites  the  organ  of  Amativeness,  situated  at  the 
lowest  point  in  the  base  of  the  brain,  and  therefore  the  more  readily 
affected  by  whatever  disorders  the  body.  In  his  work  on  Education, 
p.  94,  and  also  in  that  on  Temperance,  p.  13,  the  author  has  demonstrated 
the  principle,  tliat  whatever  stimulates  the  body  or  irritates  the  nervous 
system,  thereby  necessarily  excites  the  base  of  the  brain  in  a  pre-eminent 
degree.  It  is  a  settled  principle  of  physiology,  that  nothing  can  stimulate 
or  morbidly  excite  the  body  without  setting  on  fire  the  animal  propen- 
sities.    Tight-lacing  does  certainly  do  this.     And  as  Amativeness  is 


13  INFLUENCE    ON    OFFSPRING. 

located  at  the  lowest  part  of  the  base  of  the  brain,  tight-lacing,  in  ren- 
dering the  brain  and  nervous  system  morbidly  active,  thereby  necessarily 
kindles  impure  feelings.  This  principle  cannot  be  evaded.  It  is  true 
in  theory,  it  is  true  in  fact,  that  tight-lacing  kindles  impure  feelings,  at 
the  same  time  that  it  renders  their  possessor  weak  minded,  so  as  to  be 
the  more  easily  led  away  by  temptation.  And  this,  aye,  this  is  the  rea- 
son why  the  bucks  keep  up  this  immodest  fashion. 

I  heartily  pity  a  tight-laced  woman  ;  for,  I  know  what  she  feels,  and 
what  she  endures.  But  she  inflicts  it  voluntarily/,  just  as  the  Hindoo 
widow  burns  herself  to  death  on  the  funeral  pile  of  her  husband. 

But  another  still  greater  evil  inflicted  by  tight-lacing,  is  that  which 
strikes  a  deadly  blow  at  the  very  life  of  mankind.  I  refer  to  its  influence 
on  posterity.  One  end  of  woman's  existence  is  offspring ;  and  who  does 
not  know  that  the  constitution  and  health  of  the  child  depend  upon  those 
of  the  mother  ,•  and  especially,  upon  an  ample  development  of  these  vital 
organs.  The  nourishment  of  the  child,  before  and  after  birth,  is  a 
leading  condition  of  a  good  mother  in  her  capacity  as  mother.  If  she 
have  too  little  vitality  to  sustain  her  own  brain  and  muscles — a  point 
already  shown — how  can  she  have  a  surplus  for  her  infant  ?  To  have  as 
large  a  portion  of  her  own  feeble  and  vitiated  vitality  as  is  necessary  to 
carry  her  child,  withdrawn,  makes  her  feel  most  awfully — increasing  that 
class  of  feelings  and  cast  of  mind  described  on  p.  10.  Besides,  tight- 
lacing  allows  so  scanty  a  supply  to  the  child,  as  often  to  prevent  its  en- 
tering the  world  alive,  or  else  to  hasten  its  time.  But  even  if  it  do  live 
to  be  born,  and  its  mother  live  to  bear  it,  it  is  so  sickly,  so  feeble,  that  a 
trifling  exposure  nips  the  tender  bud  in  its  germ,  or  causes  it  to  drag  out 
the  miserable  existence  of  an  invalid. 

To  every  man  who  prefers  burying  his  children  to  the  trouble  or 
expense  of  raising  them,  I  say  marry  a  small  waist,  and  you  will  be  sure 
to  have  few  mature  offspring,  and  those  few  thinned  out  by  death.  But 
I  warn  those  who  wish  to  see  a  healthy,  happy  family  growing  up  around 
them,  to  render  their  life  pleasing  and  nurse  their  declining  years,  as 
well  as  to  perpetuate  their  name  and  race,  and  also  those  who  do  not 
wish  to  have  their  hearts  rent  asunder  by  the  premature  death  of  wife  or 
children,  to  marry  a  woman  having  a  large  waist,  full  breast,  and  deep, 
broad  chest.  Such  will  live  long  ;  but  slim,  small-waisted  women  must, 
in  the  very  nature  of  things,  bury  their  children  and  die  young  them- 
selves. If  this  pernicious  practice  continue  to  rage  through  another 
generation  with  as  much  violence  as  it  has  for  the  last  and  present,  it 
will  kill  all  fashionable  women  and  their  children,  and  leave  our  square- 
formed,  broad-shouldered,  and  full-breasted  Irish  and  German  women 
alone  for  wives  and  mothers.  It  has  already  alarmingly  deteriorated  our 
race  in  both  physical  and  intellectual  stature,  and  unless  checked,  will 
soon  DESTROY  it.  Let  this  practice  be  continued,  and  nothing  can  save 
us  as  a  nation  :  let  it  be  abolished,  and  our  nation  will  soon  stand  at  the 
head  of  the  world  in  every  desirable  quality. 

No  tongue  can  tell  the  number  of  mothers  and  children  killed  out- 
right, or  else  made  to  drag  out  a  short  and  miserable  existence,  by  that 
accursed  practice  of  tight-lacing.  Most  effectually  does  it  cramp,  and 
girt  in,  and  deaden  the  vital  apparatus,  and  thus  stop  the  flow  of  vitality 
at  its  fountain-head,  killing  its  thousands  before  they  marry,  and  so 
effectually  weakening  others,  as  indirectly,  though  effectually,  to  cause 
the  death  of  tens  of  thousands,  aye,  of  millions  more.     Yes,  and  that 


TIGHT-LACING   IS    INFANTICIDE    AND    SUICIDE.  13 

even  by  Christian  mothers — by  the  daughters  of  Zion,  the  followers  of 
the  Lamb !  Yea,  more.  These  infanticides,  loith  their  corsets  actually 
on,  are  admitted  into  the  sanctuary  of  the  Most  High  God,  and  even  to 
the  communion-table  of  the  saints !  And  poor,  muffle-drummed  minis- 
ters, either  do  not  know  that  corseting  does  any  damage,  or,  knowing  it, 
do  not  open  their  mealy  mouths,  but  administer  the  sacrament  to  infan- 
ticides, and  to  those  who,  while  partaking  of  the  emblems  of  their  dying 
Savior,  are  "in  the  very  act"  of  committing  infanticide,  and  slow,  but 
effectual  suicide  !  Nor  is  there  any  sin  in  American  Christian  mothers 
committing  these  things,  whereas  missionaries  must  be  sent  to  China 
and  Bombay,  to  prevent  their  committing  these  very  same  crimes,  though 
by  a  process  as  much  less  horrible,  as  to  be  killed  outright  by  one  fell 
blow,  is  less  painful  than  to  be  gradually  starved  and  strangled,  till  a 
lingering,  and  therefore  a  most  horrid  death,  gives  relief 

I  appeal  to  every  patriot,  to  every  Christian,  to  every  physiologist, 
to  raise  his  voice  with  mine  in  the  extirpation  of  this  great  sin  of 
tight-lacing.  Let  the  finger  of  scorn  be  pointed  at  every  tight-laced 
woman,  and  let  small  waists  be  shunned,  instead  of  courted,  as  wives 
and  mothers.  The  practice  is  disgraceful,  is  immoral,  is  murderous ; 
for,  it  is  gradual  suicide,  and  almost  certain  infanticide.  It  is  worse 
than  infanticide  ;  for,  to  entail  a  diseased  body  and  mind  upon  offspring, 
in  addition  to  causing  their  premature  death,  is  a  crime  of  the  deepest 
dye  man  can  commit. 

Wherein  consists  the  difference  between  sowing  the  seeds  of  disease 
that  necessarily  hasten  death,  and  killing  the  child  outright  ?  The  end 
attained  is  the  same — the  means  of  the  former  is  as  much  more  horrible 
than  those  of  the  latter,  as  a  lingering  death  is  more  horrid  than  a  sudden 
one.  Whence  that  mortality  of  children  which  consigns  more  than  one 
half  of  all  that  are  born  in  our  cities  to  an  early  grave  ?  Is  it  natural? — 
a  part  of  the  necessary  operations  of  nature  1  No  !  it  is  violated  nature  ; 
and  I  fearlessly  avow,  and  appeal  to  the  decision  of  any  man  of  science 
acquainted  with  the  subject,  whether  this  is  not  the  most  effectual  cause 
of  infantile  death,  or,  what  amounts  to  the  same  thing,  the  means  of  that 
most  revolting  of  all  crimes — infanticide?  Remember,  ye  young  ladies 
who,  in  dressing  yourselves  off  for  the  ball,  or  fashionable  party,  or 
promenade,  I  beseech  you  remember,  that  you  are  not  only  sowing  the 
seeds  of  disease  and  premature  death,  which  will  nip  all  your  pleasures 
in  the  bud,  but  which  must  also  yield  you  a  harvest  of  sorrows  too  many 
to  number  and  too  aggravated  to  endure — that  you  are  bringing  down 
not  only  your  oivn  soul  with  sorrow  to  an  untimely  grave,  but,  in  case 
you  become  mothers,  your  children  also  with  you  or  before  you  into  their 
graves.  If  you  wish  to  exclaim  under  a  burden  of  nervousness  and 
mental  distress  which  you  cannot  support,  "  O  wretched  life  that  I 
live  ! " — if  you  wish  to  break  the  heart  of  your  husbands  and  friends  by 
your  premature  death,  and  have  your  own  souls  pierced  through  with 
indescribable  anguish  by  the  death  of  your  children ;  if  you  wish  to  die 
while  you  live,  and  to  die  finally  before  your  time ;  if  you  wish  every 
sensible  man  that  sees  you  to  think,  "  how  foolish,  how  wicked,  that 
woman  ; "  if  you  would  exchange  the  rosy  cheek  of  health  for  the  portion 
of  laced  and  sickly  beauty ;  and  the  plump,  round,  full  chest  and  form 
of  unlaced  health,  for  the  poor,  scrawny,  haggard,  sunken,  and  almost 
ghastly  look  of  all  who  lace — then  buy  corset  after  corset,  and  lace 
tighter  and  tighter,  and  still  tighter,  and  keep  laced  night  and  day  till 


14 


THE    CAUSES    OP    TIGHT-LACING. 


the  wheels  of  life,  compressed  within  limits  too  narrow  longer  to  continue 
action,  cease  to  move,  and  till  that  fountain  of  life,  and  vitality,  and 
happiness,  flowing  from  these  compressed  organs,  is  dried  up  at  its  very 
source,  and  ceases  longer  to  flow. 

But  why  does  woman  insist  upon  perpetuating  so  painful,  so  self- 
torturing,  as  well  as  immoral  and  injurious  a  practice  ?  What  all-power- 
fiil,  all-pervading  motive  prompts  this  self-sacrifice,  this  self-immolation 
upon  the  altar  of  fashion  ?  Does  woman  require  this  painful  fashion  at 
the  hand  of  woman,  or  do  gentlemen  require  it?  And  if  gentlemen, 
what  kind  of  gentlemen  ?  The  sedate,  the  religious,  the  good  1  Or  the 
young  bloods  and  city  bucks  1  I  answer  without  one  iota  of  fear  of 
contradiction,  the  latter  classes.  All  intelligent  men  of  all  ages  and 
stations,  despise  and  discountenance  this  fashion.  But  fashionable  young 
gentlemen,  such  as  theatre-goers,  ball-makers,  dandies,  and  gentlemen  of 
leisure,  demand  it,  and  that  too  for  a  reason  given  on  p.  11,  and  their 
demand  is  acceded  to  by  almost  the  whole  of  the  other  sex.  But  how 
happens  it  that  this  class  is  obeyed,  while  the  admonitions  of  the  other 
are  unheeded?  "  I  pause  for  a  reply  !"  None?  No!  tione!  The  fact  I 
know  and  deplore — the  reason,  what  is  it?  Who  can  tell  why  it  is  that 
when  a  fashionable  young  man,  especially  a  city  dandy,  without  brains  or 
morals,  and  known  to  be  licentious,  yet  dressed  superbly  in  unpaid  for 
fashionables,  recommended  only  by  a  handsome  bow  and  a  surplus  of 
impudence,  enters  a  country  village  or  town,  he  sets  every  feminine 
heart  in  it  on  a  flutter  ?  Why  does  each  strive  to  secure  his  arm,  and 
expose  all  her  charms  to  gain  him  as  a  lover  ?  Can  it  be  because  he 
excites  her  Amativeness  and  Adhesiveness?  Does  this  set  them  crazy 
after  him,  to  the  neglect  and  rejection  of  those  whose  motives  are  pure, 
hearts  true,  and  hands  able  to  support  them  comfortably?  Are  women 
so  weak  or  crazy  ?  Tight-lacing  has  already  been  shown  to  produce 
partial  insanity,  and  also  to  excite  impure  desires,  and  putting  this  and 
that  together,  may  explain  one  of  the  causes  of  this  deranged  preference. 

But  their  education  has  some  hand  in  this  matter.  I  blame  woman  less 
than  I  pity  her.  It  is  her  nature  to  adapt  herself  to  man,  and  to  conform 
to  his  requisitions ;  and  it  is  the  fault  of  her  education  in  part  that  she 
strives  to  please  this  ruthless,  immoral,  corrupt  class,  to  the  neglect  of 
the  industrious,  homespun  classes. 

Another  evident  object  of  the  ladies  in  their  lacing  and  padding,  is  to 
make  themselves,  not  the  better,  but  the  more  handsome :'  yet  corsets 
destroy  the  very  beauty  which  they  are  employed  to  impart ;  for,  beauty 
depends  upon  health,  which  tight-lacing  impairs,  thereby  rendering  them 
scrawny  and  pale,  (nor  can  rouge  supply  the  place  of  the  rosy  cheek  of 
health,)  beside  shortening  the  period  of  youth.  Air  and  exercise  are 
the  best  means  of  promoting  health,  and  for  improving  the  beauty. 
Those  who  keep  up  their  physical  tone  and  vigor,  will  be  sprightly  and 
interesting,  and  even  though  they  may  be  homely,  yet  their  animation, 
their  freshness,  and  wide-awake  appearance,  and  glowing  cheek,  will 
make  a  far  deeper  impression  than  laced  but  sickly  beauty. 

"  But  I  do  not  lace  tight,"  says  one  ;  "  Nor  I,"  says  another  ;  "  Not/ 
I  neither,"  says  a  third — "  I  only  make  my  clothes  fit  well,"  says  each. 
"  Nor  am  I  intemperate,"  says  the  drunkard  ;  "  Nor  I  neither,"  says  the 
toper  ;  I  only  drink  till  I  feel  better ;"  though  both  are  drunk  half  their 
time.  No  old  woman  ever  owns  that  she  drinks  strong  tea,  though  it 
must  be  strong  enough  to  bear  up  an  egg  before  she  can  drink  it.     This 


APPBALg.  15 

very  denial  convicts  them.      Tight-lacers  would  fain  make  us  believe 
that  their  waists  are  naturally  small. 

In  view  of  all  these  multiplied  and  aggravated  evils  consequent  upon 
tight-lacing — evils  to  the  lacer,  evils  to  posterity — 1  ground  these 
appeals. 

1.  To  you,  industrious  and  intelligent  young  men,  I  appeal  to  raise 
your  voice  and  combine  your  influence  with  mine  and  with  other  labor- 
ers in  this  good  cause,  to  arrest  so  crying  an  evil,  so  fatal  a  fashion;  lest 
your  own  wives  break  your  hearts  by  dying  in  the  prime  of  their  days, 
and  your  children  redouble  the  agony  of  this  bereavement  by  dying  in 
your  arms,  to  be  buried  with  their  mothers.  See  to  it  that  you  shuri 
tight-lacers,  and  get  "  natural  waists,  or  no  ivives." 

2.  To  you,  fashionable  young  gentlemen,  I  appeal  to  cease  requiring 
this  fashion  of  the  ladies.  What  is  there  in  it  so  fascinating  ?  Or  do  you 
wish  to  see  how  silly  a  fool  you  can  make  woman  in  girting  herself  to 
death  just  to  please  you  ?  Or  what  heinous  crime  has  woman  perpe- 
trated that  you  make  her  atone  for  it  by  the  cruel  penance  of  tight-lacing  ? 
Or  do  you  wish  to  weaken  her  mind  and  kindle  her  passions  so  that  you 
may  the  more  often  and  easily  seduce  her  ?  Or  lohatever  be  your  mo- 
tive, I  beseech  you,  in  the  name  of  all  that  is  human,  to  relax  the  rigor 
of  this  requirement.  I  call  upon  you  in  the  name  of  our  race,  I  even 
command  you  in  the  name  of  violated  justice  and  virtue,  that  you  no 
longer  require  this  self-sacrifice,  this  offering  up  of  chastity,  this  destruc- 
tion of  your  race,  at  the  hand  of  fashionable  woman. 

3.  To  you,  ye  tight  lacers,  I  appeal !  Will  you  not  break  away 
from  the  shackles  of  these  fashionable  libertines  whose  main  end  is  to 
ruin  you  ?  Will  you  not  turn  your  eyes  and  hearts  from  the  fashionable 
to  the  industrious — from  i-akes  to  the  virtuous;  from  beasts  to  men; 
from  your  greatest  pests  to  your  best  friends  ;  from  your  destroyers  to 
those  who  will  save  you  ;  from  the  worst  of  husbands  to  the  best  ?  Do 
not,  I  beseech  you,  any  longer  follow  in  the  paths  of  ruin  to  the  abyss 
of  destruction.  Unloose  your  corset  strings.  Forsake  corset  stores. 
Clothe  yourselves  in  the  garb  of  natural  beauty,  and  remember  that  you 
are  born,  not  to  court  and  please,  not  to  be  courted  and  pleased  by, 
fashionable  rowdies,  but  to  become  wives  and  motliers — not  to  glitter  at 
a  ball,  nor  to  promenade  Broadway  gaily  dressed,  but  to  make  home  a 
paradise,  and  a  family  happy.  Will  you  not  listen  to  the  persuasive 
voice  of  reason,  as  well  as  of  present  and  prospective  suffering,  and  turn 
a  deaf  ear  to  the  syren  enticements  of  ruinous  fashion  ?  Come,  be  sen- 
sible. Act  once  more  like  rational  beings,  and  no  longer  like  simple- 
tons. Do  not  kill  yourselves,  and  murder  your  offspring,  and  torment 
your  husband  !  Dress  loosely,  so  as  to  feel  and  to  act  naturally  ;  for, 
rely  upon  it,  you  are  more  interesting  in  your  loose  morning  dress,  than 
when  bound  up  in  your  corset  strait-jacket. 

4.  To  you,  MOTHERS,  I  sound  my  appeal.  Will  you  Mil  your  children, 
by  lacing  them  1  A  physician  in  Philadelphia,  about  two  hours  after 
the  birth  of  a  fine,  healthy  child,  was  called  to  it  in  great  haste ;  it  ap- 
pearing to  be  dying  with  fits.  On  entering,  he  found  it  in  a  convulsed 
state,  gasping  for  breath,  and  turning  black,  just  from  being  bandaged 
too  tightly.  He  tore  open  the  bandage,  and  thus  instantly  relieved  the 
child.  See  to  it,  ye  nurses,  that  the  clothes  are  very  loose  on  the  infant's 
body,  so  that  it  can  breathe  easily  and  freely ;  and  see  to  it,  ye  mothers, 
that  you  do  not  spoil  the  health  and  morals  of  your  daughters  by  lacing 


16  EVILS    OP    TIGHT-LACING. 

them,  or  by  even  encouraging  it.  If  you  catch  them  fastening  their 
clothes  tight,  tear  them  open,  and  explain  to  them  the  evils  of  compress- 
ing the  organs  of  animal  life. 

5.  To  you,  FATHERS,  I  make  an  appeal.  If  your  wives  are  so  destitute 
of  physiological  knowledge,  and  so  full  of  fashionable  foolery,  and, 
withal,  so  anxious  to  marry  off  your  daughters,  as  to  make  them  follow 
this  pernicious  fashion  in  order  to  make  a  match,  do  you  interpose  a 
father's  counsel ;  (and,  if  your  daughters  have  been  duly  trained,  your 
advice  alone  will  be  sufficient;)  and,  caution  them  not  to  marry  any  one 
who  likes  them  a  whit  the  better  for  tight-lacing  ;  for,  such  a  husband 
will  never  support  them  or  make  them  happy. 

Lastly,  but  most  emphatically ,  I  call  upon  you,  ye  daughters  of 
ZiON,  ye  lovers  of  the  Lord !  ye  professed  followers  of  the  meek  and 
lowly  Jesus,  I  call  upon  you,  totally  to  abstain  from  this  practice  and 
frown  upon  all  who  follow  it.  If  there  be  one  self-contradiction  or 
anomaly  greater  than  another,  it  is  a  Miss  Religious  Small- Waist.  I 
do  not  certainly  know  but  there  might  possibly  be  such  a  thing  as  a 
Christian  drunkard,  or  a  religious  rascal,  or  a  praying  cheat  and  liar  ; 
but  I  really  do  not  see  how  it  is  possible  for  tight-lacers  ever  to  enter  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.  If  so,  it  ?nust  he  "  so  as  by  ^re."  To  lace  tight  is  to 
commit  suicide  and  infanticide,  as  already  shown  ;  and  can  suicides  and 
infanticides  be  Christians  ?  If  so,  let  me  not  be  one.  Such  love  the 
young  bucks  and  foppish  beaux  far  better  than  their  "  Lord  and  Master." 
Quite  too  many  of  our  female  professors  of  religion,  evidently  go  to 
church  more  to  show  their  small  waists  than  to  worship.  How  can  ye 
profane  the  sanctuary  with  your  corsets,  your  cotton  paddings,  and  your 
bustles  ?  How  can  ye  sing  the  praises  of  your  God,  or  bow  "  before 
Jehovah's  awful  throne,"  in  devout  adoration  or  praise,  with  the  circu- 
lation retarded,  and  your  minds  enfeebled  and  distracted  by  the  uncom- 
fortable or  painful  stays  ?  It  always  shocks  me — it  reverses  my  venera- 
tion— it  strikes  me  as  a  great  profanation  of  God  and  things  sacred,  to 
see  a  tight-laced  lady  enter  or  leave  the  sanctuary  with  her  gilt-edged 
prayer  book  or  Bible.  I  should  as  soon  think  of  joining  a  company  of 
tavern-loungers  as  a  church  that  allowed  tight-lacing  ;  for,  the  latter  is 
as  bad  and  its  evils  are  as  great,  in  my  estimation,  as  those  of  drunken- 
ness. 

Once  more,  ye  daughters  of  Zion — once  again  I  call  upon  you  to 
remember  your  standing  and  influence.  Occupying  as  you  do  the  very 
pinnacle  of  influence,  your  example  does  more  to  break  or  to  perpetuate 
this  practice,  than  almost  any  other  influence  that  Can  be  brought  to 
bear  upon  it.  Yet,  which  way  does  that  all-powerful  influence  bear  1  It 
bears  as  strongly  in  favor  of  tight-lacing  as  your  corset-strings  do  upon 
your  waists  !  Do  you  really  suppose  your  Savior  thinks  any  the  more- of 
you  for  being  corseted?  Then  why  do  it,  especially  when  you  go  to 
sing  his  praises  and  to  engage  in  his  worship  ?  What  possible  motive, 
drawn  from  religion,  can  a  pious  woman  have  for  tight-lacing  ?  No 
more  than  she  can  have  for  taking  arsenic  !  Tight-lacing  is  incom- 
patible with  Christianity,  or  else  I  do  not  understand  either  its  precepts 
or  its  principles.  Will  you,  pious  lacers,  have  the  goodness  to  explain 
this  passage?  "  Unless  ye  forsake  ALL,  and  follow  me,  ye  cannot  be 
my  disciples,"  or  else  lace  no  more  forever  ! 


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